Overnight Dog Sitting Rates (+ What to Charge in 2026)

Setting overnight dog sitting rates is one of the trickiest decisions you'll make as a pet sitter. Charge too little and you're working for less than minimum wage. Charge too much and potential clients book someone else.

The challenge gets worse when you Google it. You'll find vague ranges like "$40 to $150 per night" that don't actually help you decide what to charge in your market. Should you be at the low end? The high end? Somewhere in the middle?

This guide cuts through the noise with current industry data on overnight dog sitting rates in 2026. You'll learn what professional sitters actually charge, how location affects pricing, what to charge for multiple dogs, and how to set rates that reflect the value of your work without losing clients.

What Are Typical Overnight Dog Sitting Rates?

Overnight dog sitting rates typically range from $40 to $150 per night, depending on whether you're a casual sitter or a professional business. According to Pet Sitters International's 2024 State of the Industry Survey, the average overnight visit rate among professional pet sitters is $96.66.

That wide range exists because overnight sitting isn't one-size-fits-all. The rate depends on your experience level, location, what services you include, and whether you run this as a legitimate business or a side gig.

Here's how rates break down:

Professional vs. Hobby Sitter Rates

The gap between professional and hobby sitters isn't arbitrary. It reflects real differences in how the service is delivered.

Professional pet sitters charge $75 to $150 per night because they operate as legitimate businesses. They carry liability insurance and bonding, maintain consistent availability, invest in training and certifications, and run their operations through business software rather than text threads and spreadsheets. When a client books them, they're paying for reliability and peace of mind.

Hobby sitters typically charge $40 to $75 per night. They're often college students, neighbors, or people doing this occasionally for extra cash. They may not carry insurance, and their availability can be inconsistent. That doesn't mean they provide bad care, but the business infrastructure isn't there.

If you're building a real pet sitting business, you should price like one. Undercharging doesn't just hurt your income. It signals to clients that you're not a serious operation.

Overnight Dog Sitting Rates by City

Location has a bigger impact on overnight rates than almost any other factor. The difference between the most expensive and cheapest markets in the U. S. can be more than 2x.

Here's what overnight dog sitting rates look like across major cities in 2026, based on data from Rover's market research and Care.com's Cost of Care Calculator:

Why Location Matters So Much

The cost of living in your area directly affects what clients are willing to pay. In San Francisco, where the median rent for a one-bedroom is over $3,000, clients expect to pay premium rates for services. They know you have bills to cover too.

But it's not just about cost of living. Demand matters. In dense urban areas like New York or Los Angeles, pet sitters are in higher demand because fewer people have backyards or flexible schedules. That competition for your time drives rates up.

On the flip side, smaller cities and rural areas have lower rates because both costs and demand are lower. A $50/night rate in Oklahoma City might be considered premium, while the same rate in San Francisco would be well below market.

What this means for your pricing: Research what other professional sitters in your specific area are charging. Don't just look at national averages. Your local market sets your ceiling.

How Much to Charge for 2 Dogs Overnight

The standard approach for pricing overnight care with 2 dogs is to charge your base rate plus $5 to $10 per additional dog.

For example:

• Base rate for 1 dog: $75/night

• Second dog: +$10/night

• Total for 2 dogs: $85/night

Some sitters charge more ($10 to $15 extra) when:

• The second dog is significantly larger or higher energy

• The dogs have different care routines (separate feeding times, medications)

• One dog requires special handling (reactive, anxious, medical needs)

According to industry benchmarks from Time To Pet, the $5 to $10 additional pet fee is the standard across the U. S. It accounts for the extra work without making your rates uncompetitive.

Why Charge Less for the Second Dog?

You might wonder why the second dog doesn't cost the full rate. The logic is simple: most of your overhead for an overnight stay is fixed. You're already sleeping at the client's house. You're already doing a bedtime walk and morning feeding. Adding a second dog increases the work, but not by 100%.

That said, don't undervalue multiple-pet care. Two dogs means twice the potty breaks, twice the feeding prep, and potentially more complexity if they don't get along perfectly. If your experience tells you a second dog meaningfully increases your workload, charge accordingly.

Holiday Overnight Dog Sitting Rates

Holiday periods like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's are peak booking times for overnight dog sitting. Most pet sitters charge premium rates during these periods, and clients expect it.

According to Pet Sitters International's industry survey, 58% of professional pet sitters charge holiday surcharges. Among those who do, nearly half add $5 to $10 per visit as a flat surcharge.

Here's how sitters typically structure holiday pricing:

Flat Rate Surcharge

Add a fixed amount to your normal rate for specific holidays:

• $10 to $20 extra for major holidays (Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's)

• $5 to $10 extra for minor holidays (Memorial Day, Labor Day, July 4th)

Example: If your normal overnight rate is $80, you'd charge $100 for Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve.

Percentage-Based Surcharge

Increase your rate by 20% to 50% during peak holiday periods:

• 20% increase: Moderate demand holidays

• 50% increase: Christmas week, New Year's week

Example: $80/night base rate becomes $120/night (50% increase) for Christmas week.

Which Holidays Should You Charge Extra For?

Most sitters apply holiday rates to these specific days:

• Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

• Thanksgiving Day

• New Year's Eve and New Year's Day

• July 4th

• Memorial Day and Labor Day (sometimes)

The key is to communicate your holiday rates clearly and early. Add them to your website, include them in your service agreement, and remind clients when they book holiday care. Clients understand that you're sacrificing time with your own family. They're almost always willing to pay a premium for that.

Tools like Scritches' automated surcharges feature can handle this automatically, so you don't have to remember to manually adjust every holiday booking.

What's Included in Overnight Dog Sitting?

When you charge for overnight dog sitting, clients expect more than just someone sleeping in their house. Here's what standard overnight care typically includes:

Standard Services (9-12 Hour Overnight)

• Evening care: Feeding dinner, playtime, and bathroom breaks

• Bedtime routine: Final walk or potty break before bed

• Overnight supervision: Sleeping at the client's home (usually in a guest room or agreed-upon space)

• Morning care: Breakfast feeding, morning walk or potty break

• Basic cleanup: Cleaning up any pet messes, refreshing water

Typical Hours

Most overnight sits run 9 to 12 hours, commonly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. or 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. Some sitters offer two tiers:

• Standard overnight: 9-10 hours

• Extended overnight: 12 hours

If a client needs true 24-hour care (you arrive in the morning and stay until the next morning), that's typically priced as a separate "24-hour care" service at $150 to $200+.

What Usually Costs Extra

These services typically warrant additional fees beyond your base overnight rate:

• Medication administration: +$5 to $15 per visit

• Puppies or senior dogs needing extra attention: +$5 per visit

• Additional daytime visits (mid-day potty breaks): Charge your normal visit rate

• House sitting tasks (mail, plants, trash): Usually included, but clarify upfront

The clearer you are about what's included in your base rate and what costs extra, the fewer awkward conversations you'll have later. Spell it out on your booking page or in your service agreement.

How Rover Overnight Rates Compare

If you're setting your rates as an independent sitter, understanding how Rover pricing works gives you helpful context.

On Rover, the national average for overnight dog sitting is around $52 to $65 per night according to their 2025 market data. But here's the catch: Rover takes a 20% service fee from sitters. So if a client pays $60, the sitter only keeps $48.

For sitters running their own business off-platform, this creates an opportunity. You can charge slightly more than Rover rates and still offer better value because 100% of the payment goes to you.

Example:

• Rover booking: Client pays $60, sitter keeps $48 (after 20% fee)

• Independent sitter: Client pays $60, sitter keeps $60

• Or: Independent sitter charges $70, still more profitable than Rover

The other advantage of going independent is control. You set your own policies, communicate directly with clients, and build a business that isn't dependent on a platform's algorithm or fee structure.

If you're curious about how much Rover's fees actually cost, Scritches' Rover fees calculator breaks down exactly what you'd lose to platform fees.

Factors That Affect Your Overnight Rates

Beyond location and experience, several other factors influence what you should charge for overnight dog sitting.

Your Business Expenses and Overhead

Running a legitimate pet sitting business isn't free. Factor in:

• Liability insurance and bonding: $300 to $600 annually

• Business software for scheduling and payments: $20 to $50/month

• Marketing (website, Google Ads, printed materials): Variable

• Gas and vehicle maintenance: Especially if you service a wide area

• Taxes: Set aside 25% to 30% for self-employment taxes

If you're not accounting for these costs in your pricing, you're subsidizing your business out of pocket.

Your Experience and Certifications

Sitters with pet first aid certifications, professional training, or years of experience can justify charging 10% to 20% more than newcomers. Clients pay for expertise and the confidence that comes with it.

Services Included in Your Rate

Do you offer report cards with photos after each overnight? Do you include house sitting tasks like watering plants and bringing in mail? These conveniences add value and justify higher rates.

Demand in Your Area

If you're consistently booked out weeks in advance, that's a signal your rates are too low. When demand exceeds your availability, it's time to raise prices.

Pet Size and Special Needs

Some sitters charge a premium for:

• Large or extra-large dogs (over 50 lbs)

• Puppies under 6 months (more frequent potty breaks, supervision)

• Senior dogs with medical needs

• Reactive or anxious dogs requiring extra care

The additional complexity justifies the premium.

How to Set Your Overnight Dog Sitting Rates

If you're still unsure what to charge, here's a practical step-by-step approach:

1. Research Your Local Market

Look up 5 to 10 professional pet sitters in your area. Check their websites for overnight rates. If rates aren't public, call and ask. This gives you a baseline for your market.

Don't just average them out. Look at where the established, professional sitters price themselves. That's your target range.

2. Calculate Your Costs

Figure out what it actually costs you to run your business per overnight:

• Insurance, software, marketing (monthly) ÷ number of overnights per month

• Gas/mileage to and from the client's home

• Your desired hourly rate × hours worked (including travel, prep, morning care)

Add 20% to 30% margin on top of your costs. That's your floor. Don't go below it.

3. Start Competitive, Raise as You Grow

When you're new, price in the middle of your local market range. As you gain reviews, repeat clients, and bookings, gradually raise rates by 10% to 15% annually or when demand justifies it.

Existing clients usually accept modest increases if you give notice (30 days is standard). New clients only see your current rates, so they have no anchor to your old pricing.

4. Communicate Your Rates Clearly

Your rates should be easy to find. Post them on your website, include them in your booking flow, and reference them in your service agreement. Transparency builds trust and filters out clients who aren't a fit for your pricing.

If you use pet sitting software like Scritches, your rates can be displayed publicly on your booking page, and surcharges for holidays, extra pets, or special care are applied automatically. No mental math, no missed charges.

Set Rates That Reflect the Value You Provide

Overnight dog sitting rates in 2026 range from $40 to $150 per night depending on your location, experience, and business model. Professional sitters typically charge $75 to $150, while hobby sitters charge $40 to $75.

The key takeaways:

• National average: $96.66/night for professional pet sitters (PSI survey)

• Additional pets: Add $5 to $10 per extra dog

• Holiday surcharges: 58% of professional sitters charge extra ($5 to $25 or 20% to 50% increase)

• City matters: San Francisco tops out at $87/night, while Oklahoma City averages $30/night

• Rover comparison: Independent sitters can charge more and keep 100% vs. Rover's 20% fee

Don't underprice your work. You're providing a valuable service that lets clients travel with peace of mind. Set rates that reflect your professionalism, cover your costs, and sustain a business you can grow.

If managing pricing, bookings, and payments feels overwhelming, Scritches handles it all in one place. You can set your rates, automate surcharges, and let clients book without back-and-forth texting. It's built for sitters who want to run their business like a business.