Most dog beds are bought by eye, and three days later the dog sleeps with their head over the edge or goes back to the sofa. Two minutes with a tape measure gets the size right the first time. This guide also covers the two things most size charts skip: how thick the bed needs to be, and how to size a bed that goes in a crate.
The short answer
Measure your dog lying stretched out on their side, from the nose to the base of the tail and across the widest point, then add 15 to 25 cm to both figures. That gives you the minimum bed size, and if you're between sizes, size up. Most adult Labradors, for example, need a bed of around 120 × 80 cm.
How big should a dog bed be?
A dog bed should be 15 to 25 cm longer and wider than your dog measured lying stretched out on their side, from nose to the base of the tail. Round up to the next size, never down. Most adult Labradors need around 120 × 80 cm; a Border Collie or Cocker Spaniel fits 100 × 80 cm.
Why the size matters more than you think
A bed that is too small does not just look wrong. It changes how your dog rests.
- Elbows and hips end up on the floor. A dog that cannot stretch out lies half on the padding and half off it.
- No way to regulate heat. Dogs curl up to stay warm and sprawl to cool down. A bed that only allows one position takes that away.
- They simply stop using it. The most common reason a new bed gets ignored is not the fabric or the smell. The dog tried it and it did not fit.
Too big is a much smaller problem than too small. The one exception: anxious dogs and dogs who like to lean against something often settle better in a bed with edges they can feel.
How to measure your dog for a bed
Measure while your dog is lying down and relaxed, not standing. A standing measurement is the most common mistake there is.
- Wait until they are stretched out on their side. That is their largest footprint. Measure a curled-up dog and you buy a bed that only works when they are curled up.
- Measure from the nose to the base of the tail. Not to the tip. The tail can hang over the edge without any problem.
- Measure across the widest point. Usually over the shoulders, or from the back to the tips of the stretched front legs.
- Add 15 to 25 cm to both numbers. That covers the sprawl, the turning at night, and the room a raised edge takes away.
The result is your minimum bed size. If you land between two sizes, take the bigger one.
An example. A 28 kg Labrador measures 78 cm from nose to tail base lying on her side, and 42 cm across. Add 20 cm and she needs about 98 × 62 cm of usable surface. A 100 × 80 cm bed fits. A 120 × 80 cm bed fits comfortably, with room to stretch out diagonally, which is exactly what most Labradors do.
Your dog's sleeping position changes the answer
Two dogs of the same size can need different beds. Watch yours for a few nights and you will recognise one of these.
| Position | What it looks like | What it needs |
|---|---|---|
| Curled up | Nose to tail, a tight ball | Less surface, but edges to lean against |
| Side sleeper | Stretched out on one side | Full length. This is the position to measure |
| Sprawler | Belly down, back legs stretched behind | Length and width. Usually one size up |
| Back sleeper | On the back, legs in the air | Width more than length, and a flat surface |
If your dog does all four depending on the season, size for the sprawl. That is the biggest footprint.
Dog bed size chart by breed
Use this as a starting point, not a rule. Dogs of the same breed vary a lot, and a lean Greyhound and a solid Labrador can weigh the same while needing very different beds. Measure if you can.
| Measured length (nose to tail base) | Minimum bed size | Typical breeds |
|---|---|---|
| Up to 45 cm | about 60 × 45 cm | Chihuahua, Yorkshire Terrier, Maltese, Toy Poodle |
| 45 to 60 cm | about 80 × 60 cm | Jack Russell, French Bulldog, Shih Tzu, Cavalier |
| 60 to 75 cm | 100 × 80 cm | Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel, Beagle, Staffordshire Bull Terrier |
| 75 to 95 cm | 120 × 80 cm | Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd, Boxer |
| More than 95 cm | larger than 120 × 80 cm | Great Dane, Newfoundland, Mastiff, Saint Bernard |
An honest note: we only make the two middle sizes, 100 × 80 cm and 120 × 80 cm. For a small dog our beds are larger than needed, which is fine if they like to spread out but not ideal if they want to feel enclosed. For giant breeds that sleep flat out, 120 × 80 cm is tight. Look for something bigger.
How thick should a dog bed be?
Thick enough that your dog never touches the floor through the bed. Size is about length and width, but a bed that is the right size and flattens under the dog's weight still leaves their hips and elbows on hard ground.
Here is a quick test. Put your fist in the middle of the bed and lean your weight on it. If you feel the floor straight away, the filling is too thin for a medium or large dog. Heavier dogs compress a bed further, so a 35 kg dog needs noticeably more filling than a 15 kg dog on the same size bed. And check again after a few months: cheap fibre flattens into a mat within a season.
If your dog has stiff joints or struggles to lie down and get up, ask your vet what kind of support they need. That is a question about the dog, not about the bed.
Sizing a dog bed for a crate
In a crate, the crate decides the size, not the dog. Measure the inside floor of the crate, not the outside, and choose a bed that is the same size or a few centimetres smaller. A bed that is too big gets folded up at the edges, the dog lies on a slope, and the bed never lies flat again.
The crate itself should be big enough for your dog to stand, turn round and lie stretched out. If the bed that fits the crate is smaller than the measurement you took above, the crate is too small, not the bed.
Five sizing mistakes owners keep making
- Buying for the puppy instead of the dog. A four-month-old Labrador is a fraction of their adult size. Buy cheap and replace once, or buy the adult size and accept a big bed for a small dog for a year.
- Measuring the tail. A tail adds 20 to 40 cm and never needs to be on the bed.
- Choosing by weight alone. Weight says almost nothing about length. A 30 kg Greyhound and a 30 kg Bulldog need completely different beds.
- Forgetting the raised edge. On a bed with bolsters, the outside size is not the sleeping surface. Subtract 10 to 15 cm per edge.
- Thinking cosy means tight. Dogs like being enclosed, not squeezed. That feeling comes from edges and corners, not from a small surface.
Two dogs, one bed?
It works, but only if they already sleep touching each other. Dogs who sleep in contact share happily on a bed sized for the bigger dog plus about 30%. Dogs who sleep a metre apart will not share however big the bed is. Then you buy two, and that is fine.
Size is only half the decision
Once you know the size, the rest is about how the bed survives daily life. Can the cover come off and go in the washing machine? Does the fabric repel liquid or soak it up? Is the zip protected from teeth? Does the filling keep its shape? We go through each of these, and the marketing claims you can ignore, in our guide to the best dog bed for large dogs.
Frequently asked questions
Is it better for a dog bed to be too big or too small?
Too big, in almost every case. A bed that is too small forces your dog to sleep with legs on the floor. A bed that is too big costs floor space and nothing else. The exception is an anxious dog, who often settles better with edges close enough to lean against.
What size bed does a Labrador need?
An adult Labrador usually measures 75 to 90 cm from nose to tail base when stretched out, which means a 120 × 80 cm bed. A 100 × 80 cm bed fits a smaller Labrador or one that sleeps curled up.
What size bed should I buy for a puppy?
Either a cheap small bed you replace once, or the adult size straight away. Avoid an in-between size as a compromise: it is outgrown within months and too small to keep.
Do dogs prefer small beds?
Some dogs like to feel enclosed, but that comes from the edges, not from a small bed. If your dog always squeezes into a corner, look for a bed with a raised edge in the right size rather than a smaller one.
Can two dogs share one bed?
Only if they already sleep against each other. Then size for the bigger dog and add about 30%. If they normally sleep apart, buy two beds.
Know the size? Here is the bed
See the Summer Stripes Dog Bed in L (100 × 80 cm, for dogs of about 15 to 30 kg) or XL (120 × 80 cm, about 30 to 45 kg). The cover repels liquid, comes fully off and goes in the machine at 30 °C, with a zip reinforced against teeth.
Or see all dog beds.