IATA Pet Crate requirements
Pet Shipping
IATA Crate Requirements
Many of the hard-plastic crates that are sold online and at your local pet store will meet the requirements of IATA as long as they are of the correct size for your pet, have proper ventilation, solid bottoms, are strong and stable, and do not have plastic clamps holding the crate together. The guidelines are very specific and are not all listed here, so take your time making sure you purchase the correct crate for your pet.
IATA compliance checklist
Airlines check every item at cargo drop-off — one failure and your pet doesn’t fly. Tick these off before you arrive.
- Your pet should be able to stand up, turn around, and lay comfortably in the crate. When standing, there must be at least 3 inches of space above the head. When laying, an animal should not have to curl its front legs to lie down. A guide on how to measure your pet can be found here.
- Crates must be made of hard, non-collapsible, leak proof material (no holes on bottom half of crate). The crate must be solid and able to endure weight.
- No wheels allowed.
- Plastic screws, clamps, or slide locking side fasteners are not acceptable.
- Crates must have ventilation (holes) on all four sides.
- There must be a lip, or spacer bar, on both sides and the back of the crate to ensure the ventilation holes are not blocked by other freight during transport. Plastic crates typically have a lip around the crate.
- The door mesh must be metal, not plastic. Locking pins must extend at least 1.6 cm above/below the door opening.
- No top loading/opening doors allowed.
- All ventilation holes must be 1″ or smaller on dog crates and ¾” or smaller on cat crates, and be focused on the upper 2/3 of the crate.
Water & Food Dishes
- A food and water dish (one for each) must be securely mounted inside the crate and must remain mounted throughout the journey. Bowls inside rings can be knocked out and should not be used. Bowls should be strong enough to withstand pawing and chewing by pets.
- If you purchase these items, make sure they are large enough for your animals, as most are not.
- If possible, freeze water into the bowls the night before travel or bring ice to check in.
Flooring & Bedding
The bottom of the crate must be lined with non-toxic absorbent bedding. We recommend lining the bottom of the crate with cardboard, such as from a broken-down box, then placing a blanket or towel on top of the cardboard.
Get the right
Crate Size
Airlines must adhere to the International Air Transport Association (IATA) container requirements based on the species and size of the animal. These guidelines can be found on IATA.org. If you are shipping a snub-nosed breed, IATA mandates an additional 10% increase in crate size for extra space. Some airlines may require a full crate size increase for snub-nosed breeds, as the IATA standards are minimum guidelines.
Cargo freight costs are based on crate volume, which depends on your pet’s measurements. It’s critical to choose the correct crate size to meet IATA regulations, as selecting the wrong size could result in your pet being rejected at check-in, risking all the planning and expenses. Do not rely on the weight recommendations provided by crate manufacturers, as they do not reflect IATA’s sizing regulations based on pet measurements.
Finding the right crate size
All pets must travel in crates that fully meet IATA regulations.
Your crate length must be a minimum of the length of your pet (L) plus half of the length of the leg up to the elbow joint (E). The height of the crate must be taller than your pet, ideally with at lease 3 inches of space above the head. Note that if you are shipping a snub-nosed breed, the crate must be at least 10% larger than otherwise regulated. This typically results in snub nose breeds needing one crate size larger than anticipated using the standard regulations.
Finding the Right Crate Size:
- Length: Measure your pet from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail.
- Height: Measure from the ground to the top of the head (or ears) when your pet is standing.
- Leg Height: Measure from the ground to the elbow joint.
The internal crate dimensions should meet the following requirements:
- Length: The crate must be at least the length of your pet (nose to butt), plus half of the leg length. Add an extra 10% for snub-nosed breeds.
- Height: The internal crate height must be greater than your pet’s height. We recommend at least 3 inches of space above the head when your pet is sitting upright or standing in the crate (4 inches for snub-nosed breeds). Anything less may be flagged as too small at check-in.
- Width: The crate should be at least twice your pet’s width. Standard crates are typically 3–5 times wider than pets, so this is generally not an issue.
Ensure that the crate provides enough room for your pet to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably without curling up to avoid the edges.
Common crate mistakes we see at check-in
Most of the crate problems we see at the cargo facility could have been fixed at home:
- Ventilation holes that are too big. This is the most common reason we see crates fail. Holes must be 1″ or smaller for dogs and ¾” or smaller for cats. Many crates sold as “travel” crates have larger holes, so measure them before you buy.
- Trusting “airline approved” on the box. Many crates are sold as airline compliant when they don’t meet IATA requirements. The label isn’t a guarantee, so check the crate against the checklist above.Buying by weight instead of measuring. The size guide on the box is based on weight, not IATA’s measurements. A tall, lean dog often needs a bigger crate than the label suggests.
- Not enough headroom. If your pet’s head or ears are less than 3 inches from the roof when they stand, the crate may be flagged as too small.
- Not sizing up for snub-nosed breeds. Bulldogs, Pugs, Boxers and Persian cats need at least 10% more space, and often a full size up.
- Plastic fasteners left on. Many crates come with plastic clips or screws holding the two halves together. These aren’t accepted and need to be replaced with metal nuts and bolts.
- Wheels still attached. Take them off before you arrive.
- Bowls that can be knocked out. Bowls that sit inside a ring tend to fall out in transit. Use bowls that mount securely to the door.
- No time to get used to the crate. A crate your pet has never been inside makes travel day more stressful. Leave it open at home for a few weeks so it becomes a familiar space..
How Maroon Logistics helps
- When you book with Maroon Logistics, we meet you at the cargo facility and check your crate before your pet is handed to the airline. We also supply and attach the IATA live animal labels. If you’d rather not buy a crate yourself, we can provide one.
- Not sure your crate will pass? Send us your pet’s measurements and crate size when you request your free quote, and we’ll let you know before you fly.
Frequently Asked Questions?
Find answers to common questions about our pet shipping services.
Is my crate IATA compliant?
Check it against our compliance checklist above. The most common problems are ventilation holes that are too big (over 1″ for dogs or ¾” for cats) and plastic fasteners holding the crate together. Don’t rely on “airline approved” on the packaging, as many crates sold this way don’t meet IATA requirements.
Which crate should I buy?
Many hard-plastic crates sold online and in pet stores can meet IATA requirements, but there’s no single brand that’s right for every pet. Measure your pet first, work out the crate size you need, then check the crate against the checklist before you buy.
Is my crate a good size fit?
Your pet needs to stand fully upright with at least 3 inches of space above their head (4 for snub-nosed breeds), turn around, and lie down without curling up. If you’re unsure, send us your pet’s measurements and the crate’s dimensions when you request your free quote, and we’ll let you know before you fly.
What happens if my crate doesn’t meet the requirements?
The airline won’t accept your pet until it’s fixed. That’s why we check every crate at drop-off, so issues are caught before check-in.
What Our Customers Say
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“Thank you for a great experience.”
The team was responsive and readily available throughout the entire travel journey for our dog. Great communication, even when flight plans changed beyond Marck’s control. Our pup was delivered right to our house and the team work between Maroon and our international provider kept the human nerves at ease. Thank you for a great experience.
Rebecca
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
“I was grateful for the updates I received from the airport, which gave me a lot of reassurance.”
They did a great job managing my dog’s entry into the country from Germany. Since I arrived late, my dog was kindly allowed to wait in their office. Despite the late hour, they patiently and kindly helped me load my dog into the car and dismantle the transport box. I was grateful for the updates I received from the airport, which gave me a lot of reassurance. thank you to Rebecca and the entire team for their service and support!
Miriam
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“They always there to answer any questions and the payment process was super easy”
Massive thank you to Marck and Shamar for their assistance in ensuring our dog was delivered safely to us following her trip across the Atlantic Ocean. Marck was always prompt in his response over email in the lead up, was there to answer any questions and the payment process was super easy. It was great to have Shamar with us also as we collected our dog, he had everything we could have possibly needed on hand including water, bin bags and even a dolly to transport the crate.
Megan
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