Dog Crate Sizes: Chart by Weight and Breed, and How to Measure Your Dog
For new owners, anyone sizing up for a growing puppy and anyone checking whether a crate will fit in a room or a car. Wire and plastic crate dimensions, the weight and breed each one suits, and the two measurements that decide it.
Dog crates are named by length: 18, 22, 24, 30, 36, 42 and 48 in (46 to 122 cm), plus 54 in for giant breeds. A 24 in crate (about 24 × 18 × 19 in) suits dogs up to about 25 lb, a 36 in crate (36 × 23 × 25 in, 91 × 58 × 64 cm) suits about 40–70 lb, and a 42 in crate suits labradors and golden retrievers. Pick the size whose inside is 2–4 in (5–10 cm) longer and taller than your dog.
- Small (24 in)
- 24 × 18 × 19 in
- Medium (30 in)
- 30 × 19 × 21 in
- Large (42 in)
- 42 × 28 × 30 in
- Room to add
- 2–4 in (5–10 cm)
On this page
Dog crate size chart
A crate's name is its approximate length. Width and height grow with it, but not by a fixed ratio, so the actual measurements below are what to compare with your dog and your floor space. Dimensions are typical outside sizes of folding wire crates; brands vary by up to about 1 in (2.5 cm).
| Crate | Size (in) | Size (cm) | Dog weight | Example breeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 in (XXS) | 18 × 12 × 14 | 46 × 30 × 36 | Up to 10 lb (4.5 kg) | Chihuahua, toy poodle |
| 22 in (XS) | 22 × 13 × 16 | 56 × 33 × 41 | Up to 15 lb (7 kg) | Yorkshire terrier, Maltese |
| 24 in (S) | 24 × 18 × 19 | 61 × 46 × 48 | 12–25 lb (5–11 kg) | Pug, Shih Tzu, Boston terrier |
| 30 in (M) | 30 × 19 × 21 | 76 × 48 × 53 | 20–40 lb (9–18 kg) | Beagle, cocker spaniel, French bulldog |
| 36 in (L) | 36 × 23 × 25 | 91 × 58 × 64 | 40–70 lb (18–32 kg) | Border collie, bulldog, Australian shepherd |
| 42 in (XL) | 42 × 28 × 30 | 107 × 71 × 76 | 70–90 lb (32–41 kg) | Labrador, golden retriever, boxer |
| 48 in (XXL) | 48 × 30 × 33 | 122 × 76 × 84 | 90–110 lb (41–50 kg) | German shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman |
| 54 in (giant) | about 54 × 35–37 × 45 | about 137 × 89–94 × 114 | 110 lb (50 kg) and up | Great Dane, mastiff, Irish wolfhound |
Size letters are not standardized. One brand's "large" is 36 in and another's is 42 in, so order by the length in inches. The weight bands are the usual maker guidance; height matters more for lean, leggy dogs such as greyhounds and Dobermans, which often need a size up.
How to measure your dog for a crate
- Measure length. With the dog standing, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. Do not include the tail.
- Measure height. Have the dog sit, then measure from the floor to the top of the head, or the ear tips if they stand up. Sitting height is usually the taller figure.
- Add 2–4 in (5–10 cm) to each number. Use the low end for small dogs and the high end for large ones.
- Pick the smallest crate whose inside length and height are both at least those totals. Wire crates lose about 1 in to the frame and the floor pan; plastic kennels lose 2–4 in.
Example: a dog measuring 33 in long and 26 in tall sitting needs about 36 × 29 in inside. A 42 in crate (30 in tall) fits; a 36 in crate is too short and too low.
Buy the crate your dog will need as an adult and use a divider panel to shorten it. Move the divider back as the puppy grows, keeping the space just long enough for it to lie stretched out. Most wire crates of 24 in and up are sold with a divider or have one available.
Wire, plastic and soft crates: size differences
| Type | Typical sizes | Inside space lost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folding wire | 18–54 in | About 1 in | Home use, good air flow, folds to 2–4 in thick |
| Plastic kennel | 21–48 in | 2–4 in each way | Air travel, cars, dogs that like a den |
| Soft (fabric) | 24–42 in | Under 1 in | Calm dogs on short trips; not for chewers or air cargo |
| Furniture-style | Usually 24–48 in | 2–4 in to the frame and top | Living rooms, doubles as an end table |
Plastic kennels run taller and wider than wire crates of the same length. A 36 in Petmate Sky Kennel, for example, is 36 × 25 × 27 in against about 36 × 23 × 25 in for a 36 in wire crate. That extra outside size matters when the kennel has to fit in a car.
Crates for flying (airline cargo)
Airlines that carry dogs as cargo or checked baggage require a rigid kennel sized by IATA Live Animals Regulations Container Requirement 1. Inside length must be at least the dog's nose-to-tail-base length plus half its leg height (floor to elbow), inside width at least twice the shoulder width, and inside height at least the standing height to the top of the head or ear tips. The kennel also needs metal bolts or fasteners, a metal door, ventilation on several sides and a leak-proof floor. Wire home crates do not qualify.
Small dogs under about 15–18 lb can fly in the cabin instead, in a carrier that fits under the seat; limits by airline are in the pet carrier size guide. Many airlines restrict cargo pets by route, season and breed (short-nosed breeds are often refused), so confirm before buying a travel kennel.
Space a crate needs at home and in the car
- Floor space: allow the crate's footprint plus about 2 in (5 cm) behind it for air and 24 in (61 cm) in front for the door to swing and for you to reach in. With its door on the short end, a 42 in crate therefore takes about 28 × 68 in (71 × 173 cm) of floor. Many crates have a second door on the long side, which lets the crate sit lengthwise against a wall.
- Doors and halls: a 48 in crate is 30 in wide assembled, wider than a 28 in interior door opening. Fold it to carry it through. Standard openings are listed in the door size guide.
- Cars: a 36 in crate needs about 25–27 in of height, which fits behind the rear seats of most SUVs and wagons but not under a sedan's parcel shelf. A 42 in crate needs about 30 in of height and 42 in of length. Compare with cargo-area measurements in the car dimensions guide.
- Furniture: crate covers and furniture-style crates add 1–3 in to every dimension. If the crate will sit between pieces, check widths against the furniture dimensions guide.
Crate pads and beds are sold in the same lengths as crates: a 36 in crate takes a pad of about 35 × 22 in. See pet bed sizes for pads and beds outside the crate, and pet gate sizes if you would rather fence off a room than use a crate.
Common crate sizing mistakes
- Measuring the dog lying down. The dog needs to stand and sit without ducking. Use sitting height, which is often 2–4 in more than standing height at the shoulder.
- Going by breed alone. Males of the same breed are often 10–20% heavier and 1–2 in taller than females.
- Choosing a crate much too big. A dog that can walk away from its bed to relieve itself will. The right size has room for one comfortable turn.
- Comparing outside sizes of plastic and wire crates. The inside of a plastic kennel can be 4 in shorter than its label. Ask for interior measurements.
Frequently asked questions
What size crate does a labrador need?
A 42 in (107 cm) crate, about 42 × 28 × 30 in, fits most adult labradors and golden retrievers of 55–80 lb. A large male over 24 in at the shoulder may need a 48 in crate. Buy the adult size with a divider panel for a puppy.
What are the dimensions of a large dog crate?
A crate sold as large is usually 42 in long, about 42 × 28 × 30 in (107 × 71 × 76 cm), for dogs of about 70–90 lb. Extra large is 48 × 30 × 33 in (122 × 76 × 84 cm), and giant crates are about 54 in long and 45 in tall.
What size crate does a dog need for cargo on a plane?
A rigid plastic or wooden kennel sized by the IATA rule: inside length at least nose-to-tail-base plus half the leg height, inside width twice the shoulder width and inside height at least the standing height to the head or ear tips. Wire home crates and soft crates are not accepted. Most airlines also limit the kennel to what fits through the cargo door of the aircraft, so ask before buying a 48 in kennel.
Should a dog crate be big or small?
Big enough for the dog to stand without ducking, turn around and lie flat on its side, and no bigger. Extra space lets a puppy soil one end and sleep in the other, which undoes house training.
What size crate for a 50 lb dog?
A 36 in crate (36 × 23 × 25 in) is the usual size for a 50 lb (23 kg) dog such as a border collie or a bulldog. If the dog is tall for its weight, measure: a standing height over 21 in to the top of the head calls for a 42 in crate.