Best Dog Crates: Wire, Heavy Duty and Travel Picks

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A good dog crate is the right size, sturdy enough for your dog, easy to clean and simple to fold away. This page covers the crate types and what each is good for, how to size a crate, what makes one safer or stronger, how to use it kindly, and our four picks: three folding wire crates at different strengths and one plastic kennel for small dogs and travel.

The short answer: for most dogs, a folding wire crate with two doors, a divider and a leak-proof pan is the practical choice. Size it to your dog’s adult size and use the divider while a puppy grows. The MidWest LifeStages Double Door was CNN Underscored’s best dog crate after testing. No wire crate is escape proof, so a dog that panics in a crate needs a vet or trainer, not just a stronger crate.

How we wrote this: crate types, sizing and training advice come from the AKC and Humane World for Animals, and the test results from CNN Underscored and Vetstreet, linked where used. Product facts come from the makers. We have not tested these crates ourselves, and we do not show prices or star ratings. If your dog is distressed in a crate, see your vet or a qualified trainer.

Which type of crate?

The AKC says the right type depends on your budget, whether your dog chews and what you want the crate for, and that it should be secure enough to prevent an escape and easy to assemble and take apart. In its words:

• Metal (wire) crates are best for dogs that chew through other materials. They are the sturdiest you can buy and give good air flow and visibility, but are not the best looking. A fabric cover adds privacy.
• Plastic crates work at home and as travel carriers. Pick one that is durable, well ventilated and airline approved if you plan to fly. They are easy to clean.
• Wood crates are usually the most attractive and the priciest, often double as furniture, but are heavier and harder to clean.
• Soft crates are an economical choice for a small dog that will not chew them. They are light and fold down, but are harder to clean after an accident.

How to size a dog crate

The AKC says your dog needs room to sit, stand and lie down comfortably, but a crate that is too large can encourage your dog to toilet in one end. Humane World for Animals says the crate should be large enough for your dog to stand up and turn around in, and that a growing dog needs a crate that fits their adult size. For puppies, the AKC suggests a crate as large as the typical adult size of the breed, with a divider you move as the puppy grows.

To measure, the AKC says to measure your standing dog from the top of the head to the floor and from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail, and add 3 to 4 inches to each. Our dog crate size chart walks through it with sizes by weight.

Strength: what the tests found

CNN Underscored tested crates by applying 50 lbs of pressure to the doors. Of the three MidWest wire crates it tried:

• The LifeStages was the best wire crate it tested. Its door warped a little and opened a small gap at the top under pressure.
• The Ultima Pro has thicker wire and smaller gaps, but did only slightly better than the LifeStages and was much heavier.
• The iCrate, the lightest, buckled and opened large gaps around the door, and the tester calls it a decent crate only for dogs that are already trustworthy and crate trained.

The tester’s wider point: any dog with a real desire to escape could get out of a wire crate, and if you think your dog may hurt itself trying, do not use a crate that is not built to be escape proof. CNN names the Impact High Anxiety crate as one built for that. It is not in our catalog.

Using a crate kindly

• Never as punishment. Humane World for Animals says a crate can manage behavior but should never be used for punishment, and that a crate is not a magical solution to behavior problems.
• Not for too long. It says puppies under six months should not stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time, and that a dog crated all day and night does not get enough exercise or company and can become depressed or anxious.
• Build it up slowly. It describes feeding meals in the crate and lengthening the time step by step, and says to wait until your dog stays quiet for about 30 minutes with you mostly out of sight before leaving them crated while you are out. See how to crate train a puppy.
• Make it comfortable. The AKC suggests a machine-washable bed or mat for dogs that do not chew fabric. Our guide on how to wash a dog bed covers crate pads too.
• Separation anxiety is different. If your dog panics when left, read should you crate a dog with separation anxiety and talk to your vet.

Our view, not a quote from the sources: take off tags and loose collars before your dog is crated alone, so nothing can catch on the wire.

Our picks

MidWest LifeStages Double Door Folding Dog Crate

Best overall. A folding wire crate with front and side doors, slide-bolt latches with locking tips, a divider panel and a leak-proof pan, in sizes from 22 to 48 inches (MidWest). CNN Underscored named it its best dog crate: lighter than the Ultima Pro, sturdier and easier to set up than the iCrate. It noted stiff front door hinges on its test unit.

Best for: puppies and most adult dogs at home. Skip if: your dog is a determined escape artist.

MidWest Ultima Pro Double Door Folding Dog Crate

Best for strong dogs. MidWest’s professional-gauge, heavy duty steel crate with rounded corners, two doors and a leak-proof pan, in sizes from 24 to 48 inches (MidWest). Vetstreet named it the best overall dog travel crate, but warned that sturdy also means heavy, and CNN found it only slightly stronger than the LifeStages in its test.

Best for: big, strong dogs that lean on or test their crate. Skip if: you need to carry the crate often, or your dog panics in a crate.

MidWest iCrate Double Door Folding Dog Crate

Best light crate for calm dogs. The lightest of the three, with two doors, a divider and a leak-proof pan, sold in seven sizes. In CNN’s test the door buckled under pressure and setup pinched the tester’s fingers, so it suits a dog that is already happy and settled in a crate.

Best for: calm, crate-trained dogs and a second crate for travel. Skip if: your dog pushes or chews at the door.

Petmate Pet Porter Plastic Travel Kennel

Best for small dogs and travel. A hard plastic kennel with a steel door, a squeeze latch and side vents, in sizes for pets up to about 25 lbs. Petmate says it meets most airline requirements, but check with your airline. It gives a more den-like space than wire.

Best for: small dogs, car trips and vet visits. Skip if: your dog is medium or large, since this line is for small pets.

See all beds and crates, or our dog beds and crates buying guide.

FAQ

What is the best type of crate for a dog?

For most dogs at home, a folding wire crate. The AKC says metal crates are the sturdiest you can buy and best for dogs that chew through other materials. Plastic crates are better for travel and flying, and soft crates only suit small dogs that will not chew.

What size crate does my dog need?

One your dog can sit, stand, turn around and lie down in comfortably, but not much bigger. The AKC says to measure your standing dog’s height and length and add 3 to 4 inches. See our dog crate size chart.

Is a heavy duty crate escape proof?

Not if it is a wire crate. CNN Underscored found the heavier Ultima Pro only slightly stronger than the LifeStages in its door test, and says any dog with a real desire to escape could get out of a wire crate. A dog that panics in a crate needs help from your vet or a trainer.

Should a puppy crate have a divider?

Yes. The AKC suggests buying a crate for your puppy’s adult size and using a divider to adjust the space as the puppy grows, so there is no spare room to toilet in.

How long can a dog stay in a crate?

Humane World for Animals says puppies under six months should not stay in a crate for more than three or four hours at a time, and that a dog crated all day and night does not get enough exercise or company. Plan breaks, a walker or daycare for long days.

Is crating cruel?

Not when it is done well. Humane World for Animals says to never use the crate as punishment and not to leave a dog in it too long, and a vet quoted by CNN Underscored, Dr. Hannah Hart, recommends crates for building routines and safe containment.