DIY PVC Elevated Dog Bed Guide

Dogs are, simply put, man’s best friend. They offer friendly companionship and ask for very little in return. While your dog will always love you freely and unconditionally, sometimes it can be nice to give back.

Many dogs spend a great deal of their time outside, so that environment should be made comfortable for them. This guide will show how you can make a simple yet comfortable PVC raised dog bed that will definitely beat sleeping or just relaxing on the ground. Watch the video for a quick walk-through of this project! The full instructions for this PVC dog bed are below.

• 1-1/4” PVC Pipe (white schedule 40 PVC pipe works best) – (About 11.5 feet)

• 1-1/4” 3 Way PVC Fittings (also known as side outlet elbows) – (4)

• 1-1/4” PVC Flat Caps – (4)

• ½” Round washer head screws – (32)

• Outdoor fabric – (42” x 32”)

• Power Drill

• PVC Pipe Cutting Tool (cutter or saw)

• Tape Measure

As noted above, 1-1/4” schedule 40 PVC pipe works best for a PVC bed for your dog. It is not too thick and easier to work with than schedule 80 PVC pipe, not to mention cheaper. This pipe usually comes in 10 foot sections, so you may need two of these.

You will need to cut the pipe into eight total pieces, as shown in the image above; four 4” pieces, two 23-1/2” pieces, and two 32-1/2” pieces. Measure these sections with your tape measure and cut them with a PVC cutter, a standard hand saw, or an electric saw if you have one.

We now have all the pieces we need to start putting this PVC pet bed together! Use the 3-way fittings to fit the four longer pieces of pipe together into a rectangular frame. The 3-way fittings should point down, as the legs will start there. Nothing needs to be screwed or glued yet. We’re just making sure everything fits together!

After the PVC pipe bed frame is assembled, fit the four 4” pieces into the 3-way fittings and slip the flat caps over the ends of those four pieces. These will be the legs and feet of the PVC pipe bed. If you have it on its back, flip the bed over to make sure it sits correctly and the measurements look correct. This is your last chance to adjust before attaching the fabric.

Lay the fabric face down, flip the bed frame onto its back, and lay it on top of the fabric. It should be centered so there is an even amount of excess fabric extending from each side. Make dog-ear folds on each corner of the fabric as shown below. This will give your elevated PVC dog bed a finished look once it is completed.

Next, make a half inch fold along one edge of the fabric, using fabric glue to hold it in place if necessary. This will be where you drill to attach the fabric to the frame. Wrap the folded fabric over the PVC pipe it is close to and screw the fabric into the pipe. Make sure you screw through the half inch fold you made! Place screws every 4 inches or so along the length of the pipe. Once you’ve attached the fabric the whole way down that side, screw each fitting into the pipe to keep it secure.

Once one side is secure, move to the opposite side and repeat the process. Make a half inch fold and screw it to the pipe every 4 inches. Once you have done that, use a wrench or a friend to grab the pipe and turn it inwards, stretching the fabric until taught. While holding the pipe tight, screw the two fittings into the pipe just like the other side.

Repeat this process for the other two sides, making sure the fabric is tight and secure across the frame.

Once that is completed, you have a finished PVC pipe dog bed. If it gets dirty, simply hose it off. The outdoor fabric should last a long time and your dog will love having a place to lie down other than on the grass or dirt! If you don’t have a dog, consider making one of these PVC dog beds and donating it to your local animal shelter or rescue like this Eagle Scout did! Creating a bunch of PVC pipe dog beds is a fun, tangible way to contribute to your local shelter!