Use this dog crate calculator to find the right crate length from your dog's body measurements — big enough to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably, not bigger.
Measure your dog standing, from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail, and from the floor to the top of their head or ears (whichever is taller).
| Crate length | Good fit for |
|---|---|
| 18" | Toy breeds (Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier) |
| 22" | Small breeds (Dachshund, Pomeranian) |
| 24" | Small-medium breeds (Beagle, French Bulldog) |
| 30" | Medium breeds (Cocker Spaniel, Border Collie) |
| 36" | Large breeds (Labrador, Golden Retriever) |
| 42" | Large-giant breeds (German Shepherd, Boxer) |
| 48" | Giant breeds (Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard) |
Crate length should be about your dog's nose-to-tail length plus 25%, so they can lie down fully stretched out with room to stand and turn around. If your dog is still growing, size for their predicted adult measurements — our breed weight calculators can help estimate that.
Good fit for small breeds.
Buy on Amazon →Good fit for medium breeds.
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Length: With your dog standing, measure from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail (not including the tail itself).
Height: Measure from the floor to the top of their head, or to the tips of their ears if they naturally stand upright (as with breeds like the German Shepherd or Corgi).
A correctly sized crate lets your dog stand fully upright, turn around without stepping over anything, and lie down completely stretched out. Bigger isn't always better — an oversized crate can undermine crate training, especially with puppies.
New breed data, growth tips, and puppy-parenting insights, plus our free printable puppy growth tracker.
