Two rabbits are inside a purple wooden shed for rabbits behind a wire mesh door. The main wooden door is open, showing a circular window. A blanket and some hay are spread on the floor of the hutch.

How to house your rabbits

Rabbits are active animals – they love to run, dig, hop and jump. Providing them with spacious housing attached to a secure run will help keep them active, happy and healthy.

The minimum enclosure size for a pair of rabbits

A small to medium pair of rabbits will need 24hr access to a run that is at least 3m long by 2m wide by 1m high. This will need to be permanently and securely attached to a hutch or shed (see below) to give your rabbits unlimited access between the two.

Hutch – 6 ft long by 2 ft deep (183 cm by 61 cm).
Shed or wooden Wendy House – 5 ft by 5 ft (153 cm by 153 cm), 6ft x 4ft (183cm x 122cm), or larger

Groups will require a bigger space depending on their breed and activity level.

Our video below will help you:

Can rabbits live outdoors all year?

Rabbits can live outside year round with the right setup. They need 24hr access to a secure, predator-proof enclosure at least 3m (l) x 2m (d) x 1m (h) in size, along with a large shelter space for protection from the weather such as a hutch or shed.

Housing your rabbits outdoors

Your rabbits’ hutch

You’ll find many rabbit hutches available in pet stores and online. However, many are very poorly made and often fall apart within the first two years.

If you can, consider investing a little more in a hutch from a welfare-approved company. A good hutch is made of strong wood, with secure bolts fitted on the doors and sturdy wire mesh.

Avoid double-level hutches. Their ramps are usually very steep and not long enough for your rabbits to gain enough momentum to hop up them safely. Your rabbits can also be at risk of falling down the ramp or floor hole when they are elderly and less mobile.

If you already have a double-level hutch, remove the ramp and replace it with a sturdy log or box, securely covered in an old towel or blanket to provide some grip. Your rabbits will find it much easier and more natural to hop up onto this and then up to the top level.

Wooden Wendy Houses and garden sheds

Wooden Wendy Houses or garden sheds can make an ideal home for your rabbits. A shed gives your rabbits more floor space, and means it’s easier to socialise with your rabbits whatever the weather.

You can easily convert a shed or Wendy House with mesh doors and a step-over barrier to stop your rabbits escaping. Find out how to convert a shed or Wendy House for your rabbits.

Chicken coop and run combinations

Chicken coop and run combinations aren’t suitable for rabbits. It’s very unlikely that you’ll find one meeting the minimum size requirements for the sheltered sleeping area and the run. They can also be very tricky to clean, and make socialising with your rabbits difficult.

Your rabbits’ run

Rabbits are very active animals, particularly at dusk, dawn and overnight, so it’s important that they have 24hr access to their run if they’re living outdoors. The run will need to be well-built to stop predators from getting in and your rabbits from escaping. We recommend a wooden-framed run with a wooden-framed lid.

A wooden garden shed with potted plants sits beside a large outdoor animal hutch and green lawn. A wheelbarrow, garden tools, and a fenced area are visible in the grassy back garden.

A converted shed with attached run for a pair of rabbits to have continuous access to.

A large outdoor rabbit enclosure with a blue wooden structure, white door, mesh walls, and shelves inside. There are toys and blankets visible through the mesh. The enclosure sits on a paved patio.

A large kennel style enclosure consisting of a sheltered shed are and attached run, filled with platforms and hiding spaces

Whether you’re planning to buy a rabbit hutch or build your own, carry out regular inspections on your rabbits’ accommodation to check for damage from poor weather conditions.

Housing your rabbits indoors

Rabbits can be housed indoors too, but you’ll need to consider this decision carefully as it can have quite an impact on your home.

Your rabbits will still need as much space indoors as they would outdoors. They’ll ideally need 24hr access to a rabbit-proofed room, or a space within a room at least 3m x 2m in size. This should be in a quiet room, away from other pets in the home.

The easiest way to achieve this for a pair of standard-sized rabbits is to convert a room into their own rabbit haven, and you’ll have a lot of fun getting creative with it! Giant breed rabbits may need multiple rooms, depending on their size.

Things you’ll need to consider with indoor rabbits

A baby gate or similar to keep them secure in the room while still letting them see what’s going on.
Non-slip flooring to prevent injuries. Unless the floor is carpeted, add rugs or plenty of ‘hop to’ areas, as slippery flooring can cause muscle wastage or back damage.
A room with natural sunlight and a steady, comfortable temperature to support their natural twice-a-year moult.
Protection for any electrical wires or plastic water pipes so they can’t be chewed.
Removing all household plants.
Lots of toys and activities, like dig trays, litter trays and items for them to hop on to and run through.
Being prepared for chewed furniture, and faeces and urine stains on flooring.

Find out more on things to consider when housing rabbits indoors.

Mixing with guinea pigs

Rabbits shouldn’t be housed with guinea pigs. They have different dietary needs and communication styles, and guinea pigs can be injured by a rabbit’s kick.

Mixing with cats

Rabbits are a prey species, with many fearing predator species like cats and dogs and also finding them threatening. It’s important that the rabbits have their own predator-proof space separate from other pets in the home to help them with feeling safe.

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