What This Guide Covers
Booking your first groom, or wondering whether your groomer is charging a fair rate? This guide breaks down what dog grooming actually costs in Australia in 2026, using real, current price lists rather than guesswork.
We will cover:
- Headline prices for a full groom, bath and tidy, puppy first groom, nail clip, and de-shed
- How price changes with your dog's size and coat
- Common add-on fees and what triggers them
- Mobile grooming vs salon grooming, and the convenience premium
- Metro vs regional differences across Australia
- Whether you tip a groomer here (short answer: not really)
Every figure below is dated and sourced, so you can sanity-check any quote you receive.
The Quick Answer
For a standard full groom in 2026, most Australian dog owners pay somewhere between $60 and $160, depending on the dog's size, coat, and where they live.
Smaller dogs sit at the bottom of that range. Large, double-coated, or matted dogs sit at the top. A simple bath and tidy costs less than a full clip and style.
Key Takeaway: There is no single "dog grooming price" in Australia. What you pay is driven mostly by your dog's size and coat condition, then by your location and whether the groomer comes to you.
01. Price by Dog Size and Service
Size is the single biggest driver of price, because a bigger dog simply takes more time, more product, and more drying. Here is what groomers across Australia are charging in 2026 for the two most common services.
| Dog Size | Bath & Tidy | Full Groom |
|---|---|---|
| Small (under 10kg) | $45 to $65 | $60 to $85 |
| Medium (10 to 25kg) | $55 to $80 | $75 to $110 |
| Large (25 to 40kg) | $70 to $95 | $95 to $130 |
| Extra Large (40kg+) | $85 to $120 | $120 to $160 |
These ranges line up closely with published 2026 price lists and cost guides. Flinders Pet's 2026 list, for example, prices a basic full clip from $95 for a small dog up to $145 for an extra large dog, with breed-specific cuts running $110 to $160 (Flinders Pet, 2026). Cost guides put full grooms in a similar $60 to $160 band depending on size (Dogster, 2026; Woofspark, 2026).
A "bath and tidy" or "wash and blow dry" is the budget option: a clean, dry, brush-out, and a light tidy of the face, feet, and sanitary area, without a full body clip. Wash-and-blow-dry pricing starts around $35 to $45 for a small dog and rises to $65 to $75 for an extra large one (Flinders Pet, 2026).
Verified June 2026. Treat these as typical ranges, not a fixed rate. Premium and breed-specialist salons often sit 20 to 40 percent above these figures.
02. Other Common Services and What They Cost
Not everyone wants a full groom. Here are the standalone services owners ask for most, with current Australian figures.
| Service | Typical 2026 Price |
|---|---|
| Nail clip / trim | $15 to $20 |
| Nail clip and file (Dremel) | $20 to $36 |
| Puppy first groom (intro session) | $40 to $70 |
| De-shedding treatment | $60 to $150 |
| Teeth brushing | $15 |
| Ear plucking | $10 |
A few notes on these:
- Nail clips are cheap and quick. Most salons charge a flat $15 to $20 regardless of size, with a Dremel file adding a little more (Flinders Pet, 2026; Dogster, 2026).
- A puppy's first groom is usually a shorter, gentler introduction: a bath and blow dry, a face, feet, and hygiene trim, nails, and ears, priced below an adult full groom so puppies can get used to the process.
- De-shedding is heavily size and coat dependent. A smooth-coated small dog might be around $60, while a long-coated or giant breed can reach $150 to $170 because of the time involved (Flinders Pet, 2026).
03. Add-On Fees and What Triggers Them
This is where a quoted price and a final bill can drift apart. Most add-ons exist for one reason: the dog arrived needing more work than a standard groom allows. Reputable groomers tell you about these before they start.
| Add-On | Typical Fee |
|---|---|
| Matted coat (light) | +$20 to $30 |
| Matted coat (severe) | +$40 to $50, or charged per 15 minutes |
| Extra thick or double coat | +$15 to $30 |
| Difficult or anxious behaviour (handling fee) | +$15 to $25 |
| De-shedding add-on | +$20 to $40 |
| Flea or tick treatment | +$5 to $20 |
Matting is the big one. Many salons now charge matting by time, often around $20 per 15 minutes, because de-matting is slow and uncomfortable for the dog (Flinders Pet, 2026). A handling fee of about $15 is common where a dog needs extra patience or a second pair of hands. Flea and sensitive-skin treatments typically add $5 to $20 (Airtasker, 2025).
Key Takeaway: Add-ons are not a money grab. They reflect real extra time and care. The fix is transparency: a good groomer flags any likely add-on at drop-off, not at the till.
04. Mobile vs Salon: The Convenience Premium
Mobile grooming brings the salon to your driveway in a fitted-out van. You skip the drive, the wait, and the stress of a busy salon, and your dog is the only one being groomed at the time.
That convenience costs more. Across Australian cost guides, mobile grooming runs roughly $20 to $50 above the equivalent salon service (Woofspark, 2026; Dogster, 2026). The average mobile session sits around $105 (Airtasker, 2025).
| Service (medium dog) | Salon | Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Full groom | $75 to $110 | $90 to $140 |
| Bath and tidy | $55 to $80 | $75 to $100 |
The premium covers fuel, van upkeep, and insurance, plus the simple fact that a mobile groomer can only see four or five dogs a day where a salon might see eight to fifteen (Woofspark, 2026). Whether it is worth it depends on your dog. For an anxious dog, an elderly dog, or a multi-dog household, the calm one-on-one setting can be worth every dollar. If you want a deeper look at the trade-offs, see our guide to mobile dog grooming in Australia.
05. Metro vs Regional Variation
Prices do not swing wildly across the country, but city grooming tends to cost a little more than regional grooming, mainly because rents and wages are higher in the capitals.
Sydney and Melbourne sit at the top end on average, with Brisbane close behind, while Adelaide and many regional areas sit lower (Airtasker, 2025; Dogster, 2026). As a rough guide, a full groom that costs $90 in a regional town might be $110 to $130 in an inner-city Sydney or Melbourne salon for the same dog.
The practical takeaway: compare quotes within your own suburb, not against a national average. A "high" price in Hobart and a "low" price in Sydney can be the same number.
Why Prices Vary So Much
If two groomers quote you $80 and $140 for the same breed, neither is necessarily wrong. Here is what sits behind the spread.
- Time. Grooming is paid by the hour in everything but name. A Maltese might take 45 minutes; a Standard Poodle in a full breed cut can take two to three hours.
- Skill and finish. A quick tidy and a hand-scissored show-standard cut are not the same job. Experienced and qualified groomers charge for that skill.
- Coat condition. A brushed, well-kept coat is fast. A matted one is slow, delicate work that can border on a welfare issue if rushed.
- Behaviour. A relaxed dog is straightforward. A frightened or reactive dog needs more time, more breaks, and sometimes two people.
- Breed-standard cuts. Poodles, Schnauzers, Bichons, and the popular "oodle" crosses need specific styling that takes longer than an all-over clip.
- Mobile convenience. As above, coming to you costs more to deliver, so it costs more to book.
None of these are upsells. They are the actual variables that decide how long your dog is on the table.
What a "Full Groom" Usually Includes in Australia
When a salon says "full groom", you can generally expect:
- A wash, usually a double shampoo, with conditioner
- A blow dry and full brush-out
- A body clip or scissor cut to your chosen length or breed style
- Nail clipping
- Ear cleaning, and ear plucking where needed
- A sanitary and paw-pad trim
- A finishing spritz or light cologne
A bath and tidy includes the wash, dry, and a light face, feet, and hygiene trim, but not the full body clip. If you are unsure what is included in any quote, ask for the inclusions in writing. If you come across unfamiliar terms like "carding", "hand-stripping", or "sanitary trim", our dog grooming glossary explains them in plain English.
Is Cheaper Grooming a Red Flag?
A low price is not automatically a warning sign, and a high price does not guarantee a great cut. Plenty of skilled groomers keep rates modest because their overheads are low or they are building a book. The point is to understand what the price reflects, not to assume cheap equals bad.
That said, grooming is hands-on work on a living animal, so it is worth knowing what a very low quote can sometimes mean:
- Time pressure. A rate that only works at high volume can mean less time per dog, which is harder on nervous or older animals.
- Handling. Careful, low-stress handling takes patience, and patience takes time.
- Hidden add-ons. A low headline price with steep matting, coat, or handling fees can end up dearer than a clear flat quote.
The healthiest signal is not the number itself. It is transparency: a groomer who explains their pricing, flags likely add-ons up front, and is happy to show you their qualifications and their setup. Ask how long the appointment will take, what is included, and what could change the price. Clear answers matter more than the cheapest sticker.
Do You Tip Dog Groomers in Australia?
Short version: no, tipping is not expected here.
Unlike the United States, where a 15 to 20 percent tip is customary, Australia does not have a strong tipping culture. Service workers are paid a proper minimum wage with weekend and public-holiday loadings on top, so tips are a bonus, not a built-in part of someone's income (SBS, tipping in Australia; Wise, tipping guide).
That does not mean you cannot. Some owners round up the bill or leave a little extra after a particularly good groom, an especially patient session with an anxious dog, or a last-minute fit-in. It is genuinely appreciated, but no decent groomer expects it, and you should never feel awkward about not tipping. A glowing review and a repeat booking are worth just as much.
For Groomers Reading This
If you run a grooming business, the figures above are also a quiet competitive brief. Owners are price-checking, and the salons that win trust are usually the ones with clear, upfront pricing rather than a vague "from $X".
Two things consistently reduce friction:
- Size-based pricing tiers. "Bigger dog, more time, higher price" is fair and instantly understood, which heads off most price arguments before they start.
- Named add-on fees. When matting, de-shedding, and handling fees are written down and shown before the groom, they stop being awkward surprises and start being reasonable, expected line items.
For a deeper dive into setting your own rates, see our companion guide on how to price dog grooming services in Australia, the economics of add-on services, and how to understand your grooming salon income.
How Petboost Helps
Petboost is booking and management software built for Australian pet businesses, and a lot of it exists to make pricing clear for both sides of the table.
- Set up size-based pricing for your regular services, so each dog size has the right price.
- Apply add-ons like matting or de-shedding at checkout, with the invoice updating automatically.
- Let clients book through self-service booking, where they see the correct price for their dog up front, no phone tag.
- Publish a full price list on your own business showcase page, so owners can compare before they enquire.
- Take card payment on the spot with built-in payments.
The aim is honest, transparent pricing that builds trust, not a clever way to charge more. You can see plans on the Petboost pricing page.
The Bottom Line
In 2026, expect to pay roughly $60 to $85 for a small dog's full groom, $75 to $110 for a medium dog, $95 to $130 for a large dog, and $120 to $160 for an extra large dog, with bath-and-tidy options costing less and mobile grooming costing $20 to $50 more. Add-ons for matting, de-shedding, and handling are normal and should always be flagged before the groom. Tipping is welcome but never expected.
If you run a grooming business and want pricing your clients can actually see and trust, take a look at Petboost.
Book a free demo → to see size-based pricing and online booking in action, or start free and set up your price list today. Prefer to talk it through? Call Emily on 1800 291 005.
Sources
- Flinders Pet, 2026 Grooming Prices (verified June 2026)
- Dogster, How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost in Australia? 2026 Price Guide (verified June 2026)
- Woofspark, Dog Grooming Prices Australia 2026 (verified June 2026)
- Woofspark, Mobile Dog Grooming vs Salons (verified June 2026)
- Airtasker, How Much Does Dog Grooming Cost in Australia? (verified June 2026)
- Airtasker, How Much Does Mobile Dog Grooming Cost? (verified June 2026)
- SBS, Australia's tipping culture explained (verified June 2026)
- Wise, Tipping in Australia guide (verified June 2026)