How much to charge for house sitting
House sitting is priced per night, scaled by the size of the home and what you are tending. You are being trusted with someone's house, plants, mail, and often pets, so price the responsibility, not just the bed.
You should charge
$74
per night · typical $40–$150
Why this number. Bundle pet and plant care into the nightly rate and price the trust involved. Watching a home is a responsibility, not a free place to stay, so charge as the caretaker you are, not as a houseguest.
Typical house sitting prices
| Job | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Per night | $40 – $100 |
| Weekly rate | $300 – $700 |
| With pet care (per night) | $60 – $150 |
What changes the price
- Home size and location
- Pets, plants, or a pool to maintain
- Length of the stay
- Mail, security, and errands
The pricing move most people miss
Bundle pet and plant care into the nightly rate and price the trust involved. Watching a home is a responsibility, not a free place to stay, so charge as the caretaker you are, not as a houseguest.
Frequently asked questions
How much should I charge for house sitting?+
Most house sitting is priced $40–$150 per night, with a typical rate around $75 per night. Where you land inside that range comes down mainly to home size and location and pets, plants, or a pool to maintain. Use the range as your anchor, then adjust up for experience, strong demand, and a higher cost-of-living area.
What is the best way to price house sitting?+
Most house sitting is priced per night, which is easy for clients to understand. Set a clear minimum so small jobs still cover your time and travel, and bundle add-ons into packages to lift the average ticket rather than discounting.
How much should I charge for house sitting as a beginner?+
Starting out, price near the lower end of the range, roughly $40 to $75 per night. Resist going below that to win work: a price that is too low attracts price-shoppers, signals low quality, and is hard to raise later. Once you have a few happy clients and reviews, move toward $150.
What affects how much house sitting costs?+
The biggest factors are home size and location; pets, plants, or a pool to maintain; length of the stay; mail, security, and errands. Two jobs that look alike can price very differently once these are accounted for, which is why a quick walkthrough or a few questions before quoting protects your rate.
How do I quote house sitting so the client says yes?+
Bundle pet and plant care into the nightly rate and price the trust involved. Watching a home is a responsibility, not a free place to stay, so charge as the caretaker you are, not as a houseguest. Put the quote in writing with exactly what is included, state the price once without apologizing for it, and give one clear next step. A confident, well-structured quote wins jobs at a higher price than a vague one at a lower price.