How Much Should a Dog Walker Charge?

Written for the UK scenario, but the principles apply in most English-speaking nations.

The quick answer: most UK dog walkers charge somewhere between £10 and £25 per walk in 2026. Market research puts the national average at around £13.50 a walk. Group walks sit at the lower end, solo walks and longer walks at the higher end, and prices in London and the South East run well above the average.

But if you are the dog walker, the average is only a starting point. What you should charge depends on your own costs, how many walks you can fit in a day, and the income you need. This guide gives you typical prices first, then shows you how to work out a price that actually pays.

Typical dog walking prices in 2026

These are UK-wide ranges from 2026 industry surveys. Your local rates may be higher or lower.

What changes the price

• London and the South East charge the most. Prices in smaller towns and rural areas are usually lower.
• Group or solo. A solo walk takes the same time as a group walk but earns from one client, so it costs more.
• Walk length. An hour’s walk costs more than half an hour, though not usually double, because the travel to collect the dog is the same.
• The dog. Reactive, very strong or young dogs that need solo walks or extra handling cost more.
• Weekend, bank holiday, early morning and evening walks often carry an extra charge.
• Experience and extras. Walkers with canine first aid, behaviour training, GPS tracking and photo updates can, and do, charge more.

If you are the dog walker: how much should you charge?

Copying the local average is risky. Two walkers charging the same £13 can earn very different incomes, because their costs and the number of walks they fit in are different. Work out your own price like this:

1. Add up your yearly costs: insurance, vehicle costs, kit, phone and software, marketing and training.
2. Add the income you need for the year, before tax.
3. Work out how many dog-walks you can do in a year. Count each dog on each walk once. Most walks happen in the middle of the day, so you are limited to a few walk slots a day, and your insurer and council may limit how many dogs you take at once. Don’t assume every slot is full.
4. Divide your costs plus income by your yearly dog-walks. That is your break-even price per dog, per walk.
5. Add profit for quiet spells, replacing kit and the unexpected.

Worked example

This walker works 5 days a week for 47 weeks, which is 235 days. They run three group walks a day with up to four dogs, but allowing for gaps and cancellations, they average 10 dog-walks a day: 235 × 10 = 2,350 dog-walks a year.

Break-even price: £30,400 ÷ 2,350 = about £12.94 per dog, per walk.

With 15% profit: about £14.90 a walk.

That is above the national average of around £13.50. A walker who simply charged the average would earn barely enough to cover costs and wages, with nothing left as profit. The figures are illustrative, so use your own. Our free Charge-Out Rate Calculator helps with the sums: www.tradeskillshubacademy.com/profit-tools.

For the reasoning behind this method, see our guide to working out your hourly rate when you are self-employed: [ADD LINK TO HOURLY RATE POST].

Extra charges and pricing policies

Your price list should cover more than a standard walk. Decide these in advance and put them in writing:

• Solo walks: charge more than a group walk, because the slot earns from one dog only.
• Extra dogs from the same home: a reduced rate for the second dog is normal, but not free.
• Weekends and bank holidays: an extra charge, or a higher rate, if you work them at all.
• Puppy visits and pet sitting: price per visit, including your travel time.
• Dogs needing special handling: reactive or very strong dogs may need solo walks at a higher rate.
• Cancellations: for example, full charge for walks cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice. A cancelled walk is a slot you could have filled.
• Late payment: set when payment is due, such as weekly or monthly in advance, and what happens if it is late.

Review your prices every year. Your costs rise every year, so if your prices don’t, your income falls. Give existing clients a month’s notice of any increase.

Frequently asked questions

How much should I charge for dog walking as a beginner?

Work out your break-even price first, using the method above. Starting a little below established local walkers can help you win your first clients, but never go below break-even. Raise your prices once your diary is full.

Should I charge per walk or per hour?

Most dog walkers charge per walk, with set lengths such as 30 or 60 minutes. It is simpler for clients and easier to manage than timing every walk.

How much do dog walkers charge for two dogs?

Usually the full price for the first dog, plus a smaller extra charge for a second dog from the same household. Dogs from the same home that must be walked separately should each pay the full rate.

Do dog walkers charge VAT?

Only if they are VAT registered, which is required once turnover goes over £90,000 a year. Most sole-trader dog walkers are below that and don’t charge VAT.

Your next step

How to Set Up and Run Your Own Dog Walking Business covers pricing in full, along with insurance, client forms, safety, finding clients and growing your business.

Click to download our eBook, How to Start Up and Run Your Own Dog Walking Business here.