Measure around your dog’s neck and match it to the collar maker’s chart. Humane World for Animals says a flat collar should let you slide two fingers comfortably underneath.
Ruffwear measures its Front Range Collar around the neck, and Hurtta measures at the base of the neck. A harness is measured around the rib cage instead, so a harness size won’t tell you the collar size.
Neckat its baseChestgirth
A collar goes by the neck size. Hurtta measures it round the base of the neck.
Ruffwear Front Range Collar
Ruffwear Front Range Collar sizes by neck
Neck (in)
Neck (cm)
Webbing width
11–14
28–36
0.75 in (20 mm)
14–20
36–51
1 in (25 mm)
20–26
51–66
1 in (25 mm)
Hurtta Rover Collar
Hurtta Rover Collar sizes by neck
Size
Neck (in)
Neck (cm)
35-45
13–17.7
33–45
40-50
15–19.7
38–50
45-55
16.9–21.7
43–55
50-60
18.9–23.6
48–60
How tight
Humane World for Animals says a flat collar shouldn’t be so tight that it chokes your dog, nor so loose that your dog can slip out of it. Ruffwear also wants a collar snug but not too tight, with room for two fingers between it and the neck.
Check a puppy’s collar often, since its neck keeps growing.
ID tag
The ASPCA’s dog supply checklist includes a collar with a license and an ID tag.
Common questions
Can I use my dog's harness size for a collar?
No. Ruffwear sizes its harnesses by girth around the rib cage and its Front Range Collar by the neck.
How wide should my dog's collar be?
Ruffwear's Front Range Collar is 0.75 in (20 mm) wide for 11 to 14 in necks and 1 in (25 mm) wide for bigger necks.
Collar sizes come from Ruffwear’s and Hurtta’s product pages, the fit from Humane World for Animals and Ruffwear, and the ID tag from the ASPCA. Checked against published data from Ruffwear, Hurtta, Humane World for Animals and ASPCA.
See all 5 sources
Ruffwear, The Size is Right: How to Measure for Your Dog's Gear (size guide)
Ruffwear, Front Range Collar (product page)
Hurtta, Rover Collar (product page and size chart)
Humane World for Animals, Dog collars
ASPCA, General Dog Care (dog supply checklist)
General care guidance from animal welfare charities, vets and makers' published sizes. It isn't veterinary advice: if your pet seems unwell or has eaten something it shouldn't, call your vet.
