Dog Backseat Extender System
A Structured Backseat Extender System for Dogs, Not a Hammock or a Pad
Structured, cushioned support that fills the rear footwell behind your front seats, creating a wider, more continuous backseat platform for the dogs who ride everywhere with you. Now with an Extra Large Extender and a Center Seat Extender for consoles.
Single extenders from $224.99 · Complete systems from $574.99
Choose Your Setup
Every piece is sold on its own or as a complete system.
One Extender
Fills one rear footwell behind a front seat. Small 19 or Large 24 inches wide.
$224.99
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Complete System
An extender in each footwell plus the Center Bridge, a 9 inch piece that closes the gap between them. 47 or 57 inches across.
From $574.99
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Captain's Chairs
The Large and the Extra Large both fit well between second-row chairs; measure to be certain. The Extra Large has a deeper 13 inch top.
$224.99
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Center Console
The Center Seat Extender's notch wraps around a console that sticks out.
$249.99 · Systems from $699.99
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What is the Center Bridge? A 9 inch piece that sits between two extenders to close the gap in the middle. It needs an extender on each side and is sold on its own for $124.99, or included in every Complete System.
Not sure which fits? Measure, then compare.
Measure, Then Compare
Measure your rear footwell side to side, then compare it with the combined lengths below. Every combination can work; your measurements decide.
Tap any diagram to open it full size.
Compare Backseat Extender System Setups
Choose the setup that best matches your vehicle, backseat layout, and companion’s travel needs.
| Setup | Pieces Used | Best For | Fit Guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-Side Setup | One Companion Backseat Extender | Helping fill one rear footwell behind a front seat | Best when your companion rides on one side of the backseat |
| Two-Side Setup | Two Companion Backseat Extenders | Helping fill both rear footwells for a wider surface | Best when your companion needs more backseat room |
| Complete System | Two extenders + Center Bridge (47 inches with Small, 57 with Large or Extra Large) | Helping fill both footwells and the center gap | Best when the back of the console is flat; measure your footwell side to side first |
| Center Seat Setup | Two extenders + Center Seat Extender (58 inches with Small, 68 with Large or Extra Large) | Filling the center when something sticks out from the back of the console | Best when a rear display, climate panel, or console extension sticks out; the 10 by 2.5 inch notch wraps around it |
| Captain's Chair Setup | One Large or Extra Large Extender, on its own | Filling the opening between second-row captain's chairs | Both fit well; measure the opening to be certain |
Every combination can work, sized to your vehicle. Measure your footwell side to side, compare it with the combined lengths and the photos on the product page, and confirm your rear-seat layout and companion’s preferred riding position before choosing a setup.
Which Setup Do I Need?
Measure First
With the front seats where you normally drive, measure your rear footwell side to side, then compare it with the combined lengths below and the photos on the product page. Your measurements decide. Extenders come in Small (19 inch), Large (24 inch), and Extra Large (24 inch, with a deeper 13 inch top); every piece tapers to an 8 inch base. The Center Bridge is 9 inches wide and the Center Seat Extender 20 inches.
Second-Row Captain's Chairs
The Large and the Extra Large Extender are both a great fit between second-row captain's chairs. Each is 24 inches wide; the Large has a 12 inch top and the Extra Large a deeper 13 inch top. Measure the opening between your chairs to be certain which suits your vehicle.
Console Sticks Out
If something sticks out from the back of the center console into the footwell, such as a rear display, climate panel, or console extension, choose the Center Seat Extender: a 20 inch piece with a notch 10 inches wide by 2.5 inches deep that wraps around it. With two extenders on either side, the span is 58 inches with Small, or 68 inches with Large or Extra Large.
Flat Center
If the back of the console is flat, choose the Center Bridge, a 9 inch piece that sits between two extenders: 47 inches across with Small, or 57 inches with Large or Extra Large. Choose the size whose combined length fits your footwell. Size to your footwell, not your dog: the dog rides on top of the platform, and the pieces must fit the space below.
Three Ways to Extend a Backseat for Your Dog
Most products sold as dog backseat extenders use one of three constructions. Each has a place; they behave very differently under a dog's weight.
| Construction | How It Works | Feel Under Weight | Coverage | Care |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structured footwell-filler system | Structured foam pieces sit in the rear footwells and, with a bridge, across the center gap, building a level platform from the floor up | Stable, supported surface a dog can stand, turn, and settle on | Modular: one side, both sides, or the full rear-seat span | Zippered upholstery-grade covers wash cold and line dry |
| Hammock-style extender | Fabric panel suspends between the front and rear seats, covering the gap from above | Surface flexes and can sag as the dog moves | Full-width cover, but suspended rather than supported | Usually machine washable |
| Single foam pad | One pad or wedge drops into part of the footwell space | Supportive where it sits; coverage ends at the pad's edge | Typically one footwell only | Varies by maker |
The Backseat Extender System is the first kind: a structured, modular footwell-filler system. If your priority is upholstery protection with a covered gap, a hammock-style cover is the simpler tool, and we make those too.
Comfort Support Is Not a Restraint
The Backseat Extender System is designed to help create a more continuous, cushioned backseat surface by filling open footwell areas and the center gap when two extenders are installed. It is not a restraint system by itself.
For best travel practice, always secure your dog with an appropriate vehicle restraint or safety harness while driving.
Backseat Extender System FAQs
The right setup depends on your vehicle, your companion’s size, and how much of the rear footwell area you want to fill. These answers can help you choose the best Backseat Extender System setup for more comfortable travel.
A dog backseat extender fills the open rear footwell area behind a vehicle's front seats so a dog has a wider, more continuous surface to ride on. The Animals Matter® Backseat Extender System is a modular version, sold as complete systems or piece by piece: Companion Backseat Extenders™ fill the footwells, and a center piece, the Center Bridge or the Center Seat Extender, fills the middle.
A structured system builds a platform from the floor up with shaped foam pieces, so the surface stays stable when a dog stands or turns. A hammock-style extender suspends fabric over the gap, so the surface flexes under weight. A single foam pad fills part of one footwell. The three constructions suit different needs; the structured system offers the most continuous, supported platform.
Use one Companion Backseat Extender™ to fill the footwell behind one front seat, or two to fill both rear footwells, then add a center piece between two extenders of any size: the Center Bridge for a flat console back, or the Center Seat Extender where something sticks out. For second-row captain's chairs, one Large or Extra Large Extender on its own; both fit well, so measure to be certain.
Extenders come in Small (19 inch), Large (24 inch), and Extra Large (24 inch, with a deeper 13 inch top), all tapering to an 8 inch base. With the Center Bridge, two extenders span 47 inches (Small) or 57 inches (Large or Extra Large); with the Center Seat Extender, 58 or 68 inches. Measure your footwell side to side with the seats in your normal driving position, and compare.
Every combination can work, sized to your vehicle. Second-row captain's chairs take one Large or Extra Large Extender on its own; both fit well, so measure the opening to be certain. Where something sticks out from the back of the center console, choose the Center Seat Extender, which has a notch 10 inches wide by 2.5 inches deep. Where the console back is flat, choose the Center Bridge. Pair either with two extenders whose combined length fits your footwell, measured side to side.
One Large or one Extra Large Extender, on its own; both are a great fit between second-row captain's chairs. Each is 24 inches wide; the Extra Large has a deeper 13 inch top and the Large a 12 inch top. It sits in the open space between the two chairs to create one continuous surface for your dog to rest on. Measure the space between the chairs, side to side and front to back, to be certain which suits your vehicle.
Choose the Center Seat Extender. Its notch, 10 inches wide by 2.5 inches deep, wraps around the part of the console that sticks out into the footwell. It is 20 inches wide with a 12 inch deep top and is sold on its own. Use it alone to fill the middle, or with an extender on either side: two Small extenders make 58 inches across, and two Large or two Extra Large make 68 inches.
Both fill the space in the middle of the footwell. The Center Bridge, 9 inches wide, is for a center console whose back is flat, and it sits between two extenders: 47 inches across with two Small, or 57 inches with two Large or two Extra Large. The Center Seat Extender, 20 inches wide with a notch, is for a console that sticks out into the footwell. If nothing sticks out, choose the Center Bridge; if something does, choose the Center Seat Extender.
Yes, if your vehicle is wide enough. Two Extra Large Extenders with the Center Bridge measure 57 inches across, and with the Center Seat Extender 68 inches. Every combination can work, sized to your vehicle; measure your footwell side to side and compare it with these combined lengths.
No. The Backseat Extender System creates a more supportive, continuous backseat surface, but it is not a restraint system by itself. Always secure your dog with an appropriate vehicle restraint or safety harness while driving.
Each extender is crafted with a supportive CertiPUR-US® certified foam component that holds its structure without hard plastic or wood, finished with a premium upholstery-grade fabric cover in Charcoal, Stone, or Black.
Yes. The upholstery-grade covers unzip for cold-water machine washing and line drying. Foam components should be spot cleaned and air dried, not machine washed.
Yes, they solve different problems and many households use both. A dog car seat gives a smaller companion an elevated, contained space, while the extender system widens the platform for larger dogs or a second rider. If you are deciding between them, our dog car seats vs. backseat extenders guide walks through the choice.