Dog Bandana Size Chart & Measuring Guide

Use a soft tape measure and wrap it around your dog's neck where the collar normally sits. Keep two fingers between the tape and your dog's neck for comfort. This measurement in inches is your dog's bandana size. If you don't have a tape measure, use a piece of string and then measure the string with a ruler.

Dog bandana sizes are based on neck circumference. The size chart above shows the real neck ranges of the styles currently in stock for each size, and each style lists its own range. Because breed sizes can vary significantly between individual dogs, the dog's neck should be measured rather than guessed.

A properly fitted dog bandana should slide easily over the collar without bunching. You should be able to fit two fingers between the bandana and your dog's neck. The bandana point should hang at chest level — not dragging on the ground or tucked up under the chin. Thread 'n Wags bandanas are hand-sewn with built-in elastic that slides over any collar, so the fit adjusts automatically within the neck size range.

Yes, the neck measurement is the same for bandanas, bow ties, and other collar accessories. The neck circumference determines which products will fit your dog. Bow ties and formal accessories like tuxedo bandanas are all hand-sewn with the same built-in elastic, so the sizing is identical.

How you put a bandana on a dog depends on how it's made. Over-the-collar bandanas like Thread 'n Wags have elastic sewn directly into the bandana that slides over your dog's existing collar — no tying or folding needed. Simply slide the fabric-covered elastic over one end of the collar, push it to the center, then buckle the collar on your dog as usual. The bandana hangs naturally at the chest. For traditional square bandanas, fold the bandana in half to form a triangle, then tie the two long ends around your dog's neck with a flat knot.

For traditional tie-on bandanas, fold the square fabric diagonally into a triangle. Drape the long folded edge across the back of your dog's neck with the point facing down at the chest. Bring the two ends around to the front or side and tie a flat knot — not too tight (you should fit two fingers underneath). However, tie-on bandanas can loosen, shift, or come untied during play. Over-the-collar bandanas avoid this problem entirely — the elastic is sewn into the bandana itself and grips the collar, so they stay put without any tying.

Every Thread 'n Wags bandana is hand-sewn to a specific neck-circumference range rather than only a generic S/M/L label. The built-in elastic is cut to that range during construction, so the fabric drapes correctly at the chest when your dog's measurement falls within the listed range. Measure your dog, then choose a currently listed Style whose neck range includes that measurement. If your dog's neck falls between two listed ranges, contact support before ordering. Returns follow the 30-day return policy.

Measuring for a dog tuxedo or formal bandana uses the same method as a regular bandana — neck circumference in inches, where the collar normally sits. Wrap a soft tape around the middle of the neck with two fingers between the tape and the fur, then read the measurement at the overlap. Formal styles (tuxedo bandanas, bow-tie bandanas, wedding attire) all slide over the collar with a no-tie pass-through elastic, so only the neck number matters — not chest or back length. Thread 'n Wags lists the exact neck range on every formal Style so the fit is correct for portraits, weddings, and black-tie events.