What does a dog really cost? Our free dog cost calculator shows the price of getting started, the cost of every year after and the total over your dog’s lifetime. Choose a size and a starting point, then change any figure to match the dog you have in mind.
How much does a dog really cost?
Choose your dog’s size and a starting point, then change any figure. The calculator shows the cost of getting started, each year after and over your dog’s lifetime.
How to use the dog cost calculator
Step 1: Pick your dog’s size
Choose small, medium or large. Because size changes the cost of food, grooming and insurance, the calculator refills those figures for you.
Step 2: Choose a starting point
Budget assumes a rescue dog, basic insurance and no paid help. Typical uses average UK prices. Finally, Premium covers a pedigree puppy, top level cover, a regular dog walker and kennels for holidays.
Step 3: Set the years and edit the costs
Enter how many years you expect to have your dog. Then change any price box, for example if you already own a crate or your insurer quoted a different amount. The lifetime total updates straight away.
How much does a dog cost in the UK?
With the Typical settings, a medium sized dog costs about £2,850 in the first year and around £1,400 in each year after. Over 12 years, the dog cost calculator puts the total at roughly £18,000. A large dog with the same settings comes to more than £20,000.
Similarly, charities give the same picture. PDSA estimates the minimum cost of a dog at about £69 a month for a small breed, £83 for a medium breed and £116 for a large breed. However, those figures assume no dog walker, no kennels and no big vet bills, so most owners spend more.
The costs of getting started
First, you pay to buy or adopt. Rescue charities such as Dogs Trust and Blue Cross charge a rehoming fee, which usually includes vaccinations, a microchip and neutering. In contrast, a pedigree puppy from a breeder can easily cost £1,000 to £3,000.
After that come first vaccinations, neutering, a microchip and kit such as a bed, lead, bowls and a crate. By law, every dog in England, Scotland and Wales must be microchipped by eight weeks old, and keepers can be fined up to £500 if they are not.
Why pet insurance matters
Insurance is often the biggest monthly cost after food, but skipping it can be a false saving. According to the CMA, vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023, far faster than general inflation. As a result, a single operation or long term condition can cost thousands of pounds.
There are four main types of cover. First, lifetime cover renews each year and pays for ongoing conditions. Next, time limited cover pays for each condition for 12 months only. Maximum benefit cover has a cap per condition, and accident only cover is the cheapest but excludes illness. Lifetime cover costs more. Even so, it is usually the safest choice for a young dog.
Ways to cut the cost of owning a dog
- Adopt rather than buy. A rehoming fee is far lower than a puppy price and often covers the first vet costs too.
- Shop around for insurance every year. Compare like for like cover, and check the excess and the limit per condition.
- Join a vet health plan. Many practices spread vaccinations, flea and worming treatment and check ups over monthly payments with a discount.
- Swap favours for holidays. Friends, family or a trusted pet sitting swap can replace kennels, which often cost £20 to £35 a night.
Plan your budget with the dog cost calculator
Once you know the yearly figure, add it to your monthly budget with our free budget planner or monthly budget spreadsheet. Also, it makes sense to keep some savings for vet bills that insurance will not cover, and our emergency fund guide shows how to build that pot.
Before you bring a dog home, read the GOV.UK guide to microchipping your dog so you know your legal duties as a new owner.
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Dog cost calculator FAQs
Most owners spend £100 to £150 a month on a medium sized dog once you include food, insurance, flea and worming treatment and vet check ups. PDSA puts the bare minimum at about £83 a month.
With typical UK prices, a medium sized dog costs around £18,000 over 12 years. Large breeds and dogs that need a walker or regular kennels can cost far more.
Usually, yes. Rescue charities charge a rehoming fee that often includes vaccinations, a microchip and neutering, while a pedigree puppy can cost £1,000 to £3,000.
It is not a legal requirement, but vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023, according to the CMA. Without insurance, you need savings to cover large bills.
Yes. The dog cost calculator is free, there is no sign up and nothing you type is saved or sent anywhere.