Look up "beagle size" and you'll find a mess of numbers. Part of the confusion is that the breed standard doesn't set a weight at all. It defines two varieties by height.

What the AKC standard says

The AKC standard (approved September 10, 1957) recognises:

  • Thirteen Inch: hounds not exceeding 13 inches at the shoulder.
  • Fifteen Inch: hounds over 13 inches but not exceeding 15 inches.

Any hound measuring more than 15 inches is disqualified, and height is the only disqualification in the standard. The smaller variety is meant to be a smaller replica of the larger.

Show dogs are measured at the withers (the top of the shoulder).

Why two sizes?

The National Beagle Club's history says the American club adopted a standard in the late 1880s. According to an 1892 letter from a club officer, the split came from a practical problem in field trials: owners of small dogs wanted their own class, because a dog just over 12 inches couldn't fairly compete against a 15-inch dog. The club made two classes, 13 inches and under and 15 inches and under, and the bench show classes were changed to match.

What about "pocket beagles"?

Small beagle-type hounds go back centuries. Sources describe packs of very small "glove" beagles kept by medieval and Tudor royals, and Queen Elizabeth I is said to have kept a Pocket Beagle standing 8 to 9 inches at the shoulder. These were carried on hunts. They were apparently lost in Britain around the First World War.

Be careful with the modern marketing term:

  • "Pocket beagle", "mini beagle", and "teacup beagle" are not recognised varieties under the AKC standard.
  • The link between Elizabethan pocket beagles and the 13-inch variety is a guess based on names, not a documented lineage.
  • Dogs sold as "miniature" are sometimes crossed with other breeds or bred from undersized, underfed puppies, which can come with health problems. Ask for health testing records and parents' details.

How big will mine get?

A beagle puppy sitting on the grass

Adult weights vary widely. In UK vet records (VetCompass 2025), the median adult beagle weighed about 40 lb (18.2 kg), with the middle half of dogs between about 35 and 46 lb; males ran about 7 lb heavier than females. That sample doesn't separate the two varieties, and it includes many overweight dogs, so don't treat it as a target. See how much a beagle should weigh.

A puppy's eventual height is difficult to predict precisely. Ask the breeder how tall the parents are, and for registered dogs, which variety they're registered as.

How to measure your beagle at home

Measuring a beagle's height at the shoulder
  1. Stand your dog on a flat floor with all four feet square.
  2. Place a flat, level object (such as a book) across the top of the shoulders.
  3. Measure from the floor to the underside of the object.

If it's over 15 inches, your pet is simply a large beagle. Size only matters for the show ring.

Which size is better?

Neither. Both are the same breed with the same temperament and the same scent drive; a smaller dog doesn't mean a lower exercise requirement. The WSAVA says hunting drive is present in every beagle. What is more likely to affect your dog's health is whether it stays lean. See beagle health problems.

Frequently asked questions

How tall is a beagle? Up to 15 inches at the shoulder under the AKC standard.

What is the difference between 13 inch and 15 inch beagles? Height only. 13-inch beagles are no taller than 13 inches; 15-inch beagles are over 13 and up to 15.

Are pocket beagles real? Small hounds of that name existed historically. The term today is marketing, not a recognised variety.

Does the size category affect lifespan? We didn't find reliable evidence on this, so we won't claim one.

Sources