How much do vets charge in the UK? 2026 prices

A standard daytime vet consultation in the UK costs about £56, going by the published price lists we read in October 2026. A yearly booster costs about £65 for a dog and £73 for a cat. Neutering runs from about £105 for a cat to £500 or more for a dog. An out-of-hours consultation averages £276 before any treatment. Each practice sets its own prices, so two vets in the same town can charge very different amounts.

UK vet prices at a glance

The figures below are taken from published practice price lists (14 lists, October 2026) in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Seven belong to groups and seven have no corporate owner on our records. Not every list prices every treatment, so each row says how many did.

Fourteen lists are a small sample, so use the table to judge whether a quote is in the normal range, then check the practices near you that publish prices.

We’re adding price figures from every practice that publishes a list to our directory. Until then, the figures on this page come from the sources listed at the bottom.

How much is a vet consultation?

About £56 during the day. In the price lists we read (14 lists, October 2026), consultations cost £40 to £77, and the highest prices were in London. The fee covers the examination and advice. Tests and medicines cost extra.

For comparison, the CMA (October 2025) reported a national median of £40.83 for a first consultation in 2023, from the Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons’ fees survey. Prices have risen since.

How much are vaccinations?

A yearly booster costs £45 to £102 for a dog and £45 to £121 for a cat (13 lists, October 2026). A puppy or kitten’s first course costs £70 to £156 (11 lists). Adding kennel cough to a dog’s booster costs £27 to £44 more (8 lists).

Many health plans include the yearly booster, so check before paying for one separately.

How much does neutering cost?

Cats cost least: a spay costs £105 to £195 and castration £70 to £137 (13 lists, October 2026). For dogs, the price depends on sex and weight. For a small dog, castration costs £172 to £421 and spaying £228 to £500 (13 lists). Bigger dogs cost more: spaying a dog in the heaviest weight band costs £300 to £645 (8 lists).

The CMA (October 2025) found neutering prices ranging from £200 to £600, depending on the procedure and the animal’s weight.

How much does dental work cost?

A scale and polish under general anaesthetic costs £264 to £375 for a dog, and usually a little less for a cat. Only 4 of the 14 lists we read in October 2026 gave a price, so treat this range with care.

Extractions and X-rays add to the bill: in the CMA’s evidence (October 2025), dental work ranged from £200 for a scale and polish to £900 for several extractions.

Check what a dental price includes. Some practices include X-rays, a drip or blood tests. Others charge for them separately.

How much does an emergency vet cost?

Seeing a vet at night, at weekends or on bank holidays costs much more than a daytime appointment. ManyPets surveyed 49 emergency vets in January 2026 and found an average out-of-hours consultation fee of £276, up 3% in a year. The price lists we read charged £99 to £325 (8 lists, October 2026), with prices rising later at night. Any treatment is extra.

Many practices pass their out-of-hours calls to another provider. Your practice page in our directory shows who covers out-of-hours where we know. If your pet needs urgent care, phone your practice or find an emergency vet first and ask about cost afterwards.

How much does a vet prescription cost?

A written prescription lets you buy your pet’s medicine from a pharmacy instead of the practice. The lists we read charged £16 to £27 for one (10 lists, October 2026). In the CMA’s data (October 2025), a quarter of prescriptions cost less than £15 and a quarter more than £25.

From 22 March 2027, large groups can charge no more than £21 for the first medicine and £12.50 for each extra medicine on the same prescription. Every practice must follow the same cap from 22 September 2027. Our guide to vet prescriptions and the fee cap explains how to use one.

Why vet prices vary so much

Who owns the practice

Between January 2023 and July 2024, average prices at practices owned by Medivet, IVC, CVS, VetPartners and Linnaeus were 18.3% higher than at independent practices, according to the CMA. The gap varied a lot between groups. For at least three of the groups, prices at practices they bought were 9% higher four years later than the earlier trend would suggest. Our guide to independent and corporate vets explains what ownership does and doesn’t tell you.

Where the practice is

Practices set prices locally, and even practices in the same group charge different amounts. All but one of the large groups let each practice set its own prescription fee, according to the CMA.

Prices have outpaced inflation

Average vet prices rose 63% between 2016 and 2023, against 32% for prices generally, the CMA found.

How to compare vet prices near you

1. Look for a price list. Large groups must publish a standard price list for every practice from 22 December 2026, and all other practices from 22 March 2027. Many already do: as of 19 October 2026, 3,437 of the 7,602 UK practices in our directory (45%) publish one. See practices near you that publish prices.
2. Compare like with like. Check what each price includes. A neutering price may or may not include pain relief, a post-op check or a buster collar. A dental price may or may not include X-rays.
3. Ask for a written estimate. For treatment likely to cost £500 or more, large groups must give you a written estimate from 22 June 2027, and other practices from 22 September 2027. You can ask for one now.
4. Check who owns it. Practices with different names can belong to the same group. Every practice page shows its owner.

How to pay less at the vet

• Buy long-term medicines elsewhere. The CMA found common medicines cost 50% to 60% less at online pharmacies, and that many owners could save £200 to £300 a year this way, even after paying for the prescription. Use a pharmacy registered with the Veterinary Medicines Directorate.
• Do the maths on a health plan. The large groups’ plans cost between £145 and £226 a year before VAT in 2024 and 2025, according to the CMA. A plan saves money only if you would otherwise pay for everything it includes, such as boosters, flea and worm treatment and check-ups.
• Check if you qualify for charity care. If you receive certain means-tested benefits, PDSA may treat your pet for free or at reduced cost. Our directory lists every non-profit practice.
• Compare before you register. Prices are easiest to compare when you choose a practice. Look at independent practices nearby as well as group-owned ones.