What Size Crate Does My Dog Need?
Measure your dog nose tip to base of tail (standing) and add 2-4 inches for minimum crate length; measure floor to top of head (sitting) and add 2-4 inches for minimum crate height. Match to a size class — roughly XS (under 12 lb, ~18-22in) through XXL (over 90 lb, ~48in) — but your dog's own measurement always beats a weight-band guess, since dogs of the same weight vary in build.
The measure-plus-inches method, step by step
- Length: With your dog standing naturally, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (not the tip). Add 2-4 inches.
- Height: With your dog sitting upright, measure from the floor to the top of the head. Add 2-4 inches.
- Compare to the size class table in The Pet Gear Numbers, and size up if your dog falls between classes.
Size class reference (starting point, not a substitute for measuring)
| Class | Typical crate length | Weight band |
|---|---|---|
| XS | 18-22 in | Under 12 lb |
| S | 22-24 in | 13-25 lb |
| M | 30 in | 26-40 lb |
| L | 36 in | 41-70 lb |
| XL | 42 in | 71-90 lb |
| XXL | 48 in | Over 90 lb |
Puppies: buy adult-projected size with a divider
Buy the crate sized for your puppy's projected adult length, and use a divider panel to shrink the interior while they're small. Move the divider back every few weeks as the puppy grows — this avoids buying three or four crates over the first year.
This page is equipment sizing guidance only, not veterinary advice. If your dog has a health condition affecting mobility or comfort, ask your vet what crate dimensions suit their specific needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Measure your dog from nose tip to the base of the tail while standing, and add 2-4 inches — that's the minimum crate length. Measure floor to the top of the head while sitting, and add 2-4 inches for crate height. Match that to a size class: roughly 18-22in (XS, under 12lb) up to 48in (XXL, over 90lb), but your dog's actual measurement always overrides a weight-band guess.
Buy the adult-projected size with a divider panel, not a small puppy crate you'll replace later. The divider shrinks the usable space while the puppy is small and slides back as they grow, so one crate lasts the dog's whole life.
A dog can't fully stand, turn around, or lie fully stretched out — a size a full class or more too small is a comfort and welfare issue, not just a snug fit.
For crate training specifically, too much extra space can let a dog use one end to eliminate and the other to sleep, undermining the point of den-style training — a properly sized divider panel solves this for growing puppies.
The same measure-plus-inches method applies, but airline travel crates have additional IATA construction rules (ventilation, hardware, labeling) on top of basic size — see our crate requirements for flying page before buying a travel crate specifically.