Which size of bed does your dog need? The honest answer is: measure your own dog. Two adult Labradors, for example, can differ by 10 kg. But a breed gives you a good starting point, and this guide lists 32 breeds common in UK homes, with their average adult weight and the size of bed to start with.
First, measure your dog
Wait until your dog is lying down in its usual sleeping position. Measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, then add 15 to 25 cm. That is the rule one of our suppliers prints on its size charts, and it is the one we use when we describe a bed.
The RSPCA puts it simply: a bed should be large enough for your dog to lie comfortably in all its natural positions (RSPCA advice on dog beds). If your dog sleeps curled in a tight ball, measure it curled up as well: a round bed with a rim can then be a little smaller.
Our three size groups
Every bed on our site gives its outer dimensions. To make the choice quicker, we sort them into three groups:
- Small, up to 60 cm: toy breeds, small terriers and puppies, roughly up to 5 kg. See our small dog beds.
- Medium, 60 to 90 cm: dogs of roughly 5 to 22 kg. See our dog beds for medium dogs.
- Large, 90 to 135 cm: dogs from about 25 kg, or any dog longer than 90 cm when it stretches out. See our large dog beds.
Dog bed size by breed
Weights are the average adult weights published in the PDSA breed guides (the Battersea guide for the cockapoo). Where a breed sits across two groups, measure your dog and choose the larger size if in doubt.
| Breed | Average adult weight | Start with |
|---|---|---|
| Chihuahua | 1.8 to 2.7 kg | Small |
| Pomeranian | 2 to 3 kg | Small |
| Yorkshire Terrier | about 3.2 kg | Small |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 4 to 6 kg | Small or Medium |
| Miniature Dachshund | 4.5 to 5 kg | Small |
| Shih Tzu | 4.5 to 7.5 kg | Small or Medium |
| Bichon Frise | 4 to 7 kg | Small or Medium |
| Border Terrier | 5 to 7 kg | Small or Medium |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 5.4 to 8.2 kg | Medium |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 6 to 7 kg | Medium |
| Pug | 6 to 8 kg | Medium |
| West Highland White Terrier | 6 to 9 kg | Medium |
| Cockapoo | 8 to 15 kg | Medium |
| Beagle | 9 to 11 kg | Medium |
| Dachshund (standard) | 9 to 12 kg | Medium |
| French Bulldog | 11 to 12.5 kg | Medium |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 11 to 17 kg | Medium |
| Whippet | 11 to 18 kg | Medium |
| Cocker Spaniel | 13 to 14.5 kg | Medium |
| Siberian Husky | 16 to 27 kg | Medium or Large |
| English Springer Spaniel | 18 to 23 kg | Medium or Large |
| Dalmatian | 18 to 27 kg | Medium or Large |
| Bulldog | 23 to 25 kg | Medium or Large |
| Labrador Retriever | 25 to 35 kg | Large |
| Golden Retriever | 25 to 34 kg | Large |
| Greyhound | 25 to 35 kg | Large |
| Boxer | 25 to 27 kg (females), 30 to 32 kg (males) | Large |
| Dobermann | 30 to 40 kg | Large |
| German Shepherd Dog | 35 to 43 kg | Large |
| Rottweiler | 35 to 60 kg | Large |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 42 to 53 kg (females), 48 to 63 kg (males) | Large |
| Great Dane | 46 to 54 kg | Large, largest sizes |
Notes on some popular breeds
Dog bed for a Labrador
An adult Labrador weighs 25 to 35 kg, so start with our large dog beds, from 90 cm long. At that weight, a foam base keeps its shape better than fibre filling. We live with three black Labradors ourselves. Their bed is our thick foam mattress, though some nights they'd rather have ours.
Dog bed for a Golden Retriever
At 25 to 34 kg, a Golden Retriever is in the same group as a Labrador. If yours sleeps with its head propped up, a bed with a raised bolster, such as our dog sofa beds, gives it something to lean on.
Beds for sausage dogs
Dachshunds come in two sizes. A miniature (4.5 to 5 kg) fits a small bed of up to 60 cm, a standard dachshund (9 to 12 kg) a medium one. A dachshund is long for its weight, so measure its length rather than going by the scales. If yours likes to tuck itself in, our small dog beds include hooded caves and round nests.
Whippet dog bed
Whippets weigh 11 to 18 kg. The PDSA notes that they "prefer thick, soft snug bedding to avoid sores" (PDSA whippet guide). A medium bed with a soft, deep filling or a foam base suits them. A greyhound, at 25 to 35 kg, needs a large bed.
Dog beds for Staffies
A Staffordshire Bull Terrier weighs 11 to 17 kg, which puts it in our medium dog beds, 60 to 90 cm. Check the weight each size is made for on the product page.
Dog bed for a Cocker Spaniel
A Cocker Spaniel weighs 13 to 14.5 kg and fits a medium bed. After a wet walk, a bed with a waterproof layer protects the filling: see our waterproof dog beds.
Beds for Great Danes and giant breeds
A Great Dane weighs 46 to 54 kg and a Bernese Mountain Dog up to 63 kg. Our largest beds measure up to 135 cm, and some sizes are rated by the supplier for dogs of up to 80 kg. Measure your dog before ordering: if it is longer than about 110 cm from nose to tail, it needs one of our largest sizes.
Between two sizes?
- Choose the larger size if your dog sleeps stretched out.
- Choose the smaller one only if it always sleeps curled up and likes a rim to lean on.
- For a puppy, buy for the adult size: the table above gives you an idea of what to expect.
- Check the weight each size is made for on the product page, where the supplier states it.
For shapes, fillings and where to put the bed, read our guide on how to choose the best dog bed. Every bed we sell is in our dog beds collection.
If your dog finds it hard to get onto the sofa, the bed or into the car, our guide to choosing a dog ramp or steps may help.
Sources: average adult weights from the PDSA breed guides (pdsa.org.uk) and, for the cockapoo, Battersea (battersea.org.uk), checked in September 2026.