Chicken Coop Size Calculator
Built by Johnny Alto · free, no sign-up · updated July 26, 2026
Enter how many chickens you keep and their size to find the coop floor space, run area, nesting boxes, and roost length they need. Giving hens enough room is the single biggest thing you can do to prevent pecking, stress, and disease.
Coop floor0square feet
Outdoor run0square feet
Nesting boxes0boxes
Roost bar0inches total
These are recommended minimums for birds that also get a run; more space is always better and cuts down on pecking. Coops with all-day free ranging can run a little smaller, and cold climates where hens stay in more want the larger end.
How much space do chickens need?
The standard guidance for laying hens that also have a run is about four square feet of coop floor per bird and about ten square feet of run per bird. Bantams need less, and large breeds like Orpingtons and Brahmas need a little more. A flock of six standard hens therefore wants roughly a 24 square foot coop and a 60 square foot run.
Space is not a nicety. Crowded birds pick at each other, spread parasites and disease faster, and lay less. When in doubt, build bigger than the minimum, because flocks have a way of growing.
Nesting boxes and roosts
You do not need a box per bird. One nesting box for every three to four hens is plenty, since they share and often all want the same favorite box anyway. For roosting, allow about eight to twelve inches of roost bar per bird so everyone can perch off the ground at night, which is where they prefer to sleep. Provide the roost higher than the nesting boxes so they do not sleep, and mess, in the nests.
Recommended gear
Kit out the coop
Frequently asked questions
How big should a chicken coop be?
Allow about four square feet of coop floor per standard hen that also has a run, so six hens need roughly a 24 square foot coop, plus about ten square feet of run each.
How much run space do chickens need?
About ten square feet per standard bird is the common recommendation. More is always better, and birds that free range all day can manage with less enclosed run.
How many nesting boxes do I need?
One box for every three to four hens. They share boxes and usually crowd into a favorite, so more boxes than that go unused.
How much roost space per chicken?
About eight to twelve inches of roost bar per bird, set higher than the nesting boxes so they perch to sleep rather than nesting in the boxes.
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This calculator gives estimates for planning only; always confirm against your own measurements and species research. Some links are to our buying guides, which contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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