Key takeaways
- The average U.S. dog accident-and-illness premium rose 11.5% to $836 in 2025, per NAPHIA's June 2026 report, and PetBudget's breed model, built on the 2024 average of $749, runs from $599 for toy breeds to $1,240 for giant breeds.
- A French Bulldog is modeled at $930 a year, which is 24% above a mixed-breed dog and 55% above a Yorkshire Terrier, because of airway, spine and skin risks.
- Lifetime premiums tell a different story: a Chihuahua's $707 a year over 15 years totals about $10,605, more than a Great Dane's $1,240 over 8 years at about $9,920.
The cheapest dogs to insure are small, long-lived breeds with few known inherited conditions, and they start near $599 a year in PetBudget's model. Giant and flat-faced breeds cost about twice as much. The average U.S. dog accident-and-illness premium reached $836 in 2025, per NAPHIA. This guide ranks pet insurance cost by breed, explains French Bulldog insurance, and compares yearly premiums with lifetime premiums.
Photo: Ralph Patrick Rojo / Pexels
Latest news: dog insurance in 2026
- Premiums rose again in 2025. NAPHIA's 2026 State of the Industry highlights, released in June 2026, put the average U.S. dog accident-and-illness premium at $836, up 11.5% from $749. Accident-only dog plans averaged $190, down 1.6%.
- More dogs are insured, but few. The same report found 5.99% of U.S. dogs insured at the end of 2025. North America reached 7.6 million insured pets, and in-force premium grew 19.4% to about $6.15 billion.
- Coverage gaps are shrinking slowly. dvm360's July 2026 coverage says U.S. enrollment grew 9% to 6.98 million pets, and more than 95% of cats and dogs remain uninsured.
What it means for you: a quote bought today will likely cost more than the averages in older guides. Compare quotes at renewal, and read our renewal playbook.
What does dog insurance cost on average?
The U.S. average dog accident-and-illness premium was $836 a year in 2025, or about $69.67 a month. NAPHIA's 2026 State of the Industry highlights report that figure, up 11.5% from $749 in 2024. The same report puts the cat average at $435, up 12.6%.
NAPHIA also reports that 5.99% of U.S. dogs and 2.29% of U.S. cats were insured at the end of 2025, or 4.27% of U.S. pets overall. U.S. premium volume reached about $5.7 billion, up 19.7%. Premium growth is outrunning pet growth because average premiums keep rising.
NAPHIA publishes averages, not breed prices. PetBudget starts from the $749 dog average for 2024 (NAPHIA's 2025 State of the Industry report) and adjusts it for size and breed risk. The result is a modeled premium for each breed, not an insurer quote.
How PetBudget models insurance by breed
PetBudget multiplies the NAPHIA average by a size factor and a breed-risk factor. The factors below are the ones implied by the figures in PetBudget's breed data.
| Factor | Level | Multiplier |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Toy | 0.80 |
| Size | Small | 0.90 |
| Size | Medium | 1.00 |
| Size | Large | 1.08 |
| Size | Giant | 1.20 |
| Breed risk | Tier 1 (lowest) | 0.80 |
| Breed risk | Tier 2 | 0.92 |
| Breed risk | Tier 3 (average) | 1.00 |
| Breed risk | Tier 4 | 1.18 |
| Breed risk | Tier 5 (highest) | 1.38 |
PetBudget assumes bigger dogs cost more to treat and that higher-risk breeds file more claims. A giant breed at tier 5 reaches $1,240. A toy breed at tier 3 lands at $599.
Of 236 dog breeds in the data, 75 model at $700 or less. Twenty-seven model at $1,000 or more. Our guide to how insurers price premiums explains the real factors in more detail.
The cheapest dogs to insure
The cheapest breeds are toy breeds with average or low risk. They share a $599 yearly premium in PetBudget's model.
| Breed | Size | Risk tier | Modeled premium | Typical life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maltese | Toy | 3 | $599 | 13.5 years |
| Toy Poodle | Toy | 3 | $599 | 14 years |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Toy | 3 | $599 | 13 years |
| Russian Toy | Toy | 3 | $599 | 13 years |
| Havanese | Toy | 3 | $599 | 14 years |
| Papillon | Toy | 3 | $599 | 14 years |
| Carolina Dog | Medium | 1 | $599 | 13 years |
| Beagle | Small | 3 | $674 | 13 years |
| Mixed-breed dog | Medium | 3 | $749 | 13 years |
Modeled premiums are built on the 2024 average. NAPHIA's 2025 average is 11.5% higher, so real quotes for these breeds may run above the figures shown.
The Carolina Dog is the only tier 1 dog breed in the data. Its low risk pulls a medium dog down to the toy-breed price.
Cheap to insure does not mean cheap to own. The same toy breeds can have high grooming bills. A Yorkie's insurance is $599 a year, while its grooming is $507 in PetBudget's model. Open the breed page for the full budget.
The most expensive dogs to insure
Giant breeds are the most expensive to insure at $1,240 a year. The six that reach that figure are the Great Dane, Bernese Mountain Dog, Irish Wolfhound, Bloodhound, Bullmastiff and Dogue de Bordeaux. Each combines giant size with a high risk tier.
| Breed | Size | Risk tier | Modeled premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Great Dane | Giant | 5 | $1,240 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Giant | 5 | $1,240 |
| Irish Wolfhound | Giant | 5 | $1,240 |
| Doberman Pinscher | Large | 5 | $1,116 |
| Bulldog | Medium | 5 | $1,034 |
| Pug | Small | 5 | $930 |
| French Bulldog | Small | 5 | $930 |
Only 11 of the 236 breeds sit in tier 5. Eight of them are giant or large dogs, and three are flat-faced small or medium breeds. The tier 5 premium is 2.07 times the cheapest toy premium.
$599 vs $1,240
Lowest and highest modeled yearly dog insurance premiums in PetBudget's breed data. Check your breed on the breed directory for its full yearly cost.
Dog insurance cost by size class
Size moves the modeled premium more than any other single factor. This table shows the range for each size class across the 236 dog breeds in PetBudget's data.
| Size class | Breeds in data | Lowest premium | Highest premium | Average premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 18 | $599 | $707 | $629 |
| Small | 53 | $620 | $930 | $693 |
| Medium | 84 | $599 | $1,034 | $750 |
| Large | 57 | $744 | $1,116 | $889 |
| Giant | 24 | $1,061 | $1,240 | $1,106 |
A giant breed averages $1,106, which is 76% above the toy average of $629. Within a size class, risk still matters. Medium dogs run from $599 for the lowest-risk Carolina Dog to $1,034 for the Bulldog. That is why breed risk, and not size alone, explains the French Bulldog's price.
Dog insurance cost by breed risk tier
Breed risk tier moves the premium inside every size class. PetBudget assigns each breed a tier from 1 to 5 based on documented hereditary and recurring conditions.
| Risk tier | Breeds in data | Lowest premium | Highest premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (lowest) | 1 | $599 | $599 |
| 2 | 40 | $620 | $744 |
| 3 | 112 | $599 | $809 |
| 4 | 72 | $707 | $1,061 |
| 5 (highest) | 11 | $930 | $1,240 |
Most dogs, 112 of 236, sit in tier 3 at the average risk. Tier 5 breeds start at $930, which is higher than most tier 3 and tier 2 dogs of any size. A small tier 5 breed such as the French Bulldog costs more to insure than a large tier 3 breed such as the Standard Poodle at $809.
Popular breeds side by side
Insurance is between 32% and 44% of a popular breed's yearly cost in PetBudget's model. This table shows the share for twelve common breeds.
| Breed | Yearly premium | Yearly cost after year one | Insurance share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire Terrier | $599 | $1,885 | 32% |
| Beagle | $674 | $1,825 | 37% |
| Chihuahua | $707 | $1,599 | 44% |
| Dachshund | $795 | $2,063 | 39% |
| French Bulldog | $930 | $2,258 | 41% |
| Pug | $930 | $2,202 | 42% |
| Labrador Retriever | $955 | $2,813 | 34% |
| Golden Retriever | $955 | $2,909 | 33% |
| German Shepherd | $955 | $2,833 | 34% |
| Doberman Pinscher | $1,116 | $3,040 | 37% |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | $1,240 | $3,476 | 36% |
| Great Dane | $1,240 | $3,674 | 34% |
The Chihuahua is the standout. It has the lowest yearly cost of this group at $1,599, yet insurance takes 44% of it. Small breeds with cheap food and supplies spend a larger share on insurance. Large dogs spend more in absolute dollars but a smaller share. See the Chihuahua breed page for its full budget.
French Bulldog pet insurance cost
French Bulldog pet insurance is modeled at $930 a year, or about $78 a month. That is 24% above the $749 mixed-breed figure and 55% above a Yorkshire Terrier's $599. A French Bulldog is a small dog in tier 5, which is the highest breed risk.
PetBudget's breed data explains the tier. It cites brachycephalic airway disease, a herniation-prone spine, chronic allergic skin disease and near-universal cesarean delivery. Together they make one of the highest recurring vet cost profiles among popular breeds. The sources behind each item are:
| Condition | Why it costs | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Brachycephalic airway syndrome | Surgery to widen nostrils or shorten the soft palate | VCA Animal Hospitals |
| Intervertebral disc disease | Emergency imaging and surgery | ACVS |
| Allergic and skin-fold dermatitis | Cleaning and medicated treatment | Merck Veterinary Manual |
| Difficult birth | Planned cesarean delivery for breeding dogs | Merck dystocia page |
Insurance is 41% of a French Bulldog's $2,258 yearly cost in the model. That share is higher than for a Labrador at 34% or a Yorkie at 32%. A French Bulldog costs $4,333 in year one and $26,913 over a typical 11-year life. See the French Bulldog price guide and the breed page.
For breeds like this, timing matters. A condition diagnosed before coverage starts is usually excluded. Our waiting periods and pre-existing conditions guide explains why you should enroll a puppy early. For dental, allergy and spine coverage details, read the IVDD, allergies and hip dysplasia coverage guide.
What dog insurance costs per month
Monthly premium rates are easier to compare with a household budget than yearly ones. The table converts PetBudget's modeled yearly premiums into monthly amounts and sets them against the NAPHIA average.
| Group | Yearly premium | Monthly premium |
|---|---|---|
| Cheapest modeled dogs (toy breeds, lowest risk) | $599 | $49.92 |
| NAPHIA 2025 U.S. dog average | $836 | $69.67 |
| NAPHIA 2024 U.S. dog average | $749.29 | $62.44 |
| Mixed-breed dog | $749 | $62.42 |
| French Bulldog or Pug | $930 | $77.50 |
| Doberman Pinscher | $1,116 | $93.00 |
| Giant breeds such as the Great Dane | $1,240 | $103.33 |
The monthly gap between the cheapest dog and the most expensive is about $53. That is $641 a year, or $6,410 over ten years at flat rates, so the choice of breed can matter as much as the choice of plan.
Real premium rates also change with the dog's age, your ZIP code, the deductible and the reimbursement level. A quote for a puppy is a starting point. Expect renewals to move it, as our renewal playbook explains.
How to read a dog insurance quote
A low premium is only useful if the plan pays when you need it. Check these six items on every quote before you compare prices.
- Annual deductible. A higher deductible lowers the monthly premium.
- Reimbursement rate. The share of the bill the plan pays after the deductible.
- Annual or lifetime limit. Some plans cap payouts each year.
- Waiting periods. Illness coverage often starts days or weeks after enrollment.
- Breed-linked exclusions. French Bulldog owners should check airway, spine and skin conditions.
- Pre-existing condition rules. Any condition diagnosed before the start date is usually excluded.
Our brand comparison and vaccine coverage guide explain what a typical plan includes and leaves out.
Yearly premium versus lifetime premium
A lower yearly premium does not always mean a lower lifetime total. Dogs live different lengths of time. This table multiplies each breed's modeled yearly premium by its typical lifespan in PetBudget's data.
| Breed | Yearly premium | Typical life | Premiums over a lifetime |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire Terrier | $599 | 13 years | $7,787 |
| Maltese | $599 | 13.5 years | $8,086 |
| Toy Poodle | $599 | 14 years | $8,386 |
| Rottweiler | $955 | 9 years | $8,595 |
| Beagle | $674 | 13 years | $8,762 |
| Bulldog | $1,034 | 9 years | $9,306 |
| Mixed-breed dog | $749 | 13 years | $9,737 |
| Great Dane | $1,240 | 8 years | $9,920 |
| French Bulldog | $930 | 11 years | $10,230 |
| Labrador Retriever | $955 | 11 years | $10,505 |
| Chihuahua | $707 | 15 years | $10,605 |
| Dachshund | $795 | 14 years | $11,130 |
| Pug | $930 | 13 years | $12,090 |
| Doberman Pinscher | $1,116 | 11 years | $12,276 |
The pattern is worth noticing. The Great Dane has the highest yearly premium but a shorter life, so its lifetime total is lower than a Chihuahua's or a Dachshund's. Long-lived small breeds pay for more years. A Pug pays more over a lifetime than a Great Dane.
This table assumes a flat premium. Real premiums usually rise with age and renewals, so actual lifetime totals will be higher. Our renewal playbook covers how to respond to increases.
How to lower the cost of insuring your dog
You cannot change your breed, but you can change the plan. These steps apply to any dog.
- Compare at least three quotes. Use the same deductible, reimbursement level and annual limit each time. Our pet insurance comparison chart lists the main insurers.
- Enroll early. Younger dogs have fewer excluded conditions.
- Read the exclusions. Check for breed-linked conditions such as airway or spine problems.
- Consider accident-only for low-risk dogs. See our accident-only pet insurance guide.
- Compare with saving. Our insurance vs emergency fund guide shows when saving is enough.
- Check the brand differences. The pet insurance brand comparison covers deductibles and caps.
Is insurance worth it at all? Our is pet insurance worth it guide walks through the break-even math.
Use breed data in your own budget
Insurance is one line in a dog's yearly bill. In PetBudget's model it ranges from 28% of a toy poodle's cost to 44% of a Chihuahua's. Run your own breed in the PetBudget calculator and compare two breeds side by side in the breed comparison tool.
For a deeper look at breed premiums and which conditions drive them, read our pet insurance cost by breed guide.
Quick answers
- Cheapest to insure: toy breeds at about $599 a year in the model.
- Most expensive to insure: giant breeds at about $1,240 a year.
- French Bulldog: about $930 a year, 24% above a mixed-breed dog.
- Average U.S. dog premium: $836 a year in 2025, per NAPHIA.
- Best test: compare lifetime premiums, not only the yearly price.
Frequently asked questions
What are the cheapest dogs to insure?
In PetBudget's model, small low-risk breeds are cheapest at $599 a year. They include the Maltese, Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier, Russian Toy, Havanese and Papillon. The Carolina Dog also models at $599 because its breed risk is lowest.
How much is French Bulldog pet insurance?
PetBudget models French Bulldog insurance at $930 a year, or about $78 a month. That is 24% above the $749 mixed-breed figure. Real quotes vary by insurer, age, state, deductible and reimbursement level.
What is the average cost of dog insurance?
NAPHIA reports an average U.S. dog accident-and-illness premium of $836 a year, or about $69.67 a month, for 2025, up 11.5% from $749 in 2024. Accident-only plans cost less and cover less. Your own quote depends on breed, age, location and plan.
Why is French Bulldog insurance expensive?
Insurers price for expected claims. PetBudget's breed data flags brachycephalic airway syndrome, spinal disc disease, skin-fold dermatitis and difficult births. Those conditions can mean surgery, imaging and long-term treatment.
Is the cheapest dog to insure the cheapest dog overall?
Not always. Premiums vary by breed risk, but a dog's total cost also includes food, vet care and grooming. A small dog with a low premium usually costs less overall, but check the breed page for the full yearly budget.
See your own pet's real numbers.
Run the calculator with your breed, metro area, and care choices for a first-year, annual, and lifetime cost estimate — not a national average.
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