The 6 best dog crates of 2024, tested and reviewed

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Whether you have a full-grown pooch or a curious new puppy, a dedicated crate is a valuable tool for training and a must-have for travel. These enclosed structures also provide a cozy den for your dog to relax as well as the security to keep them (and your sneakers) safe when you're not around. While several different types are available, the best dog crates are comfortable for your dog to spend time in, convenient for you to use, and easy to keep clean.

I've personally used crates to train my own dogs and to temporarily house foster dogs over the years. I've also tested and reviewed other furniture-type products with a similar focus on assembly and durability, such as beach tents and lawn chairs. Throughout a comprehensive testing process, I evaluated 10 dog crates for ease of use, structural strength, security, and portability. After comparing my results, I can confidently declare the Midwest Life Stages Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate the top dog crate. It has a rugged construction, secure double doors, and a convenient folding design for storage. But if you're looking for the most travel-friendly crate, the Frisco Plastic Dog and Cat Kennel is your best bet, which is sturdy and secure but lightweight enough to carry to and from your destination comfortably.

Read more about how Business Insider Reviews tests and reviews pet products.

Our top picks for the best dog crates

Best overall: Midwest Life Stages Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate - See at Chewy

Best budget: Frisco Heavy Duty Fold and Carry Double Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate - See at Chewy

Best plastic kennel for travel: Frisco Plastic Dog and Cat Kennel - See at Chewy

Best furniture: Frisco Double Door Furniture Style Dog Crate - See at Chewy

Best soft: Elite Field 3-Door Soft-Sided Collapsible Dog Crate - See at Chewy

Best crash-tested: Gunner G1 Kennel - See at Gunner

Best overall

Despite its heavy-duty construction and sturdy frame, this Midwest wire crate is still convenient to fold down when it's time to store it away. Assembly takes a little more effort than you might expect. I had to do some pushing and pulling to hook the sides and top into place, but after a little practice, the process took me less than a minute.

The crate has a door on the front and one on the side. Both doors have secure latches that require two movements to unlock, greatly reducing the chances of them opening inadvertently. The medium crate held up well to my 30-pound pulling test, and another reporter who tested the extra large size found it just as sturdy and recommended it for large dogs. However, the crate's durable materials add to its weight, and the 26-pound size medium crate wasn't the easiest to transport.

Torie Silletto, a certified dog trainer, behavior consultant, and founder of Diamond Dogs, says a wire crate is the most secure and comfortable option and recommends this exact model. She says the removable divider is a major perk for those with puppies because you can create a smaller space ideal for housetraining.

Best budget

If you're interested in a wire crate, and our top pick is unavailable or out of your price range, this is a fantastic alternative. It has many of the same valuable features as the Midwest Life Stages Double Door Crate, including two access doors and a removable floor tray for cleaning. In my strength test, it performed well, with marginally more flexion than the Midwest model.

The slightly thinner wire most likely contributes to the crate's lighter weight (21 pounds for the medium size, the lightest of any wire crate I tested). Add to that the crate's rolling rubber feet, and you'll find it is fairly easy to scoot it around the room. It also folds down to just 3 inches in depth when not in use, and built-in hooks ensure it maintains a narrow footprint for closet or garage storage.

Best plastic kennel for travel

Even though this kennel weighs less than any hard-sided crate I tested (the medium size is just 10 pounds), it doesn't compromise on security, with a thick plastic body and two-position metal door lock. It even features extra holes on the top and bottom of the door frame for threading through zip ties for air travel. When carrying it during testing with a 20-pound sandbag inside, the top carrying handle never felt like it was in danger of failing, breaking, or pulling off.

Assembly was a little time-consuming, but threading and tightening the 10 wing nuts wasn't particularly difficult. I appreciated the extra peace of mind I got from knowing how tight and strong it's put together. Shelby Semel, senior trainer and founder of Shelby Semel Dog Training, says that kennel crates like this are common choices due to their affordability and reliability. Although this model was almost identical to the Petmate Sky Dog and Cat Kennel, its lower price and fixed ventilation holes, instead of a wire insert, ultimately landed it our top spot.

Best furniture

If you'd prefer that your dog's crate function as part of your home decor, consider this stylish wooden crate from Frisco. Unlike the utilitarian look of wire or plastic options, the crate's finished wood exterior blends in with other contemporary furniture pieces, and the rock-solid construction can support up to 200 pounds. As Semel says, the dual-function design of furniture-style crates makes them a great choice for those with limited space.

Assembling this crate took some serious time and effort. Unless you're an experienced DIY-er, you probably want a buddy to help position the pieces while tightening the cam locks into place. It doesn't include the necessary Phillips-head screwdriver either, so make sure you have one on hand. That being said, I never felt confused or frustrated when putting it together. The instruction manual is well-thought-out and walks you through every step with clear illustrations. This extensive assembly process resulted in an extremely sturdy crate, though, and even when I pushed, nudged, and shoved it, the crate refused to wobble or shift.

Best soft

If you're interested in a lightweight crate that's easy to transport, this soft-sided model is a great option. Despite its spacious interior (medium size is a roomy 30 x 21 x 34 inches), the crate collapses down to just 4 inches wide. These dimensions, combined with its 13-pound weight and handy carrying strap, make it perfect for storage in a car trunk or closet.

Although the crate's fabric construction isn't as durable as the plastic, wood, or wire crates I tested, I was impressed with the locking frame mechanism. It uses a sliding collar to connect the tubular pieces instead of plastic snaps like the Frisco Indoor and Outdoor 3-Door Soft-Sided Crate. The densely woven polyester was also relatively easy to clean, and after using a basic cleaner and paper towel, minimal odor remained after my dog food cleanup test.

Semel says soft-sided crates like this one aren't practical for everyday use but are great for those who have a non-travel crate at home and would benefit from something more portable for occasional use. "If you are frequently housing other people's dogs or on the go a lot, I highly recommend it," she says.

Best crash-tested

For crates used primarily for transport, Semel says your crate should meet the proper safety regulations, and this Gunner crate exceeds challenging testing protocols from the Center for Pet Safety. With a thick, double-walled construction, the hard-sided crate provides an incredible amount of protection for your dog — perfect for car, van, or pickup truck travel. If you're doubtful, their testimonial page of crash victims and actual lab test videos should put those fears to rest. In my testing, I couldn't find a single weak point.

The kennel is also about as secure as they come, with a metal clasp lock that can be used as a key lock (two keys included) and built-in metal pins for tie-down straps. Thick rubber feet also keep the crate from sliding around. Although this extra protection translates to a heavier weight (the small size we tested weighed 27 pounds), two heavy-duty carrying straps with rubber handles help make this less of an issue. Plus, chances are you'll be leaving it in your truck bed or van most of the time anyway. The smooth interior is easy to wipe clean, and it has a handy removable plug, allowing you to spray it down and drain without much hassle.

What to look for in a dog crate

Not all dog crates are created equal, and certain models or types are better for different dogs and use cases. To help compile this list of key features to keep in mind when shopping for a dog crate, I interviewed a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and two professional dog trainers.

Sizing: It's essential that you choose a crate that is the proper size for your dog. "The crate needs to be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably while spreading themselves out," Silletto says. All crate brands provide the internal dimensions of their crates, and some even do the work for you by telling you which size is best for your dog's specific measurements. If you have a puppy, look for a crate with a removable divider. This divider can be moved toward the back of the crate as your dog grows, increasing the size of its living space so you don't have to buy multiple crates for the same dog. Both of the wire crates in this guide include a removable divider.

Security: Your crate should be secure enough to keep your dog from escaping, especially if it's intended for travel use. Look for door locks and latches that are strong and sturdy and aren't easily opened accidentally. For extra security, most plastic travel crates also have holes to slip zip-ties through, and heavy-duty options, like the Gunner G1 Kennel, even have key locks. Keep in mind that soft crates lack the security of hard-sided options: "Soft crates can easily provide an escape route and are not safe for the dog to be left alone in," Silletto says. Safety is also important when considering the security of your crate. "It must not have any sharp edges or spaces where any body part can be caught," says Dr. Katherine Houpt, a veterinary behaviorist and professor at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Appearance: If you're concerned about aesthetics, look for a crate that better matches your home decor. Wire crates and plastic travel crates all look pretty much the same, but soft-sided options are available in many colors. Wooden furniture crates tend to be the best-looking and, depending on the finish, can add a modern, stylish look to your home.

Portability: Consider how portable you need your crate to be. "If you plan on moving it from room to room or bringing it with you to travel, you want to think about collapsibility and weight," Semel says. Plastic travel crates are designed primarily for transport, and although they're smaller than the average crate, their lighter weight and top-mounted handle make them well-suited for carrying. These are also the only crates intended to be moved with your dog inside. Although soft-sided crates cannot be moved with an animal inside, their light weight and folding design make them convenient to bring to a hotel, the beach, or another room in your house. While wire crates fold up and have carrying handles, they're still heavy and bulky, so not ideal for travel.

Cleaning: If your dog is likely to make a mess with their food or water dish, or you have a puppy that's not house-trained yet, look for a crate that's easy to keep clean. Opt for plastic or wire over wood and fabric, and look for a crate with a removable floor tray. These plastic trays are convenient to remove without taking apart the crate and can be hosed or rinsed off easily.

How we tested the best dog crates

To choose the best dog crates, I ran each model through a comprehensive testing process. Through extensive online research and input from our experts, I used these nine factors to evaluate and compare each product.

Structural strength: To compare the overall strength and durability of the structure itself, I used a luggage scale with a looped hook to apply a consistent amount of pulling force to the doors, sides, and top of each crate. I noted excessive bending or signs of weakness in the material and assembly connections, paying close attention to the stability of the door and lock mechanism. The digital readout of the luggage scale allowed me to apply a consistent 30 pounds of pulling force for every test, although some crates had more points to attach to the scale than others.

Security and safety: We operated each door lock, latch system, and zipper 30 times, looking for signs of wear or vulnerability. We also paid close attention to any indications that the door could open accidentally. To better determine the safety of the crates, we looked for any sharp corners or other design flaws that could injure a dog.

Portability: To judge how convenient the crate is to move from room to room, we carried each one, except for the heavy wooden models that are not designed to be carried, through our house and into our car. For crates recommended for transport with a dog inside, we used a 20-pound sandbag to simulate a pet, paying close attention to the structural stability of the crate and the carrying handle on top.

Usability: To evaluate overall usability, I set up and broke down each crate designed to do so three times, noting whether it was straightforward or complicated. I also evaluated the instruction manuals to gauge how clear and helpful they were. Finally, I considered how easy and comfortable it was to use components like door latches or carrying handles.

Cleaning: To simulate a soiled crate, I smeared dog food on the bottom and interior of the walls, waited an hour, and then cleaned it off the best I could. I noted if the surfaces were smooth and easy to wipe up, or porous and with lingering odor after cleaning.

Storage: I compared the overall size of each crate and the folded-down dimensions, when applicable, to determine how convenient it would be to store each unit.

Appearance: Although this factor is a bit subjective, I considered each crate's overall look and style. I also noted the number of color options offered by each model.

Functionality: I evaluated each crate's additional features, such as multiple doors for easy access, removable handles, bedding, or adjustable space dividers.

Size options: To ensure people can get the correct size crate for their dog, I noted the range of sizes offered.