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Local guide
Dog wash stations in San Jose: the straight answer.
Two chains run most of the self-serve tubs in the South Bay. Here is where they are, what a visit really costs, what to bring, and an honest read on when the station is the right call. Yes, we sell the alternative. The numbers below are real anyway.
Where and how much
The stations, priced.
Pet Food Express
$18 per wash
One token buys 25 minutes at the tub. Shampoo, conditioner, towels, apron and dryer included. Buy 3 washes, get 1 free.
Verified 2026-09-18, petfood.express/pet-wash + Yelp Q&A.
Petco self-serve dog wash
From $20
Select stores only. Shampoo, conditioner, towels and apron included; call the store to confirm it has a station.
Verified 2026-09-18, petco.com/shop/en/petcostore/dog-wash.
A handful of independent groomers around San Jose also rent a tub by the visit, typically in the $15–20 band. Availability changes, so call before driving.
The visit
What the token buys, and what it does not.
What a station gives you
A waist-height tub so you are not kneeling over your own bathtub, a sprayer, a grooming loop to clip the dog to, shampoo and towels, and a dryer. The mess, the wet walls, and the clogged drain stay at the store. You do all the work: the wash, the rinse, the drying, and the convincing.
What to bring anyway
High-value treats, a towel for the car seat, and patience for the dryer, which is the step most dogs protest. If your dog has a shampoo your vet prescribed, bring it; house shampoo at a station is a general-purpose product.
Plan the timing
Stations are busiest on weekends, and a nervous dog does not get calmer waiting in line next to a barking retriever. A weekday morning is a different experience. Call ahead to confirm the station is open and working, since tubs go down for cleaning.
Budget the full visit, not just the tub
The tub time is one line of the trip: loading the dog, driving both ways, waiting for a bay, and drying a thick coat inside a 25-minute window all count. A double-coated dog that is not fully dry when the timer ends goes home damp, and damp undercoat is where the next-day smell starts.
The honest answer
When the station is the right call, and when it stops being one.
For a small or medium dog that likes people, rides well in the car, and dries fast, a $20 station visit is genuinely good value, and no mobile service honestly beats it on price. Take the deal.
The math changes when the dog is the problem: a big dog that fights the ramp, a nervous dog that shakes in a busy store, a thick double coat that will not dry in the window, or a week where two car trips with a wet dog is one errand too many. That is the dog the van exists for: we park at your driveway, one handler does the whole wash, and the price is flat by size, $75–155, with the brush-out, the nail trim, and ear cleaning included, which is the part every tub, station or home, makes you do yourself.
Washing a 60-pound-plus dog? The big-dog wash page covers the lifting problem, and here is how the at-home version works.
Get the station cheat sheet by email.
Prices, the what-to-bring list, and the timing tips as one printable sheet, plus a note when station prices change, since we recheck them.
One email with the guide, plus seasonal dog care reminders that are actually useful. Reply unsubscribe any time and we stop.
Frequently asked
Wash station questions, answered.
Around $10–25 per visit at the wide range, with the common answer near $20. Pet Food Express sells washes at $18 per wash with a buy-3-get-1-free deal, and the Petco self-serve dog wash runs from $20 where stores have a station. Supplies are included at both, so the posted price is generally the whole visit.
Generally no, they are walk-in, which is also why weekend afternoons can mean waiting for a bay. Buy the token or wash at the register first, then take the dog back. Calling ahead is worth it to confirm the station is open, since individual tubs close for maintenance.
Yes, and this is where stations get hard: a 70-pound dog that does not want to climb the ramp or be lifted into an elevated tub is a real fight in a public place, and drying a big double coat inside a timed window usually does not finish the undercoat. Big-dog owners are the group we most often see switch from stations to the van.
The chains rinse and disinfect tubs between uses and the setups are generally well kept. It is still a shared tub in a busy store, so if your dog has open skin problems or is not fully vaccinated, your vet would tell you to wash at home instead.
Or skip the trip entirely.
The wash comes to your driveway: one handler, flat price by size, $75–155, nails and ears included. You never load a wet dog into a car.
or text us at (408) 599-8317
Owner-operated · Local service
Hi, I’m Ace.
I run Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash myself — I’m the one who shows up at your door. Every visit is one dog at a time in the van at your curb: warm water, a full brush-out and a proper dry, with no salon drive and no cage waiting. Big dogs, heavy shedders and nervous seniors are the reason this service exists.
Owner-OperatedLarge-Dog FriendlyDe-SheddingSenior & Anxious Dogs
Book with AceWhat our customers say
Trusted by Bay Area dog parents
★★★★★
SUCH a great - and easy! - experience! Asa was immediately responsive (I love when businesses actually answer their phone!), worked Moose in within 24 hours, was communicative throughout, bought unscented products specifically for us, did a great job with my 12 year old doodle … all in all: amazing service!
★★★★★
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age — I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash.
★★★★☆
Ace was great with my 3 small dogs. They got washed and towel dried, their ears checked, their nails trimmed. One star off because he trimmed one nail too far and it bled for a long time, plus distressed my already anxious dog. Important to know that this service isn't van-based (yet). Ace brings a portable wash station to set up outside. He brings his own water and supplies. He doesn't do any hair cuts, just basic wash and towel dry. I'll call him again in the future!
★★★★★
Ace did a great job with our little old chihuahua mix. Our appointment was for the evening and he came prepared with warm water, and made our sure our dog was comfortable the entire time. Don't let the lack of reviews on yelp scare you away, his prices are good, and he takes time to ensure that good work is done.
★★★★★
He did such an amazing job with my dog! He came out looking so nice, clean, and well-groomed, but what stood out to me most was how happy and comfortable he seemed afterward. You can really tell he was treated with care throughout the entire process. I'm extremely pleased with how everything turned out and would definitely recommend him!
★★★★★
Ace at Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash was absolutely wonderful with my senior dog. He was so gentle and patient with him, which meant everything to me given his age -- I could tell he genuinely cared about his comfort throughout the whole process. Beyond the excellent care, Ace was warm, loving, and clearly an animal lover at heart, while also being completely professional from start to finish. It's rare to find someone who balances that kind of tenderness with real expertise, and my dog came out looking and smelling great without a hint of stress. Highly recommend Ace and Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash. Price is great!
★★★★★
We booked Bay Area Mobile Dog Wash for our 90-lb German Shepherd, Koda, who hates the groomer. Ace parked the van right in our driveway in Willow Glen, walked her up the ramp himself — no lifting, no cage, no other dogs — and I watched the whole wash from my doorstep. Bath, nails, ears, and she came back inside dry and calm. Flat $95 exactly as the website said, no surprise charges. We've already booked next month. 😊❤️
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