French bulldog clothes: what size to choose and what garments it needs
Choosing french bulldog clothes has a trick to it, and it's not the one most people think. This breed has a very particular body —broad chest, thick neck and compact build— that makes sizing fail more than with any other dog. And here's the key almost no one takes into account: a french bulldog's size doesn't depend only on its weight, but above all on its chest girth. In this guide we tell you what size it needs according to our chart, which garments suit it by season and how to check the clothes really fit, always respecting its comfort and health.
Start here: what's your french bulldog like?
Before we dive in, this mini-selector takes you straight to what you need for your case:
- Has a very broad chest → start with the size guide.
- Feels the cold in winter → look at the sweatshirts.
- Goes out in the rain → look at the raincoats.
- Is between two sizes → read my dog is between two sizes.
- It's hot → don't add clothes it doesn't need (we explain why below).
Why it's hard to find clothes for a french bulldog
The french bulldog is a compact, muscular breed, and its build conditions everything when it comes to dressing it. It has an especially broad chest relative to its size, which makes its girth larger than its weight suggests and means many generic garments squeeze it right there. Add to that a thick neck, which causes garments that fit well on the body to choke it when passing over the head. And its short, sturdy body means the back length also has to fit well so it's neither too long nor too short.
The conclusion is clear: in a french bulldog, the size is decided by chest girth, never by weight or looks, and the neck is the second point you absolutely must watch.
What size a french bulldog needs
In this breed more than any other, the size is decided by chest girth, not by weight. This is our official chart, the one you should use as the main reference:
| Size | Chest (cm) | Back (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| S | up to 38 | 25 |
| M | up to 46 | 29 |
| L | up to 54 | 35 |
| XL | up to 60 | 40 |
| 2XL | up to 68 | 47 |
| 3XL | up to 78 | 53 |
Measure your french bulldog's chest girth (the widest part of the ribcage, behind the front legs) and find which size it fits into. If you've never measured it, we explain it in how to measure your dog.
Usual size by build (a guide)
As a rough guide, most french bulldogs break down like this by size:
| Build | Weight (guide) | Usual size |
|---|---|---|
| Small | 5-7 kg | M |
| Medium | 7-11 kg | L |
| Large | 11-16 kg | XL |
But careful: weight is only a starting guide, not the final decision. Because of its broad chest, many french bulldogs need a size up from what their weight suggests. A textbook 8 kg frenchie would be L by weight, but if its chest is over 54 cm, its real size is XL. That's why the rule in this breed is non-negotiable: measure the chest and decide by the chest. Cross your two measurements with our size guide and, for the by-breed reference, you have the dog size guide by breed and weight.
What clothes it needs by the weather
The french bulldog doesn't need the same garment all year. Because of its brachycephalic condition, what you most need to watch isn't the cold, but the heat. Let's go garment by garment —and if you want the general criteria, you have them in how to choose the best clothes for your dog.
The sweatshirt: for the cold, depending on where you live
The french bulldog is short-haired and undercoat-less, so in winter it can feel the cold, though it's not as cold-sensitive as a chihuahua or a greyhound. Our honest recommendation: if you live in a mountain area, in a climate with harsh winters or your flat isn't well insulated, a coat sweatshirt will do it a lot of good for outings and at home. If you live in a mild climate and your home is warm, it probably won't need it daily. Not sure if it's cold? We help you in is my dog cold?, and its specific sizing is in what sweatshirt size your dog needs.
❄️ For your french bulldog's cold. Sherpa-lined sweatshirts, warm and with urban style → — ideal if you live in a cold area or your home isn't well insulated.
⭐ Our pick: Bubble Gum Hoodie — sherpa lining · cotton + polyester · available from S to 3XL.
The raincoat: for rainy days
A wet french bulldog feels the cold and, with its build, takes a while to dry. For rainy days, a well-fitting raincoat keeps it dry and comfortable. It's a very practical garment for this breed in autumn and winter, and its front zip makes it easy to put on without a fight. If you're unsure whether it needs one, we clear it up in does your dog need a raincoat?.
🌧️ For rainy days. Technical raincoats with a front zip and good neck and back fit →
⭐ Our pick: Lobeira Raincoat — technical raincoat · front zip · neck and back fit.
The jersey: for mild weather and style
When the temperature is right, the french bulldog wears clothes really well. A light jersey is ideal for mild days: it gives style without over-layering. And if you want a unique touch, our football jerseys are personalised with its name and number —also a different gift for any football fan.
⚽ For style on mild days. Personalisable football jerseys with your dog's name and number →
⭐ Our pick: Three Stars Football Jersey — vintage style with a polo collar · personalisable with name and number · lightweight, ideal for mild days.
And when it's hot?
Here we have to be clear, even if it doesn't mean a sale. The french bulldog is brachycephalic (short-muzzled), regulates its temperature worse and is especially prone to heatstroke. In summer or in high temperatures, the best thing is not to put clothes on it that it doesn't need: an extra layer can be dangerous. At most, a very light jersey on a mild day, but never a coat in the heat. In this breed, prioritising its comfort over the look is non-negotiable.
How to know if the clothes fit well
In a french bulldog, checking the fit is especially important. Look at four things:
- The chest: the garment should fit without compressing the widest part of the ribcage.
- The neck: it must go over the head with room and not press the throat —this is the point that fails most in the breed.
- The movement: the front legs must stay free, with no pulling at the armpits.
- That it doesn't cover the peeing area.
If all four are met, it's its size. For the full list of everything to check before buying, take a look at the 10 things to look at before buying clothes.
If your french bulldog is between two sizes
It's very common in this breed, precisely because of its broad chest. The general rule is to go up to the larger one, because in a frenchie the chest must never squeeze. But there are nuances depending on its specific build, and we cover them in depth in my dog is between two sizes, which do I choose?. As a practical rule: when in doubt, and especially if the chest is tight, the larger size.
Conclusion: fit and wellbeing, the key in this breed
Choosing french bulldog clothes comes down to two priorities: getting the size right —always by chest girth, watching the neck— and respecting its brachycephalic condition, keeping it warm in cold and rain but never overloading it in the heat. With the right size and the garment suited to the season, your french bulldog will be comfortable, protected and in style.
Ready to choose its own? Measure your dog, compare it with our size guide and discover its ideal garments in the shop. Comfort first, attitude second.
📸 Show us your french bulldog in its look on Instagram: @fara961dogwear.
Frequently asked questions
What clothing size does a french bulldog need?
It's decided by chest girth. As a guide, small ones (5-7 kg) are usually M, medium ones (7-11 kg) L and large ones (11-16 kg) XL. But because of its broad chest, many need a size up from what their weight indicates, so always measure the chest and compare it with the chart in cm.
Do french bulldogs need clothes?
In cold and rain they appreciate it, because they're short-haired and undercoat-less, especially if you live in a cold area or your home isn't well insulated. But being brachycephalic, you must avoid over-layering: in the heat, clothing can be a heatstroke risk.
Why is it so hard to get the size right in a french bulldog?
Because of its build: broad chest and thick neck relative to its size. Many garments squeeze its chest or neck. That's why the size is always decided by chest girth and you have to check the neck doesn't choke.
Can a french bulldog wear clothes in summer?
With great care. Being brachycephalic it's prone to heatstroke, so in summer it's best not to put clothes on it that it doesn't need. At most, a very light jersey on a mild day, always watching it doesn't pant excessively.