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A pet gate is a useful tool for sectioning off a space where your pet can hang out while permitting two-way viewability—your dog won’t feel like you’ve left them all alone, and you can easily observe their behavior. The right pet gate can keep your pal out of harm's way, limit their interactions with visitors, and increase your ability to control potential triggers from crossing their path. It should be tall enough to prevent your pet from hopping over and wide enough to section off your chosen space.
We bought 22 bestselling pet gates and sent them out to volunteer testers to try out in their homes with their pets. Our testers took photos, made notes, and followed a review methodology written by pet product experts. Alongside their pets, our testers evaluated the performance, functionality, and aesthetics of their pet gate, then reported their impressions.
After months of testing, our favorite pet gate is the Richell Wood Freestanding Gate. Its standalone design doesn't require any installation, the width is expandable, and the structure is sturdy. "It's incredibly effective,” said our tester, who uses the gate to protect their blind dog from wandering into potential hazards.
But there are other gates our testers loved that might better fit your space, budget, and needs.
Best Overall
Richell Wood Freestanding Gate
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Amazon
Freestanding, no installation required and does not rely on pressure mounting
Wood-finish in three shades: Light, Medium and White
Wipe to clean
Rubber feet to prevent slipping
Folds flat for storage
Minimal assembly required with flathead screwdriver
Our tester found the gate to be sturdy and reliable
Easy for most adults to walk over the height of 20.1 inches if needed
Available in two expandable widths, 26.4-40.2 inches or 39.8-71.3 inches
Side panels help ensure your pet cannot escape
Might not be tall enough for larger dogs or dogs that tend to jump
Not recommended for use at the top of a staircase
No pet door
In our testing trial, the Richell Wood Freestanding Pet Gate received the highest rating possible, and while no product is perfect, this gate offers ease of setup, versatility, and reliability. Plus, the wood finish is available in three shades, medium, light, and white (note: availability varies among retailers), to complement most home settings.
"This is a high-quality gate with wood and metal panels and rubber feet on the bottom to provide extra stability and staying power," our tester said.
This freestanding gate has side panels providing additional encasement alongside doorways and hallways. With perpendicular legs, two at each end extending from the base, the gate is able to firmly stand upright on its own and rubber feet at the bottom reinforce the stance of this sturdy barrier. "We have a blind dog, so he bumps into everything and is easily startled. I take comfort in knowing he can collide with this gate and it won't topple over and frighten or injure him."
It requires a flathead screwdriver for assembly, but our tester was able to position the gate in their home in less than 15 minutes. There are no wall attachments nor does it rely on pressure mounting to stay in place. From our collective testing experience, this significantly reduces the potential for any accidental damage to your space during setup.
All sizes of the gate have a height of 20.1 inches allowing most adults the ability to carefully step over the gate to gain access to their pet. There are two expandable widths available, 26.4 to 40.2 inches or 39.8 to 71.3 inches. It is suitable for use throughout a home, but for safety, it should never be positioned at the top of a staircase.
Price at time of publish: $128
Best Budget
Carlson Pet Products Extra Wide Walk-Thru Pet Gate
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Carlson Pet Products
Built-in pet door, 8 x 8 inches, and walk-through door for humans
Pressure-mounted, no drilling into walls required
Easy lever-style handle with one-touch release safety lock
Chew-resistant steel
Additional hardware included to reinforce gate if desired
Our tester's dog batted at the gate and it stayed firmly in place
Our tester felt the instructions could be clearer and recommends checking out videos online for proper setup
Tester's dog was able to squeeze through the smaller door meant for cats
This reasonably priced pet gate offers flexibility. The Carlson Pet Products Extra Wide Walk-Thru Pet Gate is chew-resistant and features both a small pet door and a walk-through door for humans. Our tester found the use of the larger door and the pet door to be very convenient. However, their dog was able to squeeze through the smaller door, so they recommend keeping it shut when a secure barrier is needed. "My dog cannot move the gate despite jumping up on it and batting it with his paws." The package does include additional screws to reinforce the gate, but our tester did not feel that was necessary.
They also found the instructions to be unsubstantial, a comment that came up frequently with products from Carlson Pet Products that we tested. Fortunately, there are instructional videos online for guidance. Once installed, our tester found this reasonably priced pet gate to be reliable and sturdy with useful features.
Price at time of publish: $44
Best Retractable
Smart Retract Retract-A-Gate
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Smart Retract
Scratch resistant
Two widths available, 52 or 72 inches
Available in three colors, white, beige, and black
Safe for use at the top of a staircase
Suitable for indoor and outdoor use
Certified to withstand up to 200 pounds of push out force
Childproof lock
Our tester found installation instructions and process to be straightforward
Hands-free wind-up
Made in the USA
Design is not compatible with all doorways, including those with molding at the bottom
The Smart Retract Retract-A-Gate has a sturdy, see-through mesh barrier designed to withstand up to 200 pounds of push-out force. It's suitable for indoor and outdoor use and even has a childproof lock to prevent accidents. "I like having this gate at the top of the stairs so that my dog doesn't come rushing down when I open the front door," shared our tester.
Once you've selected the space you'd like to contain, drilling is required to securely place the wound-up gate on one side with the corresponding brackets installed on the opposite side. The gate extends 52 inches wide and is 34 inches tall. When not in use, simply unlock and the gate will roll up on its own. Our tester found the installation to be straightforward, but if you have decorative molding in your home, the installation of brackets might be tricky. The gate is available in three neutral colors, beige, white, and black, so you can select the scratch-resistant shade of mesh that best works in your space.
Price at time of publish: $149
Best Accordion
Primetime Petz 360 Configurable Gate with Door
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Amazon
Freestanding, lightweight, and easy to move around
Wood-finish in two shades walnut and white
Available in three heights, 24, 30, or 36 inches
No assembly required
Four panels with 360-degree hinges can be configured and folded
Easy to store
Built-in pet door
Easy for large sized dog to knock over
No option for additional reinforcement
With this accordion-style pet gate, you can arrange a playpen, section off a corner in a room, block a doorway, and just as easily fold it all up and stash it in a closet. The PrimeTime Petz 360 Configurable Gate is freestanding and composed of four panels, each with 360-degree hinges, so it can be arranged to fit a variety of spaces.
"The gate is sturdy and doesn't move when my dog nudges against it," shared our tester. They placed the gate throughout their home but found it especially useful in front of a window sill to keep their dog from jumping up to search for bunnies in the backyard.
It requires no assembly and has feet with rubber pads that help keep the gate in place and protect your floors. It's available in two wooden finishes, white and walnut, and in three heights 24, 30, or 36 inches. It also has a built-in pet door so you don't have to move the entire gate to let your pet roam freely.
Price at time of publish: $108
Best Pressure-Mounted
Cumbor Auto-Close Pet Gate
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Courtesy of Amazon
Available in black, gray, white, and brown
Built-in door can be opened from both sides, swings shut and locks automatically
Easy to assemble
Can be used at the top of a staircase
Suitable for larger pets and human babies
Retails for $200, making it the most expensive pet gate on our list, but often on sale
The Cumber Auto-Close Pet Gate has a built-in door that swings shut and locks automatically to safely keep your dog contained.
"I don't think I've used a better quality gate than this one," our tester said. "It's great for all dogs, even high-energy dogs."
The pressure-mounted gate has four connection points to keep it in place, and the pass-through door can be opened from both sides with an ergonomically designed latch. It can support up to 150 pounds and is suitable for use at the top of a staircase. The gate is 30.5 inches tall and expands from 29.5 to 46 inches to fit a variety of spaces in a home. Our tester found the installation process to be straightforward but very important to follow closely for the best results.
Price at the time of publish: $90
Best Freestanding
Carlson Pet Products Large Freestanding Pet Gate
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Courtesy of Walmart
Freestanding, no installation required and does not rely on pressure mounting
Expandable from 41 to 70 inches
28 inches tall to contain medium to large-sized dogs
Walnut wood finish with black steel bars
Our tester found it easy to walk over the pet gate—so did their cat
No built-in pet door
Our tester felt the setup instructions were not thoroughly written and the latches were difficult to close
The Carlson Pet Products Large Freestanding Pet Gate is 28 inches tall, plus it expands from 40 to 70 inches, making it one of the largest pet gates on our list. This makes it an excellent freestanding alternative to our overall favorite pick—the Richell Wood Freestanding Gate—especially for owners of larger breed dogs. It's designed to contain medium to large-sized dogs, from roam-loving Aussies to fluffy Goldendoodles. For the secure expansion of the gate's width, there are four latches that can be opened and locked in place.
Our tester, who is 5 foot 2 inches tall, found it easy to step over the gate and so did their cat, but it was an effective barrier for containing their 35-pound dog. The freestanding structure is lightweight so they were able to pick up and place the pet gate in a variety of locations throughout their home. The pet gate does require assembly, and our tester felt the instructions that came inside the box lacked important details on how to best put the gate together. It took them less than an hour to set up, but once it was assembled, the use of the pet gate was straightforward. Four perpendicular legs help to stabilize the pet gate in an upright position and prevent the structure from sliding across the flooring if pushed.
Price at time of publish: $70
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People/Lu Han
Best Portable
North States MyPet Paws Portable Petgate
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MyPet
Expandable 26 to 40 inches
Easy to follow instructions and no tools required for setup
Rubber bumpers on the sides to protect walls
Made in the USA
Made of plastic
Only suitable for containment of small dogs
Weighing only 6 pounds, the North State MyPet Portable Pet Gate is a lightweight pressure-mounted gate that's portable and easy to expand. "This pet gate has a tool-free setup and basically came ready to be lodged between a door or hallway," our tester shared.
The gate is made of plastic and features rubber bumpers along each side to protect the walls where it is placed. It can extend from 26 to 40 inches using a built-in lever. The gate is best for petite puppers or low-energy dogs that won't try to knock it out of their way. Our tester's 12-pound dog jumped on the gate and there were no signs of wear. "The plastic feels durable and I think this gate will last a long time."
The gate is available in two shades of gray and features a paw-shaped pattern throughout.
Price at time of publish: $24
Best Convertible
Regalo Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard
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Courtesy of Amazon
Very long gate can fit openings up to 192 inches wide
Built-in walk-through door with double lock lever handle
Versatile hardware-mount system included for large, angled, and uneven openings
Suitable for medium to large dogs and human babies
Folds flat for storage
Useful for open floor plans and wide entryways
Can be mounted with hardward or stands on its own
Only available in white
Might be too large for use in an apartment
Not recommended for use a top of a staircase
With eight panels on hinges, the Regalo Super Wide Adjustable Baby Gate and Play Yard can be configured in a variety of shapes to fit your pet gate needs. Whether standing upright on its own in a circular formation for use as a playpen or fully extended all 192 inches and mounted for more permanent use, this sturdy gate offers versatility and peace of mind knowing your pet is secure.
A built-in walk-through door is located in the middle of the gate that extends 192 inches wide with a height of 28 inches. Our tester used the gate in their kitchen for potty training and also took advantage of the lightweight, foldable design of the gate by bringing it to a friend's home to separate their dog from another when it needed some alone time. "It's pretty easy to set up, change pen size, and shape with minimal fuss since you don't need tools," shared our tester.
The flexible shape of the gate is perfect for open floorplans and wide entryways as well as hallways and doorways positioned at an angle. It's suitable for use with babies and large dogs, but we recommend keeping them on opposite sides of the gate for safety.
Price at time of publish: $93
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People/Jake Green
Best for Small Dogs
Carlson Pet Products Lil' Tuffy Expandable Gate with Small Pet Door
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Bed Bath & Beyond
Expandable
Built-in pet door
Chew-resistant steel
Easy for most adults to step over gate
Pressure mounted
Rubber grips on sides to protect doorway
Not recommended for homes with large dogs because they will most likely knock it over
If you have a small dog in your home, the Carlson Pet Products Lil Tuffy Expandable Pet Gate is a convenient, chew-resistant barrier that will keep them in or out of a desired space. "We used this gate in a few areas our cat likes to go, but we needed to keep the pups away from," shared our tester who found the installation process to be simple and straightforward.
The short pet gate with a height of 18 inches is pressure-mounted with protective and effective rubber grips, so you don't have to drill any holes in your walls. It's expandable and can accommodate openings that are 22 to 38 inches wide. A convenient pet door that measures 9 by 9 inches allows you to open up access to your small friend without the need to uninstall the full gate.
Price at time of publish: $22
Best Walk-Thru
Summer Infant Multi-Use Decorative Extra Tall Walk-Thru Baby Gate
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Amazon
Built-in door is 19 inches wide
Suitable for use at top of staircase
Available in three colors: bronze, white, and black
Suitable for pets and toddlers
Two installation options, pressure-mounted or drilled in place
Hold open and auto-shut door with safety stopper
Instructions are easy to understand
Cannot be used as stand alone gate
Come and go as you please through the 19-inch door with a decorative arch on the Summer Infant Multi-Use Decorative Extra Tall Walk-Thru Baby Gate. The door has a safety setting that can be used to keep it open in place or to auto-shut behind you.
This sturdy gate can be pressure mounted or drilled into place in a doorway or between two walls with the provided hardware. Our tester found the instructions easy to understand and the aesthetically agreeable gate easy to install in their home. "I love the look of it—it's just a classic metal, but the color is neutral enough to work for any room."
It comes in three colors, bronze, white, and black, and expands from 28.5 to 48 inches to fit a variety of spaces.
Price at time of publish: $59
Our favorite pet gate is the Richell Wood Freestanding Gate, which is sturdy, easy to set up, and attractive. For a convenient, retractible option check out the Smart Retract Retract-a-Gate instead.
How We Tested
We researched and selected 22 pet gates and sent each one to a real home with a pet for real-world testing.
Within each participating household, our human tester set up their pet gate according to the instructions provided taking note of any difficulties encountered, tools required, and overall installment duration. Over the course of two weeks, our testers gathered insights, documented their experience, and provided feedback in the following categories: ease of setup, ease of use, durability, and value. They were also asked if they would recommend the pet gate they tested.
Equipped with this first-hand information, we ranked and categorized our top picks. All of our recommendations received very high marks from our testers.
What To Look For in Pet Gates
Height and Built-in Doors
The height of the gate you select should be tall enough to prevent your pet from hopping over. If you have a smaller dog, a lower height may be sufficient. With a shorter gate, most adults will easily be able to step over as needed. Some taller gates have a door for humans and/or a smaller door built-in for small pets which can provide flexibility for you to determine when your pet can come and go without the need to uninstall the gate.
Durability
Durability is high on the list of things to look for when shopping for a pet gate. After all, if your large dog can plow right through it, it won’t do you a lot of good. Steel pet gates are usually considered the most durable, but they can be heavy and cumbersome. Aluminum is another durable option that offers a lot of strength in a more lightweight design. Other options are wood and plastic. Plastic is considered the least durable of the bunch, but if you have a pet who won’t try to jump up on the gate, it’s still a good option.
Materials
Materials don’t just matter for durability. They also play a big role in the aesthetic of your pet gate. If you’re blocking off an out-of-the-way area, you might not care much about how the gate looks, but if the pet gate is going in a main area of your home, you might want it to blend in with your decor a little more. Wood and steel gates have a higher-end look, while plastic and aluminum may stand out a little more.
Installation
Another important thing to consider is how it’s mounted. Pressure-mounted pet gates are wedged into place by putting pressure on the door frame or walls around them. They don’t require drilling and don’t put holes in your walls. They work best for the bottom of stairways or in doorways, but can’t block off a room without something to hold onto. Hardware-mounted pet gates are similar to pressure-mounted in that they need walls or a door frame to secure to, but they’re installed using screws and are generally considered sturdier than pressure-mounted. We recommend hardware-mounted gates for use at the top of stairways.
Another option is freestanding gates, which have feet that allow them to stand up in any room, without the need for a door frame or walls to mount to. Freestanding gates aren’t as secure as either pressure-mounted or hardware-mounted gates, but they give you more flexibility since you can use them to block off any room, with or without a door frame.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This roundup was written by Anna Mejorada, a writer for The Spruce Pets, who shares her home with a lovely pomeranian named Gidget. Before researching and writing about pet products for a living, Mejorada embarked on a self-mandated, ongoing quest to find the optimal items for her dog. She is now delightfully devoted to helping humans discover and select the most favorable products for their pets.
A previous version was written by Lindsay Boyers, a cat mom of three and a dog mom of two large breeds.
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