How to Measure Your Dog or Cat for the Right Travel Crate

When it comes to pet travel, choosing the right travel crate is crucial. Whether your pet is flying in the cabin with you or in the cargo hold, ensuring that they are comfortable and secure is a top priority. Here’s a straightforward guide on how to measure your dog or cat accurately to select the perfect travel crate.

Cabin Travel

For cabin travel, the rules regarding crate size vary from airline to airline. Therefore, it’s essential to check with your airline for their specific regulations on pet travel. The crate must fit under the seat in front of you and allow your pet to turn around and lie down comfortably.

Cargo Travel

If your pet is traveling in the cargo hold, accurate measurements are vital. If possible, try and gather a helper. It's always easier with 2 so that one person can keep the pet still whilst the other is taking up the measurement. Measure the below 4 dimensions:

A) Measure the length of the pet from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.

B) Measure from the floor to the elbow joint.

C) Measure the width based on the widest point

D) Measure the height of the pet in natural standing position from the floor up to the highest point of the animal (tail not included)

You should try to be as accurate as possible. Overestimating by too much can result in purchasing a larger crate than necessary, which will increase both the cost of the crate and the cost of transport, as cargo pricing is based on volume rather than weight.

IATA regulations ensure that the crates are designed with extra space for comfort, so there’s no need to add excessive space beyond your pet’s measurements. However, if your dog is a snub-nosed breed (like a Pug or Bulldog), you should opt for a crate that provides at least 10% more space to ensure proper ventilation.

Choosing the Right Crate

Always make sure to use an IATA-certified crate for pet travel. These crates are specifically designed to meet strict standards that ensure the safety and comfort of your pet during travel.

If you’re unsure about which crate size to choose, you can use our Pet Travel Crate Calculator to find the right fit based on your pet’s measurements.