The 7 Best Dog Pens of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Frisco Wire Dog & Small Pet Exercise Pen with Step-Through Door

4.7

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Exercise pens (sometimes called “x-pens”) are simple playpens made of metal or plastic. They usually have about six or eight side panels that connect together so the entire pen can be configured in a square, rectangle, or octagon shape. This Frisco pen comes in five different heights, which you choose based on your dog’s size and interest in climbing.

Unlike some pens, this one has a step-through door, which makes it easy to walk in when you need to feed your pup or clean up any messes. The door has two sturdy latches which are difficult for pets to open, but sometimes tough for people too.

It’s made of coated wire which should help it last, and make it easier to use outside. The pen is easy to set up: Just unfold and latch together with the enclosed clips. It folds flat for storage and to be moved, but it can be heavy, so it likely won’t be something you want to unfold and set up every day.

“This pen is somewhat heavy (about 25 lbs) and I wouldn't want to lug it around for a long period of time, but carrying it on my own is still doable,” said one tester. “The weight wouldn't deter me from purchasing. It has a latch to hold the ends together, as well, so I didn't have to worry about the doors smacking me in the face while moving. It would fit in most standard car trunks.”

The pen has metal stakes that can help hold it in place when you’re outside on the grass. But one drawback to these pens is that rowdy pups can push them around when they jump on the sides. If that’s the case, try using bricks or exercise weights on the outside of the pen to keep it from moving. That’s the best way to keep the pen in the shape you want. It’s smart to place the pen on a safe surface (like tile or synthetic wood flooring, or even a vinyl remnant that you buy at the hardware store. That will keep the pen from scratching your floor. 

Some agile pups can also climb out, particularly when a pen is too short, so see how your pup acts before leaving them alone.

“It was intuitive to set up and take down,” noted one tester, “and it's still sturdy without being clunky or oversized.”

Price at time of publish: $53 (36-inch)

_{Dimensions: 62 x 62 inches x 24 inches, 62 x 62 x 30 inches, 62 x 62 x 36 inches, 62 x 62 x 42 inches, 62 x 62 x 48 inches︱Material: Metal}

Best Budget

Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Exercise Pet Play Pen

4.2

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This metal pen is easy to set up and take down, but it’s even easier than some because there’s a built-in latch instead of clips. Clips can get wonky from puppy chewing and it’s easy to lose them when you store the pen. (Tip: Clip them all on the top.) Set-up instructions are easy to follow and it has a clip to keep the pen together when folded.

This pen comes with or without a door. Unlike some pens that have step-through doors that don’t take up an entire panel, this gate is one of the eight panels and goes all the way to the ground. That makes it a little difficult to use outdoors because it can get caught on grass or turf when opening and closing.

The medium and large sizes have three latches on the gate. That’s good for security, particularly with crafty pups who want to Houdini their way out. Not all our testers were fans of the hardware, however. “The three latches were also a bit cumbersome, and with more latches, it is more likely to get them misaligned and have difficulty opening the pen,” said one tester.

The pen is less expensive than some, comes in five heights, and has a rustproof black finish. It’s lightweight, so you’ll need to brace the sides to keep a pup from moving it around. You can clip two pens together if you need more space.

“Taking down this pen was very easy, and it was not too heavy so it was easy to carry,” one tester noted. “It also included a clip to keep the pen together while carrying which was nice.” 

Price at time of publish: $40 (30-inch)

_{Dimensions: 48 x 48 x 24 inches, 48 x 48 x 30 inches, 48 x 48 x 36 inches, 48 x 48 x 48 inches, 59.06 x 59.06 x 42 inches | Materials: Metal}

Best Convertible

Richell Convertible Indoor/Outdoor Pet Playpen

4.2

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This multitasking product does triple-duty as a pen, gate, and room divider. It’s made out of relatively lightweight molded plastic and is very easy to clean, as well as assemble and take apart. The panels lock in place at a 90-degree, 120-degree, or 180-degree angle. There’s a lockable gate so it’s easy for owners to move from room to room or get inside the pen to clean.

The pen is “difficult to transport since it's big and clunky,” says one tester, who suggested keeping the original carton if you wanted to take it apart and use it somewhere else. “This pen is more for a permanent fixture in the home or backyard.”

The gate is available with four or six panels and you can attach more if you need a larger pen or want to block off a bigger room. The manufacturer says it’s meant to contain dogs that weigh up to 88 pounds. But because the pen is only 36 inches tall, a large or athletic pup could jump out.

It’s “lightweight, easy to clean, assemble and take apart with clear instructions,” said a tester. “It's made out of durable, rigid, plastic thereby avoiding any rust issues if one decides to keep this in the backyard.” 

Price at time of publish: $333 (6 panel)

_{Dimensions: 63.8 x 33.1 x 36 inches︱Material: Plastic | Color: Tan}

Best Portable

EliteField Two-Door Soft Playpen

4.5

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This pop-up playpen has soft sides, is foldable, and comes with a carrying bag, so it’s easy to take on the road with you or move around your home. There are two zippered doors, and a canvas floor and mesh top that can be zipped on and off. The floor is thin, but waterproof, so it’s helpful if your pup is prone to accidents or splashes in the water bowl. You can take off the bottom if you want to put your dog in the grass and can keep on the top if you worry about an escape artist.

The EliteField 2-Door Dog & Cat Playpen isn’t all that suitable for rambunctious or big dogs. Energetic pups can tip the playpen over or climb out. Teething puppies can chew the canvas or netting. Because it’s so portable and lightweight, it might be a good option for young puppies or older small dogs, particularly at nap time when they need a safe place to stay.

“There are multiple velcro compartments on the sides of the pen that can potentially be used for toys and doggie treats,” said one tester. “And it's spacious enough for almost any dog to roam around in, roll around in and/or sleep within it.”

There are mesh windows for ventilation, handy pockets for storage, and stakes to keep it anchored outside. Rambunctious dogs can learn how to tip this over and clever ones can unzip the zippers so it’s best for less energetic pups. It comes in eight sizes and a rainbow of seven colors.

It’s simple to pop open, but there’s a bit of a learning curve to folding it back up.

“It’s flat enough to pack into a car trunk or stow away in a closet,” said one tester. “However in order to pack it in the bag, it would require the owner to fold it in a certain pattern which can become frustrating for first time users.”

Price at time of publish: $100 (36-inch)

_{Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 20 inches, 36 x 36 x 24 inches, 42 x 42 x 24 inches, 48 x 48 x 32 inches, 52 x 52 x 32 inches, 62 x 62 x 24 inches, 62 x 62 x 30 inches, 62 x 62 x 36 inches︱Materials: Nylon, mesh, fabric | Colors: Brown and beige; beige and green; black and beige; maroon and beige; purple and beige; royal blue and beige; navy blue and beige}

Best Indoor

Iris 4, 6, or 8 Panel Plastic Playpen

4.2

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This pen is a great-looking option when you need to keep a pet out of trouble in the middle of your living room. It comes in gray, black, and white, and is made of molded plastic that will never rust. The panels are easy to assemble and, depending on which version you buy, they connect with built-in latches or long rods.

“This pen was clearly made for people on the go. The setup was easy and intuitive and I could do it by myself,” said one tester. “The instructions were short and simple and I felt like I was able to really easily build the pen.”

Although the playpen is easy to put together and take apart, it’s bulky when disassembled and doesn’t have a carrying case. You’ll need plenty of storage space when you aren’t using it.

One segment includes a dog door that opens and locks with a latch. On the taller pens, the door is only half the size of one panel, so you have to either step over the side (not easy if you’re short) or remove a panel if you need to clean up after your pup.

“I think this would be best for a consumer with a small dog that definitely won't run away who brings the dog to outdoor events (like beach days or park days or backyard hangs) and wants to keep it in a limited area,” said one tester, “or just for someone who wants to keep a small dog/ puppy limited to one area of their house.”

Price at time of publish: $120 (8-panel)

_{Dimensions: 35.13 x 35.13 x 23.75 inches, 60.75 x 60.75 x 23.75 inches, 60.75 x 60.75 x 23.75 inches, 63 x 63 x 34.25 inches | Material: Plastic | Colors: White, black, gray}

Best for Large or Rambunctious Dogs

Yaheetech Heavy Duty Wire Dog & Cat Playpen, Black

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This sturdy metal pen is so much more solid than pretty much every other kind of pen. It’s made of metal tube frames and wire panels, covered in a rust-resistant coating. There’s a very convenient step-through gate and eight panels that can be moved around to create a square, octagon, or rectangle pen. (You can also buy it with 24 or 32-inch tall panels for smaller dogs.)

The biggest issue our testers had was assembly. You don’t need tools to assemble it, but it takes some time and works better if you have a second person to help you. 

“This pen is difficult to set up but once set up it is a good sturdy option for a larger dog,” said one tester. “The pins to lock the frames into place/connect them also serve as stakes to embed into the dirt/grass/sand for added stability.”

The heavy weight makes it great for big or rowdy dogs, but it’s probably not the best choice for traveling. It’s available in a couple of different heights so you can choose based on the current (or projected) size of your puppy. 

The step-through door is convenient for humans, but can be high for a small dog. Depending on the size of the pen, there are 1-2 latches on the gate. The gate just sits inside hinges, so it can come off if you move the pen or lift up the door.

“This is a much-better option for energetic dogs that push a traditional pen all over the floor,” said a tester. “Just plan on setting it up and not moving it a lot.”

Price at time of publish: $133 (32-inch)

_{Dimensions: 128 x 128 x 40 inches, 128 x 128 x 32 inches, 128 x 128 x 24 inches | Material: Metal}