Nest Box Dimensions
There's no such things as "one size fits all" when it comes to bird houses. If you're serious about providing a nest box that birds will use, make sure it has the optimal dimensions.
These are the construction specifications for bird houses for each of the species listed below. The recommended height for placement of the nest box is also provided.
More Information about Birdhouses
| Species | Box Floor (inches) |
Box Height (inches) |
Entrance Height (inches) |
Entrance hole (inches) |
Placement Height (feet) |
| Robin* | 7 x 8 | 8 | n/a | n/a | |
| Bluebird | 5 x 5 | 8 - 12 | 6 - 10 | 1 1/2 | 4 - 6 |
| Chickadee | 4 x 4 | 8 - 10 | 6 - 8 | 1 1/8 | 4 - 15 |
| Titmouse | 4 x 4 | 10 - 12 | 6 - 10 | 1 1/4 | 5 - 15 |
| Ash Throated Flycatcher | 6 x 6 | 8 - 12 | 6 - 10 | 1 1/2 | 5 - 15 |
| Great Crested Flycatcher | 6 x 6 | 8 - 12 | 6 - 10 | 1 3/4 | 5 - 15 |
| Phoebe* | 6 x 6 | 6 | n/a | n/a | 8 - 12 |
| Brown Headed/Pygmy/Red-breasted Nuthatch | 4 x 4 | 8 - 10 | 6 - 8 | 1 1/4 | 5 - 15 |
| White-breasted Nuthatch | 4 x 4 | 8 - 10 | 6 - 8 | 1 3/8 | 5 - 15 |
| Prothonotary Warbler | 5 x 5 | 6 | 4 - 5 | 1 1/8 | 4 - 8 |
| Barn Swallow* | 6 x 6 | 6 | n/a | n/a | 8 -12 |
| Purple Martin | 6 x 6 | 6 | 1 - 2 | 2 1/4 | 6 - 20 |
| Tree and Violet-green Swallows | 5 x 5 | 6 - 8 | 4 - 6 | 1 1/2 | 5 - 15 |
| Downy Woodpecker | 4 x 4 | 8 - 10 | 6 - 8 | 1 1/4 | 5 - 15 |
| Hairy Woodpecker | 6 x 6 | 12 - 15 | 9 - 12 | 1 1/2 | 8 -20 |
| Lewis's Woodpecker | 7 x 7 | 16 - 18 | 14 - 16 | 2 1/2 | 12 - 20 |
| Northern Flicker | 7 x 7 | 16 -1 8 | 14-1 6 | 2 1/2 | 6 - 20 |
| Pileated Woodpecker | 8 x 8 | 16 - 24 | 12 - 20 | 3 x 4 | 15 - 25 |
| Red Headed Woodpecker | 6 x 6 | 12 - 15 | 9 - 12 | 2 | 10 - 20 |
| Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | 5 x 5 | 12 - 15 | 9 - 12 | 1 1/2 | 10 - 20 |
| Bewick's / House Wrens | 4 x 4 | 6 - 8 | 4 - 6 | 1 1/4 | 5 - 10 |
| Carolina Wrens | 4 x 4 | 6 - 8 | 4 - 6 | 1 1/2 | 5 - 10 |
| Barn Owl | 10 x 18 | 15 x 18 | 4 | 6 | 12 - 18 |
| Screech Owl and Kestrel | 8 x 8 | 12 - 15 | 9 - 12 | 3 | 4 - 8 |
| Osprey | 48 x 48 Platform |
n/a | n/a | n/a | 10 - 30 |
| Red Tailed Hawk & Great Horned Owl | 24 x 24 Platform |
n/a | n/a | n/a | |
| Wood Duck | 10 x 18 | 10 - 24 | 12 - 16 | 4 | 10 - 20 |
| * Use a nesting shelf - platform with three sides and an open front | |||||
Sources: U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service "For the Birds."