It came in a smaller package than I expected, but started expanding with air the moment I got it out of the box, and then the bag. Don't even look at the picture here-- there's no way that image really shows a 52" bed next to a golden retriever. The bed is MUCH bigger. I agonized over size (thanks, other reviewers for your help!), and the Extra Large turned out to be appropriate for my 65-lb greyhound. He's about 4 feet long from nose to rump (30" of back, 9" of neck, 8" of head and nose), and when he lays in it, he can splay out his feet (17" legs) while the edge of the bagel hugs his back, and it looks just like it was made for him.
The only thing I wish is that I got a bed with a cover (There's no way this bed will fit in my washer). Not because my dog has accidents, but because he loves rawhides and gets rawhide slobber everywhere-- this is a problem for the navy blue bed!