How much should house and plant sitters charge?
Most independent house/plant sitters price per drop-in visit for short check-ins, but quote overnight stays and multi-day house-sits as a separate flat day-rate ($40-125/day depending on scope and location) rather than per visit — use this calculator for your drop-in rate, then multiply by expected visits per day for a day-rate quote.
Estimate your rate
A starting point for house & plant sitting — adjust to your own numbers.
~$30.60 / visit
Based on a 30-minute visit at an effective rate of ~$61.20/hour. Formula: (target income + expenses) ÷ (billable hours/week × 50 working weeks), converted to a per-visit price. This is a starting estimate, not a guarantee — adjust for local market rates.
What moves the rate
- Number of plants and their care needs (frequent watering, misting, rotating for light)
- Scope: mail/package collection, security checks, trash bin duty, light housekeeping
- Overnight or multi-day stay vs. short drop-in visit
- Home size and number of entry points to check
- Local cost of living and competitor rates in your city
- Travel time/distance between clients
Start from your target hourly rate, then convert to a per-visit drop-in price. For overnight/multi-day house-sits, price as a flat day-rate instead (national range $40-125/day depending on scope and metro) rather than scaling the per-visit number linearly, since overnight duties (security presence, being available) aren't purely time-based. The $1,200/yr expense default assumes general liability insurance (~$300-600/yr per Thimble/PCI quotes), scheduling/client software (~$300-500), gas/mileage between properties, and minor supplies (moisture meters, watering tools) — no pet-specific gear needed, but liability coverage matters given house-key access and homeowner property in your care.