Based on extensive discussions across Reddit communities like r/petsitting and r/RoverPetSitting, determining the "fair" rate for overnight care depends on several variables. Unlike a quick drop-in visit, overnight stays involve the sitter living in your home, providing security, and offering companionship to your pets during high-anxiety hours.
Factors Influencing Rates (The Reddit Consensus)
The "Base Rate": On average, Reddit users report paying between $60 to $120 per night for a standard overnight stay (approx. 10-12 hours). Premium sitters in high cost-of-living (HCOL) areas often charge $150+.
Additional Pets: Most sitters charge an "extra pet fee." This typically ranges from $15 to $35 per additional animal, reflecting the increased labor of feeding, walking, and cleaning.
Puppies and Senior Care: Special needs pets—those requiring subcutaneous fluids, insulin, or constant supervision (puppies)—usually command a $10-$25 surcharge per night.
Holiday Premiums: Expect to pay 20% to 50% more during Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Fourth of July. Sitters are sacrificing their own holidays to care for yours.
Real-World Example
If you have two dogs and need a 3-night stay during a non-holiday period:
Base Rate: $80/night
Additional Dog: $25/night
Total Daily: $105
3-Night Total: $315
Why Reddit Users Prefer Overnights
Overnight care is often preferred for dogs with separation anxiety or medical conditions. According to Reddit anecdotes, the value of "house sitting" is a major plus; having a sitter present reduces the risk of home burglaries and ensures mail and plants are tended to while you are away. This calculator helps both sitters and owners find a transparent middle ground based on current market trends.
function calculatePetRates() {
var baseRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('baseNightlyRate').value);
var nights = parseInt(document.getElementById('totalNights').value);
var extraPetsCount = parseInt(document.getElementById('extraPets').value);
var extraFee = parseFloat(document.getElementById('extraPetFee').value);
var specialCare = parseFloat(document.getElementById('specialCare').value);
var holidayPct = parseFloat(document.getElementById('holidayMarkup').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(baseRate) || isNaN(nights) || nights <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid base rate and at least one night.");
return;
}
// Clean up NaNs for optional fields
if (isNaN(extraPetsCount)) extraPetsCount = 0;
if (isNaN(extraFee)) extraFee = 0;
if (isNaN(specialCare)) specialCare = 0;
if (isNaN(holidayPct)) holidayPct = 0;
// Math logic
var dailyExtraPetsTotal = extraPetsCount * extraFee;
var dailyTotalNoMarkup = baseRate + dailyExtraPetsTotal + specialCare;
var subtotal = dailyTotalNoMarkup * nights;
// Apply Holiday Percentage
var holidayMultiplier = 1 + (holidayPct / 100);
var finalTotal = subtotal * holidayMultiplier;
var nightlyAvg = finalTotal / nights;
// Display results
document.getElementById('totalCostDisplay').innerText = "$" + finalTotal.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('nightlyAverageDisplay').innerText = "$" + nightlyAvg.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}) + " per night";
document.getElementById('petRateResult').style.display = 'block';
}