The 7 best large dog beds of 2024, tested and reviewed

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A good bed for a large dog is hard to find. The bigger the bed, the more it is likely to cost, weigh, and take up space. But no matter what you choose, the best large dog beds should have excellent cushioning, support, and durability. From 50- to 90-pound large dogs to giant breeds weighing anywhere from 90 to 170 pounds, a good bed with high-quality foam can prevent aches and pains and pressure sores in larger breeds.

To find the best large dog beds, we narrowed our focus to 12 dog beds that fit our criteria in terms of sizing and materials. We then sent the beds home with a pack of large lovelies, including a Bernese mountain dog, two Leonbergers (weighing 133 and 120 pounds, respectively), a Newfoundland, and a King shepherd. Our top choice, the Griffith Pet Bed, is a reasonably priced, attractive bed made of supportive memory foam and a 30-day risk-free trial. If you're shopping for a super affordable bolster bed, we recommend the Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed. It comes in a wide range of colors and a sleep surface size of up to 44.5 inches.

Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and evaluates pet products.

Our top picks for the best large dog beds

Best overall: Brentwood Home Griffith Pet Bed - See at Brentwood Home

Best budget: Brindle Waterproof Memory Foam Pet Bed - See at Chewy

Best budget with bolster: Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed - See at Amazon

Best orthopedic: Petfusion Ultimate Dog Lounge - See at Chewy

Best cave: Furhaven Snuggery Burrow Dog Bed - See at Chewy

Best elevated: K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot - See at Chewy

Best for crates: Big Barker 4" Orthopedic Crate Bed - See at Amazon

Best overall

This attractive, comfortable bed checks so many boxes that it also landed in the top spot in our guide to the best dog beds. The Griffith has a quilted upholstery cover that you'd typically see on quality home furnishings. With two layers of supportive foam, the bed remained plump throughout testing with a 99-pound Bernese mountain dog. It's not as soft as some of the best large dog beds, but it suited our tester, who could stretch out completely on the extra-large size.

The bed is 4 inches thick and has a nonskid bottom, so dogs who have difficulty climbing onto higher beds will have an easy time with it. While we noticed slightly uneven support when testing the large size with a top-heavy 50-pound pit mix, the brand offers a 30-day risk-free trial that ensures you can return it if the support isn't ideal for your dog.

A few threads of the quilted stitching snagged in our digging test with a metal fork, which raised concerns about the bed's durability — but those were alleviated when the bed proved resilient in all other respects. It was very easy to clean up. The Berner sometimes throws up bile, which had been souring and soaking the cores of other beds. Her guardian just tossed the Griffith bed's liner and cover in the washer and dryer, and it came out free of odors.

Best budget

The Brindle Waterproof Memory Foam Pet Bed is a simple rectangular bed with a removable velour cover that has a cozy feel. The 4-inch core consists of two layers of resilient foam — memory foam on top and dense support foam on bottom — wrapped in a waterproof liner.

The bed offers excellent support and roominess for large, heavy dogs. It also has a secure, nonskid bottom, so dogs with mobility issues, like our 15-year-old Australian shepherd tester, can get aboard safely. However, the lack of bolsters isn't optimal for dogs who like to prop their head or curl up against something solid. For those dogs, we recommend our budget bolster or orthopedic picks.

Although the liner is not removable, we cut it open to confirm that it kept the foam core completely dry. In terms of spot-cleaning and durability, we had some mixed results after testing the medium size Brindle bed with a smaller dog. Our tester could not remove a dirt stain by hand and found the cover snagged during the digging test, but in the Aussie's home, the cover didn't show any damage. However, both covers came out of the washing machine completely clean.

Best budget with bolster

While some egg-crate foam beds can feel flimsy and cheap, the Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed is one of the best large dog beds because it uses fairly dense foam that provides ample support. A 70-pound English cream retriever certainly looked comfortable and held aloft on the extra-large-size bed's top. She also made good use of the sturdy bolsters, sleeping with her back pressed against them.

Our testers agree that this bed looks great. "I like the solid structure and two-tone colors of this bed, which give it a classic look," says Alex Rennie, an Insider Reviews freelance reporter who tested the bed with small dogs. "All the materials have a high-quality look too. Just a nice classic dog bed." The cotton flannel cover is soft yet tough, but the lighter colors may stain. We tested caramel and dark gray, and the cream-colored top on the caramel bed had a faint dirt stain after machine washing. Since the bolsters cannot be removed from the cover, it's also more cumbersome to wash, with the bolsters coming out of the machine water-logged.

You'll need to handle the liner's zipper carefully. One liner's zipper was prone to snagging, and the other liner's zipper fell off after two rounds in the washing machine. For this reason, we recommend gentle handling and washing of the liner by hand.

Best orthopedic

Our top recommendation among the best orthopedic dog beds, the Petfusion Ultimate Lounge, sizes up nicely to accommodate large dogs. The size large was perfect for a 45-pound Labradoodle, who was completely supported by the dense foam as it distributed pressure over a large area.

It is a bolster-style bed with a twill cover and a thick, memory foam base. Our tester rested his back against one of the soft but sturdy bolsters whenever he settled in for a snooze. Correctly weaving the bolsters during assembly was a pain but worth it for the comfort they provide. This bed's thoughtful design extends to the memory foam core's height, which increases with the size of the bed. The jumbo bed is 6 inches high, the large and medium beds are 4 inches in height, and the small bed is 2 inches tall.

Aside from some fabric pilling after machine-washing, this bed scored highly in our durability tests. The waterproof liner completely protected the foam, and the cover and liner were easy to run through the washer and dryer whenever a more thorough cleaning was needed.

Best cave

For dogs who like to take cover and burrow, the Snuggery Burrow Dog Bed is a cozy sherpa and sueded bed with a supportive sleep surface and loose cave-like cover. The cover is essentially a blanket with a hoop frame that adjusts so a dog can sleep halfway, or all the way, beneath it.

The 44-inch round bed was very comfortable and spacious for our 50-pound pit mix tester. While the orthopedic egg crate foam base is not as thick as many other beds for large dogs, the 3-inch high bed offers adequate support. We found only slightly uneven pressure distribution when we placed an unevenly weighted backpack on it, and our human tester says it felt comfortable enough for her to curl up for a nap. However, the cave covering must be folded back for a big dog to get on board.

This bed has no waterproof liner, though you can make your own from a crib mattress cover or other dog bed liner. Otherwise, it is very easy to keep clean. The cover was highly stain-resistant, and spot-cleaning removed most of everything we threw at it. No stains or odors remained after machine-washing and drying. One cleaning caveat was that fur was very difficult to remove. It took several passes with a lint roller to lift off fur caught into the sherpa material.

Best elevated

Elevated beds can keep dogs cooler because their raised mesh platforms allow for continuous air circulation. Our top elevated pick for the best large dog beds, the K&H Original Pet Cot, has a breathable nylon canvas surface that maximizes airflow.

Dog cots require assembly, but with this bed, we only had to snap the legs into the right position. The simple assembly doesn't mean the cot isn't sturdy, though. To test its strength, we sat on it, and all 137 pounds of our weight did nothing to stretch or distort the tight nylon canvas top of the medium size bed, which the brand says can withstand up to 200 pounds. The larger models can hold up to 300 pounds. The 7-inch high cot was a comfortable place to perch, and while a short-legged dog or one with mobility issues won't be able to use it, it is a good option for many large dogs.

Cleaning was a breeze since all we had to do for most stains was hose it off. For tougher messes, we removed the nylon platform and put it in the washing machine. This cot works best in a dedicated spot. We didn't like that the legs were prone to shifting out of alignment when we moved it around, but we could easily knock them back into position.

Best for crates

The cushiony, supportive Big Barker 4" Orthopedic Crate Bed is a great choice for large dogs who spend long stints at rest in their crates. At 4 inches tall, it is much thicker and more supportive than the average crate pad. The human tester who had this bed could lie on it and not feel the floor underneath, and her 50-pound basset-beagle mix looked evenly supported when resting on it. It also proved very durable, with the tough microsuede cover withstanding our digging and seam-strength tests.

The two-layer foam core was strong and resilient, never flattening in testing and bouncing back in less than a minute when dumbbells of various weights were left on the bed for four hours. The cover took on a "dusty" appearance after washing, drying, and regular use, and the fabric tightened up after washing and drying, making it slightly harder to reassemble.

For some, the cost of this bed and the waterproof liner (sold separately) may be prohibitive, but the one-year trial and 10-year warranty are outstanding. The fact that it's 4 inches thick means it could take away too much crate headroom for a large dog.

What to look for in a large dog bed

As we researched contenders for the best large dog beds, we nailed down some key qualities to consider.

Support and comfort: The larger and heavier the dog, the more important it is to find the right level of support, says Dr. Joseph J. Wakshlag, a veterinarian and professor of clinical nutrition and sports medicine and rehabilitation at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine. As dogs age, their muscle mass diminishes, their joints can get creaky, and their mobility declines. "Of course, heavier dogs often have these issues,'' Wakshlag says. "The typical stuffed beds do not create any uniformity of pressure, so these pressure points can get sore." Look for a bed with a durable memory or orthopedic foam core at least a few inches thick.

You'll also want to consider how your dog typically settles in for a snooze. Dogs sort out to be side sleepers or flat-out stretchers, just like people do, on a dog-by-dog basis. The best dog beds for large dogs include flat rectangular mattresses for dogs who stretch out and cozy bolster beds for side sleepers who prefer to lean against the edge of their bed or prop their head up while resting. If you have a dog that frequently burrows, you can opt for a nest-like burrow bed, though there aren't many on the market, and typically lack waterproof liners. If your dog is a hot sleeper, you may also want to consider a supportive elevated bed that allows for airflow beneath the sleep surface.

Ease of entry: Many large dogs develop mobility challenges with age or injury, so beds with nonskid bottoms, reasonably thick pads that aren't too high to step onto, and wide entry spaces between bolsters are ideal.

Sizing: You'll want to make sure the bed you purchase is appropriately sized for your dog. If your dog likes to stretch out, make sure the bed is at least as long as their length from nose to base of tail. If your dog has particularly long legs, you'll also need a bed with adequate depth. For bolster beds, the sleep surface should be big enough to accommodate your dog's preferred sleep position. The biggest bed we tested was 44 inches wide and 54 inches long, and two very large Leonbergers could, and did, share it. That, it seemed, was wider than necessary for most large breeds. A 99-pound Bernese mountain dog fit just fine on our best overall choice, the Griffith, which was 35 inches wide and 54 inches long. Most of the beds we tested were 4 to 5 inches thick to support the weight of a very large dog.

Water resistance and ease of cleaning: The bigger the dog, the bigger the mess. As any dog ages, they're more likely to have bathroom accidents and other hygiene issues, so beds with waterproof liners are ideal. Additionally, machine-washable and dryer-safe covers and liners offer added convenience

Return policies and warranties: A bed for a large dog can be a big investment, typically costing anywhere from $80 to around $250. Look for generous refund policies and warranties, and read the fine print directly on a brand's website.

Certifications: Some beds carry materials safety certifications, such as CertiPUR-US, OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100, and Greenguard Gold. These certifications offer assurance that some or all of the materials in a product are free of materials that may harm humans. The CertiPUR-US certification signifies that a polyurethane foam is made without formaldehyde, ozone depleters, prohibited phthalates, mercury, lead, and other heavy metals. This certified foam also has low emissions of harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and is free of flame retardants that are known carcinogens and other harmful toxins. To receive certification, a producer of a polyurethane foam needs to meet the criteria set by the Alliance for Flexible Polyurethane Foam, which includes submitting test results and samples as well as a fee ranging from $6,000 to $8,500. To receive an OEKO-TEX STANDARD 100 certification, a manufacturer must undergo an application process and submit fees which vary. This certification verifies that every part of a product is free of various substances that may be harmful to human health. UL Greenguard Gold certification is based on samples submitted by a manufacturer, which undergo laboratory testing to ensure they meet low chemical emissions standards set by UL Solutions, an international organization focused on materials safety.

How we tested the best large dog beds

In addition to trialing 12 beds with various large and giant-breed dogs, we also conducted several tests to evaluate the longevity and durability of materials. Below are the criteria we used to assess each bed.

Comfort and support: For several weeks, we watched the dogs closely while they rested on the beds, assessing whether their weight was evenly supported and the support offered by any bolsters. We even got on the beds to assess how much support they offered. Then, we weighed the beds down with heavy backpacks and duffel bags loaded with dumbbells and bags of rice to further gauge their support and resistance to flattening over time.

Ease of entry: We observed how easy it was for dogs to get in and out of the beds. While thicker beds may be just fine for taller dogs, lower-profile, firm, and supportive beds seemed to hit the sweet spot. Among the bolstered beds, we looked for wide entry points. For all the beds, we awarded points to those with nonskid bottoms and textured tops that may prevent sliding as dogs enter and exit.

Durability and ease of cleaning: We simulated digging with a metal dinner fork, tugged on zippers, punctured seams with scissors, and scratched the bottoms of beds sandpaper to assess their overall toughness. We soiled the beds with peanut butter, black tea, and dirt, then spot-cleaned them to see what came out. From there, we put the covers and liners through two rounds in the washing machine and dryer, per manufacturer directions, before reassembling everything to look for shrinkage, fabric wear, and lingering stains and odors.

Waterproofing: Nearly all of the beds we tested claim to have waterproof or water-resistant liners. To test this, we poured a cup of warm water onto the sleep surface of each bed and let it soak in for 30 minutes before checking to see if any water made it through the liners.

Large dog bed FAQs

What type of bed is best for a large dog?

The key here is support. Large dogs sleep a long time and need extra support because of their weight. The best bed for large dogs supports dogs as they rest and shift positions while they sleep.

What style of dog beds do large dogs like best?

While our top pick is a flat rectangular bed that offers plenty of room to stretch out, many of the beds for big dogs that our testers seemed to like best have bolsters. "Dogs seem to like to have their back against something,'' says Dr. Katherine Houpt, a veterinary behaviorist and professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, who has studied the sleeping patterns of shelter dogs. "If you look carefully, you will see they prefer to sleep with their backs against their owner, or against the back of the sofa, or even against the wall."

How much bigger should a dog bed be than the dog?

To find the best bed for a big dog, start by measuring the width and length of your dog. Houpt says the bed should be larger than the dog, but not too much bigger. "If you get them a small bed, they will curl up and sleep on that," she says. But for dogs who like to splay and spread out, this is less optimal.