The 8 Best Dog Crates of 2023

Best Overall

MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate Single Door & Double Door Dog Crates

4.8

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Our best overall pick is the MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate Single Door and Double Door Dog Crate because of its easy assembly, thorough features, and easy-to-clean tray. While many of the other crates that we tested also scored well for their easy-to-clean surfaces, the additional divider in this crate kit set it apart from the rest. Our tester noted this crate’s plastic tray slides out easily, making it simple to clean if any major accidents happen. We also love that this crate has rubberized rolling buffers to protect hardwood, vinyl, or tile flooring. 

This crate from MidWest Homes for Pets passed our lab tests with perfect scores in ease of setup, use, and cleaning. Its basic aesthetic may not win any beauty contests, but it's certainly functional. Testers especially loved the double door model, which makes it a cinch to access the crate from the front or side, adding significantly to the iCrate's flexibility.

Our tester also loved the practicality of this crate coupled with its easy-to-collapse and easy-to-clean design. She said the setup was as simple as pulling the top of the crate up and snapping the hooks into place. Removing the plastic tray was also easy, as there was a slot for it to slide out from the bottom of the crate. A security hook also ensures that the tray stays in its place when your pup is on top of it. 

The only downside our tester noted on this crate is the door does bend when it’s pulled on. Our tester didn’t think the bowing was significant enough for a dog to bust through the door, but it’s still a worthy concern for any owners with especially excitable or high-strung pooches. Despite this one design concern, we’d still recommend this crate as a reliable and basic option that’s sure to last you multiple years and withstand pet wear and tear over time.

Price at time of publish: $50

_{Weight: 8 pounds to 43 pounds (depending on crate size) | Dimensions: 18 x 12 x 14 inches to 48 x 30 x 33 inches (depending on crate size) | Material: Metal crate with plastic pan | Breed Size: Extra-small to extra-large dogs (depending on crate size)}

Best Budget

Amazon Basics Portable Folding Soft Dog Travel Crate

5

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Finding a dog crate that doesn’t break the bank but still does its job well can be challenging. Our testers were very impressed with this crate from Amazon Basics, which has a PVC frame with polyester and mesh fabric cover. This crate has three openings (one at either end of the crate and one on the top) that are secured by zippers. They can also be rolled up and fastened to the top of the crate. This crate is super lightweight, making it a great option for travel, but it doesn’t have a carrying handle, which was slightly disappointing for our tester. 

Our tester was impressed by this crate’s durability. She noted it didn’t budge or break when a sandbag was thrown on top of it and at the front of it. Our tester was concerned about how difficult it might be to clean some of the smaller nooks and crannies within the crate’s frame. Overall, our tester gave this crate flying marks for its durability and ease of setup and use. She said the price fairly matched the product’s performance, plus this crate has an attractive and sturdy design.

Price at time of publish: $66

_{Weight: 5.4 pounds to 10.51 pounds (depending on crate size) | Dimensions: 25.98 x 18.11 x 18.11 inches to 41.73 x 30.71 x 30.71 inches (depending on crate size) | Material: PVC frame with polyester and mesh cover | Breed Size: Small to extra-large dogs (depending on crate size)}

Best Splurge

Diggs Revol Dog Crate

4.8

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If you’re looking for a luxurious and incredibly durable dog crate, we recommend the Diggs Revol Collapsible Dog Crate. This crate collapses when you twist the top handle, and the sides lift up, offering multiple access points for your pet. Our tester was very impressed by how durable this crate is. She said she pulled about 45 pounds against the door, and it did not budge. Throwing multiple sandbags at the crate also did not impact its structure or appearance. Our tester raved about how much she loved this crate’s intuitive design and general aesthetic. 

This crate’s tray is removable so that you can easily clean it, and it has a raised edge to prevent any leakage if accidents do happen while your pet is inside the crate. The crate’s door is secured by a latch that's released by pressing a button, so it’s much more secure than other crates that only have a sliding bolt. Our tester’s only concern was that this crate is not very compact, even when it’s collapsed, so it may not be easily stored under certain pieces of furniture or in small closets. While the price point on this crate is certainly a splurge in anyone’s budget, our tester said she believed the price fairly reflected this crate’s high quality and unique design.

Price at time of publish: $475

_{Weight: 31.3 pounds | Dimensions: 32 x 20 x 22 inches | Material: High grade aluminum, steel mesh wire, and reinforced plastic | Breed Size: Medium}

Best Soft Crate

Noz2Noz Sof-Krate N2 Series Indoor/Outdoor Pet Home

4.6

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Soft crates can be a great option for anyone who doesn’t like the appearance of wire crates or is looking for a lightweight crate that can be moved from room to room. Our tester loved the performance and aesthetics of this soft-sided crate from Noz2Noz. It has three entry points—the front, side, and top—so you can easily accommodate any age and size dog. There are also four crate sizes available, so you can choose one that will best fit your pup. 

This crate held up well to our sandbag tests, showing no visible signs of defects or stress on the zipper. Our tester really liked this crate’s additional clips that secure the zipper pulls together to ensure a dog stays safe inside the crate. While this crate is lightweight, our tester said she missed the ability to carry it from the top, which would make it even easier to move within a home. This crate also does not have an inner tray, and the cloth does not separate from the frame, so it may not be best for puppies or dogs that aren’t housebroken. Overall, this crate is still a great option for a soft-sided crate, and its price point is hard to beat.

Price at time of publish: $94

_{Weight: 5.78 pounds to 11.56 pounds (depending on crate size) | Dimensions: 26 x 18 x 21 inches to 42 x 28 x 32 inches (depending on crate size) | Material: Steel frame with heavy-duty mesh | Breed Size: Extra-small to large (depending on crate size)}

Best Hybrid

Merry Pet 2-in-1 Configurable Pet Crate and Gate

4.4

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There are many crate designs that convert from a gate to an enclosure. Our testers loved the Merry Pet 2-in-1 Configurable Pet Crate and Gate because of its user-friendly design and universality for dogs of all ages. This crate wasn’t too difficult to set up, but it came with lots of pieces, so be sure to keep any small pieces away from your pets during the assembly process. Once it was assembled, our tester said this crate was very easy to switch between a crate and a gate. Her only concern was the size of the pins that secure the top of the crate to the sides. These pins could easily be lost or swallowed by a pet or child, so be sure to keep them in a safe place when not in use. 

When this pick is in crate mode, our tester said the latch would be too difficult for a dog to open, but as a gate, it could easily be knocked or jumped over by a larger dog. Our tester recommended using this option for well-trained dogs or small dogs who cannot knock it over. The bottom tray for this crate is a completely separate piece, making it easy to clean and wipe off. The crate body would also be easy to clean when expanded as a gate. Our tester loved the functionality of this option and said it was reasonably priced for its quality and design.

Price at time of publish: $159

_{Weight: 17.69 pounds or 55.5 pounds (depending on crate size) | Dimensions: 32.5 x 23.5 x 22.5 inches or 40 x 28 x 31.5 inches (depending on crate size) | Material: Solid wood veneer frame with metal cage and plastic tray | Breed Size: Medium to large}

Best for Small Dogs

Fable Pets Crate

4.3

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Our testers couldn’t stop raving about the Fable Pets Crate. It was relatively easy to put together out of the box, similar to the labor intensity of Ikea furniture. Our tester loved the overall design of this crate, which could easily double as a bedside table or end table in a family room. Our tester pointed out that the door on this crate does jiggle when closed, which may be a concern for any pet owners with dogs who scratch at doors. However, choosing the metal crate door may solve the long-term question of the door’s durability. 

This crate has rubber pads that prevent it from scratching hardwood and vinyl floors, but there is no carrying handle, which could make it difficult to move from room to room. This crate also does not have a removable tray, so you must crouch down to reach inside for any cleaning needs. Despite these design concerns, our tester was impressed by this crate’s performance during our sandbag and luggage pull tests. Overall, this crate would be a great option for anyone looking for a luxe crate that would blend into minimalist decor while still being very functional.

Price at time of publish: $395

_{Weight: 50 pounds or 75 pounds (depending on crate size) | Dimensions: 26 x 20 x 23 inches or 34 x 24 x 25 inches (depending on crate size) | Material: Bent wood with options for metal or acrylic doors | Breed Size: Extra-small to medium}

Best for Travel

Petmate Two-Door Top-Load Pet Kennel

4.8

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If you like to take your dog on road trips, you should check out the Petmate Two Door Pet Kennel. It’s easy to attach the top and bottom pieces together, and the door is incredibly secure. Our tester noted the front and top openings also allow for easy cleaning and access to your pet. This crate’s door did not budge when pulled with 33 pounds of force and was not affected by the impact of a sandbag. 

The top carrying handle also makes this crate a great option for city dwellers who commute to their vet's office or groomers. While we love how convenient this crate would be for extra-small to small dog breeds, we wish it was just slightly bigger to accommodate dogs within the 20-pound range. Nonetheless, this crate is a great, lightweight option for any travel situation for owners of small dogs.

Price at time of publish: $67

_{Weight: 6.43 pounds | Dimensions: 24.05 x 16.8 x 14.5 inches | Material: Recycled plastic | Breed Size: Small}