Horse Blanket Size Calculator

Use a soft, flexible tape measure (a cloth sewing-style tape, not a rigid metal one). Start at the centre of your horse's chest, run the tape along the side of the body over the widest point of the shoulder, keeping it level and taut without pressing into the body's contours, and finish at the centre of the tail (the point of the buttock). The number of inches you measure is your starting point for blanket size — enter it directly into the calculator above.

It depends entirely on your horse's individual chest-to-tail measurement, not just its height or breed — enter your measurement into the calculator above for a size in both common sizing systems. As a general guide, most adult horses fall between about 72" and 82", ponies between about 48" and 64", and miniature horses under about 48", but always measure your individual horse rather than relying on breed averages.

Because blanket manufacturers do not all use the same sizing system. "American" or "Standard" cut blankets are sized in 2-inch increments (70", 72", 74"...), while "Continental" or "Euro" cut blankets (including WeatherBeeta's range) are sized in 3-inch increments (69", 72", 75"...). Since you may be shopping from either type of brand, the calculator shows both so you have the right number whichever sizing system your chosen retailer uses.

Neck covers and hoods are sized to match your horse's blanket size number directly — if your horse takes a 76" blanket, you would normally choose a 76" neck cover from the same range or a compatible brand. The calculator's dashboard shows this alongside your blanket size so you don't need a separate lookup.

The majority manufacturer recommendation, and the calculator's default "Standard fit" setting, is to round up to the larger size: a blanket that is slightly loose allows freedom of movement and room for a heavier winter coat or layering underneath, while one that is even slightly too small can pull across the shoulders and restrict movement. If you would rather size down for a closer, more tailored fit, switch the fit preference to "Snug fit" and compare both results before you buy.

Round up in most cases — it's the approach almost every major blanket brand recommends, and the consequences of a slightly loose blanket are much milder than a too-tight one. The main exception is if your horse is turned out unsupervised for long periods, where an overly loose blanket can shift and potentially get caught up — in that situation a closer "Snug fit" result, plus properly fitted leg straps, is usually preferred.

Not directly — blanket size is driven entirely by your horse's individual body length (the chest-to-tail measurement), not its breed as such. However, breed build tendencies do matter for fit even at the correct length: narrow-chested breeds like Thoroughbreds and Arabians often fit well straight off the size chart, while broader-chested breeds like cobs, warmbloods and drafts sometimes need a specific "wide" or draft-cut version of the same length size for a comfortable shoulder fit.

Not as reliably as full-size horse blankets. Pony and miniature sizing varies more between manufacturers, and several brands offer specialised cuts (for Shetlands, Miniatures or Friesians, for example) that don't follow the general 2-inch or 3-inch ladders exactly. Treat the calculator's result as a solid starting point in this range, but check the specific product's own size chart before buying, and consider trying the blanket on if you can.

First double-check your measurement was taken correctly (tape level and taut, horse standing square, centre-of-chest to centre-of-tail). If the measurement is confirmed accurate, remember that different brands and even different product lines from the same brand can cut slightly differently at the same nominal size — a well-fitting 78" blanket from one brand does not guarantee the same fit in a 78" from another. When in doubt, check the specific product's own size chart or fit guide rather than assuming your previous size will always carry over.

You can use height as a rough starting guide, but it is not reliable enough to buy from directly — two horses of the same height can have very different body lengths depending on their build, so a height-based estimate can be off by a full size or more. Measuring your horse directly with a tape, as this calculator expects, is the method every major manufacturer actually recommends for buying.

If you plan to put a warm liner or an additional under-layer beneath the outer blanket, or your horse tends to fill out over winter, selecting "Extra room for layering" sizes up one increment beyond the Standard-fit recommendation. This gives enough spare room for a liner without the outer blanket pulling tight across the shoulders, at the cost of a looser fit if used without any layering underneath.

It's worth rechecking at least once a year, especially at the start of blanket season, since weight changes, muscle development, and normal growth (in younger horses) can shift a horse's measurement enough to change the recommended size. A blanket that fit well last winter is not guaranteed to fit the same way this winter.

These terms overlap heavily and vary by region: "blanket" is the more common US term and "rug" is the more common UK/Ireland/Australia term for the same type of horse covering, both measured and sized the same way (chest-to-tail). "Sheet" usually refers to a lighter, unlined layer (for warm weather, travel, or as a base layer under a heavier blanket), while "blanket"/"rug" more often implies some level of insulation or waterproof outer fabric — but all are sized using the same chest-to-tail measurement and the same size numbers.

Almost certainly not for a live horse — even miniature horses are generally at least 30" and the very largest drafts rarely exceed 100" on this measurement. The calculator flags results outside this range as "Check Your Measurement" rather than showing a number, since it likely means the tape wasn't run the full chest-to-tail line, the wrong unit was selected, or a decimal point was misplaced.

You can, but it's a guess rather than a fit — "large horse" or "cob-sized" descriptions cover a wide range of actual measurements, and buying on that basis is one of the most common reasons a blanket doesn't fit properly when it arrives. A two-minute tape measurement removes almost all of that guesswork and is the method every major manufacturer's own guide recommends.