How To Pick The Right Size Travel Kennel For Your Dog or Cat
At Furry Freight your pet’s safety is our #1 priority! Because of this it’s important that you get the best quality travel kennel and required accessories for your dog or cat. It’s also important that you get the right size kennel for your furry friend.
We have produced this guide to assist you in selecting the appropriate size and best quality kennel and accessories. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Find your kennel size
Your dog’s measurements go in; the series on this page that they fall in comes out.
Most (PP90 and PP100, Impact Kennels excluded) of the kennels we recommend are produced by PetMate®:
“Considered the Gold Standard for pet travel, the Petmate® Sky Kennel® keeps your pet safe and comfortable during car or air travel. This heavy-duty travel kennel meets IATA requirements for live animal transport, including door, side, and back ventilation requirements. It also meets most airline cargo specifications for safe travel; always check with airlines beforehand.”
Airline regulations require at least 3″ clearance on length and when sitting inside the carrier. Please keep in mind the water absorbent mats we recommend are 1″ thick. For most dogs the sitting height is the determining factor in choosing the right size, however, with Dachshunds and “weiner dogs” and similarly shaped breeds length will be the determining factor.
| Sitting height | Kennel | Dimensions (in) |
|---|---|---|
| Cats; dogs 15″ or less | PetMate 100 or 200 Series · BB45 for cats | 200 Series: 28 x 20 x 19 |
| 16″ – 19″ | PetMate 300 Series Sky Kennel | 33 x 22 x 23 |
| 20″ – 22″ | PetMate 400 Series Sky Kennel | 36 x 24 x 26 |
| 23″ – 25″ (up to 35″ long, above 25″: add the 3″ height extender) | PetMate 500 Series Sky Kennel | 40 x 27 x 30 |
| German Shepherds, huskies, larger labs and retrievers | PetMate 700 Series Sky Kennel (5″ height extender often needed) | 48 x 32 x 35 |
| Too big for a 500, no taller than 29″ (Alaska, COPA height limits) | PP90 | 52 x 31 x 33 |
| Really big dogs | PP100 | 52 x 31 x 39 |
| “Dangerous breeds”, where the airline requires it | CR82 Impact Kennel (Medium / Large / XL / XXL) | 34.5 x 23 x 29 · 40.5 x 23 x 29 · 40 x 27.5 x 34 · 48 x 27 x 33 |
Cats and Small Dogs
The minimum kennel size for cats is the 100 or 200 Series, depending on the airline.
The 200 series is fine for small dogs such as chihuahuas and yorkies. Any dog with a sitting height 15″ or less will have plenty of space inside this kennel.
Small 200 Series 28 x 20 x 19
Medium Sized Dogs
If your dog’s sitting height is between 16″ and 19″ you will need a 300 Series Kennel.
Medium 300 Series PetMate Sky Kennel 33 x 22 x 23
Large Sized Dogs
If your dog is between 20″ and 22″ sitting height we recommend the 400 Series Kennel.
Large 400 Series PetMate Sky Kennel 36 x 24 x 26
Larger Size Dogs
For dogs with a sitting height between 23″ and 25″ you will need a 500 Series Kennel.
Smaller labs and retrievers, cattle and sheep dogs, or most terriers fall into this category. For dogs that are 35″ or less long but that sit above 25″ there is a height extender that adds 3″ as well.
Extra Large 500 Series PetMate Sky Kennel 40 x 27 x 30
Big Dogs
If you have a German Shepherd, husky, or larger lab or retriever then you will need a 700 Series Kennel.
Please remember, sitting height includes your dog’s ears when they stick up. With huskies, German Shepherds, and Dobermans you will often need a Height Extender which adds 5″ in height to the 700 Series Kennel.
Giant 700 Series PetMate Sky Kennel 48 x 32 x 35
Alaska and South America
Some airlines, including Alaska and COPA have a maximum height limit for travel kennels.
In that situation, if your dog is too big for a 500 series but no taller than 29″ sitting height you can use a PP90.
REALLY BIG Dogs!
Ok, your dog is huge and you need the biggest off the shelf kennel on the market. Allow me to introduce you to the PP100. This crate will fit just about any dog and is great for very large German Shepherds, Mastiffs, Great Danes, Great Pyrenees, and St. Bernards.
PP90 Kennel 52 x 31 x 33 / PP100 Kennel 52 x 31 x 39
Dangerous Breeds
Some airlines and countries have restrictions on what they consider “dangerous breeds” such as pitbulls, rottweilers, and other related breeds.
In some cases they will require a CR82 Impact Kennel to fly on their airline. In some cases the XL size is also cheaper due to its volume being just over the cut off to get a lower rate for destinations such as Japan, Korea, and the Philippines.
To make the collapsible kennel IATA Compliant you’ll need the: Collapsible Rear Airline Rail and the Impact Collapsible Bracket (IATA) – required for older models, contact Impact Kennel Support to order.
Impact Kennel Medium 34.5″L x 23″W x 29″H
Impact Kennel Large 40.5″L x 23″W x 29″H
Impact Kennel XL 40″L x 27.5″W x 34″H
Impact Kennel XXL 48″L x 27″W x 33″H
Not sure of the numbers? How to measure your dog. Ready to move? Get a free travel quote and we’ll recommend the kennel with it. Flying to Hawaii? Read this first. Just want the size? The finder on its own page.
Who sets these rules
- IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) — the standard the Petmate Sky Kennel is described as meeting for live animal transport
Kennel questions
What size travel kennel does my dog need?
It goes by sitting height. 15″ or less: 200 Series. 16″–19″: 300 Series. 20″–22″: 400 Series. 23″–25″: 500 Series (a 3″ height extender covers dogs 35″ or less long that sit above 25″). German Shepherds, huskies, or larger labs and retrievers: 700 Series, often with the 5″ height extender.
Sitting height includes the ears when they stick up, and with Dachshund-shaped breeds length is the determining factor.
What is the minimum kennel size for a cat?
The minimum kennel size for cats is the 100 or 200 Series, depending on the airline. The BB45 is IATA approved for cats.
What accessories does an airline kennel need?
For every kennel we recommend a water absorbent mat (1″ thick), two water bowls, live animal stickers and zip ties. The 200 Series also takes mesh, the 700 Series takes metal bolts, and an Impact collapsible kennel needs the rear airline rail and the IATA bracket to be compliant.
Is there a kennel for “dangerous breeds”?
Some airlines and countries have restrictions on what they consider “dangerous breeds” such as pitbulls, rottweilers, and other related breeds. In some cases they will require a CR82 Impact Kennel to fly on their airline.