Pet Crate requirements
Pet Shipping
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.
- 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 crate, and be focused on the upper 2/3 of the 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 2-3 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.
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