How much should pet sitters charge?

Most independent pet sitters price per visit or per night rather than strictly hourly, but it helps to know your effective hourly rate so you're not underpricing.

Estimate your rate

A starting point for pet sitting — adjust to your own numbers.

Target annual income ($)Billable hours / weekBusiness expenses / year ($)Typical visit length (minutes)

~$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 and species of pets (multi-pet households cost more)
Visit length and frequency (30 min vs 60 min, once vs twice daily)
Overnight stays vs drop-in visits
Local cost of living and competitor rates in your city
Specialized care: medication administration, senior pets, behavioral needs
Travel time/distance between clients

Start from your target hourly rate, then convert to a per-visit price by estimating visit length plus a buffer for travel and updates to the owner. The $1,200/yr expense default assumes pet-sitter liability insurance (~$200-300), scheduling software like Time To Pet (~$400-600), gas/mileage, and basic supplies (leashes, waste bags) — no dedicated vehicle or major equipment needed for this profession.