Updated October 2026 · 6 minute read
Grooming prices that look fine on paper often fall apart in the salon: a “medium dog” price that works for a short-coated beagle loses money on a matted doodle that takes three hours. This guide gives you the 2026 going rates by size and coat type, then shows how to build prices around the one thing you really sell, which is grooming time.
- A bath and brush usually costs $25–$50 for small dogs up to $125–$200 for extra-large dogs.
- A full groom (bath, haircut, nails, ears) runs about $75–$125 small, $125–$175 medium and $175–$200+ large.
- Coat type matters as much as size: curly and matted coats cost the most.
- Urban salons typically charge 15% to 30% more than suburban or rural ones.
Dog grooming prices by size in 2026
| Dog size | Bath and brush | Full groom |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 20 lb) | $25–$50 | $75–$125 |
| Medium (20–50 lb) | $50–$75 | $125–$175 |
| Large (50–80 lb) | $75–$125 | $175–$200 |
| Extra large (80+ lb) | $125–$200 | $200+ |
Source: MoeGo, “How Much Is Dog Grooming” (February 2026).
Prices vary by region and salon type. MoeGo notes that city salons commonly charge 15% to 30% more than suburban or rural salons, mainly because rent and wages are higher.
Need a price for a specific breed? Our dog grooming prices by breed chart lists bath and full groom ranges for 41 breeds.
Prices by coat type
Size tells you how much dog there is. Coat type tells you how long the groom takes. Dogster’s 2026 price guide breaks base grooming prices down by both:
| Size | Short, single coat | Short, double coat | Long, straight | Curly | Matted |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small | $25–$40 | $25–$45 | $40–$90 | $50–$120 | $100+ |
| Medium | $35–$50 | $35–$60 | $40–$95 | $50–$120 | $100+ |
| Large | $50–$75 | $55–$80 | $60–$100 | $70–$145 | $125+ |
| Giant | $60–$90 | $65–$100 | $75–$125 | $95–$175 | $150+ |
Source: Dogster, “How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost? 2026 Price Guide” (updated October 2026).
The two sources measure slightly different things: MoeGo’s full-groom ranges include a haircut, nails and ears, while Dogster’s are base prices by coat. Both point the same way. Curly coats such as poodles and doodles, and anything matted, sit at the top of the range because they take the longest.
Price by time, not just by size
The fairest and most profitable way to price is to estimate the grooming time for each dog, then multiply by the amount each hour of grooming needs to bring in.
groom hours = base time for size × coat factor × condition factor
To find your target rate, add up what an hour has to cover: groomer pay (commission or hourly), shampoo and supplies, rent, insurance, booking software, card fees and profit. Divide your monthly costs plus profit target by the grooming hours you can realistically fill each month.
Worked example
A 35 lb doodle, curly coat, light tangles, full groom with a nail grind. The cost numbers are planning assumptions for this example: the groom takes 2.5 hours, your target is $50 per groom hour and you pay the groomer a 50% commission.
- Base price: 2.5 × $50 = $125
- Nail grind add-on: $15
- Price: $140 (inside the $125–$175 medium full-groom range)
- Groomer commission (50%): $70
- Shampoo and supplies: $6
- Left for the shop: $64 to cover rent, software and profit
If the same dog arrives matted and the groom takes four hours, the same rate gives $200 before add-ons. That is why a written matting policy matters: the time is real, so the price should be too.
Quote any dog in seconds
Pick the size, coat, condition, service and add-ons. The free dog grooming calculator shows the price, groom time, groomer pay and your profit per groom hour, checked against your target.
How to build your price list
- Group breeds by coat: short single, short double, long straight and curly. Most breeds fit one group.
- Time ten or so grooms in each group and note the size. Use the average, not your best day.
- Multiply by your target rate to get a base price for each size and coat.
- Round to clean numbers and compare with the market ranges above. If you are far below, your target rate is probably too low.
- Publish prices as “from” (for example “Full groom from $125”) so condition charges never surprise anyone.
Paying groomers: commission or hourly
How you pay groomers changes your margin on every dog. With commission, the groomer earns a share of each groom, so pay rises and falls with sales, and fast groomers earn more. With hourly pay, the cost is fixed per hour, so a slow day or an empty slot costs you money, but a fully booked groomer can be more profitable for the shop.
Whichever you choose, check it against your target rate. If commission plus supplies leaves too little per groom hour to cover rent and software, either the commission rate or the prices need to change. Many salons also pay commission on add-ons, which is worth deciding up front.
Add-ons and extra charges
Add-ons are a good way to raise the average ticket, because the dog is already on the table. Common ones:
- Nail grinding or nail trim only
- Teeth brushing
- De-shedding treatment for double coats
- Deep conditioning or medicated shampoo
- Paw and pad care
- Bows, bandanas and colour (for the clients who love it)
Matting and difficult behaviour are better treated as condition charges than add-ons. Tell owners in advance that a matted coat is charged by the extra time, and that heavily matted dogs may need a short shave-down for the dog’s comfort.
Pre-booking and rebooking
A dog groomed every four to six weeks is faster to groom, has fewer mats and is calmer on the table. Rebooking the next appointment before the owner leaves is the simplest way to keep your calendar full and your grooms shorter. Some salons give a small discount for dogs on a regular schedule, and charge more when a dog comes back after a long gap and needs extra work.
Pricing mistakes groomers make
- Pricing by weight only. A 40 lb short-coated dog and a 40 lb doodle are different jobs.
- Absorbing matting time. Have a clear, written matting policy and use it.
- Not tracking groom time. Time a few dogs of each breed so your estimates are real.
- Ignoring no-shows. A no-show fee or deposit for new clients protects a full slot.
- Letting vaccine records lapse. Check rabies records at booking, not on the day.
- Never raising prices. Review prices once a year as product costs and wages rise.
Run your grooming business from one spreadsheet
The Dog Grooming Business Manager has this quote calculator built in, plus pets and owners, appointments, rebooking, vaccine reminders, groomer pay (commission or hourly) and profit per groom. Excel and Google Sheets.
Questions
How much should I charge for a full dog groom?
In 2026 a full groom usually costs about $75 to $125 for small dogs, $125 to $175 for medium dogs and $175 to $200 or more for large dogs. Curly and matted coats sit at the top of the range because they take longer.
How much is a bath and brush?
A bath and brush typically costs $25 to $50 for small dogs, $50 to $75 for medium dogs, $75 to $125 for large dogs and $125 to $200 for extra-large dogs.
Should groomers charge for matting?
Yes. Matting can double the grooming time. Most groomers charge for the extra time and explain the policy before the appointment.
Is it better to price by size or by time?
Use size and coat to set your price list, but base it on grooming time. Multiplying estimated hours by a target rate per groom hour keeps every appointment profitable.
Does mobile grooming cost more?
Usually, yes. Mobile groomers cover the van, fuel and travel time, so their prices are typically higher than a salon for the same dog.
Related guides
Sources
- MoeGo: How Much Is Dog Grooming, February 2026
- Dogster: How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost? 2026 Price Guide, updated October 2026
Tahir Abbas
Founder of Softotech Solutions. Tahir builds Excel and Google Sheets tools for small service businesses, including the free calculators on this site. Price ranges in this guide come from the sources listed above and are checked when the guide is updated.