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Puppy Cost Calculator

What will a puppy really cost in year one? Start from the ASPCA's published estimates, then change any amount to match your area and your choices.

Adjusts food and parasite prevention — a rough scaling, edit the amounts if you know yours.
One-time costs
Yearly costs
Optional extras

Default amounts are the ASPCA's 2021 estimates for a dog. Prices have generally risen since — adjust for your area.

Your estimate

$0 first year

$0one-time costs
$0every year after
$0per month, ongoing
$0adoption / purchase

Plan for the unexpected too: an emergency vet visit can cost far more than a routine year. Insurance or an emergency savings fund helps.

Getting ready?

  • New puppy checklist20 essentials to buy before day one — and what can wait
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  • Bed size calculatorSize by length and sleeping style
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Where the numbers come from

The starting amounts come from the ASPCA's published pet care cost estimates (2021 update) for a dog: about $1,030 in one-time costs, about $1,391 a year in ongoing costs (including insurance and one day of boarding), and about $800 for professional grooming and dental care — around $3,200 for the first year, before any adoption fee or purchase price. Your real costs depend on your area, your dog's size and health, and the choices you make, so every amount above can be edited.

The size setting scales food and parasite prevention by a rough factor (small ×0.6, large ×1.4, giant ×1.8). It's our own approximation, not an ASPCA figure — replace the amounts with real prices from your vet and pet store for an accurate budget.

This calculator is for budgeting only and isn't veterinary advice — ask your vet about vaccines, prevention and insurance for your puppy.