real prices, from salon menus
What grooming a matted dog costs
Salons that charge a flat dematting fee start it at a median of $20, on top of the groom. Salons that charge by the time charge a median of $15 per 15 minutes.
Updated September 25, 2026 from the menus of 753 salons that list a matting service, as they posted them.
- Full groom$70 · middle half $60 to $85
- Dematting fee$20 · middle half $10 to $25
The bar is the middle half of prices and the rust line the median. A flat fee adds about $20 to a groom that starts at $70.
Matting fees at a glance
- Dematting, flat fee312 salons · lowest flat fee$20$10 to $25
- Dematting, by the time147 salons · per 15 minutes$15$15 to $19
- Full groom1,593 salons · starting price$70$60 to $85
Pet insurance generally covers what happens after a policy starts.
Opens a quote form on the partner's site in a new tab. Whether to buy anything there is up to you.
PawsRx may be paid if you buy a plan through this link. We don't compare or recommend plans. The quotes and the choice are on the partner's site.
Ask the practice to split it first. If it can't, you can apply to pay over time.
PawsRx may be paid when you apply. Approval and terms are the lender's, we never see your application, and we don't choose one for you.
How much does dematting cost?
A median of $20 across 312 salons that publish a flat dematting fee, taking each salon’s lowest. Many salons price by how matted the coat is, so a coat matted all over costs more than a few mats.
- Median
- $20
- Middle half of prices
- $10 to $25
- Seen from
- $5 to $100
- The groom itself
- A coat matted all over
- A shave down
- Your dog's size and coat
Why a matted coat is often shaved
Loose mats can often be brushed out. Mats that sit tight against the skin are slow and uncomfortable to brush, so many groomers clip the coat short underneath them. If you want a say in the length, ask before the appointment.
What a groomer may find under mats
When a matted coat comes off, a groomer may find sores or irritated skin that the mats were hiding. A veterinarian is who looks at skin.
What to ask when you call
- “Is there a dematting fee, and is it flat or by the time?”
- “What is your matting policy? When do you shave instead of brushing out?”
- “Can you call me before you shave?”
- “What is the total for my dog’s size and coat, with the dematting?”
finding one near you
Compare matting fees before you book
Matting fees and policies differ from salon to salon. The PawsRx groomer finder shows each salon’s own menu and prices, dematting fees included, and you can send a booking request from the salon’s page.
Pet insurance generally covers what happens after a policy starts.
Opens a quote form on the partner's site in a new tab. Whether to buy anything there is up to you.
PawsRx may be paid if you buy a plan through this link. We don't compare or recommend plans. The quotes and the choice are on the partner's site.
Ask the practice to split it first. If it can't, you can apply to pay over time.
PawsRx may be paid when you apply. Approval and terms are the lender's, we never see your application, and we don't choose one for you.
Common questions
How much does it cost to groom a matted dog?
Most salons add a dematting fee to the groom. Salons with a flat fee start it at a median of $20, and the middle half of starting fees runs $10 to $25, across 312 salons (September 2026). Salons that charge by the time charge a median of $15 per 15 minutes, across 147 salons. A full dog groom at a salon starts at a median of $70 before the fee.
Why did the groomer shave my dog?
Usually because the coat was matted close to the skin. Tight mats are slow and uncomfortable to brush out, so many groomers clip the coat short underneath them. Most salons will tell you their matting policy, and you can ask them to call you before they shave.
Can a groomer shave a matted cat?
Many do, and the dematting figures here include cat menus. Not every salon grooms cats, so check before you book.
My pet is acting oddly after being shaved. What should I do?
Call a veterinarian. If your pet seems sore, keeps licking or scratching the skin, or is not acting like itself after a groom, a veterinarian is who looks at that.
Will my dog's coat grow back after a shave?
Ask the groomer what length they left and what to expect for your dog's coat type. If hair is not growing back where it was shaved, that is a question for a veterinarian.
Can I cut mats out at home?
Mats sit close to the skin, which is why groomers remove them with clippers rather than scissors. A dematting fee starts at a median of $20 at salons that charge a flat fee. If the skin under a mat looks sore or is cut, call a veterinarian.
What if my dog is too anxious to be groomed?
Ask groomers whether they take anxious dogs and how they book them; some set aside more time or a quiet slot. Some veterinary practices offer grooming too. Sedation is a decision for a veterinarian.
PawsRx is a platform, not a groomer. Prices and matting policies are set by each salon and change; the salon confirms the price for your dog before the appointment. If your pet has a skin, coat or health problem, that is a question for a veterinarian. Nothing here is veterinary advice.