Best dogs for apartments
Ranked by apartment-friendliness (space, noise, energy). The top pick is the Affenpinscher.
Chart: the six top-ranked dogs by apartment score — taller bars rank higher on this metric.
What this ranking shows
Across 272 dogs, apartment score ranges from 1 to 5 — a 5.0× spread, with a median around 3. The Affenpinscher leads at 5/5, while the Wirehaired Pointing Griffon sits at the far end. Rounding out the top three are the American Eskimo Dog (5/5) and the American Hairless Terrier (5/5). Most of the gap comes down to three things: body size (which sets how much a dog eats and its medication doses), breed health risk (which sets insurance premiums and likely vet bills), and lifespan (which multiplies every recurring annual cost). Use the sorter below to re-rank by your own budget, home size and grooming tolerance.
| # | Breed | Size | Apartment score | Lifetime cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Affenpinscher | Small | 5/5 | $22,500 |
| 2 | American Eskimo Dog | Small | 5/5 | $24,200 |
| 3 | American Hairless Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $26,100 |
| 4 | Australian Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $22,100 |
| 5 | Basenji | Small | 5/5 | $23,400 |
| 6 | Bedlington Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $25,000 |
| 7 | Bichon Frise | Small | 5/5 | $31,300 |
| 8 | Biewer Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $25,500 |
| 9 | Bolognese | Small | 5/5 | $21,400 |
| 10 | Border Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $21,900 |
| 11 | Boston Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $20,800 |
| 12 | Brussels Griffon | Small | 5/5 | $22,600 |
| 13 | Cairn Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $22,700 |
| 14 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Small | 5/5 | $29,200 |
| 15 | Cesky Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $23,200 |
| 16 | Chihuahua | Small | 5/5 | $21,200 |
| 17 | Chinese Crested | Small | 5/5 | $23,400 |
| 18 | Cirneco dell’Etna | Small | 5/5 | $22,300 |
| 19 | Coton de Tulear | Small | 5/5 | $32,000 |
| 20 | Dandie Dinmont Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $27,900 |
| 21 | Danish-Swedish Farmdog | Small | 5/5 | $20,100 |
| 22 | English Toy Spaniel | Small | 5/5 | $19,300 |
| 23 | French Bulldog | Small | 5/5 | $26,800 |
| 24 | Havanese | Small | 5/5 | $25,100 |
| 25 | Italian Greyhound | Small | 5/5 | $22,200 |
| 26 | Jagdterrier | Small | 5/5 | $20,700 |
| 27 | Japanese Chin | Small | 5/5 | $17,600 |
| 28 | Japanese Spitz | Small | 5/5 | $22,100 |
| 29 | Karelian Bear Dog | Medium | 5/5 | $28,800 |
| 30 | Lakeland Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $22,800 |
| 31 | Lancashire Heeler | Small | 5/5 | $21,400 |
| 32 | Lhasa Apso | Small | 5/5 | $24,000 |
| 33 | Löwchen | Small | 5/5 | $23,300 |
| 34 | Maltese | Small | 5/5 | $24,800 |
| 35 | Maltipoo | Small | 5/5 | $25,600 |
| 36 | Manchester Terrier (Standard) | Small | 5/5 | $26,500 |
| 37 | Manchester Terrier (Toy) | Small | 5/5 | $25,200 |
| 38 | Miniature Bull Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $21,100 |
| 39 | Miniature Pinscher | Small | 5/5 | $21,100 |
| 40 | Miniature Schnauzer | Small | 5/5 | $29,500 |
| 41 | Norfolk Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $22,300 |
| 42 | Norwich Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $21,700 |
| 43 | Papillon | Small | 5/5 | $22,600 |
| 44 | Pekingese | Small | 5/5 | $23,000 |
| 45 | Pomeranian | Small | 5/5 | $25,700 |
| 46 | Poodle (Miniature) | Small | 5/5 | $24,200 |
| 47 | Poodle (Toy) | Small | 5/5 | $27,900 |
| 48 | Portuguese Podengo Pequeno | Small | 5/5 | $21,500 |
| 49 | Pug | Small | 5/5 | $23,300 |
| 50 | Rat Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $25,100 |
| 51 | Russian Toy | Small | 5/5 | $19,600 |
| 52 | Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka | Small | 5/5 | $23,000 |
| 53 | Schipperke | Small | 5/5 | $21,200 |
| 54 | Scottish Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $22,500 |
| 55 | Sealyham Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $24,800 |
| 56 | Shetland Sheepdog | Small | 5/5 | $24,100 |
| 57 | Shiba Inu | Small | 5/5 | $24,900 |
| 58 | Shih Tzu | Small | 5/5 | $30,200 |
| 59 | Silky Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $23,600 |
| 60 | Smooth Fox Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $22,600 |
| 61 | Teddy Roosevelt Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $24,900 |
| 62 | Tibetan Spaniel | Small | 5/5 | $21,700 |
| 63 | Tibetan Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $29,200 |
| 64 | Toy Fox Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $20,600 |
| 65 | Welsh Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $25,000 |
| 66 | West Highland White Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $28,100 |
| 67 | Wire Fox Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $22,600 |
| 68 | Yorkshire Terrier | Small | 5/5 | $26,000 |
| 69 | American Water Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $29,000 |
| 70 | Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog | Medium | 4/5 | $31,300 |
| 71 | Azawakh | Medium | 4/5 | $32,200 |
| 72 | Basset Fauve de Bretagne | Medium | 4/5 | $26,900 |
| 73 | Bohemian Shepherd | Medium | 4/5 | $32,300 |
| 74 | Boykin Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $29,700 |
| 75 | Braque du Bourbonnais | Medium | 4/5 | $26,200 |
| 76 | Bulldog (English) | Medium | 4/5 | $26,000 |
| 77 | Canaan Dog | Medium | 4/5 | $32,300 |
| 78 | Cardigan Welsh Corgi | Medium | 4/5 | $30,100 |
| 79 | Cocker Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $29,800 |
| 80 | Dachshund | Small | 4/5 | $26,500 |
| 81 | Deutscher Wachtelhund | Medium | 4/5 | $31,600 |
| 82 | Drever | Medium | 4/5 | $33,700 |
| 83 | English Cocker Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $30,400 |
| 84 | English Springer Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $31,200 |
| 85 | Field Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $29,700 |
| 86 | Finnish Lapphund | Medium | 4/5 | $32,000 |
| 87 | German Spitz | Medium | 4/5 | $31,600 |
| 88 | Glen of Imaal Terrier | Medium | 4/5 | $30,300 |
| 89 | Icelandic Sheepdog | Medium | 4/5 | $28,400 |
| 90 | Irish Terrier | Medium | 4/5 | $29,500 |
| 91 | Jindo | Medium | 4/5 | $32,600 |
| 92 | Kai Ken | Medium | 4/5 | $29,300 |
| 93 | Keeshond | Medium | 4/5 | $33,100 |
| 94 | Kerry Blue Terrier | Medium | 4/5 | $32,500 |
| 95 | Kishu Ken | Medium | 4/5 | $28,500 |
| 96 | Kromfohrlander | Medium | 4/5 | $32,000 |
| 97 | Lagotto Romagnolo | Medium | 4/5 | $34,100 |
| 98 | Miniature American Shepherd | Medium | 4/5 | $31,800 |
| 99 | Mudi | Small | 4/5 | $22,700 |
| 100 | Nederlandse Kooikerhondje | Medium | 4/5 | $28,900 |
| 101 | Norrbottenspets | Medium | 4/5 | $32,800 |
| 102 | Norwegian Buhund | Medium | 4/5 | $30,300 |
| 103 | Norwegian Lundehund | Medium | 4/5 | $28,900 |
| 104 | Parson Russell Terrier | Small | 4/5 | $23,100 |
| 105 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Medium | 4/5 | $27,600 |
| 106 | Peruvian Inca Orchid | Medium | 4/5 | $28,500 |
| 107 | Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | 4/5 | $29,200 |
| 108 | Polish Lowland Sheepdog | Medium | 4/5 | $34,600 |
| 109 | Portuguese Pointer | Medium | 4/5 | $33,200 |
| 110 | Portuguese Sheepdog | Medium | 4/5 | $30,600 |
| 111 | Portuguese Water Dog | Medium | 4/5 | $33,200 |
| 112 | Puli | Medium | 4/5 | $34,300 |
| 113 | Pumi | Medium | 4/5 | $26,500 |
| 114 | Russell Terrier | Small | 4/5 | $21,000 |
| 115 | Schapendoes | Medium | 4/5 | $31,600 |
| 116 | Shikoku | Medium | 4/5 | $26,800 |
| 117 | Skye Terrier | Medium | 4/5 | $34,600 |
| 118 | Sloughi | Medium | 4/5 | $29,700 |
| 119 | Slovensky Kopov | Medium | 4/5 | $28,600 |
| 120 | Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Medium | 4/5 | $31,200 |
| 121 | Spanish Water Dog | Medium | 4/5 | $37,200 |
| 122 | Staffordshire Bull Terrier | Medium | 4/5 | $29,000 |
| 123 | Standard Schnauzer | Medium | 4/5 | $35,400 |
| 124 | Sussex Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $34,300 |
| 125 | Swedish Lapphund | Medium | 4/5 | $30,000 |
| 126 | Treeing Tennessee Brindle | Medium | 4/5 | $26,200 |
| 127 | Welsh Springer Spaniel | Medium | 4/5 | $32,300 |
| 128 | Whippet | Medium | 4/5 | $29,700 |
| 129 | Working Kelpie | Medium | 4/5 | $31,600 |
| 130 | Xoloitzcuintli | Medium | 4/5 | $33,700 |
| 131 | Yakutian Laika | Medium | 4/5 | $27,100 |
| 132 | Australian Cattle Dog | Medium | 3/5 | $32,400 |
| 133 | Basset Hound | Large | 3/5 | $40,100 |
| 134 | Beagle | Small | 3/5 | $23,600 |
| 135 | Bergamasco Sheepdog | Large | 3/5 | $45,100 |
| 136 | Brittany | Medium | 3/5 | $31,200 |
| 137 | Croatian Sheepdog | Medium | 3/5 | $30,400 |
| 138 | Finnish Spitz | Medium | 3/5 | $30,200 |
| 139 | German Pinscher | Medium | 3/5 | $29,100 |
| 140 | Grand Basset Griffon Vendéen | Medium | 3/5 | $33,000 |
| 141 | Ibizan Hound | Medium | 3/5 | $30,000 |
| 142 | Irish Red and White Setter | Medium | 3/5 | $31,600 |
| 143 | Mountain Cur | Medium | 3/5 | $27,500 |
| 144 | Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | Medium | 3/5 | $30,800 |
| 145 | Poodle (Standard) | Large | 3/5 | $47,400 |
| 146 | Slovensky Cuvac | Large | 3/5 | $41,100 |
| 147 | Swedish Vallhund | Medium | 3/5 | $28,800 |
| 148 | Taiwan Dog | Medium | 3/5 | $25,200 |
| 149 | Afghan Hound | Large | 2/5 | $46,200 |
| 150 | Airedale Terrier | Large | 2/5 | $41,200 |
| 151 | Alaskan Malamute | Large | 2/5 | $42,200 |
| 152 | American Bulldog | Large | 2/5 | $37,200 |
| 153 | American English Coonhound | Large | 2/5 | $35,600 |
| 154 | American Foxhound | Large | 2/5 | $38,400 |
| 155 | American Leopard Hound | Large | 2/5 | $42,300 |
| 156 | American Staffordshire Terrier | Large | 2/5 | $42,800 |
| 157 | Barbet | Large | 2/5 | $39,700 |
| 158 | Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound | Large | 2/5 | $41,300 |
| 159 | Bearded Collie | Large | 2/5 | $43,900 |
| 160 | Belgian Laekenois | Large | 2/5 | $35,300 |
| 161 | Belgian Malinois | Large | 2/5 | $47,100 |
| 162 | Belgian Sheepdog | Large | 2/5 | $42,700 |
| 163 | Belgian Tervuren | Large | 2/5 | $42,700 |
| 164 | Black and Tan Coonhound | Large | 2/5 | $38,400 |
| 165 | Bluetick Coonhound | Large | 2/5 | $37,100 |
| 166 | Boerboel | Giant | 2/5 | $46,400 |
| 167 | Borzoi | Large | 2/5 | $39,500 |
| 168 | Boxer | Large | 2/5 | $35,400 |
| 169 | Bracco Italiano | Large | 2/5 | $39,300 |
| 170 | Briard | Large | 2/5 | $44,300 |
| 171 | Broholmer | Giant | 2/5 | $37,700 |
| 172 | Bull Terrier | Large | 2/5 | $39,700 |
| 173 | Caucasian Shepherd Dog | Giant | 2/5 | $48,600 |
| 174 | Chesapeake Bay Retriever | Large | 2/5 | $39,100 |
| 175 | Chinese Shar-Pei | Large | 2/5 | $31,100 |
| 176 | Chinook | Large | 2/5 | $44,100 |
| 177 | Chow Chow | Large | 2/5 | $33,200 |
| 178 | Clumber Spaniel | Large | 2/5 | $36,500 |
| 179 | Collie | Large | 2/5 | $43,100 |
| 180 | Curly-Coated Retriever | Large | 2/5 | $36,900 |
| 181 | Dalmatian | Large | 2/5 | $37,900 |
| 182 | Drentsche Patrijshond | Large | 2/5 | $39,800 |
| 183 | English Foxhound | Large | 2/5 | $37,200 |
| 184 | English Setter | Large | 2/5 | $40,000 |
| 185 | Estrela Mountain Dog | Giant | 2/5 | $47,900 |
| 186 | Eurasier | Large | 2/5 | $45,000 |
| 187 | French Spaniel | Large | 2/5 | $36,000 |
| 188 | German Longhaired Pointer | Large | 2/5 | $41,700 |
| 189 | German Shepherd | Large | 2/5 | $30,200 |
| 190 | German Shepherd Dog | Large | 2/5 | $28,800 |
| 191 | Golden Retriever | Large | 2/5 | $37,800 |
| 192 | Greyhound | Large | 2/5 | $36,900 |
| 193 | Hamiltonstovare | Large | 2/5 | $47,500 |
| 194 | Hanoverian Scenthound | Large | 2/5 | $41,400 |
| 195 | Hokkaido | Large | 2/5 | $41,900 |
| 196 | Hovawart | Large | 2/5 | $40,000 |
| 197 | Labrador Retriever | Large | 2/5 | $35,700 |
| 198 | Lapponian Herder | Large | 2/5 | $39,500 |
| 199 | Norwegian Elkhound | Large | 2/5 | $41,300 |
| 200 | Old English Sheepdog | Large | 2/5 | $38,900 |
| 201 | Perro de Presa Canario | Giant | 2/5 | $39,300 |
| 202 | Pharaoh Hound | Large | 2/5 | $39,700 |
| 203 | Plott Hound | Large | 2/5 | $39,200 |
| 204 | Pointer | Large | 2/5 | $45,600 |
| 205 | Porcelaine | Large | 2/5 | $39,000 |
| 206 | Portuguese Podengo | Large | 2/5 | $34,100 |
| 207 | Pudelpointer | Large | 2/5 | $43,200 |
| 208 | Pyrenean Mastiff | Giant | 2/5 | $55,200 |
| 209 | Rafeiro do Alentejo | Giant | 2/5 | $51,600 |
| 210 | Redbone Coonhound | Large | 2/5 | $42,300 |
| 211 | Rhodesian Ridgeback | Large | 2/5 | $34,200 |
| 212 | Saluki | Large | 2/5 | $41,000 |
| 213 | Samoyed | Large | 2/5 | $41,300 |
| 214 | Segugio Italiano | Large | 2/5 | $36,900 |
| 215 | Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer | Large | 2/5 | $41,700 |
| 216 | Spanish Mastiff | Giant | 2/5 | $52,000 |
| 217 | Stabyhoun | Large | 2/5 | $42,000 |
| 218 | Thai Ridgeback | Large | 2/5 | $38,500 |
| 219 | Tornjak | Large | 2/5 | $46,300 |
| 220 | Tosa | Giant | 2/5 | $48,300 |
| 221 | Treeing Walker Coonhound | Large | 2/5 | $39,200 |
| 222 | Vizsla | Large | 2/5 | $40,000 |
| 223 | Wetterhoun | Large | 2/5 | $41,000 |
| 224 | Wirehaired Vizsla | Large | 2/5 | $39,900 |
| 225 | Akita | Giant | 1/5 | $49,200 |
| 226 | Anatolian Shepherd Dog | Giant | 1/5 | $49,100 |
| 227 | Appenzeller Sennenhund | Large | 1/5 | $42,500 |
| 228 | Australian Shepherd | Medium | 1/5 | $35,400 |
| 229 | Beauceron | Giant | 1/5 | $43,900 |
| 230 | Berger Picard | Large | 1/5 | $39,200 |
| 231 | Bernese Mountain Dog | Giant | 1/5 | $34,900 |
| 232 | Black Russian Terrier | Giant | 1/5 | $47,700 |
| 233 | Bloodhound | Giant | 1/5 | $43,200 |
| 234 | Border Collie | Medium | 1/5 | $33,700 |
| 235 | Bouvier des Flandres | Giant | 1/5 | $46,100 |
| 236 | Bullmastiff | Giant | 1/5 | $33,500 |
| 237 | Catahoula Leopard Dog | Large | 1/5 | $41,300 |
| 238 | Czechoslovakian Vlcak | Large | 1/5 | $38,300 |
| 239 | Doberman Pinscher | Large | 1/5 | $37,200 |
| 240 | Dogo Argentino | Giant | 1/5 | $46,200 |
| 241 | Dogue de Bordeaux | Giant | 1/5 | $27,100 |
| 242 | Dutch Shepherd | Large | 1/5 | $39,500 |
| 243 | Entlebucher Mountain Dog | Large | 1/5 | $36,700 |
| 244 | Flat-Coated Retriever | Large | 1/5 | $29,900 |
| 245 | German Shorthaired Pointer | Large | 1/5 | $31,100 |
| 246 | German Wirehaired Pointer | Large | 1/5 | $47,100 |
| 247 | Giant Schnauzer | Large | 1/5 | $48,400 |
| 248 | Gordon Setter | Large | 1/5 | $40,000 |
| 249 | Great Dane | Giant | 1/5 | $37,500 |
| 250 | Great Pyrenees | Giant | 1/5 | $42,900 |
| 251 | Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | Giant | 1/5 | $39,300 |
| 252 | Harrier | Large | 1/5 | $41,500 |
| 253 | Irish Setter | Large | 1/5 | $45,000 |
| 254 | Irish Water Spaniel | Large | 1/5 | $39,200 |
| 255 | Irish Wolfhound | Giant | 1/5 | $29,800 |
| 256 | Komondor | Giant | 1/5 | $48,300 |
| 257 | Kuvasz | Giant | 1/5 | $42,900 |
| 258 | Leonberger | Giant | 1/5 | $41,700 |
| 259 | Mastiff | Giant | 1/5 | $37,700 |
| 260 | Neapolitan Mastiff | Giant | 1/5 | $34,900 |
| 261 | Newfoundland | Giant | 1/5 | $40,400 |
| 262 | Otterhound | Giant | 1/5 | $45,300 |
| 263 | Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog | Giant | 1/5 | $52,900 |
| 264 | Rottweiler | Large | 1/5 | $36,500 |
| 265 | Saint Bernard | Giant | 1/5 | $40,500 |
| 266 | Scottish Deerhound | Giant | 1/5 | $37,100 |
| 267 | Siberian Husky | Large | 1/5 | $37,100 |
| 268 | Small Munsterlander Pointer | Large | 1/5 | $39,200 |
| 269 | Tibetan Mastiff | Giant | 1/5 | $46,100 |
| 270 | Transylvanian Hound | Large | 1/5 | $37,500 |
| 271 | Weimaraner | Large | 1/5 | $38,300 |
| 272 | Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | Large | 1/5 | $41,500 |
Ranked from our sortable database. Food = vet RER/MER calorie formula; insurance = NAPHIA US average × breed health-risk tier; lifespan from breed standards. US planning estimates.
Compiled by the PawCosts data team from breed standards, NAPHIA averages and AAFCO/vet nutrition formulas.
Frequently asked questions
What are the best apartment dogs?
Calm, smaller, low-energy breeds that tolerate small spaces.
How is this ranking calculated?
From our sortable cost database: food via the vet RER/MER calorie formula, insurance from NAPHIA US averages by breed health-risk tier, and lifespan from published breed standards.
What is the typical apartment score for dogs?
The median across 272 breeds is about 3.
Are these exact prices?
No — they are modelled US planning estimates; your real cost varies by region, provider and the individual animal.