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Dog Crates: Wire, Plastic and Heavy-Duty Crates Compared

A good crate is the right size, hard for your dog to escape and comfortable enough to feel like a den.

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Best dog crates for every buyer

Ranked shortlists for specific budgets and use cases. Start with the one that matches yours.

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About Dog Crates

Crates are used for house training, safe confinement and travel, and each use favors a different type. Wire crates fold flat and ventilate well, plastic crates feel more enclosed and are often airline-compatible, and heavy-duty crates are built for dogs that break out of everything else.

Size matters most. A crate should let your dog stand, turn and lie down comfortably, but not so large that a puppy uses one end as a toilet.

How to choose a dog crate

Sizing

Measure your dog's height and length and add 2 to 4 inches. For puppies, buy the adult size with a divider panel and move it as they grow.

Wire vs plastic

Wire crates offer airflow and visibility and fold for storage. Plastic crates are cozier and better for car and air travel.

Escape resistance

Dogs that bend bars or open latches need a heavy-gauge steel crate with secure latches at top and bottom.

Tray and cleaning

A removable, leak-proof tray makes cleaning after accidents much easier. Plastic trays resist rust better than metal.

Finish and rust

Powder-coated or e-coated wire resists rust. Chips in the coating are where rust starts, so touch them up early.

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Our methodology
Quick buying tips

What matters most in dog crates

  1. Measure your dog's height and length and add 2 to 4 inches. For puppies, buy the adult size with a divider panel and move it as they grow.
  2. Wire crates offer airflow and visibility and fold for storage. Plastic crates are cozier and better for car and air travel.
  3. Dogs that bend bars or open latches need a heavy-gauge steel crate with secure latches at top and bottom.
  4. A removable, leak-proof tray makes cleaning after accidents much easier. Plastic trays resist rust better than metal.
  5. Powder-coated or e-coated wire resists rust. Chips in the coating are where rust starts, so touch them up early.
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Answers

Dog Crates: common questions

What is the best dog crate to buy?

One of our strongest picks is the Carlson Pet Products Double Door Metal Dog Crate, Large 42-Inch, a standout in our Best Dog Crates for Anxious Dogs list. The MidWest iCrate 36-Inch Double Door Dog Crate is another excellent choice.

How do I choose the right dog crates?

Start with your main use and budget, then compare our shortlists: Best Dog Crates for Anxious Dogs, Best Dog Crates for Apartments, Best Dog Crates for Crate Training Puppies.

What should I look for when buying dog crates?

Measure your dog's height and length and add 2 to 4 inches. For puppies, buy the adult size with a divider panel and move it as they grow.

What makes a dog crate better for an anxious dog?

Heavier wire gauge, secure multi-point latches, and a solid or mostly-covered structure that limits visual stimulation from outside. Anxious dogs often panic when they see movement or hear sounds through open wire sides, and a crate cover paired with a sturdy frame reduces both the visual trigger and the physical risk of a panicked dog bending thin wire or breaking teeth on bars.

Should I cover the crate for an anxious dog?

Usually yes, partially. A breathable cover over the top and three sides, leaving the front open for airflow and visibility to you, mimics a den and reduces visual triggers. Avoid fully sealing all sides, since dogs still need airflow and a view of an exit path, which itself can reduce panic.

Can crate training make anxiety worse?

It can, if the crate is introduced as punishment or the dog is left in a weak crate that it can partially escape, which often increases anxiety on the next attempt. Positive, gradual introduction with treats and short sessions, paired with a crate the dog can't bend or damage, produces better results than forcing a dog into an unfamiliar or flimsy enclosure.

Do anxious dogs need a heavy-duty crate or just a standard one?

It depends on the anxiety's intensity. Mild anxiety (whining, pacing) is usually fine in a standard wire crate like the MidWest iCrate. Dogs that scratch at wire, bend bars, or have injured themselves trying to escape need a heavier-gauge crate like the Carlson or Go Pet Club, since a bent latch or gap during a panic episode is a genuine injury risk.

What's the best crate size for a small apartment?

Size to your dog, not your apartment, but within that constraint, a 30 to 36-inch crate covers most small to medium dogs without dominating a studio or one-bedroom layout. A 24-inch crate works for toy and small breeds under 20 pounds. Going smaller than your dog needs to save floor space is not a safe tradeoff.

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