Dog Crate Size Chart by Breed: Weights and Heights

Picking the wrong crate size is one of the most common mistakes new dog owners make — and it usually goes in one direction: too small. A crate that fits your 10-pound puppy today will be a cage in four months. Getting the size right from the start saves you money and makes crate training dramatically easier.

The formula is simple: measure your dog from nose to the base of the tail, add 2–4 inches for length. Measure from the floor to the top of your dog's head while standing, add 2–4 inches for height. That gives you the minimum interior dimensions you need. Use the dog crate size chart by breed below to find a starting point for your specific breed, then verify with your dog's actual measurements. If you have a puppy and aren't sure how big they'll get, our free puppy weight calculator can give you a breed-specific adult weight estimate.

How to measure your dog for the right crate size

Before you look at any chart, take two measurements. They take two minutes and will save you from buying the wrong crate:

1. Body length: Have your dog stand naturally. Measure from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail — not the end of the tail, just where it starts. Add 2–4 inches. This gives you the minimum interior crate length.
2. Standing height: Measure from the floor to the top of your dog's head (or the tips of their ears if they stand upright naturally). Add 2–4 inches. This gives you the minimum interior crate height.

Match both numbers to the crate's interior dimensions — not the exterior. Most crate product listings show both, but always check. A crate that clears both your length and height numbers is the right size.

Two things a properly sized crate should allow: your dog should be able to stand upright without touching the ceiling, and they should be able to turn around completely without bumping the walls. They do not need room to run — crates are for resting and sleeping, not exercise.

Dog crate size chart by breed

The table below covers 30+ popular AKC breeds with adult weight ranges and shoulder heights drawn from our veterinary breed dataset. Use this as a starting point — always verify against your individual dog's measurements, since dogs within a breed vary.

Breed	Adult Weight	Shoulder Height	Recommended Crate Size
Toy & Extra-Small Breeds
Chihuahua	3–6 lbs	5–8 in	22-inch
Yorkshire Terrier	4–7 lbs	7–8 in	22-inch
Pomeranian	3–7 lbs	6–7 in	22-inch
Maltese	4–7 lbs	7–9 in	22-inch
Shih Tzu	9–16 lbs	9–10.5 in	24-inch
Pug	14–18 lbs	10–13 in	24-inch
Small Breeds
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel	13–18 lbs	12–13 in	24–30-inch
Miniature Schnauzer	11–20 lbs	12–14 in	24–30-inch
Shetland Sheepdog	15–25 lbs	13–16 in	30-inch
Cocker Spaniel	20–30 lbs	13.5–15.5 in	30-inch
Boston Terrier	12–25 lbs	15–17 in	30-inch
French Bulldog	16–28 lbs	11–13 in	30-inch†
Dachshund	16–32 lbs	8–9 in	30–36-inch‡
Beagle	20–30 lbs	13–15 in	30-inch
Medium Breeds
Bulldog	40–50 lbs	14–15 in	36-inch†
Pembroke Welsh Corgi	25–30 lbs	10–12 in	30–36-inch
Basset Hound	40–65 lbs	11–15 in	36-inch‡
Brittany	30–40 lbs	17.5–20.5 in	36-inch
Border Collie	30–55 lbs	18–22 in	36-inch
Australian Shepherd	40–65 lbs	18–23 in	36–42-inch
Large Breeds
Labrador Retriever	55–80 lbs	21.5–24.5 in	42-inch
Golden Retriever	55–75 lbs	21.5–24 in	42-inch
German Shepherd Dog	50–90 lbs	22–26 in	42–48-inch
Siberian Husky	35–60 lbs	20–23.5 in	42-inch
Boxer	50–80 lbs	21.5–25 in	42-inch
Doberman Pinscher	60–100 lbs	24–28 in	42–48-inch
Vizsla	44–60 lbs	21–24 in	42-inch
Weimaraner	55–90 lbs	23–27 in	42-inch
Rhodesian Ridgeback	70–85 lbs	24–27 in	42-inch
German Shorthaired Pointer	45–70 lbs	21–25 in	42-inch
Collie	50–75 lbs	22–26 in	42-inch
Standard Poodle	40–70 lbs	15–24 in	42-inch
Belgian Malinois	40–80 lbs	22–26 in	42-inch
Giant Breeds
Rottweiler	80–135 lbs	22–27 in	48-inch
Bernese Mountain Dog	70–115 lbs	23–27.5 in	48-inch
Cane Corso	85–110 lbs	23.5–27.5 in	48-inch
Newfoundland	100–150 lbs	26–28 in	48-inch
Saint Bernard	120–180 lbs	26–30 in	48–54-inch
Great Dane	110–175 lbs	28–32 in	54-inch

† Wide-chested breed — verify interior width, not just length. ‡ Long-bodied breed — length matters more than height for this breed. See the body type section below.

Crate sizes by weight and size category

If you don't know your dog's exact breed (for a mixed-breed dog) or just want a quick weight-based reference, here's how crate sizes map to weight ranges. Our puppy weight calculator can estimate your mixed-breed puppy's adult weight if you're unsure.

Size Category	Adult Weight	Typical Crate Size	Grows to Full Size By
Toy	Under 14 lbs	22-inch crate	~8–10 months (36 weeks)
Small	14–25 lbs	24–30-inch crate	~10–12 months (46 weeks)
Medium	25–50 lbs	36-inch crate	~12–15 months (56 weeks)
Large	50–90 lbs	42-inch crate	~14–18 months (70 weeks)
Giant	90+ lbs	48-inch crate	~18–24 months (100 weeks)

The "grows to full size by" column uses growth completion data from our veterinary dataset — the same data that powers our weight calculator. Toy and small breed dogs are fully grown by their first birthday; giant breeds are still adding size well into their second year. This matters for crate sizing decisions, especially for puppies.

Sizing a crate for a puppy: what the growth data tells us

Here's the problem with buying a puppy-sized crate: you'll need a new one in three months. Most experienced trainers recommend buying the adult-size crate from day one and using a divider panel to block off the extra space while your puppy grows. Here's why this works — and why you need that divider.

Based on our analysis of 8 million vet-measured weight records from Salt et al. (2017), a large breed puppy at 8 weeks has reached only 16.2% of their adult weight. For a dog that will eventually weigh 75 lbs, that's about 12 lbs at the time they come home. They'll look tiny in a 42-inch crate. The divider lets you give them just enough space for the next few weeks — and you move it back as they grow.

Why does crate size matter for house training? A crate that's too large allows a puppy to sleep at one end and use the other as a bathroom. Dogs instinctively avoid soiling their sleeping area, but that instinct only works if the "sleeping area" and the "available space" are roughly the same size. Keep the interior just large enough that they can stand, turn, and lie down — no more — until they're reliably house trained.

How long will your puppy use the divider? It depends on size category:

• Toy breeds finish growing by about 36 weeks (~8 months). You'll slide the divider back for roughly six months, then remove it.
• Small breeds reach 99% of adult size around 46 weeks (~10–11 months). Plan for the divider through most of their first year.
• Medium breeds grow until about 56 weeks (~13 months). The divider stays relevant through their first birthday.
• Large breeds don't hit 99% of adult weight until about 70 weeks (~16 months). You'll use that divider for well over a year.
• Giant breeds grow the longest — our data shows they reach 99% of adult weight around 100 weeks (~23 months). That's nearly two years of divider adjustments.

Not sure how big your puppy will get? Run your puppy's weight and age through our calculator to see a breed-calibrated growth curve and adult weight estimate. You can also read how much weight a puppy should gain per week to track whether they're growing on schedule.

For a complete daily crate schedule based on your puppy's age, see our crate schedule guide by age.

When breed body type changes the calculation

The standard length-plus-height formula works well for most dogs, but a handful of breed body types require a different approach. If your dog has one of these builds, use these adjustments.

Long, low breeds (Dachshund, Basset Hound, Corgi)

Standard Dachshunds weigh 16–32 lbs and stand only 8–9 inches at the shoulder — but their body is long relative to their height. A 24-inch crate based on their weight class would be too short for their body. Measure body length first for these breeds and let that determine the crate size, rather than defaulting to the weight-based recommendation. Most adult standard Dachshunds fit a 30–36-inch crate because of their body length, not their height. Basset Hounds (40–65 lbs, 11–15 inches tall) have similarly exaggerated length-to-height ratios. A 36-inch crate is usually the right call even for Bassets that technically fall in the medium weight range.

Wide-chested breeds (English Bulldog, French Bulldog, Pug)

English Bulldogs weigh 40–50 lbs and stand only 14–15 inches tall — statistics that suggest a 30-inch crate. But Bulldogs are unusually wide and muscular for their size, and a crate sized purely by weight often feels cramped sideways. Check the interior width of any crate you're considering for brachycephalic or barrel-chested breeds. A 36-inch crate usually provides better proportions even for mid-size Bulldogs. French Bulldogs (11–13 inches tall, 16–28 lbs) are similarly wide-chested; the standard 30-inch recommendation applies but verify the interior width against your individual dog.

Very tall, lean breeds (Great Dane, Doberman, Irish Wolfhound)

Great Danes are the most extreme case in any dog crate size chart by breed. Males stand 30–32 inches at the shoulder and weigh 140–175 lbs. Standard 48-inch giant crates are often too short in height for a Great Dane to stand comfortably. Most Great Dane owners need a 54-inch crate or a specifically tall-configured model. Doberman Pinschers (24–28 inches tall, 60–100 lbs) may also bump the ceiling of a 42-inch crate — always verify interior height for tall, lean breeds before purchasing.

For a detailed look at crating large and giant breeds specifically, see our guide on the best crates for large breed puppies.

Wire, plastic, and soft-sided crates: which to choose

Once you know the right size, you'll need to choose a crate type. The three main options have distinct use cases:

Wire crates

Wire crates are the most common choice for home use and crate training. They offer maximum ventilation, are easy to clean, and most come with a removable divider panel — which is exactly what you want for raising a puppy through the growth stages described above. They fold flat for storage. The main downside: they're heavier and louder than other types if your dog moves around at night. A wire crate is the right default for most owners doing crate training at home.

Plastic crates (airline-style)

Hard-sided plastic crates are required by most airlines for in-cabin or cargo travel. They provide a more den-like enclosed feeling that some anxious dogs prefer. They're lighter than wire for large sizes, but they don't fold flat and ventilation is more limited. If you're planning to fly with your dog, buy a plastic crate that meets IATA airline standards — dimensions will still follow the same measurement rules, but add an extra inch or two of clearance to account for the thicker walls.

Soft-sided crates

Mesh and fabric crates are lightweight and easy to move, but they're not appropriate for dogs that are still in the crate training process. A dog that hasn't accepted the crate yet can easily chew through or push out of a soft-sided crate. These work well for calm, crate-trained adult dogs — particularly for travel, outdoor events, or temporary containment situations.

Dog crate size FAQs

What size crate does a Labrador Retriever need?

Adult Labrador Retrievers need a 42-inch crate. Males weigh 65–80 lbs and stand 22.5–24.5 inches at the shoulder; females weigh 55–70 lbs and stand 21.5–23.5 inches. A 42-inch crate provides the right interior length and height for both sexes. Lab puppies should start in a 42-inch crate with a divider — Labs are large breed dogs and based on veterinary growth data, won't fill an adult crate until around 65 weeks of age. See our complete guide to what size crate for a Lab puppy for more detail.

What size crate does a Golden Retriever need?

Golden Retrievers need a 42-inch crate. Males weigh 65–75 lbs and stand 23–24 inches; females weigh 55–65 lbs and stand 21.5–22.5 inches. The 42-inch crate is the right size for the vast majority of adult Goldens. For puppies, use the same crate with a divider — Goldens finish growing around 65 weeks, so the divider stays relevant through their first year and a half. For breed-specific crate shopping advice, see what size crate for a Golden Retriever.

What size crate does a German Shepherd need?

Most German Shepherds fit in a 42-inch crate, but larger males (up to 90 lbs, 24–26 inches tall) may be more comfortable in a 48-inch crate. Females are generally smaller (50–70 lbs, 22–24 inches) and comfortably fit the 42-inch. Measure your specific dog before buying — GSD sizes vary considerably by line (working vs. show).

What size crate does a French Bulldog need?

Most adult French Bulldogs fit in a 30-inch crate. Frenchies weigh 16–28 lbs and stand 11–13 inches tall. Because they're stocky and wide-chested, pay attention to interior width when shopping — some narrow 30-inch crates feel tight. A 30-inch crate with good interior width works for most adults.

What size crate should I buy for a puppy?

Buy the crate size your dog will need as an adult, and add a divider panel to reduce the interior space during house training. A crate that's too large lets a puppy use one corner as a bathroom, which works against house training. Use your dog's expected adult size — which you can estimate with our puppy weight calculator — to determine the right adult crate size, then use the divider until your puppy is reliably house trained and physically fills the space. See our guide on crate schedules by puppy age for how long to keep puppies in crates at each stage.

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

Your dog's crate is too small if they can't stand upright without their head touching the ceiling, can't turn around in a full circle, or can't lie stretched out on their side without pressing against the walls. A properly sized crate should feel snug and den-like — not roomy — but must allow those three things without restriction. If you notice your dog is reluctant to enter the crate or seems restless inside, size may be a factor — or it may be a crate training issue. Our guide on puppy whining in the crate at night covers common reasons dogs resist crating beyond just size.

This dog crate size chart by breed is a solid starting point, but the right crate for your individual dog always comes down to their actual measurements — not just the breed average. Getting the crate size right is the foundation, but it's just one piece of raising a well-adjusted puppy. If you're still figuring out your puppy's adult size, try our free puppy weight calculator — it generates a personalized growth curve based on your puppy's breed, age, and current weight, using veterinary growth data from Salt et al. (2017) and over 8 million vet-measured weight records. It takes 30 seconds and tells you exactly how big your puppy will get.