What Should Dog Groomers Charge in the UK? 2025 Market Analysis

Setting the right grooming prices has never been more important. With rising operational costs, increasing demand for premium grooming services, and ongoing competition, UK groomers are asking the same question: “Am I charging enough?”

This 2025 market analysis breaks down the current UK pricing landscape, giving you clear, data-backed guidance on what groomers are charging and how to confidently set your own rates. Whether you’re a salon owner, a solo mobile groomer, or reviewing your 2025 price list, this guide will help you stay competitive and profitable.

Why Groomer Pricing Isn’t One-Size-Fits-All

There’s no universal price for grooming, and that’s exactly why many groomers end up undercharging.

Your rates should reflect:

• Breed & Coat Type: High‑maintenance coats like poodles and doodles require more time.

• Dog Size: Toy, small, medium, large, and giant breeds all require different time and effort.

• Coat Condition: Matted or impacted coats increase service time and should increase the price.

• Location: London and major cities charge higher prices due to overheads and demand.

• Experience & Skill: Senior groomers naturally command higher rates.

• Salon Setup: Mobile grooming often includes a premium for convenience.

2025 Average Dog Grooming Rates: The Data

These ranges are based on cross‑checked industry surveys and grooming price lists from trusted UK sources including NimbleFins, Dogster, Pet Universe, and Dog Groomers Folkestone.

Average Grooming Prices by Size (Full Groom)

• Small breeds: £30–£50

• Medium breeds: £40–£65

• Large breeds: £60–£90

• Giant breeds: £80–£120+

London salons typically charge 15–30% more than national averages, as documented across multiple regional price surveys.

Example Price Ranges by Breed Group

These breed-specific ranges are drawn from Pawfectly and Pet Universe pricing guides. Both are excellent examples of transparent, detailed price lists that break down costs by breed, size, and coat type, making them particularly useful reference points if you’re building your own pricing structure:

• Toy Breeds: £30–£45

• Doodle/Poodle Mixes: £55–£90

• Double‑Coats: £45–£80

• Spaniels: £45–£65

• Terriers: £40–£55

Specialist Treatments & Premium Services

Upselling premium add‑ons is one of the simplest ways to increase revenue without extending your schedule.

Common extras and typical UK ranges from Pet Universe, Pawfectly, and Dog Groomers Folkestone:

• Hand Stripping: £60–£110

• Dematting: £10–£30 (or time-based, with many groomers now charging per minute)

• De‑shedding: £10–£25

• Teeth Cleaning: £20–£45

• Nail Trim: £5–£15

• Spa Add‑ons: £5–£15

How to Set Your Own Prices

Here’s a clear, step‑by‑step way to build a profitable pricing model:

1. Calculate Your True Costs

Make sure you consider:

• Rent or van costs

• Utilities

• Shampoos, sprays, and consumables

• Equipment servicing and depreciation

• Insurance and licensing

• Admin and software (like Tailly)

• Your target hourly wage

2. Benchmark Against Local Competition

Look at 3–5 local groomers in your area:

• Compare by size categories

• Identify how they handle matted charges

• Look at included services vs. optional add‑ons

3. Position Your Value

If you specialise in doodles, deshedding, creative grooming, mobile grooming, or hand stripping, your prices should reflect that premium. Make sure to clearly communicate these specialised services to your customers and highlight the value they bring, so clients understand why these services command higher rates.

4. Adjust Prices Regularly

Most UK groomers now increase prices once per year, usually in January or April, to keep up with inflation and product costs.

Regional Insights: Pricing Trends Across the UK

Different parts of the UK have wildly different cost structures, customer expectations, and competition levels. Dogster’s regional analysis provides detailed breakdowns for England, Scotland, Wales, and London.

London & South East

Groomers in these areas routinely charge 20–35% more than national averages due to higher rent, demand for premium services, and increased labour costs. Many salons also report a stronger appetite for add-ons such as spa packages, teeth cleaning, and seasonal treatments.

Midlands & North West

Prices tend to sit close to national averages, though doodle-heavy areas (like Manchester suburbs) show increasing rates for poodle-mix grooming.

Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland

Here, prices often fall 10–15% below national averages, but mobile grooming is booming, which allows many groomers to charge convenience premiums.

Inflation & Rising Operational Costs

Even if demand stays strong, your margins shrink every year if your prices don’t adjust. According to the Office for National Statistics, inflation continues to impact operational costs. Between rising shampoo/tool costs and increased utilities, many groomers have seen operational costs climb by 8–12% year-over-year.

If you haven’t increased your prices in the last 12 months, 2025 is the year to do it. The ONS Consumer Price Inflation bulletin provides detailed sector-specific data to support your pricing decisions.

Consumer Behaviour in 2025

Pet owners are increasingly treating grooming as healthcare rather than a luxury. According to Global Pet Industry, professional standards and consumer expectations are rising. Market trends show:

• More owners booking regular 6–8 week grooms

• Higher demand for coat maintenance packages

• Growing interest in coat-care education (brush training, maintenance sessions)

• Improved willingness to pay for premium shampoos, facials, and add-ons

This means groomers have more flexibility in value-based pricing.

Should You Charge by Size, Breed, Coat Type, or Time?

Groomers often ask which pricing model is best. The truth is: it depends on your business goals.

1. Size-Based Pricing

Most common and easiest for clients to understand. Works well for traditional salons.

2. Breed-Based Pricing

Useful when you specialise or have recurring patterns in your client base (e.g., doodles, spaniels).

3. Coat-Type or Coat-Condition Pricing

Brilliant for efficiency, especially for double-coated or designer breeds that vary dramatically in time required.

4. Time-Based Pricing

More groomers are moving toward hourly billing, such as:

• £40/hour

• £50/hour

• £60/hour for senior groomers or specialists

This is particularly useful for:

• Mobile groomers

• Giant breeds

• Severely matted dogs

• Hand stripping

• Behavioural grooms

Time-based pricing protects your income when unpredictable dogs or coat conditions extend service times.

A More In-Depth Look at Add-On Pricing

While add-ons were briefly covered earlier, here’s a deeper breakdown of what groomers are charging across the UK.

De-Shedding Packages

• Small dogs: £10–£15

• Medium dogs: £15–£20

• Large dogs: £20–£30

Many groomers now bundle this into coat maintenance packages, increasing consistency and rebook rates.

Dematting Charges

Industry-wide, groomers are moving to time-based dematting:

• £1 per minute

• £10 per 10 minutes

This reinforces your boundaries and protects the dog’s welfare.

Spa Upgrades

• Blueberry facials: £5–£12

• Paw balm revitalisation: £5–£10

• Luxury shampoo upgrade: £3–£6

• Nourishing coat masks: £5–£12

Teeth Cleaning

Some groomers now offer memberships:

• Initial deep clean: £35–£55

• Maintenance clean: £15–£25

• Monthly membership: £20–£30

This provides recurring revenue, one of the healthiest income sources for any grooming business.

How Often Should Groomers Review Prices?

Most groomers review prices annually, but many experts now recommend a 6-month review cycle, even if you only adjust once a year.

You should review prices when:

• Product costs rise

• You invest in new equipment

• You complete new training or certifications

• You receive consistent feedback that you are underpriced

• Your schedule is booked 4–6 weeks ahead

When to Charge a Premium

You should raise prices confidently and transparently when:

• You offer a specialist service (hand stripping, creative grooming)

• Your area has high demand or low competition

• You increase quality or invest in tools

• You reposition your brand as a premium salon

Should You Charge More for Doodles?

Short answer: Yes.

Doodles require more brushing, drying, coat prepping, scissoring, and finishing work than nearly any other breed type.

Many UK groomers now treat doodles as a separate pricing category entirely.

The Psychology of Pricing

Small changes can dramatically improve perceived value:

• £39 feels cheaper than £40

• £48 → £50 signals premium quality

• Bundled packages feel more affordable

• Tiered pricing helps clients self-select

Even subtle formatting of your price list can increase conversions.

How Tailly Helps Groomers Manage Pricing

Tailly makes pricing management simpler with:

• Flexible pricing by breed, size, and coat type: Set different prices for Small & Long Haired vs. Heavy Shedders

• Service variants: Create custom pricing tiers for your specific grooming styles

• Quick price adjustments: Override prices for individual appointments when needed

• Detailed service records: Keep track of what services each pet receives and their grooming history

• Client and pet profiles: Remember special instructions, preferences, and past services to maintain consistent pricing

When you have clear, organised records of your services and client history, it’s easier to review your pricing strategy and ensure you’re charging appropriately for the value you deliver.

Conclusion & Next Steps

Setting the right prices is one of the fastest ways to improve your profit margins and reduce overwhelm. Regularly reviewing your prices ensures you’re paid fairly for your time, skill, and expertise.

With Tailly’s flexible pricing tools, you can easily manage different rates by breed, size, and coat type, making it simpler to implement the pricing strategies covered in this guide. Try Tailly for free and see how organised service records help you confidently review and adjust your pricing strategy.