Coop size calculator
Building or buying a coop? Get the floor space, run size, nest boxes, and roost length your flock needs — before the lumber run, not after.
Coop floor space
24 sq ft
e.g. 5′ × 5′
Run space
60 sq ft
10 sq ft per standard bird
Nest boxes
2
1 per 3–4 hens
Roost length
5 ft
~10″ per bird
Rules of thumb, not laws — more space is always better, and crowding is the root of most pecking problems. Cold climates need more indoor space for snowed-in days.
Size for the flock you'll have, not the flock you have
Every keeper learns about chicken math the hard way: flocks only grow. If you're planning six birds, size for ten — a slightly bigger build now is far cheaper than a second coop next spring. Planning who those birds will be? Browse our 50 breed profiles for size, temperament, and egg production, or start with the complete beginner's guide.
Common questions
- How much space do chickens need in a coop?
- The standard rule of thumb is 4 square feet per bird inside the coop when they also have an outdoor run, and 8–10 square feet per bird if they live in the coop full-time. Bantams need roughly half.
- How big should the run be?
- Plan on about 10 square feet of run per standard-size bird. More is better — bored, crowded chickens invent hobbies like feather-picking.
- How many nesting boxes do I need?
- One box per 3–4 hens is plenty. Chickens famously ignore this and queue for the same favorite box anyway, but extra boxes prevent floor eggs when a broody hen hogs one.
- Can a coop be too big?
- Mostly no — extra space is the cheapest insurance against pecking-order trouble. The one exception is cold climates, where a cavernous, drafty coop is harder for a small flock to keep warm. Good ventilation without drafts matters more than size.
The coop is step one
Once the flock moves in, PoultryPal keeps the records — birds, eggs, expenses, and the moments worth remembering.
