Dogs Crates that Your Pet will Love

Having a comfortable place for your dog to be, whether at home or in transit, is important. As a dog owner, you probably own several dog beds for your K-9 friend to relax in. But how many of them will last for longer than a year? Can you use them in a vehicle as well as in your place of residence? The dog crates featured below are built for use in any situation, regardless if you travel with them outdoors, in an extended road trip, or they stay situated in your living room. Each crate is grouped according to the setting they’re designed to be used in, their shape, and style. Look into the products that interest you the most, then compare them with the others. So without further delay, let’s get started!

Best Choice
MidWest Homes Dog Crate
Author's Choice
The MidWest Homes Dog Crate comes out on top as one of the best products featured of all that are shown in the list. If you need a crate that'll last for a long time and is relatively easy to put together, give it a try and you won't be disappointed
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Here’s why we chose it as the best overall product:

  • Fast Assembly Time

Take a look at some other dog cages and you’ll quickly find that it’s normal to expect an assembly time that’s longer than 20 minutes. While this isn’t true for all, it’s certainly not the case for the MidWest Crate. You can have everything finish in as little as ten minutes, or less.

  • Built for Different Sized Dogs

How big or small your dog is shouldn’t be the primary determination on whether the MidWest Crate is best for you. That’s because of its multiple available sizes. And since each piece comes with dividers, you could make a separate space for small puppies.

  • Simple Design 

There’s nothing fancy about the frame of this MidWest Crate. But that’s one of the benefits; what you see is what you get. There’s no complicated instruction to remember when maintaining the cage, either.

  • No defective parts

All parts sold are made with quality in mind and proven to last for as long as your dog uses the cage. No chipping paint on the metal and no smelly odors will permeate the mat.

Types of Crates

Best Dog Crates, Kennels & Pet Carriers – Overview and Rating

Best Wire Pet Crate

MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Single; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Folding flat
  • Sizes: 18-48" Color: Black

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Best Heavy Duty Dog Kennel

LuckUp Heavy Duty Dog Crate Strong Metal Kennel and Crate for Large Dogs
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic (tray)
  • Door: Double; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor (Wheels); Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 38-48,5"; Color: Black/Gray

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Best Luxury Wooden Home Dog Crate

Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate
  • Material exterior: Wood; interior: Wood
  • Door: Dual
  • Sizes: 31.5"W x 44.5"D x 30"H to 31.5"W x 44.5"D x 30"H Color: Black, Brown, Gray, Walnut, White

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Best Plastic Pet Carrier

AmazonBasics Two-Door Top-Load Hard-Sided Pet Travel Carrier
  • Material exterior: Hard-Sided Plastic, Steel Wire; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Steel Wire; Portability: Travel; Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 19, 23" Color: White, Blue-Gray

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Best Soft-Sided Pet Carrier

AmazonBasics Portable Folding Soft Dog Travel Crate Kennel
  • Material exterior: PVC, Polyester; interior: Polyester
  • Door: Mesh Zippered; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Foldling
  • Sizes: 21-42" Color: Black-Beige

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Best Crash Tested Travel Crate

4x4 North America Variocage Single Crash Tested Dog Cage
  • Material exterior: Steel; interior: Steel, Fiberglass
  • Door Lock: Keys, Hydraulic Motion Springs
  • Sizes: Small, Medium, X-Large

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Best Metal Wire Dog Crates and Kennels

Metal Wire Crates are good for many purposes, but they serve best as home crates for the dogs of all sizes. They are good ventilated, made of chew-proof material, which is essential for puppies and destructive dogs left alone. They are easy to assemble and collapse. You can take such a crate from one place to another without much effort. To provide your pup with more privacy and comfort you can always choose one of dog crate covers and don’t forget about a dog crate bed.

Author’s Choice

MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Single; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Folding flat
  • Sizes: 18-48" Color: Black

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People’s Choice

AmazonBasics Single-Door & Double-Door Folding Metal Dog or Pet Crate Kennel with Tray
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Single (Double Available); Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 22-48" Color: Black

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Premium Choice

Carlson Pet Products Secure and Foldable Single Door Metal Dog Crate
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Single; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Non-folding
  • Sizes: Small-Extra Large (24-42"); Color: Black

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MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Single; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Folding flat
  • Sizes: 18-48 inches Color: Black
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Picking up from the above section, the MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate may look basic but gets the job done. There’s no chemical smells to worry about, no tinkering with the instructions to figure out how to properly put it together (at least longer than you would think it would take), and no missing parts. Recommended for anyone with a medium-sized dog.

Pros:
Locks don’t wiggle or loosen up after multiple uses
The cage itself takes only about five minutes to assemble
Its double doors are useful in situations where the cage must be placed in awkward locations
Big enough for medium to large dogs
Cons:
The dimensions could potentially make it difficult to move around, particularly from room to room
Large and aggressive dogs could cause damage to the cage over time

Best Heavy Duty Pet Crates

Heavy-Duty Crate is a real indestructible home on wheels. They are best suited for medium-sized and large dogs. You can put it inside or outside the house, or in the yard. Top quality crates of this type are corrosion-resistant,able strong and durable.

Author’s Choice

LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Crate Strong Metal Kennel and Crate for Large Dogs
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic (tray)
  • Door: Double; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor (Wheels); Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 38-48,5"; Color: Black/Gray

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People’s Choice

SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic (tray)
  • Door: Double; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor (Wheels); Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 38-48"; Color: Brown/Dark Silver

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Premium Choice

ProSelect Empire Dog Cage
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic (tray)
  • Door: Double; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor (Wheels); Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 35-40" (Small/Large); Color: Black

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LuckUp Heavy Duty Dog Crate Strong Metal Kennel and Crate for Large Dogs
  • Material exterior: Metal; interior: Plastic (tray)
  • Door: Double; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor (Wheels); Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 38-48,5 inches; Color: Black/Gray
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The LuckUp is a heavy-duty dog crate for people with a need for something that won’t come apart when it isn’t tightened periodically. As soon as it is assembled, you’ll marvel at the sturdiness of the design. Nothing rattles or shakes, even when more than one dog is placed inside. It can be a little difficult to move around, however, so be sure that you’re able to pick up 75 pounds before purchase.

Pros:
Stays together when assembled; doesn’t feel fragile at all
Not easy to shift around from the dog’s own weight
The bars are situated to the perfect length, lowering the chances of them getting paws stuck in between
Cons:
The entire cage weighs about 75 pounds, a potential strain for some to carry around

 

Best Luxury Wooden Home Dog Crates

These stylish crates are designed to fit into your interior perfectly. A dog crate can be also a beautiful end table nightstand, or just a piece of home decor. They differ in size, color and construction, so you can select the one suitable for your dog breed size and color of your furniture at the same time.

Remember! They are made of wood! Of course it is strong, waterproof and durable, but it is wood anyway. So we do not recommend to use this type for puppies crate training or for the dogs prone to chew all around them including furniture and crates. They are not chew-proof and may be dangerous for such anxious dogs, if left alone. Veterinarians also recommend to use special chew toys for crates when dogs are left unattended. They keep a pup engaged, relieve stress and boredom.

Author’s Choice

Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate
  • Material exterior: Wood; interior: Wood
  • Door: Dual
  • Sizes: 31.5"W x 44.5"D x 30"H to 31.5"W x 44.5"D x 30"H Color: Black, Brown, Gray, Walnut, White

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People’s Choice

Internet's Best Decorative Dog Kennel with Pet Bed
  • Material exterior: Wood; interior: Wood, Fabric (Mat Included)
  • Door: 1 Dual, 1 Single
  • Sizes: Small (23” Width x 32” Depth x 26”) Color: Brown, White

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Premium Choice

Crown Pet Products Wood Pet Crate End Table
  • Material exterior: Wood; interior: Wood
  • Door: 1 Single
  • Sizes: Medium, Large (29.7"D x 21" x 24.2" and 39.6"D x 27.2" x 27.3" Color: Brown

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Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate
  • Material exterior: Wood; interior: Wood
  • Door: Dual
  • Sizes: 31.5W x 44.5D x 30H to 31.5W x 44.5D x 30H inches, Color: Black, Brown, Gray, Walnut, White
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The Casual Home Wood Pet Crate doesn’t look like your average dog crate, at least to those that have been reviewed already. Its material consists mostly of wood, and it fits well with almost any interior decoration. Aside from how pretty it is to look at, your dog will love the “privacy” factor given. Of course, there’s enough space for you to see what’s going on inside, but also enough sectioned-off walls to make them comfortable.

Pros:
Not a space consumer
Can be purchased in multiple colors
Stay firmly in place with no swaying; very sturdy
Cons:
Easy to scratch

Best Pet Carriers and Crates for Travel and Transport

Travelling with your pup around the country or overseas is a part of everyday life of many pet parents. And safety comes in the first place. Well-secured and protected dog in the car is a recipe for successful ride for the whole family. Of course everything depends on the size of your dog, way of travelling and means of transport. Crates are one of other dog travel accessories for safe travelling.

Best Plastic Pet Carriers

Plastic dog crates are very portable, featuring handles to make carrying your pet from one place to another. The doors are made of steel wire. Some products could even have a door at the top to make it easier for you to take them in/out, clean, and add food.

Author’s Choice

AmazonBasics Two-Door Top-Load Hard-Sided Pet Travel Carrier
  • Material exterior: Hard-Sided Plastic, Steel Wire; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Steel Wire; Portability: Travel; Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 19, 23" Color: White, Blue-Gray

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People’s Choice

MidWest Homes for Pets Spree Travel Pet Carrier,
  • Material exterior: Hard-Sided Plastic, Steel Wire; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Steel Wire; Portability: Travel; Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: " Color: White, Gray

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Premium Choice

Petmate Sky Kennel Pet Carrier
  • Material exterior: Hard-Sided Plastic, Steel Wire; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Steel Wire; Portability: Travel; Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 21-48" Color: Gray

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AmazonBasics Two-Door Top-Load Hard-Sided Pet Travel Carrier
  • Material exterior: Hard-Sided Plastic, Steel Wire; interior: Plastic
  • Door: Steel Wire; Portability: Travel; Storage: Non-Folding
  • Sizes: 19, 23 inches; Color: White, Blue-Gray
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The second Amazon Basic product is the two-door pet travel carrier. It’s made for people (and dogs) that are on the go, with the ability to be placed in confined spaces that don’t take up too much room. It has a classic kennel design that you’ve seen before, so consider this if you have a small to a medium-sized dog that’s picky about the crates they accompany you in.

Pros:
Holds up well in a variety of room conditions without breaking (warm, dry, and cold indoor climates)
There’s a door situated at the top of the crate for placing in small pets that won’t come in on their own
Doesn’t collect too much dust - easy to keep clean
Cons:
Some of the bolt including for assembly are hard to fasten

Best Soft-Sided Pet Carriers

Even if you already own dog crate, chances are high that would be well-served to try a soft carrier. And since they all collapse into themselves, storage is easier than all other groups shown. Not to mention the ease in carrying them outdoors.

Author’s Choice

AmazonBasics Portable Folding Soft Dog Travel Crate Kennel
  • Material exterior: PVC, Polyester; interior: Polyester
  • Door: Mesh Zippered; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Foldling
  • Sizes: 21-42" Color: Black-Beige

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People’s Choice

Petnation Port-A-Crate Indoor and Outdoor Home for Pets
  • Material exterior: PVC, Polyester; interior: Polyester
  • Door: Mesh Zippered; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Foldling
  • Sizes: 24-36" Color: Black-Beige

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Premium Choice

Noz2Noz Soft-Krater Indoor and Outdoor Crate for Pets
  • Material exterior: PVC, Polyester; interior: Polyester
  • Door: Mesh Zippered; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Foldling
  • Sizes: 21-36" Color: Black, Jungle Green

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AmazonBasics Portable Folding Soft Dog Travel Crate Kennel
  • Material exterior: PVC, Polyester; interior: Polyester
  • Door: Mesh Zippered; Portability: Indoor/Outdoor; Storage: Foldling
  • Sizes: 21-42 inches, Color: Black-Beige
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The AmazonBasics Portable Folding Soft Dog Travel Crate Kennel is foldable, meaning that you can place it virtually in any spot that you like without having to make a large spot for the kennel itself. The fold at almost completely flat; store it in a crack that you have in the trunk, shed, or other congested location. When your dog uses it, don’t stress yourself over leaks, which will never occur. It’s the best dog crate for folks that don’t want the burden of always finding a place to put the kennel when no dogs require it.

Pros:
Since it folds, can be tucked away in a confined space or bag when not in use
Doesn’t add to the weight of chubby dogs
The inside doesn’t leak
Cons:
Depending on the climate around the kennel, the inside can get very hot

Best Crash Tested Travel Dog Crates

If concerned about your dog’s car safety, the steel-barred crash tested crates and kennels below are as good as it gets. Most models are big inside, filling in the entire space of a car or trunk. Use them for long trips on the road and keep your dog secured.

Author’s Choice

4x4 North America Variocage Single Crash Tested Dog Cage
  • Material exterior: Steel; interior: Steel, Fiberglass
  • Door Lock: Keys, Hydraulic Motion Springs
  • Sizes: Small, Medium, X-Large

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People’s Choice

4pets ProLine Crash Tested Dog Crate with Aluminum Frame,
  • Material exterior: Aluminum, Steel; interior: Steel, Fiberglass
  • Door Lock: Die-Cast Aluminum, Key
  • Sizes: 19.7 x 32.6 x 21.2"

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Premium Choice

4x4 North America Variocage Double Crash Tested Dog Cage
  • Material exterior: Steel; interior: Steel, Plastic
  • Door Lock: Keys, Hydraulic Motion Springs
  • Sizes: Small-XXX-Large

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4x4 North America Variocage Single Crash Tested Dog Cage
  • Material exterior: Steel; interior: Steel, Fiberglass
  • Door Lock: Keys, Hydraulic Motion Springs
  • Sizes: Small, Medium, X-Large
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The 4×4 North America Variocage Single Crash Tested Dog Cage is strong, durable, and long-lasting. Having undergone numerous crash tests to check for its strength, it’s the dog crate for people that are lots of traveling to do. The steel bars that it’s made from will never crack or brittle. Furthermore, your dogs won’t get their paws stuck in between the bar spaces as they’re all built in a way that allows you to visibly see without pushing through. Highly recommended.

Pros:
Proven to hold up well inn the even of an emergency situation (car crash)
Available in a variety of sizes for different dogs and breeds
The doors lock with a hydraulic mechanism that secures it from even releasing on its own
Cons:
May require the use of tools to adjust and align the hole during assembly

Buyer’s Guide

How to Choose the Right Crate Size

Measure your dog as on the scheme and compare with the dimensions of the crate.

Or just find your dog in the Crate Size / Breed Chart. But remember that your dog may be different from the standard.

Choosing Based on Dog Size

Let’s face it, some dogs need lots of room no matter how small they are. But for others, dog size should be prioritized over all factors when shopping for a new crate. There’s no secret to this tip; simply go with a large size if your dog is big. You can choose based on whether or not they’re greater or less than 50 pounds.

If higher, consider either a medium-sized kennel or bigger. But if lower, you might be able to get away with the smallest. And don’t forget about their growth, more so if your dog is young and of a breed that gets exceptionally larger over a short time. You don’t want them to grow out of their kennel before you’ve even had time to put it to good use!

How to Choose the Best Dog Crate

Your priority when choosing a dog crate is to check that you know how you think that your dog will adjust to it. Some dogs just aren’t cut out for certain crates, while others would feel like a second home to them.

If you must, consider what you’ve used in the past before. How did your dog react to a previous crate? Did they like/dislike it for the odor or was it something else? Secondly, check whether you have the proper amount of space in your home or car before choosing. You don’t want to end up in a situation where the crate is too big for you to put it to good use.

The Number of Dogs you Have

How many dogs do you have? The more that there are, the higher the likelihood of you needing extra space for them all. If that’s the case, consider getting one of the larger sized crates over the smaller ones. This will ensure that all dogs remain happy, especially if your K-9 is expecting puppies sometime soon. Doing this will also keep the puppies from getting stepped on, and give adult mothers the space they need to nurse without getting too uncomfortable.

Indoor or Outdoor?

Dog crates are often made in ways that make them easy to transport. But some are better for indoor or outdoor activities. Usually, the brand will indicate in the product’s description of whether or not it’s made for a specific location. If not, look at the crate’s physical features. Steel bars are typical of car cages, a type most useful in outdoor situations.

These are oftentimes the heaviest that you’ll find around. Yet those made of wood are better for indoor purposes. The traditional metal/steel wire cages are great for either indoor or outdoor locales. Kennels made of fabric materials are recommended for any area but work particularly well outdoor places that entail exposure to the elements, such as campsites.

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Easy of Assemble

Since there are so many varieties of dog cages sold today, you should expect a least a short learning curve when getting the parts put together. Although one might be well-served at viewing a tutorial video on YouTube to see how the sophisticated brands should be set, most are pretty straightforward.

For the most part, you won’t have to do much to get the average dog kennel propped up. Some models are pre-assembled while others can be fixed with a screwdriver and/or wrench. Have either an adjustable wrench or driver on hand before your product arrives at your door. In some cases, nuts and bolts that aren’t a part of the assembly process could loosen on the way to you.

Unless you’ve acquired a folding kennel made of fabric materials, be sure that every built-in screw is secure. Furthermore, consider reading the instruction manual of your product-of-interest before selecting your buy. That way, you’ll have a general idea of what needs to be done to get it put together. If it looks pretty detailed consider getting someone to help you with the assembly when it’s in your possession.

When Storage is Important

Everyone needs a place to put their things into storage areas at some point, and this is no different from pet products. How will you store your crate? There are products featured above that are made from materials that allow them to be folded up. These are normally polyester or PVC but may also consist of nylon or canvas. Whatever the case, understand where you want the crate to be stored before you pick.

Those without folding features usually require lots of space for storage, unless you’re okay with taking everything apart. Depending on the brand and style you pick, this could be easy or require too much overkill to accomplish. If that’s not of concern, then stick to the other normal crates (or heavy-duty products if you’re going to do some extended traveling).

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Summary

Did you find the right product for you? Out of the many reviewed, it could be difficult for you to say which of them is the absolute best. Earlier, the MidWest Homes for Pets Dog Crate was given the number one pick, which still stands.

However, that doesn’t mean that you should settle for it, especially if you want one that’s a little more durable or built according to you or your dog’s individual needs. But rest assured, you’ll be happy with the product you end up with, no matter the choice that you make.

And remember – we are here to help you with your choice. So do not hesitate to ask any questions. We will answer them.

Noah Bennett

Noah grew up dreaming about dogs and now he and his family are happy pet parants of a little crazy but wonderful Beagle. He's with us from the start and been writing about animals since 2005.

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