Trying to decide between dog crate sizes? When you’re investing in a premium dog crate, it can feel like a lot of pressure to get it right.
The reality is, there’s no “perfect” size by breed. Show lines vs. working lines, gender, proportions, age, and even how your dog prefers to sleep can all impact the right fit.
Instead of guessing, we recommend using the blue tape method to create a simple visual of the crate’s interior footprint before you buy.
Things to consider first
How will you use your crate?
For a home crate, you may prefer a roomier fit. For travel, events, or vehicle use, a snugger fit is often more practical.
Your dog’s age matters
Puppies usually need less extra space while crate training. Adult, crate trained dogs have more flexibility depending on comfort preference.
Comfort still matters
Your dog should be able to comfortably sit, stand, turn around, and lay down inside the crate.
If you’re choosing a crate for a growing puppy, our puppy divider can help reduce their accessible space while still allowing you to buy the crate size they’ll use as an adult.
STEP ONE: Tape out the floor space
This is our favorite way to confidently choose between sizes, especially if you’re stuck between two options.
What you’ll need:
• Painter’s tape
• Measuring tape
• Crate interior dimensions, found in our sizing guide
• Your dog 🐶
Start by measuring the interior dimensions of the crate and taping them directly onto your floor.
If you’re deciding between two sizes, tape both outlines. Slightly overlapping them can help you clearly see the difference in usable space.
(Optional) For height, tape your measurements vertically against a wall. This gives you a realistic sense of how much headroom your dog will have when sitting or standing.
Step 2: Test with your dog
Now for the important part, bring your dog into the taped area.
Encourage them to settle in different positions. Yes, even the weird ones. This helps you see how they actually use the space.
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Make sure your dog can comfortably:
• Sit
• Stand
• Turn around
• Lay down
Step 3: Choose your crate
For this demo, we test-fit our collapsible dog crate in both Medium and Medium-Long sizes with Ruthie.
She fits comfortably in both, but the “right” choice depends on how the crate is being used.
This is exactly why the blue tape method works so well. It lets you choose based on real-life use, not just measurements.
Whether you’re looking for a heavy-duty dog crate for home or a collapsible dog crate for travel, the best size is the one that fits your dog and your routine.