Dog crate size calculator
Measure your dog's length and height, or pick a breed. You get the crate size in inches, the room it leaves and the real dimensions of that crate.
Tim de JongHow do you want to size it?
Nose to base of tail
Floor to top of head, standing
Size the crate for the adult dog
Crate size
36inch crate
Intermediate. Look for at least 32 in long and 23 in tall inside.
- Needed length
- 32 in
- Needed height
- 23 in
- Size set by
- Length & height
How we got there
- Length: 28 in + 4 in room = 32 in needed.
- Height: 19 in + 4 in room = 23 in needed.
- The 30-inch crate (29.7 × 18.6 × 21.0 in) is too small on length and height.
- The 36-inch crate (36.6 × 21.9 × 24.5 in) is the smallest that fits both.
Needed = your measurement + 4 in (AKC suggests adding 3 to 4 in). Compared with the listed outside dimensions of MidWest iCrate single-door crates. Brands differ by an inch or more, so check the chart of the crate you buy.
Crate dimensions are MidWest Homes for Pets listings, checked October 2026. Other brands differ by an inch or more, so always check the chart of the crate you buy.
How do you measure a dog for a crate?
You need a soft tape measure, a treat and a dog that will stand still for ten seconds. Take two measurements with your dog standing on a flat floor:
- Length (A): from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, where the tail meets the body. Don't include the tail itself.
- Height (B): from the floor to the top of the head while your dog stands naturally. If the ears stand up, measure to the ear tips so they don't brush the roof.
- Add room: the American Kennel Club suggests adding 3 to 4 inches to each measurement. The calculator adds 4 inches, because crates are listed by their outside size and the wire and floor tray take up a little of the inside.
Crate length = A + 4 in · Crate height = B + 4 in
Then pick the smallest crate that is at least that long and that tall. Height catches people out: a deep-chested or long-necked dog often needs the next size up for headroom even when the length fits.
Dog crate size chart
These are the seven sizes of MidWest's iCrate, one of the most common folding wire crates, with the biggest dog each one suits once 4 inches of room is added.
| Crate | Outside L × W × H (in) | Dog length (A) up to | Dog height (B) up to |
|---|---|---|---|
| 18 in (extra small) | 17.7 × 11.7 × 14.2 | 13.7 in (35 cm) | 10.2 in (26 cm) |
| 22 in (extra small) | 22.5 × 14 × 16 | 18.5 in (47 cm) | 12 in (30 cm) |
| 24 in (small) | 23.6 × 16.7 × 19.1 | 19.6 in (50 cm) | 15.1 in (38 cm) |
| 30 in (medium) | 29.7 × 18.6 × 21 | 25.7 in (65 cm) | 17 in (43 cm) |
| 36 in (intermediate) | 36.6 × 21.9 × 24.5 | 32.6 in (83 cm) | 20.5 in (52 cm) |
| 42 in (large) | 41.9 × 29.5 × 30.3 | 37.9 in (96 cm) | 26.3 in (67 cm) |
| 48 in (extra large) | 47.8 × 29.6 × 31.7 | 43.8 in (111 cm) | 27.7 in (70 cm) |
Worked example: a dog that measures 28 in from nose to tail base and 19 in to the top of its head needs a crate at least 32 in long and 23 in tall. The 30-inch crate is only 29.7 in long and 21 in tall, so the answer is the 36-inch crate (36.6 × 21.9 × 24.5 in).
What size crate for my dog's breed?
If you are buying before your dog comes home, a breed chart gives you a starting point. This is MidWest's own breed reference. The chart itself warns that sex and mixed ancestry can mean a bigger or smaller crate, so measure once your dog is home.
| Crate | Breeds on MidWest's chart |
|---|---|
| 18 or 22 in (extra small) | Brussels Griffon, Jack Russell Terrier, Japanese Chin, Maltese, Papillon, Pomeranian, Toy Fox Terrier, Yorkshire Terrier |
| 24 in (small) | Australian Terrier, Border Terrier, Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Chinese Crested, Fox Terrier, Manchester Terrier, Miniature Dachshund, Miniature Poodle, Norwich Terrier, Pug, Shih Tzu, Silky Terrier, Tibetan Spaniel, West Highland Terrier |
| 30 in (medium) | American Pit Bull Terrier, American Staffordshire Terrier, American Water Spaniel, Basenji, Bedlington Terrier, Cairn Terrier, Clumber Spaniel, Dachshund, French Bulldog, King Charles Spaniel, Lhasa Apso, Miniature Pinscher, Miniature Schnauzer, Pekingese, Scottish Terrier, Shetland Sheepdog, Tibetan Terrier, Welsh Springer Spaniel, Welsh Terrier |
| 36 in (intermediate) | American Eskimo, Australian Cattle Dog, Basset Hound, Beagle, Brittany Spaniel, Bull Terrier, Bulldog, Chinese Shar-Pei, Cocker Spaniel, English Setter, Springer Spaniel, Finnish Spitz, Harrier, Keeshond, Kerry Blue Terrier, Norwegian Elkhound, Portuguese Water Dog, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Standard Schnauzer, Welsh Corgi, Whippet |
| 42 in (large) | Airedale Terrier, Australian Shepherd, Bearded Collie, Belgian Malinois, Belgian Sheepdog, Belgian Tervuren, Border Collie, Boxer, Chesapeake Bay Retriever, Chow-Chow, Dalmatian, Golden Retriever, Gordon Setter, Ibizan Hound, Irish Setter, Irish Water Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Rhodesian Ridgeback, Saluki, Standard Poodle, Vizsla |
| 48 in (extra large) | Afghan, Akita, Alaskan Malamute, Anatolian Shepherd, Bernese Mountain Dog, Bloodhound, Bouvier des Flandres, Briard, Bullmastiff, Collie, Doberman Pinscher, Dogue de Bordeaux, German Shepherd, Giant Schnauzer, Greyhound, Komondor, Kuvasz, Newfoundland, Old English Sheepdog, Otterhound, Rottweiler, Samoyed, Siberian Husky, Weimaraner |
| 54 in (XX-large) | Borzoi, Great Dane, Great Pyrenees, Irish Wolfhound, Mastiff, Neapolitan Mastiff, Scottish Deerhound, St. Bernard |
Treat any breed chart as a rough guide: dogs of one breed can differ by several inches, and a few placements look tight for big males. That is why the calculator's breed mode flags crates that look short for the breed's standard height.
Why a 36-inch crate isn't always 36 inches
Crates are sold by a rounded length, but the real dimensions vary between brands and even between models from the same maker. Here are MidWest's iCrate and its LifeStages crate side by side:
| Sold as | iCrate L × W × H (in) | LifeStages L × W × H (in) |
|---|---|---|
| 22 in | 22.5 × 14 × 16 | 23 × 13.6 × 16 |
| 24 in | 23.6 × 16.7 × 19.1 | 25.4 × 18.9 × 20.8 |
| 30 in | 29.7 × 18.6 × 21 | 31.3 × 21.8 × 23.8 |
| 36 in | 36.6 × 21.9 × 24.5 | 37.3 × 24.5 × 26.5 |
| 42 in | 41.9 × 29.5 × 30.3 | 43.1 × 28.5 × 30.3 |
| 48 in | 47.8 × 29.6 × 31.7 | 49 × 30.3 × 32.6 |
Two inches of extra height can decide whether a dog fits, so compare the listed dimensions, not the name. Plastic travel kennels and furniture-style crates are sized differently again; if you want a crate that doubles as a side table, see our picks of double dog crate furniture. For car trips, the crate also has to fit your cargo area, and our guide on securing a dog crate in the car covers strapping it down.
What size crate should I get for a puppy?
Buy for the adult dog. AKC recommends an expandable crate that is as large as the typical adult size of your breed, with a divider you move back as your puppy grows, and Humane World for Animals also advises a crate that will fit your dog's adult size. Use the puppy weight calculator to estimate adult size, or the breed mode above.
Size isn't the only rule. Humane World for Animals advises that puppies under 6 months shouldn't stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time. The crate training schedule builds a week-by-week plan around that limit.
How do you know if a crate is too big or too small?
Put your dog in the crate and watch for a minute. The crate is too small if your dog:
- has to lower its head to stand, or its ears touch the roof
- can't turn around without bumping the sides
- can't lie down comfortably and settle
It is too big when a puppy has room to toilet in one corner and sleep in another. AKC warns that a crate that is too large can encourage exactly that. A divider panel fixes it without buying a second crate.
Frequently asked questions
What size crate does a Labrador need?
MidWest's breed chart puts Labrador Retrievers in a 42-inch crate, and German Shepherds in a 48-inch one. Treat that as a starting point: a big male or a lanky mix can need the next size, so measure nose to base of tail and floor to top of head and add 4 inches to each.
Should my dog be able to stand up in the crate?
Yes. The crate should let your dog stand at full height without ducking, turn around, and lie down comfortably. If its head or ears brush the roof when it stands, the crate is too short even if the length looks fine.
What is the difference between a 36 and a 42 inch crate?
On MidWest's iCrate, the 36-inch crate measures 36.6 × 21.9 × 24.5 inches and the 42-inch measures 41.9 × 29.5 × 30.3 inches. The jump in height and width matters as much as the extra length: the 42-inch is about 6 inches taller.
Do I measure to the tip of the tail for a crate?
MidWest's sizing guide measures to the base of the tail, and that is what this calculator uses. AKC's crate article measures to the tip, which gives a longer crate. The extra length is fine for a house-trained adult, but for a puppy it is better blocked off with a divider.
Can I use a dog crate that is too big?
For a house-trained adult, a slightly larger crate is fine. For a puppy, a crate with lots of spare room lets it toilet at one end and sleep at the other, which slows house training. Buy the adult size and use a divider panel to shrink the space until your puppy grows into it.
Sources
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