Free tool

IATA Crate Size Calculator

Enter four measurements of your dog or cat. The calculator applies the IATA formula and shows the smallest Daisy crate your pet fits inside.

Unit

How to measure a dog for an IATA crate: A, B, C and D

A
D
B
C

cm

cm

cm

cm

Daisy crate range
L60L70L80L90L100L120
Your crate appears here

Fill in A, B, C and D. Measure your pet standing, and take the larger number if you measure twice.

A guide based on Container Requirement 1 (CR1) of the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR). Airlines can ask for more space or a reinforced crate for some breeds. Our team checks the fit with your pet before every flight.

Before you measure

Three Rules for an Accurate Measurement

A crate chosen from the wrong numbers gets refused at check-in. These are the mistakes we see most when owners measure at home.

01

Measure Twice, Keep the Larger Number

Pets shift their weight. Take each measurement two times with the pet standing naturally, and use the bigger one.

02

Measure Ears Up, Head Level

D runs to the top of the head or the ear tips, whichever is higher. Pricked ears count, so measure when your pet is alert.

03

Still Growing? Measure Again Near the Date

A puppy can outgrow a crate in a few weeks. Measure again close to the flight, or ask us to check the fit at the office.

Daisy Pet Transport staff measuring a cat with its owner at the office
Daisy staff measure a cat with a tape before choosing the crate size.
Daisy Pet Transport staff checking a cat on the counter before trying the crate
The pet is checked on the counter before trying the crate.
Step-by-Step Measuring Guide
How the result is calculated

The IATA Formula Behind Every Result

We show the arithmetic so you can check it. The numbers come from CR1 of the IATA LAR.

L

A + ½BLength

Nose to tail base, plus half the leg height so your pet can step and turn.

W

C × 2Width

Twice the shoulder width, so your pet can turn around and lie down.

H

D + beddingHeight

Standing height plus the absorbent bedding on the floor. We count 3 cm of bedding.

These are inside dimensions. The calculator compares them with the inside of each crate, not the outside size printed in catalogues.

Short-nosed breeds need 10% more. Short-nosed dogs and cats breathe less easily, so IATA asks for a larger crate in every dimension.

The crates we supply

Inside and Outside Sizes of Our 6 Crates

All six are IATA-compliant resin plastic crates. The calculator picks from this list, smallest first.

Crate Inside (L × W × H) Outside (L × W × H) Typical pet
L60 54.7 × 35 × 33.5 cm 60.7 × 40 × 40.5 cm Dogs 4–8 kg, and cats
L70 61.5 × 46 × 40 cm 67.5 × 51 × 47 cm Dogs 8–14 kg
L80 74.1 × 51.2 × 52 cm 80.1 × 56.2 × 59 cm Dogs 14–22 kg
L90 84 × 55 × 61 cm 90 × 60 × 68 cm Dogs 22–30 kg
L100 94 × 62 × 68 cm 100 × 67 × 75 cm Dogs 30–40 kg
L120 115 × 77 × 83 cm 121 × 82 × 90 cm Dogs 40–55+ kg
See the Crates Next to a Person Wooden Crates Beyond L120
Breed is only a starting point

Breeds Where Weight Points to the Wrong Crate

The weight bands above fit most pets. These breeds are the usual exceptions, because one measurement decides the crate, not the scale.

Breed Measurement that decides What to watch
Poodle (Toy, Mini, Standard) All four Poodles bred in Vietnam come in every size from toy to standard, and words like “tiny” or “mini” on the sale papers say little about the real size. Measure the dog, not the label.
Corgi, Dachshund and other long, low dogs Length A and width C The body is long and the chest is wide, so these dogs can need a longer or wider crate than their weight suggests. Height is rarely the limit.
Phú Quốc Ridgeback and other tall, lean dogs Height D A lean dog can be light for its height. The crate must clear the top of the head or the ear tips while the dog stands.
Maine Coon and other large cats Length A, plus the openings An adult Maine Coon rarely fits the smallest crates, and in our experience the openings on larger plastic crates are sized for dogs (up to 25 mm), wider than the 19 mm allowed for cats. A crate built to the cat’s measurements may be needed. See wooden crates for air travel.
Short-nosed breeds: Pug, French Bulldog, Persian All four, plus 10% IATA asks for a crate 10% larger in every dimension, which often moves the pet up one size. Many airlines also limit these breeds. See flying a flat-faced dog or cat.
How to Measure A, B, C and D
Owners ask

Crate Size Calculator FAQs

Is the calculator result an airline approval?+
No. It applies the CR1 minimum formula. Each airline makes the final call at check-in, and some ask for more room or a reinforced crate for certain breeds. Our team checks the fit with your pet before the flight.
My pet sits between two sizes. Which one should I choose?+
Choose the larger crate. The calculator flags any dimension with less than 3 cm to spare, because a pet that stands taller on the day, or a thicker crate pad, can make a tight crate fail.
My pet’s breed is listed under one crate, but the calculator picks another. Which is right?+
Trust the measurements. The weight bands and breeds in the table are typical, not rules, and dogs of the same breed vary a lot. Airlines check the crate against the pet in front of them, so the size that fits A, B, C and D is the one to use.
Is a bigger crate safer for my pet?+
Not always, and it costs more. A crate only needs to let your pet stand, turn around and lie down. Air cargo is charged on the greater of actual weight and volume weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000), so one size up can raise the freight bill noticeably. Choose the smallest crate that meets the formula. The calculator does this, and warns you when a dimension has less than 3 cm to spare.
Does the formula work for cats?+
Yes. IATA uses the same four measurements for dogs and cats. Persian, Exotic and other short-nosed cats need the 10% allowance.
Can two pets share one crate?+
Only in limited cases, and the width rule changes. Read Can two dogs travel in the same crate? before you measure for two.
What if my pet is bigger than the L120?+
Your pet needs a custom wooden crate. We build them to the pet’s measurements in our workshop. See wooden crates for air travel.
Airplane Texture 1

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