Crate Ruler

Crate size calculator / Measure for a crate

How to measure your dog for a crate

Length plus 4 inches, sitting height plus 4 inches: that is how big the crate should be.

For a grown dog. Measure it standing, and sitting up.

Buy a crate
36inches long

The red pin marks the crate length on the tape, in inches.

Your dog needs 34 inches of length and at least 30 inches tall inside. The next common size up is 36 inches.

Puppy now? Set the divider

Measure your puppy, and the space to leave appears here.

Two measurements, plus 4 inches each

A crate should let a grown dog stand, turn around and lie stretched out. In numbers, that is about 4 inches more than the dog's length and 4 inches more than its height sitting.

Worked example: a dog 30 inches long and 26 inches tall sitting needs a crate at least 34 inches long and 30 inches tall inside. Crates come in 30 and 36 inches, so buy 36 and check that its inside height is at least 30.

  1. Measure the lengthWith the dog standing, from the tip of its nose to the base of its tail, not the tip.
  2. Measure the heightWith the dog sitting, from the floor to the top of its head, or the tips of upright ears.
  3. Add 4 inches to eachThose are the least inside length and height.
  4. Round upChoose the next standard crate length up: 18, 22, 24, 30, 36, 42 or 48 inches.

The weight bands follow the crate chart PetMD publishes; the plus-4-inches rule is the one Chewy and crate maker MidWest give. Breed weights are typical adult ranges and vary from dog to dog. Sizes here are lengths; widths differ by brand.

Questions

How big should a dog crate be?

About 4 inches longer than the dog, nose to base of tail, and 4 inches taller than its head when it sits.

How do I tell if my dog's crate is too small?

Measure the dog and add 4 inches to each number. If the crate's inside length or height is less than that, go up a size.

How much room should a dog have in a crate?

Enough to stand without ducking, turn around, and lie on its side with legs out. The plus-4-inches rule gives roughly that.

Can I measure a puppy for its adult crate?

No; a puppy is still growing. Use its expected adult weight or its breed, and set the divider for now.

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