Dog Crate Size Chart

Crate sizes by weight and breed

18-22 inch: dogs up to 10 lbs / 4.5kg. Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Pomeranian, Maltese.

24 inch: 11-25 lbs / 5-11kg. Shih Tzu, Jack Russell, Miniature Dachshund, Boston Terrier.

30 inch: 26-40 lbs / 12-18kg. Beagle, French Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel, Miniature Poodle.

36 inch: 41-70 lbs / 19-32kg. Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Bulldog, Springer Spaniel.

42 inch: 71-90 lbs / 32-41kg. Labrador Retriever, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Boxer.

48 inch: 91-110 lbs / 41-50kg. Rottweiler, Bernese Mountain Dog, Doberman.

54 inch: 110 lbs / 50kg and up. Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard, Newfoundland.

Wikipedia: crate training →

Measuring your dog correctly

Length: measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (not the tail tip), then add 2-4 inches. That is your minimum crate length.

Height: measure from the floor to the top of the head while the dog is sitting, since sitting is taller than standing for most dogs, then add 2-4 inches.

Use the larger of the two results when a dog sits between sizes. A dog that cannot sit upright without ducking is in a crate that is too short regardless of what the weight chart says.

Why bigger is not better

Dogs instinctively avoid soiling where they sleep, and crate training relies on that instinct. A crate large enough to have a separate 'bathroom corner' removes the very constraint that makes the method work, which is the most common reason crate training stalls.

For a growing puppy, buy the crate for the dog's adult size and use a divider panel to shrink the usable space, moving it back as the puppy grows. Nearly all wire crates ship with one, and it is much cheaper than buying three crates.

Crate type in an apartment

Wire crates fold flat for storage, offer the best ventilation and visibility, and accept dividers. They are the practical default, though they are the least attractive in a living space.

Plastic airline-style crates feel more den-like and enclosed, which suits anxious dogs, and are required for air travel. They offer less airflow and no divider option.

Furniture-style crates (wood, doubling as a side table) solve the appearance problem in a small apartment where the crate lives in the main room permanently, at higher cost and with no folding option. Soft-sided crates are for travel and calm adult dogs only, since a determined chewer destroys them quickly.