• Stand upright without hunching.
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Choosing the right-sized crate for your pet is essential for their safety and comfort during travel. Your pet will spend a significant amount of time in their crate when travelling, so a poor fit can affect their well- being. If you're unsure about selecting the correct crate size or type, don't worry! We’re here to help.
If your pet is fully grown, you should choose a crate that allows your pet to stand to its full height, turn around, and lay down comfortably.
In a correctly crate size, your pet should be able to do the following:
• Stand upright without hunching.
• Turn around and relax comfortably.
• Lie down without their nose or tail touching the sides.
1. Height: Measure your pet sitting upright, from the top of their head (or ears, if they stand higher) to the floor.
2. Length: Measure your pet standing, from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail.
3. Add 3-4 inches to both measurements for a comfortable fit.
If your pet’s measurements fall between two crate sizes, choose the larger one. Avoid getting a crate that’s too big, since excessive space may make your pet feel unsafe or vulnerable during travel, which is not something we want.
| SIZE | LENGTH | WIDTH | HEIGHT | VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT (IN KG) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Giant | 48 in or 121.92 cm | 32 in or 81.28 cm | 35 in or 88.9 cm | 147 |
| Extra Large | 40 in or 101.6 cm | 27 in or 68.58 cm | 30 in or 76.2 cm | 89 |
| Large | 36 in or 91.44 cm | 25 in or 63.5 cm | 27 in or 68.58 cm | 66 |
| Intermediate | 32 in or 81.28 cm | 23 in or 58.42 cm | 24 in or 60.96 cm | 48 |
| Medium | 28 in or 71.12 cm | 21 in or 53.34 cm | 22 in or 55.88 cm | 35 |
| Small | 24 in or 60.96 cm | 16 in or 40.64 cm | 16 in or 40.64 cm | 17 |
| LENGTH | 48 in or 121.92 cm |
| WIDTH | 32 in or 81.28 cm |
| HEIGHT | 35 in or 88.9 cm |
| VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT (IN KG) | 147 |
| LENGTH | 40 in or 101.6 cm |
| WIDTH | 27 in or 68.58 cm |
| HEIGHT | 30 in or 76.2 cm |
| VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT (IN KG) | 89 |
| LENGTH | 36 in or 91.44 cm |
| WIDTH | 25 in or 63.5 cm |
| HEIGHT | 27 in or 68.58 cm |
| VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT (IN KG) | 66 |
| LENGTH | 32 in or 81.28 cm |
| WIDTH | 23 in or 58.42 cm |
| HEIGHT | 24 in or 60.96 cm |
| VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT (IN KG) | 48 |
| LENGTH | 28 in or 71.12 cm |
| WIDTH | 21 in or 53.34 cm |
| HEIGHT | 22 in or 55.88 cm |
| VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT (IN KG) | 35 |
| LENGTH | 24 in or 60.96 cm |
| WIDTH | 16 in or 40.64 cm |
| HEIGHT | 16 in or 40.64 cm |
| VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT (IN KG) | 17 |
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If your pet is young, pick a crate that will roughly fit them as an adult. Use dividers to adjust the space as they grow, keeping them comfortable while preventing unnecessary movement. Once they are fully grown, their relationship with the crate is a positive one, which will help significantly when in transit.
If you have more than one pet, it’s usually best to provide separate crates. While sharing might work for littermates, it can lead to stress or conflicts during travel, especially among pets who are not from the same litter. As they grow, separate crates will become essential, so it’s better to start early.
To help your pet feel comfortable, introduce the crate gradually at home. The best-case scenario is to have your pet interact with the crate on their own, without any encouragement from you.
Place it in a spot that matches your pet’s personality; some pets like being close to their owners, while others prefer quiet, secluded areas. Good crate locations often include spaces like the living room or bedroom, away from too much noise but not too far from their parents.
Make sure the area is clean, free from hazards (like electrical cords or open food), and has a comfortable temperature. Positive early experiences with the crate will make travel smoother for your pet and help immensely in the long run.
Pet measurement can feel like an overwhelming process; fortunately, its easy. First, measure your pet’s height while they’re sitting, starting at the tips of their ears to the floor; this will give you the height.
Next, measure your pet’s length while they’re standing, moving from the tip of their nose to the base of their tail; this will give you the length. Finally, add 3 to 4 inches to both dimensions to give you the most appropriate crate size for your pet.
For an easier way, you can use Carry My Pet’s convenient pet crate size calculator. Simply input your pet’s dimension, and our calculator will tell you the perfect crate size for your pet at the push of a button.
Making sure your pet is comfortable in their crate is important. To make sure your pet likes its crate, try to encourage positive interaction with it. Put the crate in a room and let your pet interact with it. Don’t force any interaction. Let them go in, out, around, and explore the crate fully.
Once your pet is interested in their crate, try leaving a few treats inside and let them stay in the crate for a short period. If your pet is comfortable and happy so far, slowly increase the duration. By fostering a positive relationship with the crate from the start, your pet will enjoy their crate and see it as a safe space, which in turn will make them like the crate and make pet travel a smooth process.
Yes, crate training is necessary. Look at it from a pet’s perspective; being inside a crate you’ve never seen, surrounded by unfamiliar smells and sounds can be overwhelming. Crate training helps avoid the anxiety that may arise in such a situation, as crate training will help your pet see their crate as a safe and familiar space. This will help your pet stay calm and relaxed, which is essential for a smooth journey.
Since each pet is different, it is difficult to put an exact number on the crate training process. Generally, crate training can take anywhere from 4-8 weeks or more, depending on your pet’s age, temperament, breed, and so on. This is not an overnight process though, and you should begin crate training well before any plans of pet travel. As a tip: remember that positive interactions with the crate will help you crate train your pet more easily.
You should always choose an IATA-accredited fiber pet crate. Such crates are designed to be strong, safe, and comfortable, both on the ground and in the sky. Every airline lists an IATA-approved crate as a mandatory travel requirement, for both domestic and international pet travel. A crate is recommended during road travel as well for passenger and driver safety, provided your pet isn’t too large to fit in one.
