How to Make Dog Beds | Custom Builds That Fit

For the full breakdown, see our best Dog Bedding for Outside Dogs guide.

Building a dog bed yourself lets you match the size, style, and washability your dog actually needs, often for less than a store-bought version. The best approach depends on your sewing skills, your workshop access, and whether your dog prefers sinking into a soft nest or stretching out on a firm platform. Below are the three most practical routes, with exact steps for each.

How Big Should A DIY Dog Bed Be?

Measure your dog before you buy a single piece of fabric or lumber. Measure from the nose to the base of the tail and from the shoulder to the paw, then add 15–30 cm (roughly 6–12 inches) to both length and width so your dog can stretch out comfortably.

Also measure the floor space where the bed will live. A bed that fits the dog but not the room becomes a tripping hazard. MasterClass’s DIY dog bed guide recommends making these measurements first, then sketching the bed and cutting materials to match.

For wooden builds, published plans show what those measurements look like in practice. One large bed plan uses overall dimensions of 35 1/8 inches long by 28 1/8 inches wide by 12 inches tall — enough room for a big breed to sprawl.

The Easiest Fabric And No-Sew Options

Sewn beds give you the most control over washability and shape. The simplest version is a rectangle: fold a large piece of fabric inside out around a pillow form, sew two short sides, then turn it right-side out. Add a zipper to the remaining side and you can remove the cover for washing anytime.

A sturdier sewn version uses two fabric pieces cut to your desired shape. Sew them right sides together with a 1/2-inch seam allowance, but leave a 3–4 inch opening for stuffing. Turn the whole thing right-side out, stuff it, then close the opening by hand or with a second machine pass.

For the no-sew route, cut two large fabric pieces in the same shape, then cut strips around the edge of each piece. Double-knot the top strip to its matching bottom strip all the way around, leaving one side open for stuffing, then knot it closed. Keep the strips narrow — wide strips are noticeably harder to pull into a tight double knot.

• Fabric choice: use non-stretchy fabric for quilted-style beds; stretchy material makes alignment and stuffing harder.
• Washability: a zippered cover or a design that unties for stuffing removal makes cleaning far easier.
• Seam allowance: never skip the 1/2-inch allowance on sewn versions, or the bed comes out smaller than planned.

Building A Wooden Frame Dog Bed

A wooden frame bed suits dogs that like firm support, and it doubles as furniture. The Kreg Tool pet plans call for pocket-hole joinery, 3/4-inch material, wood glue, and 1-inch wood screws. The build sequence is straightforward: cut and sand all parts, drill pocket screw holes in the bed base, trace and cut corner openings for the posts, then attach side rails with glue and screws, followed by corner posts and top rails.

One modern plan lists parts including a 3/4-inch x 24-inch x 34-inch box bottom, a 3/4-inch x 10-inch x 35 1/2-inch back box side, and two 3/4-inch x 10-inch x 24-inch box sides. Another Pottery Barn-style plan uses a 1 x 2 support beam at 27.75 inches, 1 x 6 bottom boards at 37 inches, 2 x 2 side frames at 27.75 inches, and 2 x 2 legs at 12 inches.

Sanding matters more than any other step. Sand everything smooth with 120–150 grit paper, paying special attention to edges your dog will rub against. Pre-drill pilot holes near edges to prevent splitting, and use felt feet on the legs so the bed doesn’t scratch your floors. Adding trunk handles to the frame makes it easy to move from room to room.

Wear safety gear while cutting and sanding, and take your time with the finish. If you stain or paint the frame, choose a pet-safe finish and let it cure completely before letting your dog near it — especially important for dogs that chew or lick surfaces.