Interactive · standard crate sizing
Dog Crate Size Calculator
Enter your dog’s length and height and get the right standard crate size. The goal is just enough room to stand, turn around, and lie down fully — and no more, because an oversized crate makes house-training harder.
Quick answer: measure length (nose to base of tail) and height (floor to top of head, sitting), then add about 4 inches to each. As a rough weight guide: 24-inch ≤ 30 lb, 30-inch 30–40 lb, 36-inch 40–70 lb, 42-inch 70–90 lb, 48-inch 90–110 lb.
Enter your dog’s length and height to get the right crate size.
How to measure your dog
- Length — with the dog standing, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (where the tail meets the body, not the tip). Add about 4 inches.
- Height— with the dog sitting upright, measure from the floor to the top of the head. Don’t include the ears. Add about 4 inches.
The crate should let your dog stand without crouching, turn around, and lie down fully stretched. Per AKC crate-training guidance, that’s the target — comfortable, but not so large the crate stops feeling like a den.
Crate size by weight (quick reference)
If you can’t measure right now, use the dog’s weight as a rough guide:
| Crate size | Interior (L × W × H) | Typical dog weight |
|---|---|---|
| 22-inch | 22 × 13 × 16 in | up to ~25 lb (Chihuahua, Yorkie) |
| 24-inch | 24 × 18 × 19 in | ~25–30 lb (small terriers, Pug) |
| 30-inch | 30 × 19 × 21 in | ~30–40 lb (Cocker Spaniel, French Bulldog) |
| 36-inch | 36 × 23 × 25 in | ~40–70 lb (Border Collie, Bulldog) |
| 42-inch | 42 × 28 × 30 in | ~70–90 lb (Labrador, Golden Retriever) |
| 48-inch | 48 × 30 × 33 in | ~90–110 lb (German Shepherd, Rottweiler) |
Giant breeds over ~110 lb (Great Dane, Mastiff) need a 54-inch XXL crate.
Sizing a crate for a growing puppy
Don’t buy small now and big later. Buy the crate for the estimated adult size and use the divider panel to keep the usable area just big enough today, then slide it back as the puppy grows. This matters for house-training: dogs naturally avoid soiling where they sleep, but a crate large enough to potty in one corner and rest in another defeats that instinct.
Sources
- American Kennel Club — Dog Training expert advice (crate training, sizing, and the den principle). akc.org
- The Humane Society of the United States — Crate training your dog. humanesociety.org