IATA compliant hard crates

Airline approved pet crates

Every pet that flies as cargo in Canada travels in a rigid airline crate that fits it properly. Here are the sizes, how we work out the right one, and the rules Air Canada and WestJet check at the cargo counter.

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Sizes

Airline crate sizes by series

Airline crates come in numbered series, from the 100 (21 inch) to the 700 (48 inch). The sizes below are for the Petmate Sky Kennel, the most common airline crate. There is no 600 or 800 series.

Series	Outside (L x W x H)	Inside (L x W x H)	Empty crate	Weight guide
100 (21 inch)	21 x 16 x 15 in 53.3 x 40.6 x 38.1 cm	18.75 x 13.5 x 14.5 in 47.6 x 34.3 x 36.8 cm	2.84 kg	up to 15 lb (7 kg)
200 (28 inch)	28 x 20.5 x 21.5 in 71.1 x 52.1 x 54.6 cm	24.25 x 18.25 x 19.5 in 61.6 x 46.4 x 49.5 cm	5.67 kg	15 to 30 lb (7 to 14 kg)
300 (32 inch)	32 x 22.5 x 24 in 81.3 x 57.2 x 61.0 cm	29.5 x 19.75 x 23.5 in 74.9 x 50.2 x 59.7 cm	7.26 kg	30 to 50 lb (14 to 23 kg)
400 (36 inch)	36 x 25 x 27 in 91.4 x 63.5 x 68.6 cm	32.5 x 22 x 26 in 82.6 x 55.9 x 66.0 cm	9.41 kg	50 to 70 lb (23 to 32 kg)
500 (40 inch)	40 x 27 x 30 in 101.6 x 68.6 x 76.2 cm	36.25 x 24.75 x 28.8 in 92.1 x 62.9 x 73.2 cm	13.83 kg	70 to 90 lb (32 to 41 kg)
700 (48 inch)	48 x 32 x 35 in 121.9 x 81.3 x 88.9 cm	44 x 29 x 32.5 in 111.8 x 73.7 x 82.6 cm	23.36 kg	90 to 125 lb (41 to 57 kg)

The weight guide is a rough check only. A long, lean dog can need a bigger crate than a heavier, compact one. We always choose the crate from your pet's measurements. A pet too big for a 700 needs a custom wooden crate, which we price by hand.

Sizing

How we pick the minimum crate

The airlines use the IATA formula. Your pet must be able to stand up without the head or ears touching the roof, turn around, and lie down in a natural position. You take four measurements with your pet standing:

Length inside the crate: at least A (nose to base of tail) plus half of B (floor to elbow).
Width: at least C (across the shoulders or widest point) times two.
Height: at least D (floor to top of head or ear tips, whichever is higher), plus 4 cm for the bedding.

We add 2 cm to each size, because measuring a wriggly pet at home is never exact. For snub-nosed breeds, IATA asks for a crate 10% larger, so we add that too. Then we pick the smallest series whose inside length, width and height are all big enough.

What you see in the quote form looks like this:

Suggested minimum crate: 300 series (32 inch)

The crate size is an estimate based on the measurements you enter. Your pet may need a bigger crate once we see them in person, and the airline makes the final call at check-in. We will confirm the crate before we order it.

It is always a minimum and always an estimate. If your pet is between sizes, go bigger.

A Tip of nose to base of tail (not the tail tip)B Floor to elbowC Width across the shoulders or widest pointD Floor to top of head or ear tips, standing

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Ready to fly

We sell airline crates in every size

What comes with it

A rigid airline crate in the series your pet needs
Fitting to your pet, with metal hardware checked
Absorbent bedding
Food and water dishes fixed to the door, fillable from outside
"LIVE ANIMAL" and "THIS WAY UP" labels
Cable ties for the door
Delivery to you before the move, so your pet can get used to it

How it works

We supply every series, from the 100 to the 700, and the crate is added to your quote if you need one. We confirm the size with you before we order. We sell crates; we do not rent them for flights.

Already have a crate? You can use it if it meets the rules below and fits your pet. Tell us the series in the quote form and we will check it.

Leave the crate open at home for a week or two before the flight, with a familiar blanket inside. Pets that see the crate as their own space travel more calmly.

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Airline kennel rules (Air Canada and WestJet)

Both airlines check the crate at the cargo counter. If it does not meet these rules, your pet does not fly.

Meets the IATA Live Animals Regulations: rigid plastic in two parts (top and bottom), solid roof, no door on top.
Metal grill door, and metal nuts and bolts holding the two halves together. Plastic fasteners or clips alone are not accepted.
Ventilation on all four sides. Openings no bigger than 25 x 25 mm for dogs, 19 x 19 mm for cats.
No wheels (take them off). No wire, collapsible or soft crates.
Food and water dishes fixed to the door and fillable from outside.
Absorbent bedding. No wood chips or shavings. Air Canada does not accept newspaper.
"LIVE ANIMAL" and "THIS WAY UP" labels. Air Canada wants the documents in a pouch on top.

Size limits on the plane

WestJet's narrow-body aircraft take crates up to 30 inches high, which means up to the 500 series. On WestJet, the 700 series flies on the 787 only. Air Canada does not publish a size limit per aircraft, so we check the aircraft for the biggest crates before we book.

Strong breeds

Breeds on the airlines' strong breed lists, such as Rottweilers, Mastiffs and Cane Corsos, need a reinforced crate built to the IATA CR 82 standard, not a standard plastic crate. We price these moves by hand.

Last checked against the airlines' own pages on October 1, 2026.

Airlines change their rules. Always check the official page before you book.

Cabin carriers and cargo crates are not the same

Many "flight approved pet carriers" are soft bags made for the cabin. They fit under the seat in front of you, and only small cats and dogs can use them. Each airline sets its own cabin carrier size, so check the airline's page before you buy one.

Cargo is different. A pet flying on its own, or in the hold, must travel in a rigid airline crate that meets the rules above. Porter and Flair take small pets in the cabin only, and do not carry pets as cargo. For a move with Air Canada Cargo or WestJet Cargo, you need a hard crate.

We do not sell soft cabin carriers. If you are flying with a small pet in the cabin, see the Air Canada pet policy or the WestJet pet policy for carrier sizes.

Airline crates: questions

What is an airline approved dog crate?

A hard plastic crate that meets the IATA Live Animals Regulations, which Air Canada and WestJet both follow: a solid roof, a metal door, metal nuts and bolts, airflow on all four sides, and food and water dishes you can fill from outside. Wire, soft and folding crates are not accepted for cargo.

What size crate does my dog need to fly?

Your dog must be able to stand, turn around and lie down in a natural position. In numbers: inside length at least nose to base of tail plus half the height to the elbow, width at least twice the shoulder width, and height above the top of the head or ear tips. Our crate size calculator does the math.

Are IATA approved crates the same as airline approved crates?

Mostly, yes. Airlines in Canada use the IATA rules for pet crates, and add a few of their own. For example, Air Canada does not accept newspaper as bedding. A crate sold as "IATA compliant" still has to be the right size for your pet.

Can I use a soft carrier on the plane?

Only in the cabin, and only for small pets on airlines that allow it. For cargo, and for pets in the hold, you need a rigid airline crate. We sell hard airline crates only.

Do you rent crates?

Not for flights. We sell airline crates in every size, and the crate is added to your quote if you need one. It is yours to keep, and it makes a good bed in the new home while your pet settles in.

Can two pets share a crate?

Only if each weighs 14 kg or less and they live together. The crate must be wider: three times the shoulder width of the larger pet. Tell us in the quote form and we will size it.

Want us to handle the crate?

We size it from your pet's measurements, supply it ready to fly, and book the flight too. The crate is added to your quote if you need one.

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