Free pet cost calculator
Spay and Neuter Cost Calculator
Spaying a dog at a full-service vet typically costs about $120-$700+ depending on size (2026 estimates), while low-cost and shelter clinics often charge about $50-$150; cat spays run about $300-$500+ at a private vet versus $40-$150 at low-cost and shelter clinics.
Estimates only, not a quote or veterinary advice. Prices vary by clinic and region, so get an itemized quote from the clinic. Everything runs in your browser.
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Your estimate
Enter your dog's weight to see an estimate, or switch to Cat.
Estimates only, not a quote. Prices vary by clinic and region; get an itemized quote. Not veterinary advice.
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Enter your dog's weight to compare all five clinic types.
Real low-cost clinic example
ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance (Asheville, NC)
Published prices at one clinic, not a national average. Shown for a dog spay.
- Spay surgery
- $65
- Example total
- $65
This clinic says: "There is no additional cost for pregnant, in-heat or cryptorchid animals or community cat ear-tips." Umbilical hernia repair and nail trims are also listed at $0.
Recovery planner
Typical guidance from the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance after-surgery instructions. Always follow your own vet's instructions.
Call your clinic if you see
- Pale gums
- Depression
- Unsteady gait
- Loss of appetite or decreased water intake
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Discharge or bleeding from the incision
- Difficulty urinating or defecating
- Labored breathing
- Persistent or recurring blood in the urine
- Lethargy beyond 24 hours
- Redness or swelling that persists beyond several days
Never give human medication to your pet.
How to pay less for a spay or neuter
Search SpayUSA
The ASPCA recommends searching the SpayUSA database to find spay/neuter providers in your community.
Ask local shelters and humane societies
Call a local animal shelter, humane society, or your veterinarian and ask what low-cost spay/neuter services are available near you. Shelter clinics often charge about $50-$150 for a dog and $20-$120 for a cat.
Ask about vouchers and assistance
Voucher or assistance programs can bring a cat spay to about $0-$75 and a neuter to $0-$50 after subsidy, and some low-cost or nonprofit programs are free. Eligibility and amounts vary by program.
Ask what the quote includes
Ask whether pre-anesthetic bloodwork, pain medication, an e-collar, and a recheck or suture removal visit are included. Some clinics include pain meds and an e-collar; others charge about $15-$60 extra.
Ask about surcharges
Ask whether there is an extra charge if your pet is in heat, pregnant, or cryptorchid. Some low-cost clinics, like the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance in Asheville, NC, charge nothing extra.
Check ASPCA-run programs
The ASPCA runs low-cost spay/neuter options in New York City (all five boroughs), Los Angeles (for qualified residents), and Western North Carolina (Asheville).
Spay and neuter cost by size and clinic type (2026)
Dogs at a full-service private vet
| Size | Neuter (male) | Spay (female) |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 25 lb) | $70-$250 | $120-$300 |
| Medium (25-55 lb) | $150-$350 | $200-$400 |
| Large (55-90 lb) | $250-$450 | $300-$550 |
| Giant (90+ lb) | $350-$600+ | $400-$700+ |
Low-cost and shelter clinics: about $50-$150 for either sex.
Cats by clinic type
| Clinic type | Female spay | Male neuter |
|---|---|---|
| Full-service private vet | $300-$500+ | $200-$400 |
| Low-cost or nonprofit clinic | $50-$150 | $25-$100 |
| Shelter or humane society clinic | $40-$120 | $20-$80 |
| Mobile spay/neuter van | $50-$125 | $25-$90 |
| Voucher or assistance program | $0-$75 | $0-$50 |
Voucher and assistance prices are after subsidy and vary by program.
How to use the spay and neuter cost calculator
- Step 1
Choose dog or cat and whether it is a female spay or a male neuter.
- Step 2
For a dog, enter the weight in lb or kg to see the size band.
- Step 3
Pick the clinic type and your area type (and, for a female cat at a private vet, your state if listed).
- Step 4
Add any conditions (in heat, pregnant, overweight, cryptorchid) and optional private-vet add-ons.
- Step 5
Compare all five clinic types, then call clinics for itemized quotes.
Spay and neuter cost FAQ
How much does it cost to spay a dog?
At a full-service private vet, spaying a dog typically costs about $120-$300 for small dogs (under 25 lb), $200-$400 for medium dogs, $300-$550 for large dogs, and $400-$700+ for giant dogs (2026 estimates). Low-cost and shelter clinics often charge about $50-$150. Prices vary by clinic and region, so get an itemized quote.
How much does it cost to spay a cat?
Spaying a cat costs about $300-$500+ at a full-service private vet, $50-$150 at a low-cost or nonprofit clinic, $40-$120 at a shelter or humane society clinic, $50-$125 at a mobile spay/neuter van, and $0-$75 after subsidy through a voucher program (2026 estimates). Neutering a male cat runs about $200-$400 at a private vet and $20-$100 at low-cost and shelter clinics.
How much does it cost to neuter a dog?
At a full-service private vet, neutering a dog typically costs about $70-$250 for small dogs, $150-$350 for medium, $250-$450 for large, and $350-$600+ for giant dogs, versus about $50-$150 at low-cost and shelter clinics. Area matters: a medium dog neuter runs about $300-$650+ in high-cost metros, $200-$450 in mid-size cities and suburbs, and $120-$300 in small towns and rural areas.
Why does spaying cost more than neutering?
Spaying a female is typically priced higher than neutering a male of the same size: about $50-$200 more at a full-service vet, based on 2026 estimates. An in-heat, pregnant, or obese dog spay can add about $50-$250 at private vets.
How do I find low cost spay and neuter near me?
Search the SpayUSA database (spayusa.org) for providers in your community, and contact local animal shelters, humane societies, or your veterinarian to ask about low-cost spay/neuter services and vouchers. The ASPCA also runs low-cost programs in New York City, Los Angeles (for qualified residents), and Western North Carolina.
Sources and methodology
All prices were checked October 28, 2026. They are published estimate ranges, not quotes.
- Webvet, How Much Does It Cost to Neuter a Dog? (2026 Guide) (Jul 5, 2026; checked October 28, 2026)
- Webvet, Cat spay and neuter cost (2026) (Jul 5, 2026; checked October 28, 2026)
- Embrace Pet Insurance, How Much Does It Cost to Spay a Dog (Nov 8, 2023; checked October 28, 2026)
- ASPCA, ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance (Asheville, NC) (2026; checked October 28, 2026)
- ASPCA, Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Programs (2026; checked October 28, 2026)
- ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance, After Surgery Instructions (2026; checked October 28, 2026)
How the estimate works
- Dog private-vet prices use Webvet's 2026 table by size and sex. Dogs at low-cost, shelter, and mobile clinics use the low-cost range of $50-$150; voucher programs use $0 up to $150 after subsidy (Embrace notes low-cost or nonprofit options can be free).
- Cat prices use Webvet's 2026 table by clinic type and sex.
- Area type scales private-vet surgery prices only, using Webvet's region figures for a medium dog neuter relative to mid-size cities ($200-$450): high-cost metros $300-$650+ (about 1.5x the low end and 1.44x the high end) and small towns and rural areas $120-$300 (about 0.6x and 0.67x). Low-cost program prices are not scaled.
- For a female cat at a private vet, a listed state replaces the area estimate with Webvet's state figure; other states use the area estimate.
- Add-ons and condition surcharges are added only for private vets and only when you pick them. Published add-on ranges are national figures and are not scaled by area.
- A "+" means the source gives no upper limit (for example $400-$700+), and any total that includes it stays open-ended. Totals are rounded to whole dollars.
- The ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance prices are one clinic's published prices, shown as an example, not a national average.
- The recovery planner follows the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance after-surgery instructions as typical guidance; follow your own vet's instructions.
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