Horse rug size calculator
Put in your tape measurement and get the rug size in feet and inches. Then tell it about tonight and your horse, and it says whether a rug is likely to help, with the reasons.
Rug size
Size 6'3"
Your horse measures 190 cm, which is 74.8 inches. That falls between sizes, so this is the next size up, 75 inches.
Sizes go up in three inches. Check the maker's own size guide too: the BHS warns that sizing varies between brands.
Tonight
Probably no rug tonight
- The Pony Club: "A healthy, fit, unclipped horse should only start to feel cold when the temperature plunges below 0°C."
Whatever the answer, the BHS check is your hand flat under the rug behind the withers: your horse should feel comfortably warm and dry, not cold or sweaty.
If you do rug, the BHS bands for fill are Light weight: 0g-100g, Medium weight: 150g-300g, Heavy weight: 350g+. We don't turn a temperature into grams, because none of the guidance we read does.
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<iframe src="https://stableandhoof.com/embed/horse-rug-size-calculator" title="Horse rug size calculator" width="100%" height="1100" style="border:0;max-width:760px" loading="lazy"></iframe> <p><a href="https://stableandhoof.com/horse-rug-size-calculator">Free horse rug size calculator</a> from Stable & Hoof</p>
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How to measure for a rug
Use a soft tape. The British Horse Society says to measure "from the centre of the chest, around the widest part of the shoulder and along the side of the body to the point of the buttock". Type that number in, in centimetres or inches.
Rugs are sold by that length in feet and inches. WeatherBeeta says "Rugs are usually sized in three inch increments" and "If your horse is between sizes, choose the bigger size." So the tool turns your number into inches and goes up to the next size: 190 cm is 74.8 inches, which makes a 6'3" rug.
One warning from the BHS: compare your measurement "with the manufacturer's size guide, as sizing may vary between brands." Then check the fit at the shoulder, withers and chest.
How the "tonight" check works
This half is our own method. It doesn't turn a temperature into grams of fill, because none of the guidance we read does that. It works through the questions the welfare bodies ask, in order, and shows you the words behind each step.
- Is your horse fully clipped, fine-coated, older or unwell, or underweight? The BHS lists each of those among horses that may benefit from a rug. Below 5°C, the tool says a rug is likely to help.
- If none of those apply: the BHS says "Many horses stay comfortable without a rug until temperatures drop below 5°c". The Pony Club goes further: "A healthy, fit, unclipped horse should only start to feel cold when the temperature plunges below 0°C."
- Wet and wind change things. The BHS says horses "are more likely to feel cold when exposed to a combination of prolonged rain and wind than during dry, cold weather", and that shelter is one of the best ways to help.
- Carrying too much weight? The BHS says to "Avoid rugging overweight horses unnecessarily, even if they have a bib or trace clip".
Too hot or too cold?
The answer is a starting point, not a verdict. Look at your horse. The BHS signs of being too cold are shivering, a tail tucked tightly against the body, seeking shelter, pacing and gradual weight loss. Too hot looks like sweating beneath the rug, heavy breathing, lethargy, rubbing, and warm, damp skin under the rug.
If you do rug, the BHS bands are "Light weight: 0g-100g", "Medium weight: 150g-300g" and "Heavy weight: 350g+". Our horse rug guide explains why shops band them differently.
Sources
The British Horse Society: Types of rugs and rugging a horse; The Pony Club: Why is over-rugging your horse bad for their wellbeing? (11 December 2024); WeatherBeeta: Measuring your horse for a rug. All read 30 October 2026.