Spay and Neuter Cost: Average Vet Prices & Ways to Save

Spaying (for females) and neutering (for males) are the most common surgeries pets have. The price depends on the animal, its size and sex, and above all on where the surgery is done. A private animal hospital and a nonprofit clinic can charge very different amounts for the same procedure.

National ranges on this page come from Webvet and The Vet Desk. The clinic prices are published fee lists from two nonprofits, in Sonoma County, California, and Virginia Beach, Virginia. They are local examples, not national prices. All figures were checked on Oct 11, 2026. Talk to your veterinarian about the right timing and any health questions for your pet.

At a full-service private vet, spaying a cat costs $300 – $500 and neutering costs $200 – $400. At a low-cost or nonprofit clinic, the same surgeries cost $50 – $150 and $25 – $100.

Spaying costs more than neutering because it is an abdominal surgery that takes longer and needs more anesthesia time. Neutering a male cat is a shorter procedure.

Private hospital prices often include pre-surgery blood work, pain medication and a follow-up check. Some low-cost clinics include fewer extras, so ask what the fee covers before you compare.

Dog surgery is priced by weight. Larger dogs need more anesthesia, more medication and more time on the table.

Neutering a small dog under 25 pounds costs $70 – $250 at a private vet. A giant breed over 90 pounds costs $350 – $600.

Spaying costs $120 – $300 for a small dog and $300 – $550 for a large dog. Clinics may add charges for a dog that is in heat, pregnant or overweight, since the surgery takes longer. Ask about these before the appointment.

Nonprofit clinics, humane societies and SPCAs run many of the low-cost spay and neuter programs in the U.S. Prices vary from one organization to the next. These two published fee lists show how much:

The Humane Society of Sonoma County lists a cat spay at $150 and a dog spay at $400, with prices effective July 1, 2026.

The Virginia Beach SPCA lists a cat spay at $95 and a cat neuter at $75.

A nonprofit clinic is not always the cheapest choice for every animal. Compare the Sonoma dog prices with the private-vet size ranges above, for example. Call two or three clinics in your area and ask for their current fees.

How to Find Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Near You

• Call your local animal shelter or humane society and ask about spay and neuter programs.
• Search for SPCA or nonprofit clinics in your county.
• Ask about income-based pricing or vouchers, which some cities and counties fund.
• Check community cat or trap-neuter-return programs if you care for outdoor cats.

Low-cost clinics book up quickly, so schedule ahead.

Webvet puts a cat spay at a private vet at $300 – $500. The Vet Desk gives $350 – $600 for cat spay or neuter surgery. The second range may assume a fuller package of pre-surgery tests and aftercare, or higher-cost regions. Neither figure applies to low-cost clinics, which follow their own fee schedules. When you call a private vet for a quote, ask whether blood work, pain medication and the follow-up visit are in the price, so you compare the same package.

Your clinic will give you instructions for the night before surgery, usually about when to stop food. Follow them closely, and ask the clinic if anything is unclear. Many pets go home the same day.

Recovery at home typically involves a few quiet days, a cone or recovery suit to keep the animal from licking the incision, and a check of the stitches. Ask whether the fee includes pain medication to take home and a follow-up visit. If anything looks wrong after surgery, call the clinic or your veterinarian.

• Spays cost more than neuters.
• Bigger dogs mean higher fees.
• Older pets may need extra blood work before anesthesia.
• Private hospitals, nonprofit clinics and mobile surgery units price differently.
• Pain medication, a cone, microchipping or vaccines may be bundled into the fee or billed separately.