Dog Grooming Price List: How to Set Your Rates in 2026

Learn how to build a dog grooming price list that's fair and easy to explain to clients

April 30, 2026

Pricing is one of the hardest things about running a grooming business — and one of the most important. Set your rates too low and you're working yourself to exhaustion for margins that don't support the business. Set them too high without the reputation to back it up, and you lose bookings. Get it right, and pricing becomes one of the most powerful tools you have.

This guide walks you through how to build a dog grooming price list that reflects your costs, your market, and your value — along with sample rates to benchmark against.

Why Your Pricing Matters More Than You Think

Most new groomers price based on what they see other groomers charging. That's a reasonable starting point, but it misses the real question: what do you need to charge to run a sustainable business?

If your pricing doesn't cover your costs, your labor, and a margin for growth, you'll burn out. If it doesn't match the quality you deliver, you'll either undercharge and attract clients who don't value your work, or overcharge and lose bookings you should be winning.

Good pricing is specific. It reflects your breed specialties, your location, your overhead, and the experience you bring. A solo groomer in a rural area with low overhead is priced differently than a two-table urban salon with a 6-month waitlist — and both can be profitable with the right structure.

How to Structure a Dog Grooming Price List

There are a few common approaches groomers use to structure pricing.

By Breed and Size

The most common and client-friendly approach. Group dogs into size categories (small, medium, large, extra-large) and set a base price for each, then adjust by breed complexity. Clients can look at the list and immediately see where their dog falls.

This works well when you're booking a high volume of appointments and need clients to self-qualify before reaching out.

By Coat Type

Instead of (or in addition to) size, price by coat complexity. A 20-lb Shih Tzu requires more work than a 20-lb Beagle. Grouping by smooth coat, double coat, drop coat, curly coat, and wire coat often reflects actual labor better than weight alone.

By Appointment Time

Some groomers charge hourly or by time blocks. This is transparent and easy to explain, but can be hard for clients to anticipate before the appointment. It works better as a secondary factor (e.g., an hourly rate that kicks in after a certain threshold) than as a primary pricing structure.

Base Rate Plus Add-Ons

A base price for the full groom, plus a defined list of extras. This is clean and easy to present. Clients know the floor, and you're not surprising them with charges at pickup.

If you want a plug-and-play layout for this, you can reference a structured template here:

‍Dog Grooming Price List Template: Create a Professional Menu

What to Include on Your Grooming Price List

A strong grooming price list should clearly outline:

Full groom — bath, blow dry, brush out, haircut/trim, nail trim, ear cleaning, anal gland expression
Bath and brush — no haircut, just maintenance
Nail trim and nail grind — quick standalone services
Ear cleaning and teeth brushing — simple add-ons
Deshedding treatments — premium service for heavy shedders
Flea treatments — includes extra handling and sanitation
Matting surcharge — additional time-based charge
Finishing add-ons — bandanas, bows, etc.

Clarity here reduces pricing questions and avoids awkward conversations at pickup.

Sample Dog Grooming Price List

Small Breeds (under 20 lbs)

Breed	Full Groom	Bath & Brush
Chihuahua	$45–$60	$30–$40
Maltese	$55–$75	$35–$50
Shih Tzu	$60–$80	$40–$55
Toy Poodle	$60–$80	$40–$55
Yorkshire Terrier	$55–$75	$35–$50
Miniature Schnauzer	$55–$70	$35–$50
Dachshund (smooth)	$40–$55	$30–$40
Pomeranian	$55–$75	$40–$55

Medium Breeds (20–50 lbs)

Breed	Full Groom	Bath & Brush
Cocker Spaniel	$70–$90	$45–$60
Miniature Poodle	$70–$90	$45–$60
Bichon Frisé	$65–$85	$45–$60
Cavapoo / Cockapoo	$70–$90	$45–$60
Corgi	$65–$85	$50–$65
Springer Spaniel	$70–$90	$50–$65
Border Collie	$70–$90	$55–$70
Beagle	$55–$70	$40–$55

Large Breeds (50–90 lbs)

Breed	Full Groom	Bath & Brush
Standard Poodle	$90–$120	$65–$85
Golden Retriever	$80–$110	$65–$85
Labrador Retriever	$65–$85	$55–$70
German Shepherd	$75–$100	$65–$80
Australian Shepherd	$80–$110	$65–$85
Doodle (Standard)	$90–$130	$65–$85
Husky	$90–$120	$75–$95

Add-On Services

Service	Price
Deshedding treatment	$15–$30
Teeth brushing	$10–$20
Nail grind	$5–$15 add-on
Blueberry facial	$10–$15
Bandana / bow	$2–$5
Flea treatment	$20–$40
Matting surcharge	$10–$20 per 15 min