The Best Dog Crate

Our pick

MidWest Ultima Pro Double Door Folding Dog Crate

The best bet for any dog

It’s the sturdiest and most escape resistant, it folds up and transports easily, and it will last you through generations of dogs.

Buying Options

$80 from Chewy

The MidWest Ultima Pro Double Door Folding Dog Crate has a tight grid of thick wire that makes it resistant to escape and damage, whether from your dog’s curiosity or your own mistreatment of the crate. Its bottom pan won’t give in to claws and can’t be pushed out by paws, unlike the flimsier plastic pans included with cheaper models. It folds up securely into a briefcase-style rectangle with solid clip-on handles, and it won’t come undone in a cacophonous crash if you grab the wrong part. Even if you are certain your dog doesn’t suffer from separation anxiety and won’t work to escape a crate, the Ultima Pro represents a sound investment in a safe space for your dog, and future dogs to come.

Runner-up

MidWest Life Stages Double Door Folding Dog Crate

Almost as tough and secure

It’s thicker and more secure than most wire crates, but just a bit less durable than our top pick.

Buying Options

$54 from Chewy

May be out of stock

If the Ultima Pro crate is not available, MidWest’s Life Stages Double Door Folding Dog Crate is lighter, made of thinner wire, and designed with a slightly looser grid, but it should remain secure for many years of dog ownership. Sometimes it’s also available more cheaply than the Ultima Pro. If money is tight and you’re fairly certain your dog can stay calm in a crate, the Life Stages will do, but it’s a bit less likely to last as long without succumbing to bends or animal-caused destruction.

Also great

Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel

For more security or regular air travel

The standard among vets and trainers, this model offers a hard plastic shell and a secure door latch to keep your dog safe, at home or on a plane.

Buying Options

$73* from PetSmart

Buy from Chewy

May be out of stock

*At the time of publishing, the price was $90.

If you need a crate that keeps a dog more fully contained, want to occasionally fly with a dog, or have had bad experiences with crate escapes, you may prefer a solid plastic crate, sometimes called a “sky kennel.” Petmate’s Ultra Vari Kennel is the best travel-friendly pick for most dogs. It’s easy to assemble and simple to latch shut, it has proper tie-downs for safer airline travel (for car travel, however, a restraint harness is a safer choice than a crate not designed specifically for in-car use), and it’s the go-to kennel among dog trainers and show-dog owners. If you need something even more secure and ready for long-haul flights or just want to protect a nervous dog from itself, Petmate’s Sky Kennel provides a stronger door and a four-point lock that should be undefeatable for almost any dog.

Also great

Crown Pet Crate Table

For calm dogs kept in plain sight

If you value looks and convenience over security, the Crown crate is more sturdy and reliable than its overpriced and flawed competitors.

Buying Options

$243 from Amazon

If your pet is grown, you know it stays calm in a crate, and you keep the crate in a common area of your home, you might want to trade security for decent looks and some end-table utility. Most “furniture” or “end-table” crates look and feel cheap, or are super-expensive design-fetish items. Crown’s Pet Crate Table offers just enough style to justify its higher price, while being solidly made and secure. It’s available in three finishes, the sides and bars are made of hardwood instead of fiberboard, and the bottom has a waterproof finish. It’s the only furniture-style crate we found (under $500, that is) that didn’t look or feel too cheap to be worth placing in your living room.