20 BILLS TRACKED
Dental cleaning
Anesthesia, imaging and per-tooth extractions stack up fast. One of the biggest routine bills, and it swings wildly by clinic.
Every price we track (hover a dot)
The gap: advertised vs actually paid (medians)
People reported paying 158% more than the advertised list price for dental cleaning.
List prices are advertised prices; paid figures are what people reported, often for different cases. Treat the gap as a signal, not a quote.
Quoted vs actually paid (real submissions)
The strongest signal there is: what one person was quoted, and what the same job actually cost them.
- quoted $119↔paid $1190%
Yorkie, Animal Medical Center & Spa, Miami FL
- quoted $340↔paid $3400%
Saint Louis MO; cleaning w/anesthesia $290 + blood panel $50
- quoted $410↔paid $4100%
Beagle, Billings MT; cleaning plus 19 extractions
- quoted $499↔paid $4990%
Austin TX
- quoted $557↔paid $5570%
English Setter, Carlisle Small Animal Vet Clinic, Carlisle PA
- quoted $650↔paid $6500%
Sunnyvale CA
- quoted $750↔paid $7500%
Seattle WA
- quoted $796↔paid $7960%
Spirit of 76 vet clinic, West Allis WI; includes extractions
| Year | Region | Practice | What it was | List | Paid | Src |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Florida | Independent / charity | Dog dental cleaningYorkie, Animal Medical Center & Spa, Miami FL | — | $119quoted $119 | source |
| 2026 | National | Unknown | Cat dental cleaning (under anesthesia)MetLife cites $100-$400 average; figure here is the range midpoint. | $250survey avg | — | source |
| 2026 | North Carolina | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaning (low-cost clinic)Stand For Animals, Charlotte: cat dental from $275 | $275 | — | source |
| 2026 | North Carolina | Independent / charity | Dog dental cleaning (low-cost clinic)Stand For Animals, Charlotte: dog dental from $300 | $300 | — | source |
| 2015 | Maryland | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaning (under anesthesia)Jarrettsville Vet's own published 2015 price list; average cat dental cited as $250-$350. | $300 | — | source |
| 2018 | Missouri | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaning with anesthesia + blood panelSaint Louis MO; cleaning w/anesthesia $290 + blood panel $50 | — | $340quoted $340 | source |
| 2015 | Maryland | Independent / charity | Dog dental cleaning (under anesthesia)Jarrettsville Vet's own published 2015 price list; average dog dental cited as $350-$450. | $400 | — | source |
| 2017 | Montana | Independent / charity | Dog dental cleaning + 19 extractionsBeagle, Billings MT; cleaning plus 19 extractions | — | $410quoted $410 | source |
| 2019 | Texas | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaningAustin TX | — | $499quoted $499 | source |
| 2015 | Pennsylvania | Independent / charity | Dog dental cleaning (itemised)English Setter, Carlisle Small Animal Vet Clinic, Carlisle PA | — | $557quoted $557 | source |
| 2017 | California | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaning (itemised)Sunnyvale CA | — | $650quoted $650 | source |
| 2018 | Washington | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaning + 4 extractions (itemised)Seattle WA | — | $750quoted $750 | source |
| 2016 | Wisconsin | Independent / charity | Dog dental cleaning + extractionsSpirit of 76 vet clinic, West Allis WI; includes extractions | — | $796quoted $796 | source |
| 2026 | US unspecified | Unknown | Dog dental cleaning (median of real bills)Median of 16 real invoices; typical $712-$1,356; cleaning-only $300-600, with extractions $600-1,500+; CA median $712 | $1,145 | — | source |
| 2019 | Virginia | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaning + 4 extractions11-year-old cat, Richmond VA; pulling of 4 teeth + pain meds | — | $1,156quoted $1,156 | source |
| 2022 | US unspecified | Unknown | Professional dental cleaning at a lower-cost clinicOP recalling a cleaning paid roughly 2 years before this 2022 post while seeking a lower-cost option | — | $1,200 | source |
| 2015 | Georgia | Corporate / chain | Dog dental cleaning + 2 carnassial extractionsBanfield, Fayetteville GA; 2 carnassial extractions, no wellness plan | — | $1,200quoted $1,200 | source |
| 2023 | California | Independent / charity | Cat dental cleaning + full-mouth extractionsThousand Oaks CA, full-mouth extractions | — | $1,800quoted $1,800 | source |
| 2025 | Florida | Unknown | Dental surgery/extractions for stomatitis in a rescued catSouth Florida rescue cat with stomatitis needing dental surgery; funded via GoFundMe | — | $1,900 | source |
| 2024 | California | Unknown | Dental cleaning that turned into 11 tooth extractionsLos Angeles; procedure escalated to 11 extractions during cleaning | — | $2,000 | source |
Common questions
How much does dental cleaning cost in the US?
Across 20 real prices US pet owners actually paid, the median is $603, running from $119 to $2,000. These are real prices people reported, not clinic estimates.
Why do dental cleaning prices vary so much?
US vet prices are not published or regulated, so the same procedure swings with the clinic, the city and the state. Corporate-owned hospitals often charge more than independents, and an emergency room visit costs a multiple of a day practice.
Is dental cleaning cheaper at an independent vet?
Often, yes. Independent and nonprofit clinics tend to run below the big corporate chains for comparable work. Since prices are rarely posted, calling two or three nearby is worth it.
Related free guides
- How much does a dog dental cleaning cost, and what is in the bill? →
- Is anesthesia-free dog teeth cleaning worth it? →
- How can I tell if my vet's dental cleaning quote is fair? →
- How Much Do Dog and Cat Vaccinations Cost? →
- Where Can You Get Low-Cost Pet Vaccinations? →
- What Does a Puppy or Kitten's First Year of Vaccines Cost? →
Methodology: prices here are bills people reported in public posts or crowdsourced invoice databases, or submitted directly. Each row links to its source where one exists. We never estimate and no sponsor can touch a number. Spot an error? Tell us and we will fix or remove it fast.