Dog Crate Size Chart by Breed: How to Measure Your Dog

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A crate that is too small is uncomfortable, and one that is too big can undo house training. This page shows how to measure your dog for a crate, a crate size chart by breed, how to size for a puppy, which type of crate suits which dog, and what to know before crating a dog that gets anxious when left alone.

The short answer: measure your dog standing, from the top of the head to the floor and from the nose to the tail, and add 3 to 4 inches to each, as the AKC suggests. Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. For a puppy, buy the crate for its adult size and use a divider panel. And a crate is not a fix for separation anxiety: a dog that panics when confined needs a different plan. Once you have the crate, see how to crate train a puppy.

How we chose: this guide is based on breed club, animal welfare and veterinary behavior sources and the brands’ own size charts. We have not tested these crates ourselves. Breed charts are a starting point only; measure your own dog.

Step 1: measure your dog

  1. Height. With your dog standing, measure from the top of the head (or the tips of upright ears, if they are taller) to the floor.
  2. Length. Measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail. MidWest, a major crate maker, measures to the base of the tail; the AKC says to the tip. Measuring to the tip gives a little more room.
  3. Add 3 to 4 inches to each measurement. The AKC uses this rule, and MidWest’s sizing guide also says to add a few inches for clearance.
  4. Pick the crate whose inside height and length are at least those numbers. Crates are named by their outside length, so check the listed interior size where a brand gives it.

The test is simple. In the AKC crate training guide, the crate should be just large enough for your dog to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably. The Humane World for Animals (formerly the Humane Society of the United States) uses the same stand-up-and-turn-around rule.

Why bigger is not always better

With a dog bed, sizing up is safe. With a crate, the AKC warns that too much room can let a dog use one end as a toilet and sleep in the other, which works against house training. Once a dog is fully house trained, a little extra space is fine, and many owners then leave the door open so the crate becomes a den.

Dog crate size chart by breed

This chart follows MidWest’s size and breed reference. Crate sizes are the crate’s length in inches. MidWest notes that, depending on sex and mixed ancestry, your dog may need a larger or smaller crate than listed, so measure to confirm.

Crate size MidWest label Example breeds
18 or 22 in X-Small Maltese, Papillon, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier, Japanese Chin
24 in Small Chihuahua, Boston Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, Pug, Shih Tzu, West Highland Terrier
30 in Medium Dachshund, French Bulldog, King Charles Spaniel, Miniature Schnauzer, Shetland Sheepdog
36 in Intermediate Beagle, Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel, Brittany, Welsh Corgi, Whippet
42 in Large Australian Shepherd, Border Collie, Boxer, Golden Retriever, Labrador Retriever, Standard Poodle
48 in X-Large Akita, Bernese Mountain Dog, Doberman Pinscher, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Siberian Husky
54 in XX-Large Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Mastiff, St. Bernard

Weight ranges differ by brand: MidWest lists its 36 inch iCrate for dogs of about 41 to 70 lbs, for example.

Sizing a crate for a puppy

A puppy grows fast, and buying a new crate at every stage gets expensive. The AKC suggests a crate sized for your breed’s typical adult size, with a divider panel you move back as the puppy grows. MidWest adds that the divider should fit snugly across the width of the crate. Start with just enough room for the puppy to stand, turn and lie down, and give it more space as it grows and as house training improves. MidWest suggests using AKC or other breed resources to estimate adult size; for a mixed breed, your vet can help.

Which type of crate?

The AKC sums up the main types:

  • Wire: durable, well ventilated and lets the dog see out; most fold flat and many come with a divider. Some dogs settle better with a cover over it.
  • Plastic: more enclosed and den-like, easy to clean and doubles as a travel kennel. Many models meet airline rules, but check with your airline.
  • Soft-sided: light and portable for travel and calm dogs, but not for chewers or dogs that try to escape.
  • Wood or furniture-style: looks good in a living room, but heavier and harder to clean.

Crates and separation anxiety

Separation anxiety is real distress when a dog is left alone, not disobedience. The ASPCA lists common signs that happen only when the dog is alone: urinating or defecating, barking or howling, chewing and destruction, escape attempts and pacing.

A crate can help or hurt. The ASPCA says crate training can help some dogs if they learn the crate is their safe place when left alone, but for other dogs the crate adds stress and anxiety. Humane World for Animals is direct: using a crate as a remedy for separation anxiety will not solve the problem, which can only be resolved with counterconditioning and desensitization. A dog that panics in a crate can hurt itself trying to get out, so the answer is not a stronger crate.

The ASPCA names frantic escape attempts as a sign that confinement is not right for a dog. If your dog fights the crate when you leave, stop crating it while you are away and get help.

When to see a vet or behaviorist

  • Start with your vet. The ASPCA notes that house soiling can have medical causes, such as a urinary tract infection, which should be ruled out first. Some problems that look like separation anxiety are something else, such as incomplete house training, boredom or a young dog’s normal chewing.
  • For moderate or severe cases, the ASPCA recommends a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB) or a board-certified veterinary behaviorist (Dip ACVB), who can set up a gradual desensitization plan.
  • Medication is a decision for your vet or a veterinary behaviorist; the ASPCA says never to give a dog medication for a behavior problem without that advice.

Crate safety basics

  • Time limits: Humane World says puppies under 6 months should not stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time, and adult dogs not more than 4 to 5 hours during the day. The AKC adds: never longer than your dog is comfortable or can hold its bladder.
  • Never as punishment: the crate should be a safe, comfortable place, says Humane World.
  • Train gradually: the AKC suggests starting with the door open, tossing food or a favorite reward inside, and letting the dog go in on its own before ever closing the door.

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FAQ

What size crate do I need for my dog?

Measure your dog standing, head to floor and nose to tail, and add 3 to 4 inches to each, as the AKC suggests. Your dog should be able to stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.

Can a dog crate be too big?

For a dog still being house trained, yes: the AKC warns that extra space lets a dog soil one end and sleep in the other. Use a divider until house training is solid.

What size crate for a Labrador or German Shepherd?

MidWest’s breed chart lists the Labrador Retriever at 42 inches and the German Shepherd at 48 inches. Measure your own dog, since size varies by sex and line.

Should I crate a dog with separation anxiety?

Only if your dog is calm in the crate. The ASPCA says crates help some dogs and add stress for others, and Humane World says a crate will not resolve separation anxiety. Talk to your vet, and for moderate or severe cases a certified behaviorist.

How long can a dog stay in a crate?

Humane World suggests no more than three or four hours at a time for puppies under 6 months and 4 to 5 hours during the day for adult dogs.

For dog beds, crate pads and cat beds, read our dog beds and crates buying guide and our dog bed size chart, or see all beds and crates.

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