Holiday mobile grooming prices: what to budget in 2026

What a holiday groom costs.

Every December, families plan visits and photos, and they all want a clean dog by the same week. A mobile groomer brings one van, one tub, and one table to your driveway. Each groom takes one to two hours, so when the calendar is full, it is full. We read the prices groomers post on their own websites. Those come from their sites, not live appointment calendars, so they tell you the price but not who has room.

We list 1,098 mobile groomers in 1,875 towns. Here is the middle price across the country for each dog size, and how many groomers post it.

Doodles often have their own price. 107 groomers post one, and the middle is $145.

Cats too: 369 groomers say they do full cat grooms. Of the 54 that post a cat price, the middle is $168.

Prices by city.

Prices change a lot from city to city. Honolulu and Seattle cost the most for a small dog, and Miami costs the least. Each area counts groomers who serve that city or a town within 60 miles of it. Tap a city to see its groomers.

55 areas have at least three published small-dog prices, so we can show a fair middle price. A cell says “Not enough prices” when fewer than three groomers post one. Scroll for more cities.

“Booking links” counts groomers you can book online. For more price data you can download, see our mobile grooming price report.

What your pet could cost: five examples.

Prices make more sense with a real pet in mind. Here are five common pets and the national starting price for each. Your groomer will give you the real number once they know your pet.

A 12-pound Shih Tzu

Plan on about $120 to start (the middle of 435 posted prices). Shih Tzus need a haircut, not just a bath, so plan on the full groom.

A 30-pound goldendoodle

Plan on about $140 to start (the middle of 253 posted prices). Some groomers charge a doodle rate on top of this, and a matted coat costs more.

A 55-pound Labrador

Plan on about $125 to start (the middle of 222 posted prices). Labs do not need a haircut. A bath and a good brush-out handle the shedding.

An 85-pound Bernese mountain dog

Plan on about $185 to start (the middle of 184 posted prices). Ask first if the van fits a dog this big. The thick coat takes time, so it is a long visit.

A long-haired cat

Plan on about $168 (the middle of 54 posted prices). Ask what it includes and how the groomer handles nervous cats.

Get a price for your own town and pet.

Can you still get a December appointment?

Often, yes, if you start now. Weekends and the days right before a holiday go first. Weekday mornings in early December stay open longer. We cannot see a groomer’s live calendar, so ask, and check that they drive to your street.

772 of our 1,098 groomers let you book online. Some are already tight: 27 have a waitlist, 30 say they have few openings, and 2 are not taking new clients. Those notes come from their websites, and a groomer with no note may still be full.

Five ways to get on the calendar

1. Book online tonight. On your town page, use the “Books online” filter. Make sure the groomer confirms your time, not just your request.
2. Ask for a weekday morning. A Tuesday in early December is far easier to get than the Saturday before Christmas.
3. Ask several groomers at once. With our Ask several tool, you write one message and send it to a few groomers in your town.
4. Book the next one now. If you have a regular groomer, book your January visit while they are at your door.
5. Look one town over. A groomer based in the next town may still drive to your street.

How to keep the bill from going up.

Most surprise charges come from things the groomer did not know when they gave the price. Tell them your pet’s weight, breed, coat, and when they were last groomed. Then ask for the full total before the day.

• Mats and tangles: say so when you book. Mats take time to remove safely, and most groomers charge for it. Don’t try to pull them out yourself.
• Weight and coat: give your dog’s real weight. Prices go by size, and a guess can be off by a whole size.
• Add-ons: ask if nail grinding, teeth brushing, and de-shedding are included or extra.
• Travel and seasonal fees: some groomers add a fee for far-away homes or a minimum per visit. Ask for the full total.

For more on mats, see our matted-coat guide.

Bath or full groom before the holidays?

A bath costs about $30 less, and it is all a short-coated dog needs. Dogs with hair that keeps growing, like poodles and Shih Tzus, need the full groom.

When to ask about a full groom

If your dog’s hair keeps growing, like a poodle, doodle, or Shih Tzu, it needs a haircut. Tell the groomer how short you want it.

When to ask about a bath

Short-coated dogs like Labs and beagles usually just need a bath and brush-out. Ask if de-shedding costs extra. Our bath-only guide explains the options.

Keep winter comfort in the plan

The ASPCA says not to shave your dog down to the skin in winter, because the coat keeps them warm. If your dog has skin problems, ask your vet. See our holiday booking and winter-care guide for more preparation tips.

Tipping your groomer at the holidays.

A tip is up to you. Many owners tip about 20%, and some add a little extra in December for a groomer they see all year. Here is what 20% looks like.

• Small dog: a $120 groom plus a 20% tip of about $24.
• Large dog: a $165 groom plus a 20% tip of about $33.

Base the tip on your real bill. A thank-you card or a kind review means a lot too. See the mobile groomer tipping guide.

Where these numbers come from.

We list only groomers who come to you in a van or trailer. For each one, we read its own website: the towns it serves, the services it offers, and the prices it posts. We do not use quotes, reviews, or prices from other sites.

The tables update on their own as our listings change. When a groomer posts one starting price with no sizes, we count it as the small-dog price. We show a city’s price only when at least three groomers there post one.

Each groomer was checked on its own date. You can see every date in our source file, and how we work on our methods page. Prices change, so confirm yours with the groomer.

A few more answers

Questions people ask.

Where these facts come from.

Prices, service areas, and booking notes come from groomers’ own websites. Each groomer’s check date is in the source file. The images are AI-made illustrations, not photos of real groomers.

• Fluffmobile: listing-level sources
• Fluffmobile: research methods
• ASPCA: cold weather safety tips