Dog Sitting and Boarding Rates in Chicago (2026): What Local Sitters Actually Charge
Short answer: in Chicago, a pet sitter who comes to your home costs about $18 to $23 an hour. Overnight boarding at a kennel or dog hotel runs $60 to $135 a night (most charge $74 to $90), and boarding in a sitter's own home is $85 to $150 a night for one dog. Daycare is $38 to $60 a day, and a 25 to 30 minute walk or drop-in visit is $18.50 to $37. We checked the published price lists of 39 Chicago businesses, plus Care.com, in October 2026.
Leaving your dog? Hand your sitter one page with everything they need.
$17The price is the easy part. Your dog has 47 little rules. Your sitter probably knows 4. That gap is where trips go wrong, and it's why we built The Paw Brief (more below).
Chicago dog care prices at a glance
| Type of care | Typical Chicago price | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|
| Pet sitter in your home | $18.43 to $23.42 an hour | Care.com Chicago rates, October 2026 |
| Kennel boarding, budget end | $60 a night | Pooch Town, Doggieworks |
| Kennel boarding, typical | $74 to $90 a night | Dogs Day Inn, Pack Life, Western Wag, Stay, Chi-Town Dog House, PUPS Pet Club |
| Boarding, premium suites and lofts | $99 to $135 a night | Sit Social, Hill Family Pet Care, The Pawfect Friend, Stay suite ($125) |
| Boarding, second dog from the same home | $35 to $65 more a night | Pack Life ($110 for 2 dogs), Dogs Day Inn ($138), Happy Tails & Trails ($145), Chi-Town Dog House ($140.80) |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | $85 to $150 a night | Mr. Zoomies, Wags and Whiskers, Littlebear Petcare, Happy Tails & Trails |
| Overnight sitter in your home | $65 to $190 a night | Woof Point Walkers, Bow Wow Meow, Windy City Pet Care, Dogs Deserve It, Pet Concierge Chicago |
| Doggy daycare, full day | $38 to $60 a day | Doggieworks, Pack Life, Dogs Day Inn, PUPS Pet Club, Western Wag, Pooch Town, Wiggley Field |
| Walk or drop-in, 25 to 30 minutes | $18.50 to $37 | Bow Wow Meow, South Loop Pet Care, Smart Paws, Windy City Pet Care, Bark Buddies, Dogs Deserve It |
| Short check-in, 15 minutes | $15 to $30 | Mr. Zoomies, Littlebear Petcare, Windy City Pet Care, Smart Paws, Dogs Deserve It |
| Pro sitter by the hour (agencies) | $20 to $44 an hour | Bow Wow Meow, Wags and Whiskers, Dogs Deserve It, Windy City Pet Care |
Chicago runs a little above the Illinois average ($18.01 to $23.20 an hour) and about 10% above the national average of $16.68 to $22.55, according to Care.com. Insured walking and sitting companies charge more than the Care.com averages, which mostly reflect independent sitters.
Rates in the suburbs
Where you live around Chicago changes the going rate more than you might expect:
| Area | Starting rate | Top rate |
|---|---|---|
| Evanston | $53.85/hr | $58.30/hr |
| Buffalo Grove | $24.50/hr | $27.83/hr |
| Glenview | $24.50/hr | $26.38/hr |
| Highland Park | $23.20/hr | $35.40/hr |
| Elmhurst | $21.40/hr | $26.50/hr |
| West Chicago | $15.25/hr | $22.00/hr |
| Warrenville | $15.33/hr | $20.83/hr |
| Winnetka | $15.33/hr | $18.33/hr |
| Streamwood | $15.71/hr | $19.57/hr |
| Bartlett | $13.17/hr | $15.67/hr |
Source: Care.com, October 2026. The Evanston figure is Care.com's own average and is far above the rest of the area, so ask for quotes.
What pushes the price up in Chicago
- More than one dog. A second dog from the same home adds $35 to $65 a night at most kennels (Pack Life goes from $75 to $110). Walkers usually add $5 to $15 per extra dog, and in-home overnight sitters add $40 to $60 a night (Windy City Pet Care).
- Holidays and spring break. Kennels add $5 to $30 a night on holidays: Stay, Pack Life and Fit Dog add $5, Hill Family, Chi-Town Dog House and Dogs Day Inn add $10, and Top Dog adds $30 with a 2-night minimum. Stay lists spring break (March 20 to April 5) as a peak period, and asks for a 50% deposit over Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's. Holiday walks cost $10 to $21 extra.
- A bigger suite or more attention. The same kennel can charge $80 or $125 a night depending on the room (Stay). Solo play instead of group play adds $10 to $15 a day.
- Late pick-up. Many Chicago kennels charge a day of daycare if you pick up after late morning: $38 after 11am at Dogs Day Inn and $38 after 11:30am at Chi-Town Dog House. Stay charges $25 after noon, and Bow Wow Lounge $30.
- Weekends, evenings and same-day bookings. Walkers add $5 to $20 for weekends or early and late walks, and $10 to $15 for a same-day booking (Smart Paws, Wags and Whiskers).
- Extras. Card fees of 3 to 4% (Pack Life, Fit Dog, Chi-Town Dog House), house food if you don't pack meals ($3 to $6 a meal), and baths at pick-up ($20 to $45).
Sitter at home, sitter's home, or kennel?
| Option | Chicago price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Sitter in your home | $18 to $23 an hour, $25 to $37 a visit, or $65 to $190 for an overnight | Dogs who are anxious away from home, older dogs, homes with other pets |
| Boarding in a sitter's home | $85 to $150 a night | Social dogs who like a quiet house and one person |
| Kennel, dog hotel or daycare that boards | $60 to $135 a night | Dogs who love other dogs and a busy day of play |
Chicago weather matters too. In January a sitter is walking your dog past road salt and slush (paws need wiping or booties); in July the walk has to happen early before the heat, and some daycare vans don't run when the roads are unsafe (Fit Dog says so on its own page). In a high-rise, add the elevator, the doorman and the building's dog rules. Whoever you pick needs to know your dog's limits.
The part no price covers
The walk is rarely what goes wrong. It's the text at 9pm.
"How much food again?" "Is the white pill the morning one?" "Who's your vet?"
You're paying $18.50 to $135 a day for someone to look after your dog. Then you hand them the most important information out loud, at the door, in a rush, and hope it sticks. Or you write a 10-page Word document they skim once.
Whether it's a friend, a $23-an-hour pro or a $135-a-night dog hotel, they all need the same things from you, and most owners forget at least one:
- Exactly how much your dog eats, and when (not "morning-ish")
- Every medication, the dose, and how to give it
- The quirks: the gate that doesn't latch, the bolt at the front door, the toy that can't be left out
- When to call you, and when to skip you and go straight to the emergency vet
- Your vet, the nearest 24-hour clinic, and a backup contact who isn't you
The Paw Brief: one handbook your sitter can scan in seconds
The Paw Brief asks you the questions you'd forget, then turns your answers into one clear care guide. Fill it in once, update it before each trip, and hand it to whoever is watching your dog: a sitter, a boarding kennel, or your neighbor.
What's inside:
- Who is who: photos and markings for each pet, so meds and food never get mixed up
- Precise times: real times for meals, walks and meds, not "evening"
- Little rituals: the bedtime toy, the water-bowl trick, the things only you know
- Behavior, honestly: checkboxes for reactivity, separation anxiety and resource guarding, so your sitter isn't surprised
- Emergency thresholds: exactly when to call you and when to go straight to the vet
- House details: alarm, fuse box, spare key, and neighbor boundaries
What you get: a fillable PDF that works on any device, plus an editable Canva version. Instant download, no subscription.
The math is easy. One night of Chicago boarding costs $60 to $135. The Paw Brief costs $17, once, and you reuse it for every trip after this one.
No risk: if it doesn't help, you get your money back within 30 days.
The Paw Brief is made by the team behind this guide. The prices and local listings above are researched separately and nobody paid to be included.
Chicago dog sitters, kennels and daycares
Real local options with their Google rating. Where a business publishes its prices, we list them with a link so you can check.
Boarding and kennels
- Tucker Pup's Pet Resort, West Loop · 4.9★ (1102 Google reviews) · Website
- Bow Wow Lounge, Ravenswood · 4.8★ (294 Google reviews) · Website
- Dog. Hotel | Daycare, River West · 4.7★ (329 Google reviews) · Website
- Wag Hotels - West Loop, West Loop · 4.5★ (527 Google reviews) · Website
- Stay A Modern Dog Hotel, North Center · 4.7★ (228 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, standard room: $80 per night per dog; Boarding, suite: $125 per night per dog; Daycare: $49 per day
- DoGone Fun Resort, South Loop · 4.3★ (195 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding: starts at $80 per night; Daycare: starts at $60 per day
- Luxe Lakeshore Leashes Doggy Daycare & Boarding, Old Town · 5★ (101 Google reviews) · Website
- Fetch! Pet Care of Greater Chicago, Chicago · 4.8★ (82 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Private dog walk (30, 45 or 60 min): starts at $27 per walk
- Dogs Day Inn, Lincoln Park · 4.7★ (78 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, single dog: $74 per night; Boarding, two dogs: $138 per night; Daycare, single dog: $47 per day
- Active! Dog Daycare and Boarding, Chicago · 4.8★ (61 Google reviews)
- Top Dog Daycare & Hotel, River North · 5★ (5 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Daycare, one-time visit: $60 per visit; Daycare 10-pack: $540 ($54/day) per 10 days; Holiday surcharge, overnight: $30 per night
- PetSmart Doggie Day Camp, South Loop · 5★ (1 Google reviews) · Website
Daycare
- Happy Tails & Trails, Inc, West Town · 5★ (303 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, 1 dog, facility: $80 per night; Boarding, 2 dogs, facility: $145 per night; Boarding at Angie's house (home-style): $150 per night
- Sit Social, Lakeview · 4.9★ (424 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Luxury dog hotel: $99 to $135 per 24 hrs; Small dog daycare: $51 to $85 per daily visit, depending on package
- PupStars Pet Care, West Town · 4.9★ (322 Google reviews) · Website
- Pet Care Plus, West Loop · 4.6★ (319 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog boarding: starts at $69.95 per night plus activity package; Daycare (with a package): starts at $44.50 per day
- PUPS Pet Club, River North · 4.6★ (273 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding: $90 per night; Daycare, single day: $49 per day; Daycare, half day: $36 per half day
- Hill Family Pet Care, Goose Island · 4.8★ (206 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Dog boarding, 1 dog (members): $100 per night; Dog boarding, 1 dog (non-members): $115 per day; Holiday surcharge: $10 per night per pet
- Pack Life, West Town · 4.9★ (136 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, 1 dog: $75 per night; Boarding, 2 dogs: $110 per night; Daycare, full day, 1 dog: $45 per day
- Paws For Walks Chicago LLC, Lakeshore East · 4.9★ (127 Google reviews) · Website
- Chi-Town Dog House, Roscoe Village · 4.9★ (111 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, 1 dog: $88 per night; Boarding, 2 dogs (same household): $140.80 per night; Daycare, 1 dog: $48 per day
- Western wag, Wicker Park · 4.7★ (98 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, 1 dog (includes daycare): $75 per night; Daycare, full day, 1 dog: $50 per day; 20 minute walk, 1 dog: $23 per walk
- Citizen Canine, Lincoln Park · 4.7★ (84 Google reviews) · Website
- The Pawfect Friend, River North · 4.9★ (67 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Boarding, standard (includes daycare): $110 per night; Daycare, full day: $55 per day; Dog walk, 30 min: $30 per walk
Sitters and walkers (they come to you)
- Windy City Dog Walkers, River West · 4.9★ (261 Google reviews) · Website
- Majestic Paws Chicago, Chicago · 5★ (171 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 25-minute walk (fewer than 3 a week): $29.54 per walk; 50-minute walk (fewer than 3 a week): $47.51 per walk; Overnight care (7pm to 8am): $128.36 per night
- Millennium Dog Walkers & Pet Care in Chicago!, Streeterville · 4.9★ (148 Google reviews) · Website
- Chicago Pet Sitters, Chicago · 4.8★ (129 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Midday ad hoc walk: $42.00 pay-as-you-go; Midday walk, 20-visit pack: $31.50 per visit
- Dogs Deserve It, Lincoln Park · 4.9★ (126 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 25-minute walk (as-needed): $37 per walk; Overnight pet sitting: $135 per day; Hourly pet sitting: $40 per hour
- Purr Inc, Chicago · 5★ (122 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Cat sitting, basic (15 min): $31 per visit
- Smart Paws Chicago, Lakeview · 5★ (105 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 15 minute visit: $24.00 as needed; 25 minute visit: $28.00 as needed; 45 minute visit: $36.00 as needed
- Lakeview Pet Care, Lakeview · 4.7★ (104 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: Cat drop-in visit (20 to 30 minutes): $28 per visit
- Green Paws Chicago, Roscoe Village · 4.8★ (98 Google reviews) · Website
- Urban Tailz, Logan Square · 4.9★ (90 Google reviews) · Website
- South Loop Pet Care, South Loop · 5★ (81 Google reviews) · Website · Their prices: 30 minute walk, 1 dog: $25.00 per visit; 20 minute walk, 1 dog: $20 per visit; Vacation care, 1 dog (3 walks): $100 per day
- Chicago Adventure Pack, Lincoln Park · 5★ (62 Google reviews) · Website
Listings come from Google Maps and each business's own website, checked October 2026. Nobody paid to be listed. Prices change, so confirm before you book. Own one of these businesses? Ask us about a featured spot.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I pay a dog sitter in Chicago?
Most Chicago pet sitters charge about $18 to $23 an hour, according to Care.com. Insured walking and sitting companies charge more: $25 to $37 for a 25 to 30 minute visit, or $20 to $44 an hour for sitting. For a friend or neighbor, many owners pay close to the same hourly rate or a flat amount per day, plus a thank-you.
How much is dog boarding in Chicago per night?
Kennel and dog hotel boarding is $60 to $135 a night; most Chicago kennels charge $74 to $90 for one dog. Boarding in a sitter's own home is $85 to $150 a night.
Is it cheaper to board my dog or have a sitter come over?
For a full day, a kennel night ($60 to $135) is usually cheaper than an overnight sitter in your home ($65 to $190) or paying a sitter by the hour. For two or three short visits a day, an in-home sitter can cost less and keeps your dog in its own routine.
Do Chicago sitters charge more on holidays?
Often, yes. Kennels add $5 to $30 a night on holidays, walkers add $10 to $21 a walk, and in-home overnight sitters can add $25 to $46 a night. Book early for spring break, the July 4 week, Thanksgiving and Christmas, when some kennels ask for a deposit and a minimum stay.
What should I leave for my dog sitter?
Feeding amounts and times, medications with doses, your vet and the nearest emergency clinic, a backup contact, and house rules. The Paw Brief walks you through all of it and turns it into one guide your sitter can scan in seconds.