If you’ve ever wondered just how much we’re willing to spend on our pets while we’re away, the booming $1.62 billion U.S. pet boarding industry shows our furry friends are living in the lap of luxury.
Key Takeaways
- The U.S. pet boarding industry revenue reached $1.62 billion in 2023, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year
- Global pet boarding services market size was valued at $5.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $8.7 billion by 2030
- In 2023, the pet boarding sector in North America accounted for 42% of the global market share valued at approximately $2.18 billion
- The U.S. pet boarding industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2028, reaching $2.3 billion by 2028
- Global pet boarding market projected to expand from $5.8 billion in 2024 to $10.2 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 7.3%
- North American pet boarding growth rate averaged 5.8% annually from 2019-2023
- 72% of U.S. pet owners used boarding services in 2023, up from 58% in 2019
- 65% of millennial pet owners prefer luxury boarding over traditional kennels
- Average U.S. pet owner spends $450 annually on boarding services
- U.S. pet boarding facilities average 75% occupancy rate annually
- Average daily rate for dog boarding in U.S. is $42 per night in 2023
- 68% of facilities offer add-on services like grooming averaging $25 per session
- Luxury boarding trend shows 25% increase in facilities offering suites since 2020
- Webcam and live-streaming adopted by 84% of facilities by 2023
- Eco-friendly practices like biodegradable waste bags used in 49% of U.S. facilities
The global pet boarding industry is booming, reaching billions in revenue as pet ownership and luxury services grow.
Business Operations
- U.S. pet boarding facilities average 75% occupancy rate annually
- Average daily rate for dog boarding in U.S. is $42 per night in 2023
- 68% of facilities offer add-on services like grooming averaging $25 per session
- Staff-to-pet ratio in premium U.S. boarding is 1:5, compared to 1:15 in basic kennels
- Annual operating costs for a mid-sized U.S. pet boarding facility average $210,000
- 82% of facilities use online booking systems, reducing no-shows by 22%
- Average facility size is 12,500 sq ft with capacity for 45 dogs in U.S.
- Cleaning and sanitation costs represent 18% of total operating expenses
- 55% of businesses report profit margins of 15-25% annually
- Peak season occupancy reaches 95%, off-season averages 50%
- Insurance costs average $12,000 per year per facility in U.S.
- 47% of facilities have expanded capacity by 20% since 2020
- Average marketing spend is 4% of revenue, mostly digital ads
- Waste management for pet facilities costs $8,500 annually on average
- 91% of operations comply with local licensing, with inspections twice yearly
- Energy costs for climate-controlled facilities average $15,000 yearly
- Grooming revenue per facility averages $45,000 annually
- Training/certified staff present in 73% of facilities, costing $5,200 per employee yearly
- Cancellation rates average 12%, mitigated by 50% deposit policies
- Facility utilization peaks at 88% during holidays
- Average equipment investment (crates, runs) is $75,000 initial setup
- 62% use CRM software for customer management, boosting retention by 30%
- Food supply costs represent 9% of expenses, $22,000 average yearly
- 35% CAGR in webcam installations since 2019 across facilities
- 56% of U.S. facilities adopted contactless check-in post-COVID
Business Operations Interpretation
While the numbers suggest a business of cheerful chaos—where every occupied kennel at $42 a night is a tiny, barking hotel room, and the 1:5 staff ratio is the difference between a spa vacation and a canine convention—the real profit lies in the meticulous alchemy of turning poop, insurance, and webcams into a 25% margin.
Consumer Behavior
- 72% of U.S. pet owners used boarding services in 2023, up from 58% in 2019
- 65% of millennial pet owners prefer luxury boarding over traditional kennels
- Average U.S. pet owner spends $450 annually on boarding services
- 82% of dog owners book boarding via apps or websites in 2023
- 44% of cat owners opt for in-home boarding alternatives to facilities
- Female pet owners represent 61% of U.S. pet boarding customers
- 53% of pet owners aged 25-44 use boarding during vacations
- Urban pet owners book 2.3 times more boarding nights than rural owners annually
- 67% of consumers prioritize webcams/live streaming in boarding facilities
- Repeat customers account for 78% of pet boarding bookings in the U.S.
- 39% of pet owners choose boarding based on social media reviews
- Average booking lead time for pet boarding is 14 days in peak seasons
- 55% of Gen Z pet owners prefer eco-friendly boarding options
- Households with multiple pets spend 40% more on boarding services
- 71% of U.S. pet owners insured their pets influence boarding choices
- Weekend boarding demand peaks at 85% occupancy for U.S. facilities
- 48% of consumers select boarding with grooming add-ons
- Travel-related boarding accounts for 62% of all U.S. bookings
- 29% of pet owners trial new boarding facilities yearly based on promotions
- High-income households ($100k+) represent 52% of luxury boarding users
- 76% of boarding customers request daily photo/video updates
- Average stay length for dogs in U.S. boarding is 4.2 nights
- 41% of cat boarding stays are under 3 nights
- 63% of pet owners pay premium for one-on-one care options
Consumer Behavior Interpretation
The American pet parent has evolved into a demanding travel agent for their furry clientele, meticulously booking tech-savvy, luxe-staycations with live updates, proving that kennel cough has been culturally cured by an expectation of canine concierge service.
Employment and Facilities
- U.S. pet boarding industry employs 45,200 workers as of 2023
- There are 12,400 pet boarding establishments in the U.S. in 2023
- Average wage for pet boarding attendants is $14.50 per hour in U.S.
- 62% of employees are part-time, averaging 25 hours weekly
- Manager salaries average $52,000 annually in the industry
- 78% of facilities require pet first-aid certification for staff
- California hosts 18% of U.S. pet boarding facilities, totaling 2,232 sites
- Turnover rate in pet boarding workforce is 28% annually
- Florida has 1,450 pet boarding facilities, second highest in U.S.
- 41% of staff have veterinary assistant backgrounds
- Total industry employment growth of 3.1% YoY in 2023
- New York state facilities number 850 with 5,200 employees
- Training hours required average 40 per new hire
- 29% of workforce is over 50 years old
- Texas employs 4,800 in pet boarding across 1,100 facilities
- Benefits offered to 54% of full-time staff including health insurance
- Female employees comprise 72% of the U.S. pet boarding workforce
- Average facility staffs 3.6 full-time equivalents
- Certifications like CPDT held by 19% of attendants
- Seasonal hires peak at 45% staff increase during holidays
- Midwest region has 2,800 facilities employing 9,500
- Overtime pay averaged $2,100 per employee yearly
- 66% of facilities outsource vet services, reducing on-site staff needs
- Northeast U.S. averages higher wages at $16.20/hour
Employment and Facilities Interpretation
America's love for leaving Fido in trusted hands is a $14.50-an-hour labor of love, largely managed by certified, part-time pet people who, despite high turnover and seasonal rushes, are growing in number almost as fast as the pile of vacation photos we send them.
Growth Rates and Projections
- The U.S. pet boarding industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.2% from 2024 to 2028, reaching $2.3 billion by 2028
- Global pet boarding market projected to expand from $5.8 billion in 2024 to $10.2 billion by 2032 at a CAGR of 7.3%
- North American pet boarding growth rate averaged 5.8% annually from 2019-2023
- U.S. dog-only boarding segment to grow at 6.8% CAGR through 2030
- Post-COVID recovery saw U.S. pet boarding revenue grow 12.4% YoY in 2022
- European pet boarding market CAGR projected at 5.1% from 2024-2029
- Australian pet boarding industry growth rate of 4.9% expected annually to 2028
- Luxury pet boarding segment in U.S. to grow at 8.2% CAGR from 2023-2030
- Asia-Pacific pet boarding CAGR forecasted at 9.5% through 2030 due to urbanization
- U.S. pet boarding facilities expansion rate increased by 3.2% in 2023
- Cat boarding growth in U.S. projected at 4.7% CAGR to 2028
- Franchise pet boarding growth rate of 7.1% YoY in U.S. 2023
- Rural U.S. pet boarding growth lagged at 3.8% in 2023 vs. urban 6.1%
- Tech-enabled pet boarding apps to drive 10% annual growth in bookings through 2027
- Sustainable pet boarding practices expected to grow market share by 15% by 2030
- U.S. holiday boarding demand growth of 11% projected for 2024
- Group play boarding CAGR of 6.5% in U.S. to 2028
- Premium suite boarding growth at 9.2% CAGR globally through 2030
- Veterinary-linked boarding services growth rate of 5.9% annually in U.S.
- E-commerce pet boarding reservations grew 18% YoY in 2023
- Resort-style boarding CAGR of 7.8% projected for U.S. 2024-2030
- Basic kennel boarding growth slowed to 2.9% in 2023 U.S.
Growth Rates and Projections Interpretation
The industry is rapidly trading dusty kennels for luxury suites, proving our pets' vacations are now officially better funded than our own.
Industry Trends
- Luxury boarding trend shows 25% increase in facilities offering suites since 2020
- Webcam and live-streaming adopted by 84% of facilities by 2023
- Eco-friendly practices like biodegradable waste bags used in 49% of U.S. facilities
- In-home pet sitting hybrid models grew 32% in popularity since 2021
- AI-powered health monitoring tech in 22% of premium boardings in 2023
- Subscription membership models implemented in 18% of chains
- Outdoor adventure boarding programs up 41% since 2019
- Vegan/organic pet food options in 37% of facilities
- Contactless payments adopted by 92% post-pandemic
- Group socialization play areas standard in 76% of new facilities
- Tele-vet integration in 28% of boarding operations by 2023
- Mobile app bookings surged 150% from 2019-2023
- Wellness spa services bundled in 45% of luxury boardings
- Solar-powered facilities increased to 14% in 2023
- Personalized nutrition plans offered in 31% of premium sites
- Virtual reality pet cams piloted in 5% of high-end facilities
- Catio enclosures for cats trending in 52% of facilities
- Drone delivery trials for pet supplies in 3% of resorts
- Mental health enrichment programs in 67% of U.S. boardings
- Blockchain for pet health records tested in 2% of chains
- Pop-up boarding events grew 28% during travel peaks
- Gender-neutral pet playgroups in 81% of modern facilities
- Compostable bedding materials used in 39% of eco-focused boardings
- AR previews of suites via apps in 12% of facilities
Industry Trends Interpretation
While today's discerning pet may enjoy a live-streamed spa day on a solar-powered catio before their drone-delivered organic supper, the industry's true ambition is revealed by the fact that we now worry more about their mental health and blockchain-secured medical records than our own.
Market Size and Revenue
- The U.S. pet boarding industry revenue reached $1.62 billion in 2023, marking a 4.5% increase from the previous year
- Global pet boarding services market size was valued at $5.2 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to $8.7 billion by 2030
- In 2023, the pet boarding sector in North America accounted for 42% of the global market share valued at approximately $2.18 billion
- U.S. pet kennel and boarding facilities reported average annual revenue of $285,000 per establishment in 2022
- The European pet boarding market generated €1.8 billion in revenue in 2023, with the UK leading at €650 million
- Pet boarding industry in Australia reached AUD 450 million in 2023, driven by rising pet ownership rates
- In 2023, luxury pet boarding services in the U.S. contributed $320 million to the total industry revenue
- The pet daycare and boarding combined segment revenue hit $2.1 billion in the U.S. in 2022
- Canadian pet boarding market size was CAD 420 million in 2023, with 5.2% YoY growth
- Asia-Pacific pet boarding market valued at $1.1 billion in 2023, led by China and Japan
- U.S. pet boarding revenue per capita stood at $4.85 in 2023
- The industry’s total revenue in 2020 dipped to $1.1 billion due to COVID-19 but rebounded strongly
- Franchise pet boarding chains generated $850 million in U.S. revenue in 2023
- Independent pet boarding facilities accounted for 68% of U.S. industry revenue totaling $1.1 billion in 2023
- Pet boarding market in India grew to INR 1,200 crore ($144 million) in 2023
- U.S. dog boarding segment revenue was $1.25 billion in 2023, comprising 77% of total pet boarding
- Cat boarding services generated $210 million in U.S. revenue in 2023
- Rural U.S. pet boarding facilities reported $450 million in collective revenue in 2023
- Urban pet boarding revenue in the U.S. reached $1.17 billion in 2023
- Holiday peak season accounts for 35% of annual pet boarding revenue, equating to $567 million in the U.S. in 2023
- Subscription-based pet boarding models generated $95 million in 2023 U.S. revenue
- Pet boarding insurance premiums contributed indirectly to $50 million in industry-related revenue in 2023
- Corporate-owned pet boarding revenue was $420 million in the U.S. in 2023
- Small business pet boarding revenue averaged $150,000 per facility in 2023 across 8,500 U.S. locations
- Pet boarding e-commerce bookings added $180 million to industry revenue in 2023
- Veterinary-affiliated boarding revenue totaled $280 million in the U.S. in 2023
- Resort-style pet boarding facilities generated $650 million in 2023 U.S. revenue
- Basic kennel boarding revenue was $720 million, or 44% of total U.S. pet boarding in 2023
- Premium pet suite boarding revenue hit $380 million in 2023
- Group boarding revenue in the U.S. pet industry was $520 million in 2023
Market Size and Revenue Interpretation
The modern pet boarding industry has become a multi-billion-dollar testament to the fact that we'd rather pay a small fortune for a luxury suite for our dog than risk the silent judgment of a pet left alone with a suspiciously chewed sofa.
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