How big will my Yorkshire Terrier get?
Most Yorkshire Terriers finish growing between roughly 2kg and 3.2kg as adults, and being one of the smallest toy breeds, they reach close to their final size earlier than larger dogs — typically by around 9 to 11 months, though some continue filling out slightly in muscle and coat condition for a few months beyond that.
Reading a Yorkie growth chart properly
A puppy growth chart plots expected weight against age using averages drawn from many dogs, so treat the line on the chart as a guide rather than a target your individual puppy must hit exactly. A Yorkie tracking a little above or below the average line at any single check-in is normal; what matters more is a steady upward curve rather than sudden jumps or drops.
Because Yorkshire Terriers are so small to begin with, the numbers involved are tiny compared with larger breeds — a difference of a few hundred grams that would be unremarkable in a Labrador puppy is a much bigger proportion of a Yorkie's total size. Weigh your puppy on the same scale under similar conditions each time for a chart that is actually comparable week to week.
What affects the final number
Parent size is the strongest single predictor: a Yorkie from smaller parents is likely to stay smaller, and one from parents at the upper end of the breed standard is more likely to reach the higher end of the 2-3.2kg range. Some Yorkies, sometimes marketed as 'teacup', are bred smaller still, but very small size in this breed can come with its own health considerations worth discussing with a vet rather than treating as simply desirable.
General health, feeding and how the puppy is raised in the first year all play a role too, though genetics does most of the work in a breed this small. If your puppy's growth seems to have stalled entirely or is dropping rather than levelling off, that is worth a vet check rather than assuming it will catch up on its own.
Common questions
- At what age is a Yorkshire Terrier fully grown?
- Most Yorkies reach close to their adult weight by around 9 to 11 months, being one of the fastest toy breeds to mature given their small final size. Some continue to fill out slightly in coat and muscle tone for a few months after that.
- Is my Yorkie underweight if it's below the average line?
- Not necessarily — the average line is a midpoint across many dogs, and healthy Yorkies exist at both ends of the normal range. A steady growth curve matters more than matching the average exactly, but if you are concerned, a vet can check your puppy's body condition directly.
- Why are teacup Yorkies smaller than the breed standard?
- Teacup is not an official size category but a marketing term for Yorkies bred smaller than the standard range, often through breeding from the smallest available parents. Extremely small size can bring additional health considerations, which is worth discussing with a vet before choosing a puppy marketed this way.
- Do male and female Yorkies grow to different sizes?
- The difference is small in this breed compared with larger dogs, and both sexes generally fall within the same roughly 2-3.2kg adult range. Individual variation between dogs of the same sex is usually bigger than any average difference between males and females.
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Written against guidance published by UK veterinary and welfare organisations. Always confirm specifics with your own vet.
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.