Rabbits Price: How Much Does a Rabbits Cost?
Cost to bring one home
$865 – $2,195
Bringing a rabbit home, including a cage, supplies, and veterinary care, typically costs $865 – $2,195, according to Chewy.
A rabbit looks like an inexpensive pet because the animal itself can cost little. The money goes into everything around it: a proper enclosure, hay and fresh greens every day, litter, and a veterinarian who treats rabbits. Many owners find the setup and the spay or neuter surgery cost more than the rabbit.
The sections below separate the price of the rabbit from setup, medical, and yearly costs, and explain why adoption and breeder figures disagree so much between sources.
How much does a rabbit cost to buy or adopt?
Rescue and shelter fees are the lowest-priced route, and many rescue rabbits are already spayed or neutered. Breeder prices are higher. Pet stores sit in the middle for some buyers, but sources disagree on store prices and the health history of store animals is often unknown, so this page does not list a store figure.
Price by source type
| Item | Typical range | Relative price range |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter or rescue adoption fee, Chewy | $85 – $450 | |
| Shelter or rescue adoption fee, Creatures | $20 – $100 | |
| Adoption, The Vet Desk | $50 – $100 | |
| Reputable breeder (San Diego House Rabbit Society via Chewy) | $885 – $1,490 |
Sources: The Vet Desk: Rabbit cost; Chewy: How much do rabbits cost; Creatures: How much do pet rabbits cost
Fees vary because rescues set their own, and some include surgery and vaccines while others do not. The spread between the lowest and highest adoption figures is large, which suggests that local organizations differ a great deal. Contact a rescue near you to see what it charges and what the fee covers.
Why the price of a rabbit varies
Breeder figures differ because the sources describe different animals.
Estimates by source
| Item | Typical range | Relative price range |
|---|---|---|
| Chewy | $885 – $1,490 | |
| The Vet Desk | $50 – $100 |
Sources: The Vet Desk: Rabbit cost; Chewy: How much do rabbits cost
One figure comes from a rabbit rescue director describing reputable, ethical breeders. The other is a general guide to common breeds, which tend to cost less. Breed, pedigree, and show potential all push a price up. A rare or show-quality rabbit costs more than a common one.
Setup and medical costs
Setup is where the first-year bill grows. A rabbit needs a roomy enclosure or a safe free-roam area, bedding, a litter box, bowls, a carrier, and chew items. Medical costs arrive early as well: an exam with a veterinarian who sees rabbits, vaccinations, and spay or neuter surgery.
Setup and medical costs
| Item | Typical range | Relative price range |
|---|---|---|
| Cage or enclosure | $50 – $300 | |
| Pen or free-roam setup | $150 – $400 | |
| Spay or neuter with an exotic vet | $200 – $500 | |
| Spay or neuter, Chewy | $500 – $1,200 |
Sources: Chewy: How much do rabbits cost; Creatures: How much do pet rabbits cost
The two spay and neuter figures differ a lot. Surgery costs more at clinics with exotic animal expertise, and prices vary by region. Many rescue rabbits are already fixed, so adoption can save a large share of this cost. A veterinarian can tell you what your rabbit needs and give you a written quote.
What does it cost to keep a rabbit each year?
Hay, greens, pellets, litter, and routine care repeat all year. The monthly care figure below is easy to underestimate, since fresh greens and hay make up most of it.
Yearly costs
| Item | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Average annual cost of keeping a rabbit, Chewy | $1,672 – $3,354/yr |
| Annual expenses, The Vet Desk | $300 – $800/yr |
| Ongoing monthly care (hay, greens, litter) | $40 – $80/mo |
Sources: The Vet Desk: Rabbit cost; Chewy: How much do rabbits cost; Creatures: How much do pet rabbits cost
The yearly totals span a wide range. One guide sets out detailed categories for food, cleaning, toys, and veterinary care, and arrives at a much higher total than a simpler guide. Rabbit-savvy vets can be harder to find and cost more than a general practice, and emergencies, dental problems, and parasites are costs that most guides do not fold into the base total.
Ways to keep rabbit costs reasonable
- Adopt from a rescue, where the rabbit is often already fixed.
- Build or buy an enclosure that fits the rabbit's size and needs, since a cage that is too small is a poor saving.
- Buy hay in bulk if you have room to store it.
- Find a veterinarian who treats rabbits before you bring one home.
- Keep a small emergency fund for unexpected vet visits.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a rabbit cost?
Adoption fees range from $50 – $100 to $85 – $450 depending on the source and rescue. A breeder rabbit is more, at $885 – $1,490 in one source.
How much do bunnies cost at a rescue?
Fees vary by organization. Published ranges include $20 – $100, $50 – $100, and $85 – $450.
How much does it cost to spay or neuter a rabbit?
Two guides give $200 – $500 and $500 – $1,200. Prices vary with the clinic and region.
How much does it cost to own a rabbit each year?
Published totals run from $300 – $800/yr to $1,672 – $3,354/yr, depending on what is counted.
What is the cheapest way to get a rabbit?
Adopting from a rescue is usually the lowest-cost route, and the rabbit is often already spayed or neutered. Cost should not be the only factor, though. Ask your veterinarian about care needs first.