Great Dane Price: How Much Does a Great Dane Cost?

Great Danes are gentle giants, and the size drives the budget: the crate, the bed, the bowls, the medication doses, and the food bill all scale up. The puppy price is usually a small part of the long-term total.

This guide covers what Great Danes cost from breeders and rescues, why the ranges differ, and what the first year and each later year add. All figures come from published guides and are dated Oct 12, 2026.

The two guides disagree on the breeder range. The higher range may reflect breeders who test the parents and raise litters at home. The lower range may include sellers who skip those steps, which can show up later as vet bills.

Coat color affects pricing too. Harlequin, merle, and other less common patterns are sometimes sold at a premium. Some color pairings raise health concerns among breeders, so ask any breeder about the parents' coloring and screening.

Great Danes appear in breed-specific rescues, often as adults, and often because an owner could not manage the size or cost. Adoption fees are far lower than breeder prices and usually include vaccines, spay or neuter, and a microchip. Ask what is covered before you book your own vet visit.

An adult dog's size and temperament are already clear, and many have already passed the awkward growth stage. The tradeoff is that you may not know the dog's full medical history, so ask the rescue for records.

• Health testing. Heart and hip screening on the parents adds to the breeder's cost.
• Color. Rare coat patterns are sometimes priced higher.
• Bloodline. Show lines can cost more than pet lines.
• Location. Prices vary by region, and shipping a large puppy costs more than a small one.
• Contract terms. Breeding rights and registration shift the price.

Each guide samples a different part of the market, and the gap between them is plain in the comparison below.

Call breeders near you and ask what the price includes.

A giant-breed crate, a large bed, and heavy-duty bowls and leashes cost more than gear for a medium dog. Vaccines and a wellness exam come early, and training classes matter because an untrained dog this large is hard to manage.

Food is the line that stands out. A Great Dane eats a lot, and puppy food for a giant breed is not cheap. Veterinary care also costs more, since medication and anesthesia are often dosed by weight.

These totals do not include insurance, boarding, or emergency surgery. A dog this size can also be more expensive to board, and some cars simply cannot carry one.

Great Danes may be prone to bloat, a serious condition in which the stomach swells and may twist, and which needs emergency veterinary care. They may also face heart disease, joint problems, and bone issues linked to fast growth. Not every dog develops these, but any of them can lead to bills far above routine care.

Ask the breeder what health screening the parents have had, and talk to a licensed veterinarian about feeding routines and warning signs. Read pet insurance exclusions closely, since conditions that appear before coverage starts may not be covered.

• Ask for health documentation on both parents, including heart evaluations.
• Meet the mother and see where the puppies are raised, in person or by live video.
• Expect a written contract that covers a health guarantee and what happens if you cannot keep the dog.
• Ask the breeder how they feed and exercise growing puppies, since giant breeds need careful management.
• Be cautious about sellers who always have puppies or sell many breeds.

Fake puppy listings are common, and the Federal Trade Commission has warned about them. A typical scam pairs appealing photos with a low price and pressure to pay by gift card, wire, or payment app before you see the dog. Run a reverse image search, ask for a live video call with the puppy, and never send money to a seller you cannot verify. If extra fees for shipping or insurance appear after you pay, stop.