How to Choose the Right Bed Size for Your Dog

October 22, 2026

The bed is where your dog spends a large part of the day. Its size matters more than its colour. A dog that is cramped sleeps badly, and a dog lost in a bed that is too big does not always settle in it. Here is a simple method in three steps.

First, watch how your dog sleeps

Before you measure, watch your dog sleep for a few days. Their favourite position changes the calculation.

They curl up in a ball: they like to feel surrounded. A bed with a raised edge, in their size, suits them well.
They stretch out on their side: they need length. Leave enough room for them to extend their legs without touching the edge.
They sleep on their back or often change position: choose a wide surface rather than a very enclosing bed.
They rest their head on something: a padded edge works as a pillow.

If your dog switches between several positions, base your choice on the most spread-out one.

Measure your dog in three steps

Length: when your dog is lying down and relaxed, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.
Width: measure their width lying down, at shoulder level, including the legs if they stretch them out to the side.
Margin: add about 15 to 20 cm to the length. This is a common rule of thumb, and it leaves your dog room to turn around before lying down.

Then compare this result to the sleeping surface, and not only to the outer dimensions. On a bed with a raised edge, the padded edge takes up part of the stated length and width. A bed that is 100 cm long does not give 100 cm of sleeping space.

Weight, a second guide

Dimensions remain the main criterion. Weight helps you check that you are in the right range. For its beds, the maker Purré gives these guides:

XS: up to 8 kg;
S: up to 15 kg;
M: up to 25 kg;
L: up to 35 kg;
XL: up to 45 kg.

Weight does not tell the whole story. Two dogs of the same weight can have very different builds: one long and slim, the other short and stocky. If your dog is between two sizes, or likes to stretch out, choose the larger size.

An example with the Nino bed

The Purré Nino bed comes in four sizes. Here are its outer dimensions (length × width × height):

XS: 70 × 55 × 30 cm;
S: 80 × 60 × 30 cm;
M: 100 × 75 × 35 cm;
L: 115 × 85 × 35 cm.

Take a dog that weighs 18 kg and measures 70 cm from nose to base of tail. With the margin, they need about 85 to 90 cm of sleeping space. Size S is too tight once you take off the edge. Size M gives them room. You will find all the sizes and both fabrics in our dog beds and cushions collection.

For a large dog that sleeps stretched out, a mattress without an edge, such as the Carré mattress at 130 × 85 cm, gives its whole surface to sleeping. We cover this choice in our guide to the memory foam mattress.

Special cases

A puppy that will still grow

You can buy the adult size straight away. The puppy will have room, and a folded blanket in one corner will give them the feeling of being surrounded. The other option is a small bed for the first months, then a bigger one. Ask the breeder or your vet for the expected adult weight.

An older or stiff dog

Look at the height of the edge as much as the surface. A dog with sore joints must be able to get into their bed without jumping. Our guide to the bed for an older dog covers these points.

Two dogs that sleep together

Measure them lying side by side, in their usual position. Two separate beds also prevent arguments over space.

Space in your flat

Also measure the spot where the bed will go. Leave a gap around it, so that your dog can get in and out easily, and so that you can vacuum without moving everything.