How Much Does Pet Sitting Cost Per Day in the UK? 2026 Price Guide

Pet sitting in the UK typically costs around £25 to £40 per day for daytime care, although the amount you actually pay depends heavily on what you mean by “pet sitting”.

A short drop-in visit may cost only £12–£20, while full-day doggy day care commonly costs around £25–£40 per day. If you want someone to stay overnight in your home, approximately £30–£50 per night is a realistic starting point, with premium sitters, multiple pets and holiday dates potentially costing more.

Current 2026 UK research supports these ranges. ManyPets surveyed 28 dog sitters, boarders and day-care providers and found averages of £14.41 for a 30-minute to one-hour weekday drop-in, £29.91 for a full day of doggy day care and £36.18 for full-day home boarding.

Rover currently says house sitters generally charge around £30–£40 per night, while its broader house-sitting guidance places many bookings around £31–£55 per day depending on the pets, location and responsibilities involved.

For most owners asking how much pet sitting costs per day in the UK, budgeting roughly £30–£40 per day is therefore a useful starting point.

Average Pet Sitting Prices in the UK

There is no single national pet-sitting tariff because several very different services are described as pet sitting.

These should be treated as budgeting ranges rather than fixed prices.

ManyPets’ January 2026 survey found £29.91 as the average full-day doggy day-care price and £36.18 for home boarding. Cat-sitting visits averaged £13.74 for 30 minutes to an hour.

Pets Locally’s current 2026 guidance similarly places drop-in care at roughly £10–£25 per visit and overnight pet care around £30–£70 per night.

The first thing to establish when comparing quotes is therefore exactly how much care you are buying.

What Does “Pet Sitting Per Day” Actually Mean?

This is where pet-sitting prices become confusing.

One sitter may describe a “day” as eight hours of care in their home.

Another may provide two 30-minute visits to your home.

Another may arrive in the evening, sleep at your property and leave the following morning.

And somebody advertising live-in care might stay at your property for much of the entire 24-hour period.

Those are not equivalent services.

Before comparing prices, ask what hours the booking covers and how long your pet will actually be left alone.

A £25 service involving two short visits may be completely appropriate for some cats but very different from paying £35 for a dog to spend the entire working day with a sitter.

How Much Does a Pet Sitter Charge for Drop-In Visits?

A normal pet-sitting drop-in costs approximately £12–£20 per visit.

ManyPets’ 2026 research found an average weekday dog-sitting visit of £14.41, while its equivalent cat-sitting research found an average of £13.74 for visits lasting between 30 minutes and one hour.

If your pet needs two visits each day, that gives a daily cost of approximately:

£24–£40 per day.

Drop-in care commonly includes feeding, fresh water, basic cleaning around the pet, companionship and a general welfare check. Dog visits may also include toilet breaks or short exercise, depending on what has been agreed.

Medication and additional household tasks may cost extra.

How Much Does Dog Sitting Cost Per Day?

For dogs, professional daytime sitting commonly costs around £25–£40 per day.

ManyPets found an average of £29.91 for full-day doggy day care and £36.18 for full-day home boarding in its January 2026 survey.

Current Rover data for London gives an average £31.05 per day for doggy day care, illustrating how a price around £30 sits comfortably within the present market.

Dog sitting can cost more than short cat visits because dogs often need considerably more active supervision, outdoor toilet breaks, exercise and company.

Puppies can also cost more because they may need more frequent feeding, toilet breaks, supervision and attention.

How Much Does Cat Sitting Cost Per Day?

Cats are commonly cared for through home visits rather than full-day sitting.

A typical visit costs around £12–£20, meaning twice-daily care is approximately £24–£40 per day.

ManyPets found an average weekday cat-sitting visit of £13.74 in January 2026.

Current Rover data also gives a national drop-in figure of around £20 per cat visit, although local averages can be lower.

If you specifically need cat care, our detailed guide to cat sitting costs in the UK explains per-visit, weekly, overnight and holiday prices in more detail.

How Much Does Overnight Pet Sitting Cost?

An overnight pet sitter commonly charges around £30–£50 per night, although £50–£70+ is possible for premium services or more demanding bookings.

Rover says house sitters typically charge around £30–£40 per night, depending on the number of pets, responsibilities and sitter experience.

Its newer house-sitting guidance puts typical rates at approximately £31–£55 per day.

With overnight sitting, your pet generally remains in its own home while the sitter stays at the property.

That can be particularly attractive for animals that are unsettled by boarding environments.

However, “overnight” does not automatically mean the sitter remains inside your house continuously for 24 hours. Ask how long they expect to be away during the daytime.

How Much Does Pet Sitting Cost in London?

London generally sits toward the upper end of the UK market, although the difference is not always as dramatic as people expect.

Rover’s August 2026 data puts average London house sitting at £40.25 per night.

Its detailed London analysis gives house-sitting prices of approximately £27–£45 per day, with an average nightly rate around £38.72.

For dog drop-in visits specifically, Rover currently reports a London average of £17.25 per visit.

So a sensible London budget could be around:

£15–£22 for a drop-in visit

£30–£40 for daytime care

£35–£50+ for overnight house sitting

Premium or highly experienced professionals may charge considerably more.

Is £30 Per Day Normal for Pet Sitting?

Yes.

£30 per day is a very normal pet-sitting price in the UK in 2026, particularly for daytime dog care.

ManyPets currently reports an average full-day doggy day-care cost of £29.91.

For overnight house sitting, £30 is toward the lower end of the mainstream market but still realistic.

For two short pet visits, however, £30 would translate to around £15 per visit, which is also entirely normal.

The service matters more than the headline figure.

Is £40 Per Day Expensive for Pet Sitting?

Not necessarily.

£40 per day is reasonable for:

• overnight house sitting
• full-day individual care
• London bookings
• multiple pets
• dogs requiring considerable supervision
• experienced professional sitters

Rover currently gives typical house-sitting rates around £31–£55 per day, while London house-sitting averages around £40 per night.

A £40 quote therefore sits comfortably within the market for more comprehensive pet care.

Is £50 Per Day Expensive?

£50 is toward the premium end of normal daytime sitting but can be entirely reasonable for overnight or live-in care.

Whether £50 is expensive depends on what is included.

Paying £50 for someone to visit twice for 15 minutes would be relatively high.

Paying £50 for a sitter to remain at your home overnight, walk your dog several times, feed two animals and administer medication could represent good value.

This is why comparing hourly involvement and responsibilities is more useful than comparing daily prices alone.

How Much Does Pet Sitting Cost for a Week?

For a seven-day trip, pet-sitting costs can quickly reach several hundred pounds.

At £30 per day:

£30 × 7 = £210

At £40 per day:

£40 × 7 = £280

At £50 per day:

£50 × 7 = £350

So approximately £200–£350 for one week is a useful broad budget for many professional arrangements.

Rover’s current national cat-care figures, for example, put seven nights of house sitting at approximately £231 when calculated from its £33 nightly average.

Peak periods can be considerably more expensive.

Do Pet Sitters Charge More at Weekends?

Some do, although weekend surcharges are not universal.

ManyPets found that most cat sitters in its January 2026 survey did not charge extra at weekends, but some added around £1–£2.50 per visit.

Dog sitters similarly set their own policies.

A professional who normally works Monday to Friday may apply a weekend premium, while somebody whose business revolves around holiday care may use the same standard rate.

Always check before booking rather than assuming Saturday and Sunday will cost the same.

How Much More Is Pet Sitting at Christmas?

Christmas, New Year and bank-holiday care can be significantly more expensive.

ManyPets found an average £27.43 for cat-sitting visits on bank holidays, Christmas and New Year, compared with just £13.74 for a normal weekday visit.

That is almost double.

Pet-sitting platforms may also apply peak rates. Rover confirms that sitters can set additional peak rates as well as charges for extra pets, puppies and extended care.

If you are travelling over Christmas, request the actual Christmas quote rather than budgeting using the sitter’s normal daily rate.

Does It Cost More to Have More Than One Pet?

Usually, yes, although it rarely doubles the total.

Travel time does not change simply because there are two animals in the house, but the amount of feeding, cleaning, walking and supervision can increase.

Rover explicitly allows sitters to set additional-pet rates, and its London house-sitting data shows extra charges can be substantial depending on species and sitter.

For example, a sitter charging £35 for one dog might quote £45–£55 for two.

For two straightforward indoor cats sharing the same feeding routine, the increase could be much smaller.

Ask for a household quote based on all your pets.

Do Puppies Cost More to Pet Sit?

They often do.

Puppies generally require more supervision than healthy adult dogs because they may need frequent toilet breaks, feeding, play and monitoring.

Rover specifically allows sitters to set a separate puppy rate, and its London house-sitting data shows puppy bookings averaging more than ordinary house-sitting rates.

If your puppy cannot safely be left alone for long periods, make that clear before booking.

The cheapest sitter is not useful if their normal schedule means leaving your puppy for five or six hours.

Does Medication Cost Extra?

Sometimes.

Simple medication may be included in the standard service, particularly with experienced pet sitters.

Other sitters charge an additional amount.

ManyPets found add-on services such as medication administration, key collection and plant watering costing from only a few pounds among some providers surveyed.

More involved care may require someone with specific experience.

If your animal needs medication at precise times, injections or monitoring for a medical condition, discuss this fully before booking.

The person caring for your pet needs to be comfortable carrying out the required routine.

Pet Sitting vs Boarding: Which Is Cheaper?

The answer depends on the animal and type of care.

ManyPets currently puts full-day home dog boarding at £36.18 on average, compared with £29.91 for doggy day care.

Rover’s current cat data gives approximately £33 per night for house sitting versus £40 per night for boarding at a licensed facility.

So neither option is universally cheaper.

Pet sitting has the advantage of allowing the animal to remain in a familiar environment when the sitter comes to your property.

Boarding means your pet stays elsewhere.

Consider your pet’s temperament as well as the price.

Pet Sitting vs Dog Kennels

Kennels can offer good value for longer stays, especially where several days of accommodation, feeding and care are bundled together.

Pet sitting may suit dogs that find unfamiliar environments stressful or households with several pets where one sitter can care for them all.

The important comparison is the complete cost for the whole trip.

For example, £35 per night of house sitting for seven nights costs £245.

If kennels cost £30 per night but charge extra for certain services, the final difference may be smaller than the headline £5 suggests.

What Should a Pet Sitter Do for the Daily Price?

The exact responsibilities should be agreed before you leave.

Rover describes typical house-sitting responsibilities as feeding, playing with pets, keeping their area clean, maintaining fresh water and providing owners with updates. Additional agreed household tasks can include collecting post or watering plants.

For dogs, you should establish how many walks or toilet breaks are included.

For cats, confirm feeding frequency and litter-tray care.

Also discuss:

medication, emergency contacts, your veterinary practice, access to the property and what the sitter should do if your pet becomes ill.

Written instructions are much safer than assuming the sitter will remember everything from a short conversation.

Should Your Pet Be Vaccinated Before Using a Sitter?

Requirements depend on the type of care.

A sitter visiting your own home may have different policies from a doggy day-care facility or boarding provider where multiple animals are present.

Boarding establishments may ask for evidence that vaccinations are current.

If you are budgeting for a dog’s routine healthcare as well as holiday care, our dog vaccination price guide explains current UK vaccination costs.

Ask the sitter or boarding provider for their individual requirements well before your holiday.

How to Choose a Good Pet Sitter

Price matters, but reliability matters more.

Arrange a meeting before your trip where possible and see how the sitter interacts with your animal.

Ask about previous experience with your species, breed and any particular behavioural or medical requirements.

You should also establish:

how long your pet will be left alone, what happens in an emergency, how frequently you will receive updates, whether the sitter carries appropriate insurance and exactly what the quoted price includes.

Online reviews can be useful, but detailed recent reviews from repeat clients generally tell you more than a simple five-star average.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does pet sitting cost per day in the UK?

Around £25–£40 per day is a useful typical range for daytime pet care. Full-day doggy day care averaged £29.91 in ManyPets’ January 2026 research.

How much does a pet sitter charge per visit?

Around £12–£20 is common for a 30–60 minute visit. ManyPets found averages of £14.41 for dogs and £13.74 for cats.

How much is overnight pet sitting?

Approximately £30–£50+ per night is common. Rover says house sitters generally charge around £30–£40 per night.

Is £30 per day normal for a pet sitter?

Yes. It is very normal for daytime care and is close to the current average full-day doggy day-care rate.

How much does pet sitting cost for one week?

A typical seven-day booking might cost approximately £200–£350, depending on the service and sitter.

Does pet sitting cost more for two pets?

Often, yes. Many sitters add a smaller additional-pet fee rather than charging the full rate twice.

Does a pet sitter stay all day?

Not necessarily. “Pet sitting” can mean drop-ins, day care, overnight care or live-in sitting. Confirm the exact hours before booking.

How much is dog sitting per day?

Approximately £25–£40 is common for full-day care. ManyPets found a £29.91 average for doggy day care in January 2026.

How much is cat sitting per day?

Cat sitting is commonly charged per visit. At around £12–£20 per visit, two daily visits would cost approximately £24–£40.

Do pet sitters charge more at Christmas?

Often, yes. ManyPets found cat-sitting holiday visits averaging £27.43 compared with £13.74 on normal weekdays.

How Much Should You Budget for Pet Sitting Per Day?

For most owners asking how much pet sitting costs per day in the UK, a realistic 2026 budget is:

£12–£20 for one drop-in visit.

£25–£40 for two daily visits.

£25–£40 for many full-day pet-sitting or doggy day-care arrangements.

£30–£50+ for overnight house sitting.

£40–£70+ for premium, live-in or more demanding care.

Holiday dates, puppies, additional pets, medication and more intensive care can push the price higher.

The most important thing is to compare like with like. A £25 “daily” service involving two brief visits is very different from £40 for someone caring for your dog throughout the day.

If you specifically need someone to care for a cat while you are away, our detailed cat sitting cost guide covers per-visit, daily, weekly and overnight prices.

And if you need a local pet sitter or another pet-care professional, you can discover providers through The Right Guy.