How to size a dog crate

Pets at Home's chart puts a 59 cm dog in the KONG Medium/Large, listed at H63.3 x W58.5 x D92.7 cm. That leaves about 4 cm of headroom. A rule of thumb from one US newspaper would add 3 to 4 inches, about 8 to 10 cm. The gap is why you should measure twice.

I haven't crated a dog for this. The steps below come from PDSA, the RSPCA, Battersea, Dogs Trust, the Royal Kennel Club, a News Tribune guide and a Pets at Home listing, with prices checked on 2 November 2026.

What the crate has to allow

The charities agree on the test, and it uses no numbers. Battersea says your dog must be able to stand up, turn around and lie down comfortably, with room for bedding. The RSPCA adds stretching. PDSA goes further: tall enough to stand and sit without touching the top, and wide and long enough to turn, lie down, wag their tail and stretch out fully. Dogs Trust's list for puppies matches it.

PDSA's tip is the one to keep hold of. Too big is better than too small. Not everyone agrees: a guide in the News Tribune, a US local paper, says a dog shouldn't have room for more than a full turn, because too much space can undermine house training. I'd side with the UK charities on a dog that's already clean indoors.

The steps

1. Stand your dog on a flat floor and get a tape. Treats help. A second person helps more.
2. Measure height. Go from the floor to the top of the head, as the News Tribune's guide does. Do it standing and sitting, then keep the larger figure, since PDSA's test covers both.
3. Measure length. Go from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, again following the News Tribune. Dogs lie down in odd shapes.
4. Add your margin. That guide adds 3 to 4 inches each way, and it's a US local paper's rule, so treat it as a starting point. I'd use 10 cm because no UK charity I read puts a figure on it.
5. Compare with the inside of the crate if you can find it. Pets at Home's product sizes are "approximate dimensions" and don't say whether they're inside or outside. Bars and trays take up room, so assume you'll lose some.
6. Check any weight limit. Some crates have one at the low end, as the next section shows.
7. Measure the room. The crate has to sit somewhere. Pets at Home suggests away from direct sunlight, draughts and busy routes, close to where you spend your time.

Reading a size chart

Here's the chart on Pets at Home's KONG listing:

Three things to spot. The chart doesn't say where to measure from, so a dog's shoulder height and head height could land in different rows. The rows share edges, so a 59 cm dog fits two of them. And the same page says the Medium/Large suits dogs up to 77 cm long while its chart stops at 76.

My rule: if your dog is on a boundary, go up one. That follows PDSA's tip.

A worked example

The KONG Medium/Large measures H63.3 x W58.5 x D92.7 cm and cost £54 on the date above. Say your dog measures 55 cm high and 70 cm long, which are numbers I picked for the sum. Height clearance is 8.3 cm and length clearance is 22.7 cm. That's fine by the chart, and close to the News Tribune's margin on height.

Now try 59 cm and 76 cm. Clearance is 4.3 cm on height and 16.7 cm on length. The chart still says yes, but I'd look at the Large.

There's a catch at the small end. The listing says this crate isn't suitable for adult dogs under 18 kg, even if a smaller dog looks like it would fit nicely. Weigh your dog too.

Puppies

PDSA says to choose a crate on adult size or move up as they grow. Pets at Home suggests slightly larger than necessary, unless you're happy to replace it. The KONG includes a divider panel for this, so you can buy once and open it up later.

The RSPCA adds one caveat: don't travel with a puppy in their adult-sized crate, because they're better protected in a smaller space. So a growing dog may need two crates if it does a lot of car journeys.

Before you shut the door

Pets at Home's listing says to take off the collar, tag and anything else clipped on before your dog goes in. PDSA says never to use a crate as punishment or for longer than three hours at a time, and less for a dog that isn't used to it. The Royal Kennel Club and the RSPCA both describe a gradual introduction, so don't expect day one to go smoothly.

Crate costs sit in our first-year dog kit, along with the walking kit. You can also compare other crates and carriers.