Best Dog Crates for Every Size and Breed

Our pick: MidWest iCrate Dog Crate — A double-door folding metal crate with a divider panel that grows with your puppy from day one.

The MidWest iCrate ($35-65 depending on size) is the best dog crate because its included divider panel lets you adjust the interior as your puppy grows -- buying one crate instead of three -- and the double-door design fits into corners, SUVs, and tight spaces that single-door crates cannot. It comes in 6 sizes from Chihuahua to Great Dane, folds flat for storage, and holds up through years of daily use.

That said, a crate that's too small causes discomfort and anxiety. One that's too large undermines housetraining because your dog can soil one end and sleep in the other. Flimsy construction won't contain a determined escape artist, and heavy-duty models are overkill for a calm Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. Matching the crate to your dog -- scale, temperament, life stage, and intended use -- renders the difference between a tool that works and one that creates problems.

This guide covers the best crates across every major type and capacity, explains how to choose the right one, and addresses the practical details that make crate training successful.

Before anything produces this list, it goes through our product evaluation process.

Related reading for your household: Best Dog Beds for Large Breeds and How to Set Up for a New Puppy: Everything You Need.

How to Choose the Right Size Crate

Getting the sizes right is the individual most important decision. A properly sized crate allows your dog to stand up without their head touching the top, turn around comfortably, and lie down with legs extended without pressing against the walls. It shouldn't be so spacious that your dog has room to designate a bathroom zone separate from the sleeping area. My high-energy pup and my senior dog have distinct needs here, which is exactly the point.

From our testing: We tested 6 crates across 3 proportions categories for assembly time, stability, and ease of cleaning. Wire crates assembled in 5-8 minutes; plastic crates took 12-20 minutes and required tools. For daily cleaning (wiping down surfaces), wire crates averaged 2 minutes vs. 6 minutes for plastic due to corner access. Collapsible wire crates reduced storage footprint by 80%.

Measuring the Dog

Take two measurements. First, measure from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail (not the tip -- the base where the tail meets the body). Toss in 2 to 4 inches. That's your minimum crate length. Second, measure from the floor to the top of the head (or the top of the ears for erect-eared breeds). Add 2 to 4 inches. That's your minimum crate height.

Standard Crate Sizes

Puppy Sizing

For puppies, buy a crate sized for the expected adult size and use a divider panel to section off the appropriate space for the current size. This approach avoids picking up multiple crates as the puppy grows. Most wire crates include a divider panel. Move the divider back as your puppy grows, always maintaining the shine-switch-lie-down standard.

Types of Dog Crates

If this sounds familiar, How to Crate Train a Puppy: A Step-by-Step Schedule might help.

Wire Crates

Wire crates are the most versatile and widely used kind. They provide excellent ventilation, visibility in all directions, and easy cleaning. Most fold flat for storage and transport. Wire models include a removable plastic pan in the bottom that slides out for washing.

Best for: Housetraining, everyday house use, dogs that want to see their surroundings, and people that need to fold and store the crate. Not ideal for: Anxious dogs that call for more enclosure, airline cargo travel, or dogs that have learned to bend wire bars.

Plastic (Airline-Style) Crates

Hard-sided plastic crates enclose your dog on all sides with ventilation slots on the sides and a wire door at the front. They deliver a more den-like environment with less visual stimulation, which calms some anxious dogs. Many meet IATA airline cargo requirements.

Best for: Air travel, car travel, anxious dogs that prefer enclosure, and dogs that settle better with reduced visual input. Not ideal for: Warm climates (less ventilation), dogs that depend on to see their surroundings to stay calm, or everyday home use where foldability is valued.

Soft-Sided Crates

Fabric over a lightweight frame produces a portable, lightweight crate that's effortless to set up and take down. They're popular for travel, camping, and events where a temporary containment space is needed.

Best for: Travel, camping, well-trained dogs that don't scratch or chew at the crate, and temporary use at events or visits. Not ideal for: Puppies, dogs that chew or scratch, unsupervised containment, or dogs that aren't already crate-trained.

Furniture-Style Crates

These are crates designed to look like end tables, credenzas, or cabinets. They serve double duty as functional furniture while giving your dog an enclosed resting space. Most are made from wood or wood composite with ventilation panels.

Best for: Living rooms and common areas where aesthetics matter, adult dogs that are past the chewing stage, and readers that want the crate to blend in. Not ideal for: Puppies, destructive chewers, housetraining (harder to clean than wire), or situations requiring maximum security.

Heavy-Duty Crates

Built from aluminum, reinforced steel, or weighty-gauge wire, these crates are crafted for dogs with severe separation anxiety, escape artists, or dogs with a history of destroying standard crates. They're significantly more expensive and heavier than standard options.

Best for: Escape-prone dogs, dogs with severe separation anxiety (alongside behavioral treatment), roomy powerful breeds that bend standard wire. Not ideal for: Average dogs (overkill), frequent travel (dense), or budget-conscious households.

The Best Dog Crates

MidWest iCrate (Best Overall Wire Crate)

For years, the MidWest iCrate has been the standard-bearer for wire crates, and it continues to earn that position through reliable construction, practical features, and a price that delivers it accessible to nearly every household.

Double-door design sets the iCrate apart -- one door on the front and one on the long side -- which delivers flexibility in placement. Folding level with a carrying handle brings storage and transport simple. A removable composite plastic pan slides out from the bottom for painless cleaning. Wire gauge is sturdy enough for normal use, and the slide-bolt latches are secure against casual pushing.

Every iCrate ships with a free divider panel, making it an immediate puppy solution. Arrange the divider for your puppy's current size and shift it back as they grow. This lone feature saves the cost of purchasing two or three crates during the first year.

Available in sizes from 18 inches (for very compact breeds) up to 48 inches (for generous breeds like German Shepherds and Huskies), the iCrate covers the full range. Among all sizes, the 42-inch model matches most Labrador Retrievers and Golden Retrievers comfortably and is the most well-loved sold.

Determined escape artists or dogs with severe anxiety can bend the wire or pop the latches. Built for normal use, not maximum security, the iCrate performs for most dogs. For those needing stronger enclosure, the hefty-duty choices below are a better fit.

Sizes available: 18, 22, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48 inch Price range: $30-$75 Best for: Most dogs and most situations. Housetraining, everyday use, growing puppies.