Best Dog Leashes: Standard, Retractable and Hands-Free

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A leash does not need to be expensive, but the right one makes daily walks safer and easier. This page covers the main types of dog leash, how to match length and width to your dog, when a retractable leash makes sense and when it does not, how to keep a leash clean, and our picks for everyday walks, busy streets, a tight budget, hands-free walking and open spaces.

The short answer: for most dogs, start with a standard 4 to 6 foot leash with a sturdy metal clip, sized to your dog’s weight. Add a leash with a second handle near the clip if you walk near traffic or crowds. Keep a retractable leash for a dog that already walks on a loose leash, and only in open, quiet spaces.

How we wrote this: the advice comes from the American Kennel Club (AKC) and from published tests by dog trainers and reviewers, linked where they are used. We did not test these leashes ourselves, and we do not list prices or ratings. If your dog’s pulling, lunging or fear on walks is new or getting worse, talk to your vet or a qualified trainer: a leash will not fix it on its own.

Types of dog leash

The AKC describes these main types, and suggests keeping more than one leash because they get wet, dirty, chewed and worn out:

• Standard flat leash. The most common kind, usually tough nylon, 4 to 6 feet long, inexpensive, strong, waterproof and washable. One with an extra handle closer to the dog is useful in traffic and crowds.
• Retractable leash. A tape or cord inside a plastic handle that extends, sometimes up to 30 feet, and retracts, usually with a lock.
• Long line. A long nylon line you let out and loop back in by hand. It does not extend just because the dog pulls.
• Hands-free and adjustable leashes. Worn around the waist, or used as either a hand leash or a hands-free one.
• Slip lead. A loop collar and leash in one. The AKC says it should only be used with well-trained dogs that are unlikely to duck out of it.
• Others: chain leashes for chewers, double leashes for walking two dogs, and martingale leashes.

Whatever the type, the AKC says to make sure it has a sturdy metal clip to attach to the collar or harness.

Length and width

The AKC says dog trainers recommend starting leash training with a 4 to 6 foot nylon leash. For size, it notes that a very short leash is awkward with a toy breed, while a narrow, light leash is strong enough for a small dog. Big dogs and dogs that are not yet leash trained need a thicker, wider, heavier leash with a padded handle to help prevent leash burn.

Makers size width by weight. PetSafe, for example, suggests 3/8 inch for dogs under 30 lbs, 3/4 inch for 30 to 75 lbs and 1 inch for dogs over 75 lbs, and Mendota suggests its 3/8 inch rope for dogs 50 lbs and under and 1/2 inch for dogs 50 lbs and over. Use the maker’s chart for the leash you buy.

If you walk near a road at night, the AKC says a leash with reflective material is a safer option.

Retractable or standard leash?

A standard leash is the better default for most walks. The AKC’s guide to retractable leashes, written by a certified dog trainer, explains why:

• It rewards pulling. The more the dog pulls, the more leash and freedom it gets. The AKC says to hold off on a retractable leash until your dog walks politely on a standard six-foot leash.
• You cannot reel a pulling dog in. The leash only retracts when it is slack.
• Hitting the end can hurt. The AKC warns never to let your dog run full tilt as the leash releases, because a dog that hits the end can damage its trachea or spine.
• A dropped handle can scare a dog. It bangs along the ground behind the dog, which may panic it into running into the street or away.
• Cords can burn or cut. A thin cord can burn or cut skin, and the AKC says never to grab the leash while your dog is moving.

When a retractable leash does fit, the AKC suggests choosing one with a non-slip handle, a tape rather than a cord (easier to see, less likely to snap), and a shorter length: it calls 26 feet likely too long for most dogs, and says 16 feet is the most common length. It lists an unfenced backyard and large open spaces with no other people or dogs around as good places for one.

Use a standard six-foot leash instead, the AKC says, at the vet and in pet stores, in crowds, around lots of other dogs and on sidewalks. A trainer at Treeline Review gives the same list of places to avoid, and adds that a retractable leash is not a good choice for dogs that pull but can help with recall training and sniffing walks in open areas.

For training a dog that pulls, see how to stop a dog pulling on the leash and our best dog harness for pulling.

Keeping a leash clean and safe

The AKC says some nylon leashes can go in the washing machine in a mesh laundry bag, but only if the maker’s tag says so. Its safest method for nylon is a soak in hot water with a little dog shampoo, a scrub, a thorough rinse and air drying. Leather should be wiped with a damp, soft sponge rather than soaked.

Our view, not a quote from the sources: check the clip, the stitching and the handle before walks, and replace a leash once the webbing frays or the clip sticks. Clip the leash to a sturdy collar or harness ring, not the tag ring. Our best dog collars guide covers the collar end.

Our picks

Mendota Pet Snap Leash

Best everyday leash. A braided polypropylene rope leash with leather splices, in 3/8 inch for dogs 50 lbs and under or 1/2 inch for bigger dogs, 4 or 6 feet long, machine washable (Mendota). A professional dog trainer at Treeline Review named it the best overall leash: light, comfortable, easy to pocket, with a swivel snap that works one handed and no fraying after years of use. The tester wished it were fully waterproof.

Best for: most dogs, daily walks and training. Skip if: you want a second handle or reflective trim.

Max and Neo Triple Handle Leash

Best for busy streets. A 6 foot, 1 inch wide nylon leash with handles at 18 inches, 44 inches and the end, reflective stitching and a metal clasp (Max and Neo). TechGearLab rated it its best overall leash, with the middle handle the most useful; its extra weight was the main complaint.

Best for: medium and large dogs near traffic, crowds and other dogs. Skip if: you have a tiny dog.

PetSafe Nylon Dog Leash

Best budget leash. A plain flat nylon leash in 4 or 6 feet and three widths by dog weight, with a nickel-plated zinc alloy clasp (PetSafe). Treeline Review named it the best affordable leash, but found it stiff to hold at first and said it frayed easily in its durability test.

Best for: small and medium dogs, or a spare by the door or in the car. Skip if: your dog is hard on gear or pulls hard.

Fable Magic Link Hands-Free Leash

Best hands-free. An adjustable cord leash that works as a hand leash, a belt, a cross-body strap or a wrist strap, and can clip on or form a slip loop (Fable). Popular Science named it the best hands-free leash and said it suits well-trained dogs rather than easily distracted ones.

Best for: calm, leash-trained dogs on walks and errands. Skip if: your dog pulls, lunges or chews leashes.

TUG 360 Tangle-Free Retractable Leash

Best retractable. A 16 foot flat tape, which the AKC prefers to a cord, in a housing that swivels so the tape follows a circling dog, with a one-thumb brake and lock (TUG). Popular Science named it the best retractable leash.

Best for: leash-trained dogs in open, quiet places. Skip if: your dog pulls, or you walk on busy sidewalks, at the vet or in crowds.

For collars, harnesses, car gear and carriers in one place, see our leash, harness and carrier buying guide.

FAQ

What length leash is best for a dog?

For most dogs, 4 to 6 feet. The AKC says dog trainers recommend starting leash training with a 4 to 6 foot nylon leash, and a standard six-foot leash is what it suggests in crowds, at the vet and on sidewalks.

Are retractable leashes bad?

Not always, but they are easy to misuse. The AKC says they reward pulling, cannot reel in a pulling dog, and can injure a dog that hits the end at speed. Use one only with a dog that already walks on a loose leash, in open spaces without crowds or other dogs.

What leash is best for a dog that pulls?

A standard, sturdy leash plus training. The AKC says to avoid a retractable leash with a dog that is not leash trained, and suggests a thicker, wider leash with a padded handle for big dogs and dogs still learning. A front-clip harness can help while you train.

Rope or flat nylon leash?

Both work. Our view, not a quote from the sources: rope leashes like the Mendota are soft and easy to grip, while flat nylon is cheap, light and easy to wash. Choose by comfort in your hand and your dog’s size.

How do I wash a dog leash?

The AKC suggests soaking nylon in hot water with a little dog shampoo, scrubbing, rinsing and air drying, and only machine washing if the tag allows it. Wipe leather with a damp, soft sponge.

Can I use a slip lead every day?

The AKC says slip leads should only be used with well-trained dogs that are unlikely to slip out of them. For a dog that pulls, or one with a neck or breathing problem, ask your vet which collar or harness to use.