Pet insurance cost calculator
Get a realistic monthly price range for insuring your dog or cat in the US, based on breed, age, state and coverage. Every number comes from a cited public source.
Estimate your pet insurance cost
$36 /month typical
Likely range $21–$51 a month ($249–$610 a year)
- Average dog premium at the reference age$52.83/mo
- Age 3 years×0.68
- Breed not listed (all-breed median)×1.00
- National average (no state selected)×1.00
- Accident & illness plan×1.00
Breed not selected or not in our data, so this uses the median of all breeds.
Estimates only, not a quote. Not financial or veterinary advice. Based on a $500 deductible, 80% reimbursement and $5,000 annual limit. Actual prices depend on the insurer, ZIP code and your pet's history.
What pet insurance costs in the US
Dog premiums rose 11.5% and cat premiums 12.6% in 2025. Accident-only plans are much cheaper ($190 a year for dogs, $112 for cats on average) because they do not pay for illnesses, which are most of the cost of owning an older pet.
How the estimate works
- Breed and age. We start from published average quotes for your breed in four age bands (MoneyGeek, 18 insurers) and interpolate to your pet's age. A median dog costs about $36 a month at 3 and $129 as a senior; a median cat $26 and $88.
- State. We adjust by how much the average insured pet in your state pays compared with the national average, using NAPHIA's state premium data.
- Coverage. Accident-only and wellness add-ons are priced from the same quote data. The range shows how far the cheapest insurer typically sits below the average for your breed.
Example: a 3-year-old Labrador Retriever, national average, accident and illness: $42 a month (likely $28–$56). Full details in the methodology.
Estimates only, not a quote. Not financial or veterinary advice. We are not an insurer, agent or broker. Prices come from public data and change by insurer, ZIP code, policy options and your pet's medical history. Always read the policy and ask your veterinarian about your pet's health. Full disclaimer.
Cost by breed
Breed pages show the price at each life stage, the health conditions that drive it (with the studies behind them) and lifetime premium totals.
Dogs
- Labrador Retriever
- French Bulldog
- Golden Retriever
- German Shepherd
- Standard Poodle
- English Bulldog
- Rottweiler
- Beagle
- Dachshund
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Doberman Pinscher
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Great Dane
- Boxer
- Bernese Mountain Dog
- Shih Tzu
- Pomeranian
- Border Collie
- Chihuahua
- Pug
- Bichon Frise
- Newfoundland
- Saint Bernard
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- Bullmastiff
Cats
See pet insurance cost in every state · All dog breeds · All cat breeds
What would a policy pay on a vet bill?
See how the deductible, reimbursement rate and annual limit split one bill between you and the insurer. Assumes the condition is covered and this is the first claim of the policy year.
Deductible $500 + your $500 share of the rest.
Guides
- Is pet insurance worth it? — A simple test, real premium and claim numbers, and when saving instead makes more sense.
- TPLO and ACL surgery cost for dogs — What knee ligament surgery costs, which dogs are most at risk, and what insurance pays.
- Pre-existing conditions and pet insurance — The legal definition, what it means for your pet, and how to avoid surprise exclusions.
- Pet insurance for senior dogs — When a dog becomes a senior, how much prices rise, and how to decide if coverage still makes sense.
- Does pet insurance cover dental care? — Dental illness vs routine cleanings, what dental disease costs, and the breeds most at risk.
- Accident-only vs accident and illness pet insurance — What each plan pays for, what each costs, and the situations where the cheap one is enough.
- Wellness plans vs pet insurance — Routine care vs the unexpected, what a wellness add-on costs, and a five-minute test before you buy one.
- Pet insurance waiting periods, explained — How long you wait for cover, what happens if your pet gets sick in the meantime, and how to shorten the wait.
Frequently asked questions
How much is pet insurance per month?
In 2025 the average accident and illness policy in the US cost $70 a month for dogs and $36 a month for cats ($836 and $435 a year), according to NAPHIA. Your price depends mostly on species, breed, age and where you live.
Why does breed change the price so much?
Insurers price for expected claims. Breeds with higher rates of costly conditions, such as cancer in Golden Retrievers or breathing problems in flat-faced breeds, cost more. In the quote data we use, the most expensive dog breeds cost several times as much as the cheapest at the same age.
Is this a quote?
No. It is an estimate built from public data for a standard policy ($500 deductible, 80% reimbursement, $5,000 annual limit). Only an insurer can quote you, after it knows your ZIP code and your pet's medical history.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
Usually not. Under the NAIC Pet Insurance Model Act, a condition is pre-existing if a vet gave advice, the pet was treated, or the pet showed signs of it before the policy started or during the waiting period. See our guide to pre-existing conditions.
Sources
- American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). 2023 AAHA Senior Care Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. Pet Insurance Methodology (04/24/2026). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- MoneyGeek. How Much Does Pet Insurance Cost? (10/14/2026). Accessed 11/06/2026.
- North American Pet Health Insurance Association (NAPHIA), compiled by Willis Towers Watson. State of the Industry Report 2026 (Highlights) (06/21/2026). Accessed 11/06/2026.
Full list, limitations and how each figure is used: methodology.
Data last reviewed: · How we estimate