Rabbit Cost: Price, Setup and Yearly Cost (2026)

Where the money goes each year

A typical year for a rabbit, with typical spending in an average-cost area, no insurance.

Illness and injury (average)$450
Fresh leafy greens$420
Hay (unlimited timothy or other grass hay)$312
Litter (paper or pine pellets)$216
Timothy-based pellets$156
Chew toys and enrichment$120
Annual exotic-vet exam$108
RHDV2 vaccine yearly booster$36
Replacement hideout and litter box$17
Typical year$1,840

Most years land between $1,230 and $3,020. From about year 7, add about $108 a year for senior checkups. Items replaced on a cycle are spread across the years.

Setup and the first year

For rabbits, the equipment usually costs far more than the animal.

Getting set up

Price (breeder)$325
Exercise pen (wire, about 25 sq ft)$55
Litter box$14
Hay rack or manger$10
Heavy food and water bowls (2)$12
Hideout$20
Carrier$34
Starter chew toys$18
Bunny-proofing (cord covers)$44
First exotic-vet exam$108
Spay or neuter (exotics vet)$580
RHDV2 vaccine, initial two-dose series$72
Microchip$40
Upfront$1,330

Running costs in year one

Hay (unlimited timothy or other grass hay)$312
Timothy-based pellets$156
Fresh leafy greens$420
Litter (paper or pine pellets)$216
Chew toys and enrichment$120
Replacement hideout and litter box$17
Illness and injury (average)$450
Year-one running costs$1,690

First-year total: $3,020. Adopting instead brings it to about $2,240.

Make it your estimate

Change the choices that move the price most. Totals update as you go.

Health costs to plan for

Condition	What it is	Typical treatment	Cost
GI stasis	VCA calls gut stasis common in rabbits; it follows anything that stops a rabbit eating (dental pain, stress) and turns life-threatening once the rabbit dehydrates. Source	Outpatient fluids, pain relief and motility drugs ($300–$400); overnight hospitalization or surgery $1,000–$2,000	$300–$2,000
Dental disease (overgrown teeth)	Rabbit teeth grow up to 4–5 inches a year (PetMD); misaligned molars must be filed under anesthesia, and VCA notes trims are often repeated for life. Source	Molar trim under anesthesia, per procedure (owner-reported $850; an Arizona vet quoted from $350); extractions cost more	$350–$850
Uterine cancer (unspayed females)	PetMD says up to 70% of unspayed females over 3–4 years develop uterine cancer; NC State cites 80% by age three. Spaying by 5–6 months prevents it. Source	Spay (ovariohysterectomy) once diagnosed, plus X-rays; costs rise with hospitalization	$633–$1,200
E. cuniculi (head tilt, kidney disease)	VCA describes this parasite as common; it causes head tilt, eye lesions, kidney failure and recurring GI stasis, and some cases need hospitalization. Source	Blood test plus anti-parasitic and anti-inflammatory drugs; range is Chewy's general rabbit diagnostic-test cost ($300–$500), and hospitalized kidney or GI cases cost more	$300–$500

The yearly estimate includes an average of $450 for illness and injury. Insurance is available for this pet; turn it on in the calculator to compare.

What drives the cost

Spay/neuter at an exotics vet runs about $530–$630 at one Wisconsin practice and up to $1,200 elsewhere; low-cost clinics charge $75–$300 but are scarce outside California.
Rescue adoption fees of about $85–$100 usually include spay/neuter, microchip and the RHDV2 vaccine, worth $650 or more if bought separately.
Hay is the main food: a 6-lb rabbit goes through about 10 lb a month, roughly $300 a year at $2.60/lb in 20-lb boxes; buying 15-oz bags at $0.37/oz nearly doubles that.
Fresh greens add $240–$600 a year, often more than pellets and hay combined for owners who buy organic or small packs.
The RHDV2 vaccine is a two-shot series (about $50–$72) then a yearly booster ($30–$45 at clinics); House Rabbit Society urges it even for indoor rabbits.
Insurance is available only from Nationwide's Avian & Exotic plan, about $21–$45 a month, and it does not cover spay/neuter, vaccines or checkups.

Is it legal where you live?

Pet rabbits are legal in all 50 states with no permit. California's AB 485 (in effect since Jan 1, 2019) lets pet stores sell rabbits only if they come from shelters or rescues, and Petco ended its rabbit sales in 2024. The RHDV2 vaccine is sold only through licensed vets, and when it was first authorized some states (including Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Alaska) had not yet approved it.

Cities and counties can have their own rules. Check locally before you buy.

Breeder: $200–$450
Shelter or rescue: $85–$100
Lifetime: $20,000

How this estimate is built

Every line, with the typical, thrifty and generous figures and where each comes from.

Item	Typical	Range	Basis and sources
Setup
Exercise pen (wire, about 25 sq ft)	$55	$36–$84	Petmate 8-panel wire pen 60 x 60 in, 30-in panels $36.32 (low) or 36-in panels $83.99 (high); Frisco wire small-pet playpen $54.60 and MidWest exercise pen $47.49–$54.99 (typical). Chewy prices, Oct 2026. Chewy: Petmate 8-Panel Wire Dog Exercise Pen with Door; Chewy: Best rabbit playpens (Frisco Wire Small Pet Playpen $54.60); Chewy: MidWest Exercise Pen Wire Mesh Top
Litter box	$14	$13–$15	Frisco High Sided Small Pet Litter Box, medium, $13.49; Oxbow Enriched Life corner litter pan $14.99 (Chewy). Chewy: Frisco High Sided Small Pet Litter Box; Chewy: Oxbow Enriched Life Corner Litter Pan
Hay rack or manger	$10	$10–$16	Kaytee Hay Manger $9.99 at Chewy (list price $15.99 used as high). Chewy: Kaytee Hay Manger & Salt Spool Hanger
Heavy food and water bowls (2)	$12	$12–$24	Two Kaytee Vege-T-Bowl 22-oz crocks at $5.99 each (Chewy sale price); $11.99 each at list price for the high end. A heavy bowl is preferred over a bottle by many rabbit groups; a bottle costs about the same. Chewy: Kaytee Vege-T-Bowl Carrot Small Pet Bowl
Hideout	$20	$11–$30	Kaytee Woodland Get-A-Way hideout: Medium $10.99, Large $19.95 (fits a 4–6 lb rabbit), X-Large $29.95 (Chewy). Chewy: Kaytee Woodland Get-A-Way Small Pet Hideout
Carrier	$34	$34–$34	Frisco Top Loading Small Pet Carrier $34.00 at Chewy; the medium size is the one recommended for rabbits. Chewy: Frisco Top Loading Small Pet Carrier
Starter chew toys	$18	$18–$36	Oxbow Enriched Life Timothy Party Pack (6 hay chews) $18.20 buy-once at Chewy; high end = two packs. Chewy: Oxbow Enriched Life Timothy Party Pack
Bunny-proofing (cord covers)	$44	$0–$88	Split-loom cord protector 10 ft x 1/2 in, $43.97 per set at Home Depot; high = two sets for a larger free-roam area. Low = $0 for owners who keep the rabbit penned and block cords with furniture, which the Animal Humane Society lists as an option. Home Depot: 10 ft 1/2 in cord protector wire loom tubing; Animal Humane Society: Bunny-proofing your home
First year
First exotic-vet exam	$108	$90–$130	Wellness exam $107.62 at The Gentle Vets (WI, 2026 price list); Chewy cites $90–$130 for an initial rabbit exam. The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing; Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor)
Spay or neuter (exotics vet)	$580	$200–$1,200	Gentle Vets lists rabbit neuter $529.41 and spay $632.94 (average about $580). Chewy cites $500–$1,200. Low = California low-cost clinics ($75–$300, e.g. HRS Richmond clinic $200–$300); WabbitWiki says full-price clinics charge $300+, and low-cost prices often exclude pre-op exam, bloodwork and pain medication. The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing; Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor); House Rabbit Society: Low-cost spay and neuter (California clinic prices); WabbitWiki: Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinics
RHDV2 vaccine, initial two-dose series	$72	$50–$200	Two doses about 3 weeks apart. HRS Richmond (CA) clinic $50 for the series; Portland Rabbit Advocates clinic $65; Gentle Vets $35.93 per dose x 2 = $72; Chewy cites $30–$100 per dose at regular vets (x 2 = $200 high). Medgene's vaccine is sold only through vets. House Rabbit Society: Protect Your Rabbit This Holiday Season (RHDV2 clinic prices, Oct 2025); Multnomah County Animal Services: Rabbit Advocates RHDV2 Vaccine Clinics (Portland, OR); The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing; Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor); House Rabbit Society: US-developed RHDV2 Vaccine Receives USDA Emergency Use Authorization
Microchip	$40	$15–$60	San Diego HRS: $25–$60 at an exotic vet clinic; Portland vaccine clinic offers chips for $15. San Diego House Rabbit Society: Adopting vs Buying; Multnomah County Animal Services: Rabbit Advocates RHDV2 Vaccine Clinics (Portland, OR)
Every year
Hay (unlimited timothy or other grass hay)	$312	$213–$525	Small Pet Select says a 6-lb rabbit should go through about 10 lb of hay a month; we use about 120 lb/year (2.3 lb/week) for a 4–6 lb rabbit. Typical: 120 lb x $2.60/lb (Oxbow 20-lb box $51.99) = $312. Low: 100 lb x $2.13/lb (Oxbow 40-lb box $84.99) = $213. High: 150 lb (more waste, bigger eater) x $3.50/lb (Small Pet Select 10-lb box $34.99) = $525. Small bags cost far more ($0.37/oz = $5.92/lb for a 15-oz bag). HRS's poster range of $15–$50/month ($180–$600/yr) brackets these. Small Pet Select: Feeding Unlimited Hay vs Eating Unlimited Hay; Chewy: Oxbow Western Timothy Hay (all sizes and prices); Chewy: Small Pet Select Second Cut Timothy Hay (all sizes and prices); House Rabbit Society: How Much Does a Rabbit Cost? poster (2024)
Timothy-based pellets	$156	$96–$312	Oxbow's feeding guide: 1/4–1/3 cup/day for a 4–8 lb adult (NC State: about 1/4 cup per 5 lb). Chewy's cost guide puts pellets at $13–$26/month ($156–$312/yr) and HRS at about $20/month. Low = four 10-lb bags of Oxbow Essentials a year at $23.99 (That Pet Place), our estimate for a careful owner. LOW-MEDIUM CONFIDENCE on pounds per year: no source gives cup-to-pound weight. Oxbow: Essentials Adult Rabbit Food (feeding guide: 1/4-1/3 cup/day for 4-8 lb); NC State Veterinary Hospital: Caring for Your Pet Rabbit; That Pet Place: Oxbow Adult Rabbit Food 10 lb ($23.99); Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor); House Rabbit Society: How Much Does a Rabbit Cost? poster (2024)
Fresh leafy greens	$420	$240–$600	NC State recommends about 1/2 cup of greens per 2 lb body weight daily (roughly 1–1.5 cups for a 4–6 lb rabbit). Chewy prices vegetables at $20–$50/month ($240–$600/yr); typical = $35/month. HRS's poster gives $30–$100/month for owners buying more variety or organic. NC State Veterinary Hospital: Caring for Your Pet Rabbit; Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor); House Rabbit Society: How Much Does a Rabbit Cost? poster (2024)
Litter (paper or pine pellets)	$216	$96–$252	Chewy's cost guide: $18–$21/month for litter ($216–$252/yr); HRS poster about $20/month. Carefresh Rabbit & Ferret paper litter is $18.99 per 10 lb at Chewy. Low = pine stall pellets, $7.99 per 40-lb bag at Tractor Supply, one bag a month (our assumption). Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor); House Rabbit Society: How Much Does a Rabbit Cost? poster (2024); Chewy: Carefresh Rabbit & Ferret Litter, 10-lb; Tractor Supply: Pine Pellet Stall Bedding, 40 lb
Annual exotic-vet exam	$108	$90–$130	Gentle Vets wellness exam $107.62; Chewy cites about $100 per yearly visit and $90–$130 per exam. NC State recommends annual exams for young rabbits. The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing; Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor); NC State Veterinary Hospital: Caring for Your Pet Rabbit
RHDV2 vaccine yearly booster	$36	$30–$100	House Rabbit Society recommends vaccinating all rabbits, including indoor-only ones, with a yearly booster. HRS Richmond clinic booster $30; Gentle Vets $35.93; Portland clinic $45; Chewy cites up to $100 per dose at regular vets. House Rabbit Society: Protect Your Rabbit This Holiday Season (RHDV2 clinic prices, Oct 2025); The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing; Multnomah County Animal Services: Rabbit Advocates RHDV2 Vaccine Clinics (Portland, OR); Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor)
Chew toys and enrichment	$120	$73–$360	Rabbits chew through toys constantly. Chewy's cost guide gives $10–$30/month ($120–$360/yr). Low = one $18.20 Oxbow Timothy Party Pack per quarter (our assumption), plus cardboard and hay as free chews. Chewy: How Much Do Rabbits Cost? (Yvonne Villasenor); Chewy: Oxbow Enriched Life Timothy Party Pack
Replacement hideout and litter box	$34 every 2 years	$24–$45	Chewed hideouts and stained litter boxes are replaced about every 2 years (our estimate). One replacement: Kaytee Large hideout $19.95 + Frisco litter box $13.49 = $34; low uses the $10.99 medium hideout, high the $29.95 X-Large and $14.99 Oxbow pan. Chewy: Kaytee Woodland Get-A-Way Small Pet Hideout; Chewy: Frisco High Sided Small Pet Litter Box
Illness and injury, per year
Unexpected vet bills (illness and injury)	$450	$250–$850	LOW CONFIDENCE: no US claims study for rabbits was found. HRS's poster puts total medical spending at $500–$1,000 a year; minus a routine exam and RHDV2 booster (about $145 at Gentle Vets prices) leaves about $350–$850 for illness. One outpatient GI stasis visit costs about $300–$400 and an overnight case $900–$2,000, so a rabbit with one episode every year or two lands near $450. Low $250 reflects a healthy young rabbit. House Rabbit Society: How Much Does a Rabbit Cost? poster (2024); Bunny Lady: What are your options if you can't afford a vet for your rabbit?; Binky Bunny forum: Inpatient vs outpatient for stasis (owner-reported bills); The Gentle Vets (Green Bay, WI): Exotics pricing
Insurance, per month
Nationwide Avian & Exotic (accident & illness)	$35	$21–$45	Nationwide says rabbit premiums generally start under $21/month. A Nationwide quote reported by The Zebra (Jan 2026) was $39.24/month for a 1.5-year-old Holland Lop; HRS lists 2021–2022 quotes of $20.90–$45.24/month ($250 deductible, $10K annual limit, 50% or 70% reimbursement). Nationwide quotes exotics by phone only and excludes spay/neuter, vaccines and checkups. Nationwide: Pet insurance plans for rabbits; The Zebra: Exotic Pet Insurance (Nationwide quote for a Holland Lop, updated Jan 2026); House Rabbit Society: Resources to Help Pay Vet Bills (Nationwide premium examples)

Common questions

How much does a rabbit cost?

Breeder: $200–$450; shelter or rescue: $85–$100. The bigger costs come after: about $210 to set up, about $3,020 for the whole first year, then about $1,840 a year.

How much does a rabbit cost per year?

About $1,840 a year ($153 a month) for a typical owner in an average-cost area, ranging from about $1,230 for a thrifty owner in a lower-cost area to $3,020 for a generous owner in a big city with insurance.

How much does a rabbit cost over its lifetime?

About $20,000 over a 10-year life, in 2026 dollars.

Sources

Estimates in 2026 US dollars. Vet prices for this pet use the same region adjustment as the rest of the site (methodology). Updated October 14, 2026.