Understanding the effects of overcrowding on the behavior of lactating dairy cows is critical for formulating housing standards that ensure welfare and profitability; however, previous research has relied on the denial of resting or feeding space to simulate on-farm overcrowding without establishing the validity of this method. The objective of this study was to determine the differences in lying and rumination of Holstein dairy cows housed at stocking densities of 100 (1 cow per stall and headlock) or 142% imposed by the 1) denial of freestalls and headlocks, 2) denial of freestalls, headlocks, and 26.6 m2 of alley space, or 3) addition of 14 cows. Cows (n = 136) were assigned to 1 of 4 pens and treatments imposed using a 4 × 4 Latin square for 14 d. Data were collected from focal cows (n = 12) within each pen. Lying time and bouts were determined at 1-min intervals for 5 d using dataloggers. Feeding and rumination time was determined by direct observation at 10-min intervals on d 11. Data were analyzed using MIXED procedure of SAS. Lying time was greater (13.0 ± 0.1 h/d; P < 0.002) at 100% than any 142% treatment, which did not differ (11.8 h/d ± 0.1; P > 0.10). Cows spent more time ruminating in the alleys when housed at 142% compared with 100% (1.1 ± 0.2 h/d vs. 0.6 ± 0.2 h/d; P = 0.01), regardless of stocking density method used. Lying bouts (12.3 per d; P > 0.10) and feeding time (4.2 ± 0.2 h/d; P = 0.25) did not differ among treatments. Overcrowding reduced lying time and increased ruminating in the alleys; however, the response did not differ by stocking density method. This suggests the three methods are equally valid for evaluating lying and ruminating behavior during short-term overcrowding.