9 Best Dog Crates in 2026

The divider panel is what makes this crate worth a second look. It lets you shrink the living area for a puppy, then slide it back as the dog grows, turning one crate into two without buying a second one. The steel wire construction with a protective e-coat finish resists rust and everyday wear, and the rounded corner clips and slide-bolt latch with Paw Block are designed to mitigate snags, cuts, and escapes. It’s a straightforward, no-nonsense design that does exactly what crate training needs without pretending to be furniture.

The trade-off is that single door. Unlike the MidWest Solutions Double Door model (which gives you two doors for more placement flexibility), the iCrate’s one door means you have to plan where it sits more carefully. At 17 pounds it’s portable enough to move between rooms, but you won’t want to haul it up and down stairs every day. The leak-proof tray and rubber feet are small details that help keep floors clean, and the tool-free assembly means you can have it set up quickly. For a first crate or a dedicated home crate for a medium breed, this is a practical choice.

The Petmate Sky Kennel is an IATA-compliant plastic crate built specifically for airline cargo travel, which means it meets the dimensional and ventilation standards most major airlines require. That 360-degree airflow and the included LIVE ANIMAL stickers, food cup, and absorbent pad are all designed to get you through check-in without last-minute scrambling. For owners flying with a large dog, say a German Shepherd in the 90-to-125-pound range, this crate removes the guesswork that comes with using a general-purpose wire or wooden crate at the airport counter.

At 51.5 pounds empty, this is not a crate you want to haul in and out of a car regularly, and the single squeeze-latch door means your dog enters and exits from one side only. Compared to a folding wire crate like the MidWest iCrate, the Sky Kennel is far less convenient for daily home use and offers no chew-resistant metal bars. It earns its place here for the specific job of air travel, not as a multi-purpose living-room crate.

At 54 inches long and 45 inches tall, this crate gives a Great Dane or Mastiff enough room to stand, turn, and lie down without scrunching. The double doors, one on the front, one on the side, let you place it against a wall or in a corner without blocking access. The low thresholds make it easier for a giant dog to walk in on its own. MidWest Homes for Pets built this with heavy-duty drop-pin construction and reinforced L-bar corners, so the frame won’t wobble when a large dog leans against it. The black e-coat finish resists rust and scratches, which matters when you’re cleaning up after a breed that drools or kicks bedding around. If you own one of the largest breeds and need a crate that won’t feel cramped, this is the one to look at.

Weight and size are the main compromises here. At 81.7 pounds and nearly four feet tall, this crate is not something you’ll casually move from room to room. Once you set it up, it stays put, which is fine for a dedicated spot in the living room or mudroom, but a problem if you want to take it camping or to a relative’s house. The Petmate Sky Kennel, by comparison, weighs 51.5 pounds and folds more compactly for travel, but it only has one door and lacks the side access that makes daily use easier. The MidWest Solutions also omits a divider panel, so you need to buy a crate sized for the adult dog from day one. For owners committed to a permanent home base for a giant breed, those compromises are easy to live with.

A 30-inch length and included divider panel mean this crate can grow with a puppy from a dachshund-sized youngster to a full-grown beagle without buying a second crate. The fold-flat design and top handle make it genuinely portable for trips to the vet or a weekend away, and the removable plastic tray slides out for hose-down cleanup after accidents. For someone who needs a straightforward indoor crate that won’t eat into the budget for a new puppy’s shots and toys, this is the practical pick.

The single door on this crate means you’ll need to plan where to place it, since entry and exit only happen from one side. At 16.6 pounds, it’s manageable to carry from room to room or load into a car, though not exactly light. If your dog is a heavy chewer or you need a crate for airline travel, look at models built for those specific uses. For everyday home use with a medium-small breed, this crate does what it’s supposed to without extra frills.

A 36-inch interior and a fold-flat design under three inches thick mean this crate can go from your living room corner to the trunk of a car without a wrestling match. The double doors, front and side, give you placement flexibility, and the included divider lets you shrink the space as a puppy grows. For someone who needs a crate that moves between home and travel without taking up permanent real estate, this is the practical middle ground. The rounded corners and leak-proof tray with a deep lip also reduce the usual annoyances: no sharp edges to catch your shin, and the tray catches spills before they reach your floor.

The biggest trade-off is that this is a wire crate, so it won’t stop a determined chewer or an escape artist the way a heavy-duty metal or wooden crate might. At 36 inches, it fits dogs up to about medium size, think a spaniel or a small lab, but not a giant breed. Compared to the MidWest iCrate Single Door, which has only one door and no carry handle, the DUMOS gives you that second access point and a built-in handle for toting. If your dog is calm and you value portability over fortress-level security, this design earns its place.

For anyone who wants the crate to blend into the living room rather than dominate it, the storage shelf and four hooks keep leashes, treats, and bowls organized without cluttering the floor.

At 85 pounds and 43.3 inches wide, this crate is not something you’ll move from room to room once assembled. The MidWest Solutions Double Door Crate weighs 81.7 pounds, but the IRONCK’s wood panels give it a furniture-like look that owners who want a decorative piece may prefer. If you need built-in storage and a stylish appearance, this crate fits the bill.

The two locks, each with a safety buckle, add an extra layer of security that standard slide-bolt latches simply don’t offer. If you’ve got a dog who treats every crate like a puzzle to solve, this is the kind of construction that buys you peace of mind while you’re out of the room. The lockable wheels are a practical bonus for moving a heavy crate across the house, and the removable tray makes cleanup straightforward when accidents happen.

At 36 inches long, this crate fits medium and large dogs comfortably, but a giant breed will need something bigger. Compared to the MidWest iCrate Single Door, which is designed for medium breeds up to 40 pounds, the Shintenchi is the heavier-duty option for owners who need escape-proofing. The top door is handy for reaching in to clean or feed, and the front door provides daily access. For a dog that respects boundaries, that’s fine. For one that needs constant interaction from both sides, it’s a minor limitation.

The top of this crate can hold up to 154 pounds, so it works as an end table for coffee, books, or a lamp, making it practical for a living room. The included cushion is removable and washable, so you don’t need to buy a separate bed, and the double doors (front and side) give you flexible entry options. This crate suits owners who want furniture-style design and don’t plan to move it often.

At 32.6 pounds, this crate is heavier than a wire crate like the MidWest iCrate at 17 pounds, so moving it between rooms or on trips requires more effort. The 31.5-inch length fits small to medium dogs but rules out larger breeds. For someone who prioritizes a sturdy, attractive piece of furniture over portability, this is a reasonable choice.

A 24-inch interior length and 17-inch inner height mean this crate fits dogs up to 25 pounds, but the real story is how it changes your floor plan. The stackable design lets you put two same-size units on top of each other. That makes it a practical pick for multi-pet homes, breeders, or anyone with limited square footage. The front sliding door works for daily access, while the top-opening lid gives you a quick way to drop in treats or check on a sleeping pup without crouching. Four locking casters let you roll the whole thing out of the way during cleaning, and the removable tray slides out after a slight lift, so you are not scraping dried mess off the floor grid.

For a multi-pet home with small dogs, this crate solves a space problem that most kennels ignore: it stacks vertically and connects sideways. Weighing 21 pounds, it’s heavier than the 17-pound MidWest iCrate, but that weight comes from four locking swivel casters that let you roll the crate for cleaning or rearranging. The plastic tray slides out after a slight lift, which makes cleanup fast, though owners should note it’s not designed for dogs that chew through plastic.