Key takeaways
- The national average cost to spay a dog is $455 (range $361-$829) and to neuter a dog is $487 (range $385-$885), per CareCredit's June 2026 guide.
- For cats under 6 months, CareCredit reports a $322 average spay and a $212 average neuter, so the cat neutering price runs about $110 below a spay.
- Location moves the dog price more than most owners expect: a dog spay averages $367 in West Virginia and $814 in Hawaii.
The cost to spay a dog averages $455, and the cost to spay a cat averages $322. Neutering costs $487 for a dog and $212 for a cat, per CareCredit's dog spay and neuter guide (June 2026) and its cat spay and neuter guide (November 2025). Your bill depends on species, sex, state, and clinic type. This guide shows the range for each and how the surgery fits your first-year budget.
Photo: Tahir / Pexels
What spay and neuter surgery costs nationally
National averages are the best starting point for a budget. CareCredit publishes them by species and sex, and the four numbers differ more than most owners expect.
| Surgery | National average | Typical range |
|---|---|---|
| Dog spay (female) | $455 | $361-$829 |
| Dog neuter (male) | $487 | $385-$885 |
| Cat spay (female, under 6 months) | $322 | $255-$587 |
| Cat neuter (male, under 6 months) | $212 | $168-$385 |
Two patterns stand out. A dog neuter averages $32 more than a dog spay. A cat spay averages $110 more than a cat neuter, which is about 52% higher. The dog difference and the cat difference are this site's arithmetic on CareCredit's averages.
CareCredit does not explain why the sex gap flips between species. Treat the averages as a guide and ask your clinic for an itemized quote for the exact surgery.
Cost to spay a dog by state
The cost to spay a dog is more than twice as high in the most expensive state as in the cheapest. CareCredit's state table lists Hawaii at $814 for a spay and West Virginia at $367. That is a $447 spread for the same surgery.
| State | Dog spay | Dog neuter |
|---|---|---|
| West Virginia (lowest spay) | $367 | — |
| Texas | $403 | $430 |
| Florida | $448 | $479 |
| New York | $538 | $575 |
| California | $607 | $651 |
| Hawaii (highest spay) | $814 | $874 |
CareCredit's guide also lists Mississippi as the lowest state for a dog neuter, at $390. Hawaii is the highest, at $874. If you live in a high-cost metro, budget above the national average. The pet cost calculator adjusts costs for your breed, and the surgery line moves with local vet prices.
Cat neutering price and cat spay price
The cat neutering price averages $212 for a male under 6 months. A cat spay averages $322 for a female under 6 months. Both come from CareCredit's November 2025 guide, which reports ranges of $168-$385 for the neuter and $255-$587 for the spay.
Cat surgery costs less than dog surgery in these averages. The cat spay average of $322 is $133 below the dog spay average of $455. That gap is part of why a cat's first year costs less overall. Our cat cost guide shows the full first-year range of $1,200-$2,600.
CareCredit's cat figures apply to kittens under 6 months. An adult cat may price differently, so ask for a quote if your cat is older.
What the surgery price includes
A spay or neuter bill usually covers more than the operation. CareCredit says pre-surgery care includes "a thorough examination of your dog, including blood work, to ensure that your pup is healthy enough to undergo surgery." It adds that recovery takes 10 to 14 days of restricted activity, with an e-collar to stop licking at the incision.
When you compare clinics, check what each quote covers:
- The exam and bloodwork. Ask whether they are bundled or billed separately.
- Pain medication to go home. Confirm it is part of the quoted price.
- The e-collar. Ask whether it is included or sold at the front desk.
- Follow-up visits. Confirm whether the incision recheck costs extra.
A lower quote with a long list of add-ons can end up matching a higher all-inclusive quote. Ask for the total, not the base price.
Low-cost clinics and spayed and neutered near me options
Free and discounted options exist, and they can cut the bill sharply. CareCredit notes that "local animal shelters and pet rescue organizations sometimes offer free or steeply discounted spay and neuter events." Its cat guide adds that veterinary schools, low-cost clinics, shelters, and animal societies may also charge less.
If you are searching for spayed and neutered near me options, start with the ASPCA's low-cost spay and neuter page. It directs owners to the SpayUSA database of providers and lists ASPCA services in three places:
- New York City, across all five boroughs.
- Los Angeles, for pets of qualified residents.
- Western North Carolina, through the ASPCA Spay/Neuter Alliance in Asheville.
The ASPCA page gives no prices, so call each clinic for its current fee. Some programs limit services to qualified residents.
When to spay or neuter a dog
Timing is a medical decision that also affects your budget. CareCredit warns that "spaying or neutering dogs before their growth plates have closed can increase the possibility of certain cancers, as well as joint health issues." It advises talking to your vet about your dog's size, breed, lifestyle, and health.
That advice matters for planning. Your vet may suggest a different surgery date for a large-breed puppy than for a small-breed puppy. Book the date you agree on with your vet, and get the price quoted for that date.
$455
National average cost to spay a dog, per CareCredit's June 2026 guide. A cat spay averages $322. The pet cost calculator shows how the surgery fits your pet's first-year and lifetime totals.
How the surgery changes your first-year budget
Spay and neuter surgery is a one-time cost, and it lands in the first year. Our first-year cost ledger uses ASPCA's baseline of $300 for a dog and $150 for a cat, and totals $3,221 for a puppy and $1,904 for a kitten. CareCredit's newer national averages run higher than that baseline.
This table swaps CareCredit's averages into the ledger totals. The adjusted totals are this site's arithmetic:
| Pet and surgery | Ledger total | Ledger surgery line | CareCredit average | Adjusted total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dog, spay | $3,221 | $300 | $455 | $3,376 |
| Dog, neuter | $3,221 | $300 | $487 | $3,408 |
| Cat, spay | $1,904 | $150 | $322 | $2,076 |
| Cat, neuter | $1,904 | $150 | $212 | $1,966 |
If you plan to pay a full-service practice, use the higher figure. If you plan to use a shelter or low-cost clinic, the ledger baseline may be closer to your real cost. The dog cost guide lists a wider range of $200-$500 for the same surgery.
Why cat owners should plan for this cost too
Cats slightly outnumber dogs among animals entering US shelters. The ASPCA's 2025 shelter statistics, from Shelter Animals Count, report 5.8 million dogs and cats entering shelters and rescues. Of those, 3 million were cats and 2.8 million were dogs.
Many cats come through shelters and rescues. Check what an adoption fee covers before you budget for the surgery separately, and compare the shelter's fee with the CareCredit averages above.
Work out your own number
A national average is a starting point, and your state and pet change the answer. The pet cost calculator estimates first-year, annual, and lifetime costs for 20 breeds and both species. Enter your breed, add the surgery quote you receive, and compare it with the calculator's first-year total to see how much room the rest of the year leaves.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to spay a dog?
The national average is $455, with a range of $361 to $829, according to CareCredit's June 2026 guide. The price depends mostly on your state, your clinic, and your dog's size and health. Shelters and low-cost clinics often charge less than a full-service practice.
How much does it cost to spay a cat?
CareCredit reports a national average of $322 for a female cat under 6 months, with a range of $255 to $587. A male cat neuter averages $212, with a range of $168 to $385. Both figures are for cats under 6 months old.
Is it cheaper to neuter a male than to spay a female?
It depends on the species. For cats, the neuter is cheaper: $212 versus $322 on average. For dogs, CareCredit's averages show the opposite, with neutering at $487 and spaying at $455. Ask each clinic for an itemized quote for the exact surgery.
Where can I find low-cost spay and neuter services?
Start with your local shelter or rescue, which sometimes runs free or steeply discounted spay and neuter events. The ASPCA also points owners to the SpayUSA database of providers and runs its own services in New York City, Los Angeles, and western North Carolina.
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.