Cost of Owning a Labrador Retriever (2025): Purchase, Vet Bills, and More
The price of a labrador retriever puppy could range between $300 and $2,500, on average. Meanwhile, caring for a lab could cost as much as $1,500 to $3,000 per year.
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Owning a labrador retriever is a sizable financial commitment. Adopting or buying a labrador from a breeder could cost $250 to $2,000. Then expect to spend nearly $3,000 in the first year of a labrador puppy’s life, and $1,500 to $3,000 per year thereafter, depending on the lab’s health.1
Labrador retrievers are the second most-popular dog breed in the U.S., according to the American Kennel Club (AKC).2 Various factors affect your overall cost of pet ownership, such as your lab’s age, gender, where you get it from, and your location.
How much does a lab cost?
The average cost to purchase a labrador puppy typically runs somewhere between $250 and $2,000.1 Your labrador dog price could vary based on details such as the breeder you work with and your location. However, if you adopt an older lab or a rescue puppy, there’s a good chance your adoption costs could be significantly lower — often between $100 and $450.
Labs are well known for their friendliness and high energy, which contributes to the breed’s popularity. The medium-to-large dog breed has an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years, weighs between 55 and 80 pounds, and typically gets along well with other dogs and young children.3
Labrador retriever: Best for high activity levels
Labrador retrievers can be a good fit for families, couples, or single households. Due to their high energy levels, labrador dogs will probably be most content in homes where they’ll have plenty of opportunities to burn off energy and exercise with plenty of long walks.3
In general, labs are eager to please their owners. As a result, they have high trainability levels. The popular breed is also known for its playfulness and openness to strangers. However, labs don’t have the most protective nature. So if you want a vigilant watchdog, the labrador retriever breed shouldn’t be your first choice.3
Comparing costs: Lab vs. other breeds
If you’re on the fence about purchasing a purebred lab puppy, it may be helpful to compare costs. Pet adoption costs can vary from one breed to another.
Below are the average price ranges you might encounter when you purchase the following dog breeds from a breeder.
Factors influencing the price of a lab
Average labrador retriever costs can vary, and how much you pay also depends on many factors, some personal to you.
Below are details to consider when searching for a new lab puppy, and how those things might play a role in both your adoption costs and long-term care expenses for your new labrador.
Where you purchase from
The most expensive way to purchase a labrador retriever is to shop with a certified, trustworthy breeder. Yet, working with responsible labrador retriever breeders may also feature benefits that other forms of pet purchasing or adoption don’t.
When you buy a lab from a certified AKC breeder, your puppy may have traceable pedigrees. You may also have access to a breeder who can answer questions about your new pet’s family history, temperament, and more.4
On the other hand, adopting a lab from a shelter or rescue program has perks, too. First, you’re giving a second chance to an animal who needs a home. Adopting a labrador retriever puppy or older dog also tends to be much more affordable. The Animal Humane Society charges a standard adoption fee of $166 to $767 for dogs and puppies.5
Coat color
Labrador retrievers are short-haired dogs with coats that come in the following three colors:3
Black
Chocolate
Yellow
In general, the color of a lab’s coat has little effect on the cost of adoption.
Age and gender
As with any dog breed, adopting an older labrador retriever has the potential to save you a significant amount of money compared to purchasing a puppy from a breeder.
For example, the Southern California Labrador Retriever Rescue’s adoption fees are $350 for dogs 6 years and younger. Labs older than 7 years, however, have an adoption fee of just $150.
Some breeders may also charge more for female labs due to their potential to breed. But this can vary since some breeders and pet adoption facilities may spay or neuter their labs before you adopt them.
Costs of owning a lab
It’s also important to consider ongoing pet ownership expenses before you buy or adopt a new labrador retriever. The best way to make sure you can afford a new labrador retriever puppy is to tally up the costs below and make sure they’ll fit comfortably into your household budget.
Labrador retriever FAQs
Learn about lowering your pet insurance costs, and check out these answers to common questions about labrador retrievers.
What is the average price of a lab?
It could cost between $100 and $2,000 to adopt or purchase a lab. Details like whether you’re buying a lab puppy from a certified breeder, adopting an older lab, and other factors can affect the price you pay. For example, you’re likely to pay a much higher price for a new puppy from a reputable breeder versus an older dog you adopt at a shelter.
Are labs good pets?
Yes. Labrador retrievers are a friendly breed. In fact, they were the most popular dog breed in the United States for 31 years straight, until the French bulldog took the No. 1 spot in 2022.2
What’s included in the price when purchasing a lab puppy from a breeder?
Contracts can vary based on seller preferences. But if you purchase your dog from a reputable breeder, the cost of a labrador puppy may include AKC registration, a microchip ID number, health guarantees against genetic defects, requirements for veterinary care, and mentoring clauses.
It’s also worth noting that you could have responsibilities to fulfill as the dog owner as well, including requirements to compete the pet in dog shows if you want access to specific bloodlines.7
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