Average Dog Insurance Cost (2026 Report)

Based on MoneyGeek's analysis of 67,000+ dog profiles across all 50 states and Washington, D.C., the average cost of pet insurance for dogs is $61 per month ($737 annually). This figure reflects a plan for a 6-year-old Labrador Retriever with a $5,000 annual limit, $500 deductible and 80% reimbursement rate.

No two dogs cost the same to insure. Average monthly rates can range from $33 for a Chihuahua to $129 for an Olde English Bulldogge. Factors like coverage selection, breed, geographic location and age all affect what you pay, which means these national averages works best as a reference point, not a prediction of what your quote will show.

Use our tool below to get a monthly estimate of your dog insurance costs based on your pet's specific profile.

Coverage selection, breed, geographic location and age are the four major factors that determine what pet owners pay for dog insurance. Companies use each one to estimate claim likelihood and potential claim costs. As such, a mixed-breed puppy in a low-cost state with a high deductible will cost far less to insure than an older purebred with known health risks in an expensive city.

Coverage selection determines how much financial risk the insurer takes on, and that directly reflects in what dog owners pay. Average monthly premiums can range from $40 to $187, depending on the annual limit, deductible and reimbursement you choose. The sections below break down how each component impacts dog insurance rates.

Dog owners with a $5,000 annual limit pay $61 per month on average. Adjusting that changes the premium in both directions: dropping to a $2,000 limit brings the monthly cost down to $49, while choosing unlimited coverage pushes it to $187.

The relationship between limit and cost isn't always a straight line, though. The $2,500 tier averages $155 per month, higher than every other tier except Unlimited, and well above the adjacent $2,000 and $3,000 tiers, reflecting how individual insurers structure and price their products.

The chart below shows how average monthly costs change based on annual limit.

Jump to: Average Dog Insurance Costs by Deductible

With a $500 deductible, dog insurance averages $61 per month. Choosing a different deductible changes that number considerably: a $50 deductible runs $104 per month, while a $1,000 deductible drops to $42 per month.

However, a higher deductible may not always mean a lower premium. The $350 tier costs $88 monthly on average, more than both the $300 tier at $79 and the $400 tier at $74. Individual insurers price their own deductible tiers based on their claims data and product structure, which is why the numbers don't always step down in a straight line.

Check how average monthly costs vary with different deductibles in the chart below.

Jump to: Average Dog Insurance Costs by Reimbursement Rate

Dog insurance with 80% reimbursement costs an average of $61 per month. This rate shifts considerably at other tiers: 60% reimbursement averages $40 per month, while 100% reimbursement runs $112, showing a 179% difference between the two endpoints.

That said, not every step in the reimbursement range follows a predictable pattern. The 50% tier costs $64 monthly on average, more than both the 60% tier at $40 and the 70% tier at $53. Individual insurers weigh this tier differently based on their own claims data and product design, which means a lower reimbursement rate may not always translate to a lower premium.

See the variations in average monthly costs based on reimbursement rate below.

Jump to: Average Dog Insurance Costs by Annual Limit

Across 157 breeds we analyzed, monthly premiums range from $33 for a Chihuahua to $129 for an Olde English Bulldogge, showing a 290% difference for the same coverage structure. Insurers price breed because it signals expected claim exposure: hereditary conditions, size-related health risks and documented claim histories all factor into how a given breed is underwritten.

We categorized all dog breeds in our dataset into five cost tiers based on how far their average monthly premium sits from the national average.

• Lowest-cost breeds (25%+ below the national average): Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, Maltipoo, Jack Russell Terrier, Morkie, Havanese, Cockapoo, Shiba Inu, Papillon, Miniature Poodle, Cavapoo, Husky, Yorkshire Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Maltese, Australian Silky Terrier, Toy Poodle, Dingo, Puggle, English Toy Terrier, Basenji, Coton De Tulear, Schnoodle, Lhasa Apso, Cavachon, Dachshund, Pomeranian, Japanese Chin, American Eskimo, Japanese Spitz, Border Collie, Groodle, Peruvian Hairless Dog, Pekingese, Miniature Pinscher, Shetland Sheepdog, Fox Terrier, American Hairless Terrier, German Spitz, Australian Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Border Terrier
• Low-cost breeds (10% to 24% below the national average): Goldendoodle, West Highland White Terrier, Labradoodle, German Pinscher, Norwich Terrier, Bichon Frise, Miniature Schnauzer, Bearded Collie, Brussels Griffon, Australian Cattle Dog, Siberian Husky, English Foxhound, Norfolk Terrier, Italian Greyhound, American Foxhound, Boston Terrier, Finnish Lapphund, Cairn Terrier, Norwegian Elkhound, Whippet, Irish Terrier, Icelandic Sheepdog, Collie, Welsh Corgi Cardigan, Pointer, Foxhound, Affenpinscher, Keeshond, Alaskan Husky, Wire Fox Terrier, Standard Schnauzer, Beagle, Miniature Fox Terrier, Australian Kelpie, Pembroke Welsh Corgi, English Springer Spaniel
• Mid-cost breeds (within 9% of the national average): Welsh Terrier, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Shorthaired Pointer, Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen, Samoyed, Field Spaniel, Pug, Smooth Collie, Harrier, Belgian Shepherd Malinois, Vizsla, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Tibetan Terrier, Saluki, Cocker Spaniel, Scottish Terrier, English Setter, Italian Spinone, Puli, Corgi, German Shepherd, Standard Poodle, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Chow Chow, Briard, Portuguese Water Dog, English Pointer, Hungarian Vizsla, Afghan Hound, Golden Retriever, Rough Collie, Labrador Retriever
• High-cost breeds (10% to 49% above the national average): Alaskan Malamute, Irish Setter, Akita, Bracco Italiano, Pitbull, Old English Sheepdog, Clumber Spaniel, Airedale Terrier, Lurcher, Basset Fauve de Bretagne, American Staffordshire Terrier, Greyhound, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Great Pyrenees, Bull Terrier, Komondor, Dalmatian, Miniature Bull Terrier, Kangal Shepherd Dog, Basset Hound, Estrela Mountain Dog, Weimaraner, Borzoi, Gordon Setter, Caucasian Shepherd Dog, Central Asian Shepherd Dog, Boxer, Bloodhound, American Bulldog, American Bully, Scottish Deerhound, Shar Pei, French Bulldog, Tibetan Mastiff, Cane Corso, Newfoundland, Rottweiler, English Mastiff, Great Dane, English Bulldog
• Highest-cost breeds (50%+ above the national average): Saint Bernard, Bernese Mountain Dog, Dogue de Bordeaux, Doberman Pinscher, Bull Mastiff, Olde English Bulldogge

79 of the 157 breeds in our dataset land in the two lowest-cost tiers, while just six reach the highest-cost tier. The 40 breeds in the high-cost tier represent the largest single concentration above the national average, and those 46 breeds combined account for nearly 30% of the dataset.

This distribution matters most when viewed through the lens of what breeds Americans own. The Labrador Retriever and Golden Retriever, two of the most widely owned breeds in the U.S., both sit within 1% of the national average in the mid-cost tier. The French Bulldog, currently the most registered breed in the U.S., according to the American Kennel Club, lands 46% above the national average in the high-cost tier. The German Shepherd, another top-five breed by ownership, sits 5% below the national average. 

For most dog owners, the data suggests their breed is more likely to price at or above the national average than below it. The lowest-cost tiers are dominated by toy and small breeds that, while popular, represent a smaller share of the total U.S. dog ownership pool than the mid- and large-breed groups clustered around or above the benchmark.

Review how average monthly and annual costs vary based on breed in the table below.

Use the dedicated resources below to find the average cost for your dog's breed.

Dog insurance premiums vary across every state, even with the same coverage level. Alabama averages $49 per month, while Washington, D.C. costs $93 per month. The 50 states and Washington, D.C. fall into three cost tiers:

• Low-cost states (10%+ below national average): Alabama, Arkansas, West Virginia, Indiana, Kentucky, North Dakota, Tennessee, Missouri, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Montana, Nebraska, Maine and Iowa

• Mid-cost states (within ±10% of national average): Wyoming, Mississippi, Rhode Island, Kansas, Minnesota, Michigan, Louisiana, Idaho, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Nevada, Vermont, South Dakota, Florida, Ohio, Maryland, Georgia, Utah, Arizona, New Jersey, Oregon, Delaware, Alaska and Texas

• High-cost states (10%+ above national average): New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois, Connecticut, Hawaii, California, Colorado, Massachusetts, Washington and Washington, D.C.

Most states (25 of the 51 jurisdictions analyzed) fall within 10% of the national average, meaning the majority of dog owners pay close to the same base rate regardless of where they live. The real divergence happens at the extremes. Alabama sits 21% below the national average, while Washington, D.C. runs 51% above it.

That gap reflects regional veterinary costs. According to CareCredit's 2024 data, dog owners in Washington, D.C. pay an average of $112 per vet visit, compared to $77 in Alabama. States where veterinary overhead is higher, specialty clinics are more concentrated and costs of living are elevated consistently produce higher premiums. Insurers price coverage to match the claims they expect to pay, so where care costs more, coverage costs more too.

The table below shows the average monthly and annual cost of dog insurance by state, along with each state's position relative to the national average.

You can also explore our state-specific resources below for more detailed information.

As dogs get older, their likelihood of developing chronic illness, mobility problems and other age-related conditions increases, and premiums rise accordingly. Average rates can range from $44 monthly to $206 monthly for dog insurance. Below, we break down how average monthly costs change based on different age groups.

Puppy insurance costs an average of $46 monthly for a puppy under 1 year old. Premiums stay nearly flat through the first two years: a 1-year-old averages $44 per month and a 2-year-old averages $45 per month. This pattern reflects how insurers assess risk at enrollment: dogs insured before their first birthday may be quoted at a slightly more conservative rate until their full health profile is established, while 1- and 2-year-olds have a cleaner baseline for underwriters to work from. 

The chart below shows average monthly costs for puppies at each age point.

Jump to: Average Pet Insurance Costs for Middle-Aged Dogs

At age 4, the average rate for dog insurance is $51 per month. Premiums begin to climb at a consistent pace from there: $57 monthly at age 5 and $64 monthly at age 6. This is the window where age-driven cost acceleration becomes most visible, as insurers begin pricing in the higher claim likelihood that comes with a dog moving out of its early adult years. 

Check the chart below for the average monthly breakdown across this age range.

Jump to: Average Pet Insurance Costs for Senior Dogs

The average cost of senior dog insurance is $73 per month for a 7-year-old dog. From there, average monthly rates climb from $81 at age 8 to $90 at age 9 before jumping 22% to $110 at age 10. 

Growth continues through ages 11 to 15, where premiums reach $206 per month, a 183% increase from the age-7 starting point, reflecting the compounding effect of age-related conditions like organ decline, cancer risk and advanced joint disease that pet insurers associate with dogs in their mid-teen years.

From age 16 onward, monthly costs drop to $189 and then hold completely flat through age 20, with no further increases regardless of the dog's age. This pricing pattern is notable: rather than continuing to raise rates as dogs age past 15, insurers appear to cap premiums at a fixed ceiling.

Review the chart below to compare average monthly costs across each year of a senior dog's life.

Jump to: Average Pet Insurance Costs for Puppies

Among the factors that impact dog insurance costs, coverage selection is the one variable most dog owners can adjust without cutting the coverage most likely to matter when their pet needs care.

Dog insurance premiums are largely influenced by four factors: coverage selection, breed, location and age, each priced separately by insurers. The $61 monthly national average is a useful starting point, but your actual quote will land somewhere on a wide distribution depending on how those factors combine.  

Assess your quote by answering these three questions:

1. How does your dog's breed and location compare to the national benchmark?
2. Which coverage selections are moving your premium up or down?
3. Which adjustments would bring your cost closer to where you want it?

Use these questions as a framework to assess whether a quote accurately reflects your dog's risk profile and aligns with what you actually need from a policy.

If you're ready to get quotes, use your dog's breed, age and location alongside your preferred coverage limits to compare options across insurers. Requesting quotes with identical coverage terms from at least three carriers gives you the most accurate read on where your dog's premium sits relative to the market.

If you're still unsure, the guidance below can help you better understand your options and make an informed decision.