A bed that's too small gets ignored. A bed that's too big loses the snug, den-like feel dogs are wired to want, and becomes an expensive rug on the way to the couch. The bed your dog will actually sleep in sits between those two mistakes, and finding it takes about five minutes and a soft tape measure.
Consider this the next chapter in our fit-guide series, and the most forgiving one — a bed doesn't have to fit as precisely as a collar. Below: how to measure a dog for a bed, a dog bed size chart to cross-check your number, and a walk through our Carriers & Beds collection so you can match a bed to your particular sleeper.
Step 1: how to measure a dog for a bed
If you've used our guides to measuring your dog's neck for a collar or measuring your dog for a jacket, this one is easier — your dog doesn't even have to stand up. Wait until they're lying down naturally, mid-nap is ideal, and measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, where the tail meets the body.
Then add 6 to 12 inches. That buffer is what lets them shift, stretch, and re-settle without a leg sliding off the edge. The total is the minimum interior length of the bed you're shopping for.
- Add closer to 6 inches for a dog who sleeps curled in a ball. Their footprint is compact, and too much extra space works against the coziness they're after.
- Add closer to 12 inches for a dog who stretches out. Sprawlers use every inch you give them, plus a few you didn't.
- Between sizes? Size up. A slightly-too-big bed still gets slept in; a slightly-too-small one tends to become decor.
Step 2: watch how your dog actually sleeps
Two dogs with the same measurement can need very different beds. Before you buy anything, spend a night or two noticing your dog's default position — it tells you which shape to shop for.
- Curlers sleep in a tight donut, nose tucked to tail. They do best in a round bed, a bolster bed, or a teepee-style den that wraps around them — for a curler, snug is the whole point.
- Sprawlers flop onto their side, legs at full extension. They want a flat rectangular bed with room to spare, and this is where that 12-inch buffer earns its keep.
- Leaners are the dogs pressed against your leg right now. Bolster edges give them something to lean into, plus a built-in chin rest.
- Burrowers tunnel under blankets and surface only for dinner. Covered, den-style beds deliver the enclosed feeling they're after — and you get your throw blankets back.
Most dogs mix styles — curled at midnight, sprawled in a sunbeam by ten. Buy for the position they hold longest; the buffer covers the rest.
The dog bed size chart
Your tape-measure number does the real work, but if you're standing in a store wondering what size dog bed suits a 40-pound dog, this is the quick answer. When weight and measurement disagree, trust the measurement.
| Size | Dog weight | Typical bed length |
|---|---|---|
| Small | Up to 25 lb | Around 24 in |
| Medium | 25–50 lb | 30–36 in |
| Large | 50–90 lb | 36–42 in |
| Extra large | 90+ lb | 44 in and up |
One caveat: any dog bed size chart, including this one, is generic guidance, because sizing isn't standardized between makers. One brand's large is another brand's medium. Measure, don't guess.
Step 3: match the bed to your dog's life stage
The right size gets a bed used. The rest — cover, fill, height — determines whether it survives, and what matters most changes as your dog ages.
- Puppies: assume accidents, because there will be accidents. A removable, washable cover is the one non-negotiable feature at this stage; everything else is nice-to-have.
- Adults: durability is the whole game. Look for fill that won't flatten into a pancake by spring and a cover that can handle weekly washing and digging paws.
- Seniors: prioritize easy entry and supportive fill. Low sides mean stiff hips don't have to climb, and denser cushioning keeps elbows and joints off the floor — an older dog feels every inch of a saggy bed.
One more life stage worth naming: the newly adopted dog. A bed of their own, one that smells like them and no one else, does quiet, important work in those early days — we cover it in our guide to a rescue dog's first week home.
Special cases worth planning for
Measurements and sleep styles cover most dogs. A few household situations change the math.
- Multi-dog households: one bed per dog, each sized to its dog. They'll still trade constantly — the best bed is always the occupied one — but a single giant bed for two dogs usually means the pushier dog gets a bed.
- Crate beds: measure the crate's interior, not the dog. The bed should lie flat without riding up the walls; too big and it folds into a taco your dog sleeps beside.
- Water dogs: if summer means the lake, the pool, or ambitious puddles, a waterproof bed spares you the endless wet-towel rotation. Wipe-clean surfaces are the feature to look for.
- Cats: if you have a cat, the cat will claim the dog's bed. This is not a risk; it's a schedule. A cat-sized option of their own ends the standoff — most days.
Where our beds fit
Everything in our Carriers & Beds collection is chosen with these sleeper types in mind. Here's who each bed suits best, trade-offs included.
For sprawlers and stretch-out sleepers
Our Buffalo Check beds are the classic flat rectangle a sprawler wants, in two sizes: the Buffalo Check Small Dog Bed ($99.99) and the Buffalo Check Medium Dog Bed ($159.99). Pick between them using your nose-to-tail number and the chart above — and if you land between sizes, you already know the rule.
For loungers and the resident cat
The Stadium Bed is a plush lounge made for both dogs and cats. That makes it a natural pick for loungers and leaners — and the diplomatic answer when the cat has already announced ownership of whatever the dog sleeps on.
For curlers and burrowers
The Teepee Dog Bed is a den with a doorway — the enclosed, wrapped-up feeling curlers and burrowers go looking for, and best suited to small dogs. It comes in black polka dot and pink stripe, so it can match the room instead of arguing with it.
FAQ
What size dog bed should I get?
The fastest way to know what size dog bed you need: measure your dog from nose to base of tail while they're lying down naturally, then add 6 to 12 inches. That total is the minimum bed length to shop for. By weight, small beds generally suit dogs up to about 25 pounds, medium 25–50, large 50–90, and extra large 90 and up — but sizes vary by maker, so the measurement beats the label.
How do I measure a dog for a bed?
Wait for a natural lying-down position and measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, where tail meets body. Add about 6 inches for a dog who curls up and closer to 12 for one who sprawls. Skip measuring a standing dog — you'll buy short.
Should I size up or down if my dog is between sizes?
Size up. A bed that's a little too big still gets used, while one that's a little too small usually gets ignored. The exception is a crate bed — there, fit the bed to the crate's interior rather than to the dog.
Why won't my dog use the new bed?
It's usually fit or placement, not pickiness. A sprawler will avoid a snug donut bed, a curler can feel exposed on a wide flat mattress, and almost any dog will skip a bed parked in an empty room. Match the shape to their sleep style, put the bed where the household actually gathers, and give it a week or two.
Still deciding? Bring your nose-to-tail number to our booth at the Alpharetta Farmers Market every Saturday, and we'll talk through sleeper types in person. And if it's easier to browse from the couch, dog draped across your lap, the full Carriers & Beds collection is right here.
