Large hamster cages: how big, and what to look for

How big is a large hamster cage?

A cage only counts as large for a hamster if the floor is at least 100 x 50 cm (40 x 20 in), which is 5,000 cm² (775 sq in). PDSA gives that as its minimum and says bigger is always better. Wood Green gives 100 x 50 x 50 cm for Syrian and Chinese hamsters and 100 x 50 cm, at least 40 cm (16 in) high, for dwarfs and Roborovskis. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation rescue uses 100 x 50 x 50 cm for every species.

So "big", "XL" and "extra large" on a box mean nothing on their own. Our measured cage list below shows how many popular cages sold for hamsters come in at half that size or less. Our guide to hamster cage size explains how to measure any cage, and this page is about choosing one that clears the bar with room to spare.

Large hamster cage sizes: what each welfare body says

Welfare bodies do not all give the same figure, and some older numbers are still quoted. Here they are side by side.

The RSPCA's national hamster page gives no measurement at all. It asks for a solid floor, a thick layer of bedding deep enough to dig in, and a cage that is not wooden.

Which we follow: 100 x 50 cm (40 x 20 in) as the floor no cage should go under, for every species, and 120 x 60 cm (47 x 24 in) or more for a Syrian if you have the space. It is the newest UK guidance, three charities and a rescue agree on it, and the US figures above are far smaller than the space a hamster needs to dig, run and keep separate areas for sleeping, food and toilet. The MSPCA page also suggests 1 to 3 hamsters per cage, which we do not follow: Wood Green advises keeping every species alone.

Sizes to look for, by hamster

Hamsters live alone, so the table is one hamster per home. If you have two hamsters, you need two homes of this size.

Floor sizes and bar gaps are from Wood Green, wheels from PDSA and Wood Green, and the Roborovski sand area from the Bunny Jackpot Foundation. The 120 x 60 cm aim for Syrians is our own, because Wood Green says female Syrians in particular may need more than the minimum. We share our home with a dwarf hamster and work to the full 100 x 50 cm for dwarfs too. Our page on the Syrian hamster covers the biggest species in full.

Large hamster cages we have measured

These are popular cages sold for hamsters, checked against 100 x 50 cm of floor and the bar gap. The base sizes come from each cage's listed specification, which does not always say whether it is the inside or outside, so measure before you buy. Each name links to our full check.

To check a cage that is not on this list, put its measurements into our cage checker.

Common "large" cages that are too small, and why

Most cages that fail do so for one of four reasons, and you can spot each one from the listing.

• The size counts the levels. A three-storey cage can have a big total area and a small floor. PDSA prefers single-level homes because hamsters have poor eyesight and can fall.
• It is long but narrow. A cage 100 cm long and 40 cm deep has a tunnel, not a floor. Both sides matter.
• The base is shallow. A wire cage on a 10 to 15 cm (4 to 6 in) tray cannot hold the 25 cm (10 in) of bedding PDSA asks for, so the hamster cannot burrow.
• It is built from small linked pods. Tubes and pods add up on paper but leave no one space big enough to dig, run and set out a sand bath. Our page on hamster tunnels covers safe ways to use tubes as a toy instead.

Big glass hamster tanks and enclosures

A glass tank is one of the easiest ways to get a very large, deep home with no bars to chew. PDSA lists a glass tank alongside an extra-large cage and a homemade enclosure as good choices, and the Bunny Jackpot Foundation accepts a suitably sized aquarium with a mesh lid. The catch is size: tanks are sold by gallons, which measure water, not floor.

• Measure length and front-to-back depth: you want 100 x 50 cm (40 x 20 in) or more
• Fit a well-ventilated mesh lid that clips or locks, since most tanks are sold without one
• Check the weight and the strength of the stand before filling it with bedding
• Place it away from sunny windows, because glass traps heat; PDSA advises 18 to 21°C (64 to 70°F)
• For a second-hand aquarium, wash it well and check the seals for chips and sharp edges

Wooden enclosures with a glass front give the most floor for the space, but sources split on them. The RSPCA says wooden cages should not be used. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation accepts them if the wood is sealed with a pet-safe finish and chewable corners are tiled or edged in metal. We would only choose wood that is sealed inside and edged, and we would check it weekly for chewing and damp. Our hamster cage guide goes further into each type.

What to check before you buy a large hamster cage

• Inside floor of 100 x 50 cm (40 x 20 in) or more, on one level
• A solid floor: the RSPCA warns wire mesh floors cause foot problems
• A base or solid sides that hold 25 cm (10 in) of bedding in at least one area; Wood Green asks for 15 cm (6 in) across most of the floor and 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) in a digging zone
• Bars 1 cm (0.4 in) apart for Syrians, 7 mm (about 1/4 in) for dwarfs, or no bars
• Airflow through mesh or bars; the RSPCA prefers bars or mesh sides to solid ones, with a raised lid
• Doors or a lid big enough to reach every corner when you clean
• Secure catches: PDSA calls hamsters escape artists
• Headroom for a 30 cm (12 in) wheel on a platform for a Syrian

How to make a big hamster cage better

Once the size is right, the layout decides how much of it your hamster uses. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation's checklist and Wood Green's bedding advice give a simple order to follow.

1. Raise the heavy things. Put the wheel, sand bath and large hides on platforms or legs before the bedding goes in, so nothing sinks when your hamster digs under it.
2. Make a deep digging end. Pile bedding to 25 to 30 cm (10 to 12 in) at one end and press it gently as you add it, so tunnels hold their shape.
3. Add at least three hides. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation suggests three or more, with entrances of at least 7 cm (2 3/4 in) for Syrians and 5 cm (2 in) for dwarfs. A multi-chamber hide with no floor is ideal. See our best hamster hides.
4. Give a permanent sand bath. A wide dish of safe sand on a platform. For Roborovskis, make it about a third of the floor. Our hamster sand bath page covers which sand to use.
5. Mix the textures. Add patches of safe hay, cork or coco fibre and scatter part of the food so your hamster forages across the whole floor.
6. Add a cool spot. A slate or granite tile gives a cool place in warm weather and helps wear down nails, as the Bunny Jackpot Foundation suggests.

Our hamster cage setup guide has full layouts, our guide to hamster bedding covers what to fill it with, and our complete hamster care guide covers everything else.