Can rabbits use the same bedding as guinea pigs?

Many safe absorbent beddings suit both species, but always check the specific product, since some bedding types marketed broadly are better suited to one species than another. Hay should always form a large part of a rabbit's bedding regardless of what else is used alongside it.

How often should rabbit bedding be changed?

Spot-cleaning the most soiled or damp areas daily, with a fuller change of all the bedding at least once or twice a week, keeps ammonia and dampness from building up. Rabbits kept in warmer weather or smaller enclosures may need this done more often.

Do outdoor rabbits need more bedding than indoor ones?

Generally yes, particularly through colder months, since outdoor rabbits rely on bedding for insulation against the cold as well as comfort. A deeper layer, changed regularly to stay dry, matters more for an outdoor hutch than for an indoor enclosure with a stable temperature.

Is hay enough bedding on its own?

Hay can form the main bulk of a rabbit's bedding and serves double duty as food, but many owners combine it with a safe absorbent bedding underneath to help manage moisture and odour. Either way, hay should always be available in generous, constantly refreshed quantities.

How much bedding does a rabbit need?

A pet rabbit needs enough soft bedding to fully cover the floor of its sleeping area to a depth it can comfortably lie on and burrow into, which in practice usually means several centimetres of soft substrate. On top of that, a generous and constantly replenished layer of fresh hay matters just as much as the bedding underneath it, since hay serves as both bedding material and the single most important part of a rabbit's daily diet.

Why bedding depth matters

A thin, hard floor gives a rabbit nowhere comfortable to rest, and can contribute to sore hocks — pressure sores on the back feet — over time, particularly in rabbits that spend long periods lying down. Enough soft bedding spreads that pressure and gives the rabbit somewhere genuinely comfortable to settle.

Bedding also provides insulation, which matters more for rabbits kept outdoors, especially through colder months, and it supports the natural digging and burrowing behaviour that rabbits show even in a domestic setting, giving them something to do with normal instincts rather than nothing to interact with.

What to use

Hay should be available in large, constantly topped-up quantities as both food and bedding, since rabbits graze almost continuously and a hay supply that runs low affects their digestion as much as their comfort. It is not a decorative extra sitting alongside the 'real' bedding, it is central to both roles.

Underneath or alongside the hay, safe absorbent bedding such as paper-based bedding or straw helps manage moisture and odour. Avoid anything dusty, which can affect a rabbit's respiratory system, and avoid materials a rabbit might ingest in large amounts unsafely if it likes to chew its bedding.

Signs the bedding needs changing

Damp or heavily soiled bedding raises ammonia levels quickly in an enclosed space, which is unpleasant for a rabbit and can contribute to respiratory irritation and sore feet if left unaddressed. Checking and spot-changing the wettest areas daily, with a fuller clean-out on a regular schedule, keeps ammonia from building up.

A hutch or enclosure that smells strongly of ammonia even shortly after cleaning is a sign the bedding volume or cleaning frequency needs increasing, not a sign to mask the smell with fragrance rather than address the cause.

Choosing from the range

The bedding and hay products below cover the safe, absorbent options suited to a rabbit's sleeping area, alongside the hay supply that should sit alongside it in generous, constantly refreshed quantities.

If your rabbit seems reluctant to move around, has sore patches developing on its feet, or its enclosure smells persistently of ammonia even after cleaning, it's worth a check with a vet rather than simply adding more bedding and hoping it resolves on its own.

Common questions

Can rabbits use the same bedding as guinea pigs?: Many safe absorbent beddings suit both species, but always check the specific product, since some bedding types marketed broadly are better suited to one species than another. Hay should always form a large part of a rabbit's bedding regardless of what else is used alongside it.
How often should rabbit bedding be changed?: Spot-cleaning the most soiled or damp areas daily, with a fuller change of all the bedding at least once or twice a week, keeps ammonia and dampness from building up. Rabbits kept in warmer weather or smaller enclosures may need this done more often.
Do outdoor rabbits need more bedding than indoor ones?: Generally yes, particularly through colder months, since outdoor rabbits rely on bedding for insulation against the cold as well as comfort. A deeper layer, changed regularly to stay dry, matters more for an outdoor hutch than for an indoor enclosure with a stable temperature.
Is hay enough bedding on its own?: Hay can form the main bulk of a rabbit's bedding and serves double duty as food, but many owners combine it with a safe absorbent bedding underneath to help manage moisture and odour. Either way, hay should always be available in generous, constantly refreshed quantities.

Sources

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.