JOMIZOO

Hamster Habitat Planner

5,000 cm²221 L12 × 20 L

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Hamster cage requirements by species

  • Minimum enclosure for every hamster species, dwarfs included: 100 × 50 cm (5,000 cm² / 775 sq in) of unbroken floor space and at least 50 cm (19.7 in) tall.
  • Bedding depth: at least 25 cm (9.8 in) for Syrian hamsters and 20 cm (7.9 in) for the smaller species, plus a deeper burrowing area of 40 cm (15.7 in) for Syrian hamsters and 30 cm (11.8 in) for the smaller species.
  • Wheel diameter: at least 30 cm (11.8 in) for Syrian hamsters, 20 cm (7.9 in) for Campbell's dwarf, winter white, hybrid dwarf and Roborovski hamsters and 25 cm (9.8 in) for Chinese hamsters, with a solid running surface.
  • Bedding volume in liters = length × width × average depth in cm ÷ 1,000. A 100 × 50 cm enclosure filled 25 cm deep holds 125 L of settled bedding; buy about 50% more, because bedding compacts when it is pressed down to hold tunnels.
Minimum requirements by hamster species
SpeciesEnclosureBedding depthWheel diameterWire bar gapAdult weight · lifespan
Syrian hamster
Mesocricetus auratus		100 × 50 cm floor[1, 3, 4, 5, 11]
5,000 cm² (775 sq in)
50 cm (19.7 in) tall[1, 4, 5]		25 cm (9.8 in)
burrowing area 40 cm (15.7 in)[1, 3, 6, 10]		30 cm (11.8 in)[1, 3, 5, 12]≤ 1 cm (0.4 in)[4, 5, 8]85–140 g
2–3 years[14, 16]
Campbell's dwarf hamster
Phodopus campbelli
Prone to diabetes: avoid sugary treats.[2, 9]		100 × 50 cm floor[2, 3, 4, 5]
5,000 cm² (775 sq in)
50 cm (19.7 in) tall[2, 4]		20 cm (7.9 in)
burrowing area 30 cm (11.8 in)[2, 4, 5, 7]		20 cm (7.9 in)
25 cm+ recommended[2, 3, 4, 5]		≤ 0.7 cm (0.3 in)[5, 8]35–50 g
1.5–2 years[14]
Winter white hamster
Phodopus sungorus		100 × 50 cm floor[2, 3, 4, 5]
5,000 cm² (775 sq in)
50 cm (19.7 in) tall[2, 4]		20 cm (7.9 in)
burrowing area 30 cm (11.8 in)[2, 4, 5, 7]		20 cm (7.9 in)
25 cm+ recommended[2, 3, 4, 5]		≤ 0.7 cm (0.3 in)[5, 8]35–50 g
1.5–2 years[14]
Hybrid dwarf hamster
Phodopus campbelli × Phodopus sungorus
Prone to diabetes: avoid sugary treats.[2, 9]		100 × 50 cm floor[2, 3, 4, 5]
5,000 cm² (775 sq in)
50 cm (19.7 in) tall[2, 4]		20 cm (7.9 in)
burrowing area 30 cm (11.8 in)[2, 4, 5]		20 cm (7.9 in)
25 cm+ recommended[2, 3, 5]		≤ 0.7 cm (0.3 in)[5]35–50 g
1.5–2 years[14]
Roborovski hamster
Phodopus roborovskii		100 × 50 cm floor[2, 3, 4, 5]
5,000 cm² (775 sq in)
50 cm (19.7 in) tall[2, 4]		20 cm (7.9 in)
burrowing area 30 cm (11.8 in)[2, 4, 5, 7]		20 cm (7.9 in)
25 cm+ recommended[2, 3, 4]		≤ 0.6 cm (0.2 in)[8]20–30 g
1.5–4 years[2, 14]
Chinese hamster
Cricetulus griseus
Prone to diabetes: avoid sugary treats.[9]		100 × 50 cm floor[3, 4, 5]
5,000 cm² (775 sq in)
50 cm (19.7 in) tall[4, 5]		20 cm (7.9 in)
burrowing area 30 cm (11.8 in)[4, 5]		25 cm (9.8 in)
30 cm+ recommended[4, 5]		≤ 1 cm (0.4 in)[4, 5]40–60 g
2–3 years[14]

Questions

How big should a hamster cage be?

Minimum enclosure for every hamster species, dwarfs included: 100 × 50 cm (5,000 cm² / 775 sq in) of unbroken floor space and at least 50 cm (19.7 in) tall. Only unbroken floor counts: platforms, shelves and extra levels don't add to it. Bigger is better — German veterinary guidance (TVT) says Syrian hamsters do best with about 1 m², and a study found signs of better welfare in 10,000 cm² cages than in smaller ones (Fischer, Gebhardt-Henrich & Steiger, 2007).

Is a 40-gallon tank big enough for a hamster?

Not by current welfare guidance. A 40-gallon breeder tank is about 91 × 46 cm (36 × 18 in): 4,180 cm² (648 sq in), below the 100 × 50 cm (5,000 cm² / 775 sq in) minimum, and about 41 cm (16 in) tall, under the 50 cm (19.7 in) minimum height. A 75-gallon tank (about 122 × 46 cm, 48 × 18 in) has enough floor area but is narrower than 50 cm.

How deep should hamster bedding be?

Bedding depth: at least 25 cm (9.8 in) for Syrian hamsters and 20 cm (7.9 in) for the smaller species, plus a deeper burrowing area of 40 cm (15.7 in) for Syrian hamsters and 30 cm (11.8 in) for the smaller species. In a controlled study, 45 Syrian hamsters were kept on 10, 40 or 80 cm of bedding. Every hamster on 40 or 80 cm dug burrows; those on 10 cm gnawed the cage wire significantly more and ran more in their wheels, and at 80 cm wire-gnawing was never seen. The authors concluded that at least 40 cm of bedding seemed to enhance welfare (Hauzenberger, Gebhardt-Henrich & Steiger, 2006).

How much bedding do I need for a hamster cage?

Multiply length × width × average depth in centimeters and divide by 1,000 to get liters. Example: 100 × 50 cm at 25 cm deep = 125 L. Bedding compacts when it is pressed down to hold tunnels — keepers report needing 1.5–2× the calculated volume — so the planner adds 50% by default. Then divide by the expanded volume printed on the pack.

What size wheel does a hamster need?

Wheel diameter: at least 30 cm (11.8 in) for Syrian hamsters, 20 cm (7.9 in) for Campbell's dwarf, winter white, hybrid dwarf and Roborovski hamsters and 25 cm (9.8 in) for Chinese hamsters, with a solid running surface. The hamster's back should stay straight while running; if it arches upward, the wheel is too small. Given the choice, Syrian hamsters preferred a 35 cm wheel to a 23 cm one (Reebs & St-Onge, 2005), and wheels with rod running surfaces caused paw wounds (Beaulieu & Reebs, 2009).

Can I use a wire cage for a hamster?

Opinions differ: German veterinary guidance (TVT) considers wire cages unsuitable, while the RSPCA prefers barred or mesh sides for ventilation. If you use one, it must meet the floor-space minimum, its plastic base must hold the full bedding depth (25 cm (9.8 in) for Syrian hamsters), and the bar gaps must be no wider than 1 cm (0.4 in) for Syrian hamsters and 0.6 cm (0.2 in) for Roborovski hamsters. Most pet-store wire cages are too small and have shallow bases.

Do dwarf hamsters need a smaller cage than Syrian hamsters?

No. Welfare guidance asks for the same 100 × 50 cm minimum floor for dwarf hamsters as for Syrian hamsters: they are small but very active and dig tunnels too. Their bedding can be a little shallower (at least 20 cm (7.9 in)) and their wheels smaller (at least 20 cm (7.9 in)).

Which bedding should I avoid for hamsters?

Avoid cedar: softwood bedding induced liver enzymes in laboratory mice and rats (Vesell, 1967), and the Merck Veterinary Manual advises avoiding cedar and pine shavings. The evidence on pine is mixed — hamsters kept on pine for 50 days showed no paw or weight effects (Lanteigne & Reebs, 2006). Avoid cotton or "fluffy" nesting material, which TVT, the RSPCA, PDSA, Blue Cross and Woodgreen all advise against, and scented bedding, which can irritate the airways (PDSA).

What temperature do hamsters need?

Keep the room at 18–24 °C (64–75 °F); German veterinary guidance (TVT) warns that higher temperatures risk heatstroke. Happy Hamsters UK advises never letting the room drop below 15 °C (59 °F).

Can I reuse these numbers or embed the planner?

Yes. The code is MIT-licensed and the data is CC BY 4.0 — reuse it freely with credit to "JOMIZOO Hamster Habitat Planner" and a link.

How the planner calculates

  1. Floor space = length × width, against the species minimum; platforms don't count.
  2. Bedding depth across the floor, plus a deeper burrowing area at the species burrowing depth.
  3. Wheel diameter, and whether bedding under the wheel + 2 cm stand + wheel fits under the lid.
  4. Bedding volume = length × width × average depth ÷ 1,000 liters, plus the compaction allowance.

Everything runs in your browser. The numbers are open data: data/species.json (v1.0.0, CC BY 4.0).

Sources
  1. [1] (2025). Merkblatt Nr. 156 – Heimtiere: Goldhamster. Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT), Germany. German veterinary animal-welfare guidance for Syrian (golden) hamsters, revised April 2025: at least 100 × 50 × 50 cm, about 1 m² is better; at least 25 cm of diggable bedding, 40 cm preferred; wheel at least 30 cm; sand bath at least 20 × 20 cm; 18–24 °C.
  2. [2] (2025). Merkblatt Nr. 162 – Heimtiere: Zwerghamster. Tierärztliche Vereinigung für Tierschutz (TVT), Germany. German veterinary animal-welfare guidance for dwarf hamsters (Phodopus, including hybrids), revised April 2025: at least 100 × 50 × 50 cm; at least 20 cm of diggable bedding; wheel at least 25 cm; sand bath at least 20 × 20 cm; 18–24 °C; increased tendency to diabetes.
  3. [3] Hamsters as pets. PDSA (UK veterinary charity). Cage at least 100 × 50 cm; bedding no less than 25 cm; solid wheel at least 30 cm for Syrian and 20 cm for dwarf hamsters; avoid scented bedding.
  4. [4] (2023). Hamster care. Blue Cross (UK). At least 100 × 50 cm floor and 50 cm tall; bedding at least 20 cm; wheel 27–32 cm (Syrian), 22–25 cm (Campbell's, winter white), 20–22 cm (Roborovski), 25–27 cm (Chinese); bar gaps under 1 cm.
  5. [5] Caring for hamsters. Woodgreen Pets Charity (UK). 100 × 50 cm, at least 50 cm high (40 cm for dwarf hamsters); bedding at least 15 cm with a 25–30 cm digging area; 30 cm (12 in) wheel for Syrian and Chinese hamsters, 20 cm (8 in) for dwarfs; bar gaps 1 cm (Syrian, Chinese), 7 mm (dwarfs).
  6. [6] Housing and husbandry: hamster. NC3Rs (UK). Laboratory guidance: more than 40 cm of bedding is optimum.
  7. [7] Substrate depth. Hamster Info Ireland. At least 20 cm for dwarf hamsters and 30 cm for Syrian hamsters.
  8. [8] Enclosure types. The Hamingway. Maximum bar gaps: 1.0 cm Syrian, 0.8 cm dwarf, 0.6 cm Roborovski.
  9. [9] Diabetes in hamsters. The Hamingway. Names Campbell's, Chinese and hybrid dwarf hamsters as prone to diabetes.
  10. [10] Hauzenberger, A. R., Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., & Steiger, A. (2006). The influence of bedding depth on behaviour in golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 100, 280–294. 45 male Syrian hamsters on 10, 40 or 80 cm of bedding: all animals on 40 and 80 cm dug burrows; on 10 cm, significantly more wire-gnawing and wheel running; at 80 cm, wire-gnawing was never observed.
  11. [11] Fischer, K., Gebhardt-Henrich, S. G., & Steiger, A. (2007). Behaviour of golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus) kept in four different cage sizes. Animal Welfare, 16, 85–93. Compared 1,800, 2,500, 5,000 and 10,000 cm²; welfare seemed enhanced at 10,000 cm².
  12. [12] Reebs, S. G., & St-Onge, P. (2005). Running wheel choice by Syrian hamsters. Laboratory Animals, 39, 442–451. Clear preference for larger wheels (35 versus 23 cm).
  13. [13] Beaulieu, A., & Reebs, S. G. (2009). Effects of bedding material and running wheel surface on paw wounds in male and female Syrian hamsters. Laboratory Animals, 43, 85–90. Wheels with rod running surfaces caused paw wounds.
  14. [14] Description and physical characteristics of hamsters. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version).
  15. [15] Providing a home for a hamster. Merck Veterinary Manual (pet owner version). Advises avoiding cedar and pine shavings.
  16. [16] Basic information for hamsters. LafeberVet.
  17. [17] Syrian Hamster Care Guide (2022). Happy Hamsters UK. Ideal 18–24 °C; don't let the room drop below 15 °C.
  18. [18] Vesell, E. S. (1967). Induction of drug-metabolizing enzymes in liver microsomes of mice and rats by softwood bedding. Science, 157, 1057–1058.
  19. [19] Lanteigne, M., & Reebs, S. G. (2006). Preference for bedding material in Syrian hamsters. Laboratory Animals, 40, 410–418. Hamsters kept on pine for 50 days showed no paw or weight effects.
  20. [20] Hamster environment. RSPCA (UK). Prefers cages with bars or mesh sides to solid sides. TVT, by contrast, considers wire cages unsuitable.
  21. [21] (2018). How to calculate how much bedding is needed to fill your cage. Five Little Hams (keeper guide). Keeper estimate: a 50 L bag may only fill about 30 L once pressed down, so buy 1.5–2× the calculated volume.

Made with love by JOMIZOO, a small-pet brand making natural paper and aspen bedding. Open source: code on GitHub (MIT), data CC BY 4.0. Cite as: JOMIZOO (2026). Hamster Habitat Planner. https://limocax-pixel.github.io/jomizoo-hamster-cage/