A full groom — bath, blow-dry, haircut, nails, ears — runs $50–80 for a small dog up to $100–160 for a giant at an independent shop, and the coat decides how often you pay it: curly and silky coats repeat every 4–6 weeks, which is $1,000–1,500+ a year for a doodle. Here's the full price table, the frequency cycle by coat, and where bills balloon.
| Dog size | Full groom | Bath & brush | Mobile full groom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 25 lb) | $50–80 | $30–45 | $75–140 |
| Medium (25–50 lb) | $65–100 | $40–60 | $100–175 |
| Large (50–75 lb) | $80–125 | $50–75 | $125–220 |
| X-Large / Giant (75+ lb) | $100–160 | $60–90 | $150–260 |
Those are 2025–26 national bands for independent shops. PetSmart and Petco salons run roughly 10% under with published by-weight menus; standalone boutiques and barbershops-turned-groomers in expensive metros run 20–40% over. Groomers price by size because everything scales with the dog: shampoo, table time, and above all dryer time — a thick double coat can hold a dog under a force dryer for an hour.
| Coat type | Cycle | Yearly total (large dog) |
|---|---|---|
| Short & smooth (beagle, pit bull, Doberman) | Bath & brush every 8–12 wks | ~$535 |
| Double coat (golden, husky, GSD) | Bath q8–12 wks + de-shed q4–6 wks in shed season | ~$745 |
| Long & silky (Shih Tzu, Maltese, Yorkie) | Full groom every 4–6 wks | ~$1,430 |
| Curly (poodle, doodle, bichon) | Full groom every 4–6 wks | ~$1,430 |
| Wiry (terriers) | Clip every 8–10 wks | ~$710 |
The frequency is the multiplier that surprises first-time owners of high-maintenance coats: a $100 groom is $260 a year at every-12-weeks, and $1,040 at every-5-weeks. Choosing a shih tzu instead of a beagle is a decade-long, $600-a-year decision, made at the breeder.
Base prices cover bath, dry, and haircut. The à-la-carte menu: nail trim $15–25, ear cleaning $10–20, teeth brushing $10–20, de-shedding treatment $20–50, de-matting $25–75, flea bath $20–40, skunk treatment $40–75, paw or sanitary trim $10–15. Bundled in a full groom, several of these are free; à la carte at self-serve washes they add up fast. Teeth brushing is cosmetic — if the vet has mentioned tartar, the relevant number is a dental cleaning, which is a $500–1,500 anesthetized procedure, not a $15 add-on.
Doodles are the top of every groomer's price list and the bottom of their favorite-customer list. The coat mats at the base where you can't see it, owners discover this after week 8, and the options become a $25–75 de-matting fee, a shave-down ("he's so short!"), or a decline — many shops now turn away heavily matted dogs because dematting a pelted animal is genuinely painful, and sedated grooming belongs at a vet.
The prevention is boring and effective: brush to the skin with a slicker and comb-through twice a week, book the next appointment before you leave the current one, and keep the 4–6 week cycle even in winter. A doodle kept on cycle at $100–180 a visit runs $1,000–1,500 a year; a doodle rescued twice a year from matting runs more and looks worse.
Whichever you choose, the tip is 15–20% like a hairdresser: $11–15 on a $75 groom, $20–28 on a $140 doodle. Cash still wins, most booking apps have a tip line, and heavily-matted-dog appointments earn the top of the range.
Size, coat, groomer type, and frequency in — session cost, yearly bill, monthly average, and tip guidance out.
Open the Dog Grooming Cost Calculator →A full groom runs $50-80 for small dogs, $65-100 medium, $80-125 large, and $100-160 for giants at an independent shop. Big-box salons run about 10% less; mobile groomers charge 1.5-2 times shop prices. Add 15-20% for a tip.
Curly coats and long silky coats need a full groom every 4-6 weeks. Double coats need a bath every 8-12 weeks plus de-shedding every 4-6 weeks in spring and fall. Short smooth coats manage with a bath every 8-12 weeks, and wiry terrier coats need clipping every 8-10 weeks.
Doodle coats combine poodle texture with variable density, they mat quickly at the base, and they're often large. Expect $100-180 per full groom for a medium-to-large doodle every 5-6 weeks — roughly $1,000-1,500 a year before tips. A matted doodle adds a $25-75 de-matting fee or gets a shave-down, and some shops decline pelted dogs entirely.
Mobile groomers charge 1.5-2 times shop prices — roughly $75-140 for a small dog's full groom and $125-260 for large — because you're paying for a van, water, power, and one-on-one time with zero crate drying. The value is stress: no other dogs, no waiting, and dogs that hate the shop often do fine in a driveway van.
15-20% of the session, like a hairdresser: $11-15 on a $75 groom, $20-28 on a $140 doodle groom. Go toward the high end for matted coats, anxious dogs, or last-minute fits. Many mobile groomers are owner-operators, where tips are appreciated but genuinely optional.