DIY Dog Collar: How to Make an Adjustable Collar (Sizes and Steps)

A homemade dog collar is a beginner-friendly sewing project: a strip of nylon webbing, a side-release buckle, a tri-glide slider and a D-ring. Add a cotton fabric cover if you want a custom pattern. This guide covers how to measure your dog, which webbing width to use, how long to cut it, and step-by-step assembly with the stitching that holds.

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Quick Answer

• Measure: wrap a soft tape around the middle of your dog’s neck, snug but not tight, then add 2 inches. That’s the collar size.
• Webbing width: 5/8 inch for small dogs, 3/4 to 1 inch for medium dogs, 1 to 1 1/2 inches for large dogs.
• Cut length: collar size plus about 6 inches for the folds and adjustment.
• Hardware: one side-release buckle, one tri-glide and one welded D-ring, all sized to the webbing width.
• Stitching: a box-and-X stitch at every fold, with heavy-duty polyester thread.
• Fit check: two fingers should slide under the finished collar.

Pick the Right Width and Hardware

Dog size	Typical neck	Webbing width	Hardware size
Toy and small (under 20 lb)	8 to 14 in	5/8 in	5/8 in
Medium (20 to 50 lb)	12 to 18 in	3/4 to 1 in	Match the webbing
Large (50 to 90 lb)	16 to 24 in	1 in	1 in, heavy-duty
Giant or strong pullers	20 in and up	1 1/2 in	1 1/2 in, metal

Use a heavy-duty plastic or metal side-release buckle rated for your dog’s size, and a welded D-ring. Unwelded rings can open under a hard pull.

Webbing and Fabric

• Nylon or polypropylene webbing: the strong core of the collar. Nylon is softer and stronger. Polypropylene shrugs off water better for swimmers.
• Cotton fabric cover (optional): quilting cotton for patterns. Cut it to fit around the webbing.
• Thread: heavy-duty polyester or bonded nylon. Regular cotton thread is too weak.
• Needle: size 16 or 18 denim or jeans needle.

Materials and Tools

• Webbing cut to length (see below)
• 1 side-release buckle, 1 tri-glide slider and 1 welded D-ring, all the same width as the webbing
• Optional: cotton fabric strip for a cover, and fusible interfacing
• Heavy-duty thread and a denim needle
• Sewing machine (or a strong hand needle and a lot of patience)
• Scissors, a lighter or seam sealant, fabric clips, measuring tape

Step 1: Measure Your Dog

1. Wrap a soft measuring tape around the middle of the neck where a collar sits, snug but not tight.
2. Add 2 inches. That’s your collar size.
3. No soft tape? Wrap a piece of string, mark it, and measure the string against a ruler.

Example: a 14 inch neck gets a 16 inch collar. Puppies outgrow collars fast, so check the fit every week or two.

Step 2: Cut the Webbing

Cut the webbing to collar size plus about 6 inches. That allows for the folds at the buckle and slider and a few inches of adjustment.

Collar size	Cut webbing to	Adjusts about
12 in	18 in	10 to 13 in
16 in	22 in	13 to 17 in
20 in	26 in	17 to 21 in
24 in	30 in	20 to 25 in

Seal the cut ends of nylon or polypropylene webbing by carefully passing a lighter flame along them until they just melt. Let them cool. This stops fraying.

Step 3 (Optional): Add a Fabric Cover

1. Cut a fabric strip the same length as the webbing and about 2 times the webbing width plus 1/2 inch.
2. Press the long edges in by 1/4 inch, then press the strip in half lengthwise.
3. Slip the webbing inside the fold, clip it in place and topstitch down both long edges, about 1/8 inch from the edge.

Step 4: Assemble the Collar

1. Attach the tri-glide. Thread one end of the webbing over and under the center bar of the tri-glide. Fold back about 1 inch and sew it down with a box-and-X stitch.
2. Add the male buckle half. Slide the male (prong) half of the buckle onto the long free end, with the prongs pointing toward the end.
3. Thread back through the tri-glide. Bring the free end back through the tri-glide, going over and under the center bar. This makes the adjustable loop.
4. Add the D-ring. Slide the D-ring onto the free end.
5. Attach the female buckle half. Thread the free end through the female half of the buckle and fold back about 1 1/2 inches. Leave room for the D-ring between the fold and the buckle.
6. Sew the D-ring in place. Push the D-ring up against the buckle. Sew a straight line across the webbing just past the D-ring to trap it, then sew a box-and-X stitch on the rest of the folded section.
7. Tug test. Hook a leash to the D-ring and pull hard against the buckle. Nothing should slip or pop.

Box-and-X stitch: sew a rectangle around the folded section, then sew corner to corner both ways inside it. Backstitch at the start and finish. It’s the same stitch used on commercial collars and leashes.

Personalize It Safely

• ID first: embroider your phone number on the collar, or add a slide-on ID tag. In many places dogs must wear ID in public.
• Reflective tape sewn along the edges makes your dog easier to see at night.
• Fabric choice: pick prints that match your dog, or seasonal fabrics for holidays.
• Avoid dangly add-ons, glued gems or small beads that can catch on things or be chewed off.

Safety Checklist

• Two fingers fit under the collar. Recheck puppies often.
• Welded D-ring, buckle rated for your dog’s size.
• Box-and-X stitching at every fold.
• Check weekly for fraying, loose stitches and cracked buckles.
• Take collars off in the crate and during rough dog play to avoid snagging.
• For strong pullers, consider a harness for walks and use the collar for ID.

Cleaning

• Hand wash in warm water with mild soap, or machine wash on gentle inside a mesh laundry bag.
• Air dry. Dryer heat can warp plastic buckles.
• Dry metal hardware fully to prevent rust.

Troubleshooting

• Collar slips looser on walks: the webbing isn’t threaded correctly through the tri-glide. It should go over, under, over the center bar.
• Needle breaks or skips stitches: switch to a size 16 or 18 denim needle and sew slowly through the thick folds.
• Ends fray: reseal with a lighter, or use a seam sealant on fabric covers.
• Collar too short after sewing: recut with the 6 inch allowance. Folds use more length than you expect.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I measure my dog for a collar?

Measure around the middle of the neck with a soft tape, snug but not tight, and add 2 inches. Two fingers should fit under the finished collar.

How much webbing do I need for a dog collar?

Your dog’s collar size plus about 6 inches. For a 16 inch collar, cut 22 inches of webbing.

What width webbing should I use?

5/8 inch for small dogs, 3/4 to 1 inch for medium dogs, and 1 to 1 1/2 inches for large and strong dogs.

Can I make a dog collar without a sewing machine?

Yes, with heavy-duty thread and a strong hand needle, using small backstitches in a box-and-X pattern. It takes longer. For large or strong dogs, a machine-sewn collar is more reliable.

Is a fabric collar strong enough?

The nylon webbing core provides the strength. The cotton cover is decoration. A collar made with good webbing, welded hardware and box-and-X stitching holds up well for everyday wear.

The Short Version

• Neck measurement plus 2 inches = collar size. Cut webbing 6 inches longer.
• Match buckle, tri-glide and welded D-ring to the webbing width.
• Box-and-X stitch every fold, then tug test.
• Add ID and check the collar weekly.

More DIY Dog Projects

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• DIY Dog Clothes
• DIY Snuffle Mat
• Dog DIY Projects