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How much does spaying or neutering cost?
In published CareCredit data (via Spot Pet Insurance), the averages are $465 to spay a dog, $315 to neuter a dog, $155 to spay a cat, and $95 to neuter a cat at full-service practices. The published spread around those averages is enormous, and it is mostly explained by two things the price lists make visible: your pet's weight, and what kind of clinic you walk into.
| National published figures | Figure |
|---|---|
| Dog spay — average (CareCredit via Spot); published range | $465; range $250–$525 |
| Dog neuter — average (CareCredit via Spot); published range | $315; range $50–$500 |
| Cat spay — average (CareCredit via Spot) | $155 |
| Cat spay — shelter vs private clinic (Spot) | $50–$150 shelter · $300–$500 private clinic |
| Cat neuter — average (CareCredit via Spot) | $95 |
The weight split, from published price lists
Clinics that publish their lists price spay/neuter by weight and age bands. Three lists we read in full:
| Published clinic price lists (as published; inclusions differ) | Figure |
|---|---|
| Banfield location list — dog spay package | $457.95 under 6 mo · $527.95 over 6 mo/under 50 lb · $604.95 over 50 lb (incl. bloodwork, IV fluids, monitoring; office visit extra) |
| Banfield location list — dog neuter package | $429.95 under 6 mo · $500.95 over 6 mo |
| Banfield location list — cat spay / neuter package | $318.95–$374.95 / $221.95–$275.95 by age |
| NoCo low-cost clinic (prices current July 2026) — dog spay | $285 under 30 lb → $380 at 60–70 lb (under 9 months) |
| NoCo — cat spay / neuter | $120 / $105 flat |
| Shore Pet Surgery — dog spay / neuter | $210–$330 / $200–$285 by weight |
| Shore Pet Surgery — cat spay / neuter | $85 / $75 (procedure only); $110 / $100 package |
What drives the price
- Clinic type — the largest single factor. Full-service averages (above) vs the low-cost lists on our low-cost price-list page.
- Weight and age — bigger dogs need more anesthesia and surgical time; every weight-banded list rises with size.
- What is bundled — Banfield's package includes routine bloodwork, IV catheter and fluids, and monitoring; Shore's lowest price is the procedure and same-day pain medicine only. Compare inclusions, not just totals.
- Status surcharges — in-heat or obese females +$40 and pregnant dogs up to +$100 (NoCo); cryptorchid (undescended testicle) +$50–$100 (Joybound, NoCo); brachycephalic surcharge $150 (Joybound).
- Location — urban and high-cost-of-living areas price higher (Spot).
Spay or neuter is one line of a first-year budget that totals $3,221 for a dog in the ASPCA's published chart.
See the first-year breakdownSources: Spot Pet Insurance — Does Pet Insurance Cover Neutering? (citing CareCredit) · Spot Pet Insurance — Does Pet Insurance Cover Spaying? · Banfield Pet Hospital — Cost of care, Miami Carter Square location · NoCo Spay & Neuter — published prices (current July 2026) · Shore Pet Surgery — Pricing for pet surgical services. Researched October 2026 — prices change; confirm with your clinic.