How many dog steps does your bed need?
Divide the height by the tallest step your dog handles easily, and round up. A 24-inch bed with 6-inch steps takes 4 steps. The finder below does the math and shows which step sets on our list reach your height.
Dog steps are sold by the height of the top step. What matters to an older dog is the height of each single step. This finder does both: it works out how many steps your bed, couch or car needs, then shows the step sets on our list that reach it.
Find steps for your height
How to measure
Measure straight up from the floor to the surface your dog steps onto: the top of the mattress or the couch cushion, not the frame. For a car, measure to the seat or cargo floor with the car parked where you usually load your dog.
For the tallest step, think about the stairs and curbs your dog already manages without a pause. If you're not sure, start lower. Shorter steps mean more of them, so the set gets longer and needs more floor space.
How the finder works
We divide your height by the tallest step you enter and round up, so no step is taller than that. Then we list every step set on our list whose top step reaches your height. When a maker lists the height of each step, we show it. When they list only the top height and the number of steps, we divide one by the other and say "about", because steps aren't always evenly spaced. 2 step sets on our list don't give a top height, so the finder leaves them out.
Heights and weight ratings come from each maker's listing, checked October 2026. We haven't measured these steps ourselves. This finder doesn't replace advice from your vet, especially if your dog has arthritis, a back problem or is recovering from surgery.
For a bed that's higher than most steps reach, see stairs for high beds, or compare ramps and steps.
Sources
- Dog Aging Project: mobility tips and tricks for senior dogs (Kellyn McNulty, DVM; steps and ramps, grip, training)
- Heights, step counts and weight ratings are from each maker's listing, as shown on our steps page.
Questions people ask
How many steps does a dog need for a 24-inch bed?
With steps no taller than 6 inches, 4 steps. With 5-inch steps, 5. Shorter steps are easier to climb but make the set longer, so check you have the floor space.
How tall should each dog step be?
There's no single published number for every dog. Shorter steps are easier for a stiff or small dog. Watch which stairs and curbs your dog manages without pausing, and ask your vet if your dog has arthritis or a back problem.
What if no steps are tall enough for my bed?
Most dog steps on our list top out at 25 inches or lower. For higher beds, a ramp may work better. Our ramp angle calculator shows how steep a ramp would be at your height.