Donut bed or a flat mattress?
Updated 16 September 2026
A donut is the calming dog bed shape, suiting a dog that sleeps curled with its back against something. A flat mattress suits a dog that lies out straight, and matching the shape to your dog means the bed gets used every night.
A donut dog bed and a flat mattress both work well, and the choice comes down to what your dog already does. Watch how they settle for a week. Most dogs have a clear preference, and buying to it means the bed is used from the first night.
Size matters more in a donut than in a mattress, because the space a dog uses is the hole in the middle. Measure your dog curled up and buy to that, and the rim works as a pillow with room to spare.
Side by side
Donut bed
A round plush bed with a raised rim, which works as a pillow and a wall to lean into.
Suits
- Dogs that curl into a ball
- Anxious dogs that like feeling enclosed
- Small and medium dogs with room in the middle
Ones we like
Rosewood
40 Winks Deep Plush Donut Bed, 27 inch
A deep plush donut bed for dogs that curl up and burrow.
Watch how your dog settles first. A dog that curls into a ball will take to this one straight away.
Woof & Whiskers
A mid-size plush donut bed with a faux fur cover and a water-resistant base.
Shake it out weekly and the filling stays evenly lofted. Four sizes run from 50 to 80 centimetres if you need another.
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Flat mattress
A rectangular pad, flat or with a low bolster along one side, sized to the space it sits in.
Suits
- Dogs that sleep stretched out on their side
- Crates and boots where space is tight
- Large dogs with long legs
Ones we like
KSIIA
A flat washable mattress sized to drop straight into a crate or a car boot.
Measure the crate base and buy to that size. KSIIA suggest patting it down and letting it loft for about 24 hours first.
Bedsure
Washable Bed with Oxford Cover, 91 x 68cm
A washable flat dog bed with a tough Oxford base for muddy households.
A good one for the utility room or the hallway, where a bed meets wet feet most days.
Bedsure
A fluffy crate mattress in an XL size, for big dogs who lie flat out.
Big enough for a labrador to stretch right out, and the side strap means it hangs up to dry after a wash.
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Common questions
What size donut bed does my dog need?
Measure your dog curled up and buy so that circle fits inside the rim, which is the usable space. Sizing up one step gives a dog room to stretch a little in the night, and the rim still supports the head.
Why does my dog sleep beside the new dog bed?
Usually shape or warmth. A dog that curls settles in a donut, a dog that sprawls settles on a flat mattress, and a warm sleeper takes to a lighter blanket in summer. Match those two things and the bed gets used.
Are donut dog beds machine washable?
Most go in the machine whole, which is the advantage of the shape. Check the label for the temperature and give a deep plush bed plenty of drying time, ideally somewhere warm and airy.