# Budgie & cockatiel cage size calculator

> Enter your species, bird count, and cage dimensions to see whether your setup meets the published minimums. Minimums follow the LafeberVet parakeet and cockatiel husbandry articles plus the VCA bird housing guide.

## Related tools

- [Bird tools](/bird/) — Browse every public bird calculator and care guide.
- [All pet care tools](/tools/) — Browse every public calculator and guide by domain.

## What size cage does a budgie or cockatiel need?

A budgie needs a cage of at least 46 × 46 cm (18 × 18 in) with bar spacing ≤ 1.0 cm (0.4 in); a cockatiel needs at least 60 × 50 cm (24 × 20 in) with bar spacing ≤ 1.5 cm (0.6 in). Each additional bird adds about 60% to the recommended width.

## Minimum cage dimensions by species

| Species | Min cage (single bird) | Max bar spacing | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budgerigar | 46 × 46 cm | 1 cm | Bar spacing must be ≤ 1.0 cm (0.4 in) — wider bars let budgies wedge their head through and get stuck. |
| Cockatiel | 60 × 50 cm | 1.5 cm | Bar spacing must be ≤ 1.5 cm (0.6 in) — cockatiels can also get their head through wider bars, especially juveniles. |

Width scales by +60% per additional bird; cage length stays the same. Use natural-wood perches — sandpaper perches cause foot dermatitis.
 Multi-bird width factor: +60% per additional bird.
Use natural wood perches of varying diameters (≥ 1.3 cm / 0.5 in); sandpaper perches cause foot dermatitis.

## Where the minimums come from

LafeberVet lists 46 cm (18 in) as the minimum cage length for a budgerigar and 60 × 50 cm for a cockatiel; the VCA bird housing guide echoes these figures and adds bar-spacing guidance. Both species need enough width to spread their wings fully — a long, narrow cage is worse than a square one.

Bar spacing matters as much as overall size: a budgie can wedge its head through any gap wider than 1.0 cm (0.4 in), and a cockatiel through any gap wider than 1.5 cm (0.6 in). Juveniles are especially at risk — they panic and injure themselves trying to back out.

For multi-bird setups the recommended width scales linearly — add roughly 60% of the single-bird width for each extra bird. The cage length stays the same: birds fly along the long axis, so a wider but shorter cage does not replace a longer one.

Worked example: a single budgie in a 46 × 46 cm cage with 1 cm bars meets the 46 × 46 cm minimum. Two budgies need 46 × 74 cm (the +0.6× width rule).

Common mistake: a 50 × 40 cm cage looks roomy for a cockatiel but is below the 60 × 50 cm minimum — Your cage is below the minimum for Cockatiel (single): 60×50 cm (23.6×19.7 in).

## Bird cage questions

**Q: What size cage does a budgie need?**

At least 46 × 46 cm (18 × 18 in). Bar spacing must be ≤ 1.0 cm (0.4 in) so the budgie cannot get its head through and stuck.

**Q: What size cage does a cockatiel need?**

At least 60 × 50 cm (24 × 20 in). Bar spacing ≤ 1.5 cm (0.6 in). Cockatiels also benefit from horizontal space for short flights and a tall door for head crest clearance.

**Q: Can I keep two budgies in a 46 cm cage?**

No. Each additional bird adds about 60% to the recommended width, so two budgies need at least 46 × 74 cm. Cramped cages lead to feather plucking, aggression, and obesity.

**Q: Are sandpaper perches bad for budgies and cockatiels?**

Yes — sandpaper perches abrade the soles of the feet and are a recognized cause of bumblefoot (pododermatitis). Use natural wood perches of varying diameters (≥ 1.3 cm / 0.5 in) instead.

**Q: Do budgies need a tall cage or a wide cage?**

Wide. Budgies and cockatiels fly horizontally, not vertically — the long dimension should be the horizontal one. A 60 × 30 cm tall cage is worse than a 46 × 46 cm cube.

## Sources & standards

Cage minimums come from the veterinary and avicultural organizations below. Bar spacing limits are welfare-driven; both species can wedge their head through gaps wider than the values listed.

- [[Evaluation of housing conditions of budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) in Germany]](https://doi.org/10.1055/a-1668-9122) — Wickermann S, Krautwald-Junghanns ME, Tierarztl Prax Ausg K Kleintiere Heimtiere, 2021.
- [LafeberVet — budgerigar: husbandry and basic care](https://lafeber.com/vet/bird/budgerigar-basic-information/) — LafeberVet, 2024. Minimum 46 cm (18 in) cage length for a budgie with bar spacing ≤ 1 cm; multi-bird scaling guidance.
- [LafeberVet — cockatiel: husbandry and basic care](https://lafeber.com/vet/bird/cockatiel-basic-information/) — LafeberVet, 2024. Minimum 60 × 50 cm (24 × 20 in) cage for a cockatiel with bar spacing ≤ 1.5 cm; flight and perch guidance.
- [VCA — bird housing and cage requirements](https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/birds-housing-and-cage-requirements) — VCA Animal Hospitals. Cross-species cage-size and bar-spacing standards, including perches and substrate for small psittacines.

_Check your cage with the interactive calculator: https://petguidecalc.com/bird/cage-size/_