Horse rug weights explained
A rug's weight is how much filling it has: no fill (a waterproof shell), lightweight (about 50 to 100g), mediumweight (about 150 to 250g) and heavyweight (300g or more). Many healthy horses with a full coat, shelter and plenty of hay need less than you might think. Choose by the night-time temperature, whether your horse is clipped, and whether it is wet and windy, then check with your hand.
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Three things decide the weight
- The night-time temperatureGo by the coldest part of the day, not how cold you feel.
- Clipped or notA clipped horse has lost its winter coat and needs about one weight more, plus a neck cover once it drops below 10°C.
- Wet, windy or exposedRain and wind together chill a horse far more than dry cold, so go a step warmer.
Rug weight chart: horses living out
| Night-time temperature | Not clipped | Clipped |
|---|---|---|
| Above 10°C | No rug needed | Usually none. A lightweight (about 100g) if it is wet and windy |
| 5 to 10°C | Usually none. A lightweight (about 100g) if it is wet | About 150g (mediumweight), with a neck cover |
| 0 to 5°C | Often none. 150 to 250g (mediumweight) if the field is exposed | About 200g (mediumweight), with a neck cover |
| Below 0°C | 150 to 300g (mediumweight), with a neck cover | 300 to 400g (heavyweight), with a neck cover and a liner |
A guide only, as every horse is different. Older, young, thin-coated or underweight horses need more; hardy natives with shelter and hay often need less. Colder than -10°C, go a step heavier.
Rug weight chart: stabled horses
Stabled horses cannot move about to keep warm, so they usually need a little more than horses living out at the same temperature.
| Night-time temperature | Not clipped | Clipped |
|---|---|---|
| Above 10°C | Usually none | A no-fill sheet, or about 100g below 15°C |
| 5 to 10°C | About 150g | About 250g |
| 0 to 5°C | About 200g | About 300g (heavyweight) |
| Below 0°C | 200 to 300g, with a liner | 300 to 400g (heavyweight), with a neck cover |
Turnout rugs by weight
Stable rugs by weight
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Rug weights: your questions
Does my horse need a rug at all?
Many healthy horses with a full winter coat, shelter and plenty of hay are comfortable without a rug until the temperature drops below about 5°C, and hardy horses often cope below that. Wet and windy weather makes more difference than dry cold. Rug for the weather and the individual horse, not the calendar.
What temperature should a horse wear a heavyweight rug?
For a horse living out, a heavyweight (300g or more) is usually for clipped horses below 0°C, or unclipped horses in very cold weather below about -10°C. A clipped, stabled horse may need one from about 0 to 5°C. Use the hand check to adjust.
Should a clipped horse wear a heavier rug?
Yes. Clipping removes the coat that keeps a horse warm, so a clipped horse usually needs about one weight more than an unclipped horse at the same temperature, and a neck cover once it drops below about 10°C.
Do stabled horses need a heavier rug?
Usually a little more than horses living out, because they cannot move about to keep warm. For example, at 5 to 10°C an unclipped stabled horse may need about 150g, where an unclipped horse living out often needs nothing.
How do I know if my horse is too hot in a rug?
Slide a hand under the rug behind the withers. Damp, sweaty or hot skin means the rug is too warm, so go lighter. Cold ears and a cold chest can mean they need more. Too many rugs can also cause sweating and weight gain.
Can I layer rugs or add a liner?
Yes. A liner under a turnout or stable rug adds warmth on colder nights without buying a heavier rug. Make sure the layers fit well and do not rub.
Rugging advice from the Just Horse Riders team, in our own words, based on the British Equestrian Trade Association (BETA) temperature guide and British Horse Society advice. Last reviewed 2026-10-09. If you are unsure about your horse's health or condition, ask your vet.