Dog Crate Sizing Guide

The right crate is the one your dog can stand up in, turn around in, and stretch out in — without a single inch of wasted space that turns "den" into "kennel." Here's how to measure your dog in five minutes, and how those numbers map to a Den.

1. What you'll need

• A soft tape measure (the kind tailors use). A piece of string plus a ruler works too.
• A bathroom scale. Weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding your dog. The difference is them.
• A treat. Standing still is a skill.

2. The two measurements that matter

Forget breed charts for a minute — a 70-lb lab and a 70-lb whippet are not the same shape. The two numbers that decide your crate size are length and height.

Length: nose to base of tail

With your dog standing on all four feet, run the tape from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail — where the tail meets the body, not the tip. This is their body length.

Add 4 inches to that number. That's the minimum interior length the crate needs so they can lie down fully stretched out, paws extended, without their nose pressing against the door.

Height: floor to top of head

Still standing, measure from the floor to the highest point on your dog's head (or the top of an ear if it stands upright — Frenchies, German shepherds, you know who you are).

Add 3 inches for the crate's interior height. They should be able to sit upright without ducking and turn around without their head brushing the top.

3. Weight is a sanity check, not the answer

Weight ranges are useful as a sanity check after you've measured — not as a substitute. A dog at the top of a weight band but with a long body (a dachshund, a corgi, a basset) usually needs the next size up. A compact, square-built dog at the bottom of a band can often size down.

4. Match your numbers to a Den

Den is built in four sizes. Use the body length and height from above, then cross-check against the weight band.

• Small — up to 25 lb. Body length up to ~18", height up to ~16". Think: dachshund, mini poodle, Boston terrier, small rescue mixes.
• Medium — 25 to 55 lb. Body length ~18–26", height ~16–22". Think: cocker spaniel, beagle, French bulldog, border collie, medium mixes.
• Large — 55 to 90 lb. Body length ~26–34", height ~22–28". Think: golden retriever, lab, boxer, vizsla, standard poodle.
• X-Large — 90 lb and up. Body length 34"+, height 28"+. Think: German shepherd, doberman, ridgeback, big shepherds and shepherd mixes.

5. When in doubt, size up — but only slightly

A crate that's too big stops feeling like a den and starts feeling like a room. Dogs are wired to den in snug spaces — that's what makes a crate restful instead of empty.

That said, if your dog is between two sizes, or you're sizing a puppy who's still growing into themselves, go up one. A few extra inches of length is far more forgiving than a few inches short.

6. Puppies: size for the adult, divide for now

Buy the size your puppy will be as an adult. Use a divider panel for the first few months so the usable space matches their current body — just enough to stand, turn, and lie down. Too much room and house training takes longer; too little and they outgrow the crate before they outgrow needing one.

Not sure what size your puppy will end up? A rough rule: most dogs finish growing in length by 12 months and in chest depth by 18. Breed-specific growth charts (or your vet) will get you closer than any guess.

7. A quick checklist

• Measured nose-to-tail length, added 4".
• Measured floor-to-head height, added 3".
• Cross-checked weight against the size bands above.
• Sized up — only slightly — if between two sizes.
• For a puppy: bought adult size, planned for a divider.

When Den ships, every order includes a fit guarantee — if the size you picked doesn't feel right in person, we'll swap it. The measurements above just make that very unlikely.