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- Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.
If you have a new puppy running around your home, a good dog crate can be one of the handiest tools in your kit. A crate for puppies keeps your new friend safe during brief periods when you can’t keep an eye on them, reduces the chances of mischief, and can aid in potty training.
If you’re new to the world of crates or this is your very first dog, crate training a puppy can be daunting. But finding the best crate for your pup is a great place to start and can even make the crate training process go much more smoothly.
To help you out, we’ve rounded up some of our favorites, specifically geared toward puppy needs.
Our picks
Best for Crate Training: MidWest iCrate Double Door Folding Metal Dog Crate
Highly popular, the MidWest iCrate offers a lot of convenient features for crate training your puppy. The removable plastic tray slides out easily, making accident cleanup a breeze. The double doors also give your puppy agency to move in and out freely when you’re first introducing them to the crate. And best of all, the crate comes with a divider that lets you size your puppy’s space to just what they need—an essential feature for potty training.
Pet parents like how simple the lightweight crate is to set up, take apart, and move, which is great for figuring out the best spot to place the crate in your house. Some reviewers report that the doors bend when pulled hard, which should be fine unless you have a determined escape artist. For a more heavy-duty option, MidWest also offers the Life Stages crate, which has the wire grids and bars closer together.
Key Features:
- Removable plastic tray that’s simple to clean
- Double doors for easy access
- Comes with a divider for growing puppies
- Lightweight and portable
- Affordably priced
- Available in multiple sizes
Best Luxury Option: Diggs Revol Dog Crate (Verified Review)
The Diggs Revol dog crate is one of the most flexible options out there. It’s collapsible (though its folded profile is chunkier than a traditional wire crate), comes with both a handle and wheels, and has a divider and a removable tray. Multiple entry points satisfy a wide range of use cases, and it’s surprisingly attractive as far as dog furniture goes—a rarity in puppy crates.
We tested it ourselves and found it has a lot of nifty features for puppies. The ceiling hatch, for example, makes it easy to access your puppy, refill water, or give them a puzzle toy without the risk of them running out the front door. It also easily collapses, making it easy to move from room to room or take on the road.
The Diggs Revol is significantly pricier than its counterparts. But the pet parents who love it say it’s a worthy investment—after all, it might be the only dog crate you ever buy.
Key Features:
- Safety features include rounded edges and a puppy-proof lock
- Easy mechanism to fold down for transport; includes wheels and a handle
- Two doors plus a top opening
- More aesthetically pleasing than a traditional wire crate, available in four colors
- A little bigger and heavier than a traditional wire crate
Best Playpen: Diggs Evolv Dog Crate (Verified Review)
The new Diggs Evolv is an updated take on the classic Revol, built along slimmer lines and with a novel new feature: the ability to convert it into a playpen with the addition of an extra frame. It’s roughly as sturdy as the Revol, with a steel body and diamond wire mesh meant to prevent pinched paws and jaws.
A puppy divider and a removable bottom tray make this especially nice for growing dogs or pups in crate training, and the lower price point is a little friendlier to new pet parents still getting they lay of the land and discovering their dog’s preferences. Rover test puppy Blue loves his crate, and his pet parent appreciated both the functional aesthetic and the extremely simple assembly.
Our only caveat? The Evolv doesn’t collapse flat, which might make the Revol a better option for pet parents who like the brand but need something more portable.
Key Features:
- Rounded edges, puppy-proof locks, and diamond mesh all promote pup safety
- Two side doors and a top opening can be rearranged to form a playpen; extra doors are available for purchase
- Finger-friendly handles for opening doors
- Available in four sizes, with divider and removable tray
- A little bigger and heavier than a traditional wire crate
Best Budget Option: Frisco Fold & Carry Single Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate
Frisco Fold & Carry Single Door Collapsible Wire Dog Crate
This Frisco wire crate offers a basic kennel for pet parents looking for something a bit more affordable.
For something more budget-friendly, the Frisco Fold & Carry wire crate offers the basics of a standard kennel. It’s an excellent option for pet parents of rescues who are unsure of how big their pup will get or just anyone looking to save a bit of cash.
Similar to the MidWest iCrate, this Frisco kennel has a removable base pan that’s easy to clean and a divider to block off space as your puppy grows. It only has one door, however, which latches securely with two locks. Pet parents like the affordable price point, with reviewers saying they’re pleased with the value this crate offers.
Key Features:
- Basic single-door, wire crate design
- Budget-friendly option
- Includes a removable base pan and a divider
- Available in seven different sizes
Best Multipurpose Crate: Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel
Veterinarians and pet-care professionals like this crate, made from recycled plastic, because it’s sturdy, easy to clean, and useful in various settings. You can strap it into the back seat via tie-down holes for safe car travel, fly your pet in it, or set it up in the living room for an at-home den. And it’s ideal for puppies who gnaw on the sides of wire crates or wind down better with fewer visual stimuli—they can see out, but not all around like in a wire crate.
While it doesn’t fold like some of its wire counterparts, you can take it apart in two pieces if needed with no tools required.
Key Features:
- Material and construction prevent chewing
- Good for travel with less visibility
- Easy to clean hard plastic surface
- Compatible with most airline cargo requirements (check your airline)
- Rounded edges
Best for Large-Breed Puppies: SmithBuilt Heavy Duty Dog Crate
This crate may look a little intense, but if you have a large-breed puppy that will quickly grow into a big dog, or an escape artist who won’t stay contained, this heavy-duty crate by SmithBuilt might be a lifesaver. Pet parents of big breeds like German Shepherds say the largest size (48″L x 33″W x 37″H) does a good job of containing their pups. Like the Diggs Revol, this crate also has a second door on the top that reviewers love (perfect for delivering food without having your pup bolt).
Composed of commercial-quality steel, this crate has a three-quarter-inch frame and a half-inch-diameter welded steel tube. There are two removable trays at the bottom, with the grated tray allowing messes to drop through to the plastic pan below. While sturdy, this crate can also be easily moved, rolling on casters that can be locked.
To soften the look of this crate and create a darker den-like environment, consider adding a dog crate cover, comfy dog bed, or crate pad.
Key Features:
- On locking wheels for easy movability
- Heavy-duty—made with commercial-quality steel
- Two doors—side and top opening
- Works well as an indoor or outdoor crate
- Comes in three sizes
Best for Small-Breed Puppies: Petmate Two-Door Pet Kennel
Made specifically for smaller pets, this kennel offers two sizes ideal for small-breed puppies. The 19-inch crate fits puppies up to 10 pounds, while the 24-inch suits pups up to 15 pounds. The 14-inch size is best suited for cats and other small pets but could also work for tiny toy breeds.
Ventilation holes on each side allow air to circulate, while a second door on top provides another access point. Pet parents like the sturdy build and say the size works great for their smaller pups, even longer breeds like Dachshunds. Reviewers also say this crate is a solid option for travel, noting that the top door is great for easily getting their pup out for potty breaks.
Key Features:
- Available in three sizes made for smaller breeds
- Suitable for most air travel (check with your airline)
- Well ventilated with multiple air holes on each side
- The top door makes it easy to get your small pup in and out of the crate
Best for Puppies Who Travel: Petmate Sky Kennel
Featuring heavy-duty construction of durable plastic and extra-strong steel wire, this hard-sided crate for puppies is approved by most airlines. It comes in six sizes, equipped with an interlocking door, 360-degree ventilation, and a strong carrying handle. It also comes with travel necessities, including two “live animal” stickers, clip-on bowls, and ID stickers. If you’re mostly looking for a crate for early-year training and travel, this is one of the more affordable options.
Key Features:
- Designed for travel, with clip-in bowls and identification stickers
- Comes in six sizes
- Made from heavy-duty materials, including recycled plastic and extra-strong steel wire
- Equipped for air travel with clip-in bowls and stickers for identification
Best for Aggressive Chewers: Kelixu Heavy-Duty Crate (Verified Review)
Kelixu Heavy-Duty Crate (Verified Review)
We found this puppy crate ideal for escape artists, destructo-pups, and multiple dogs.
Similar to the SmithBuilt crate above, this heavy-duty kennel by Kelixu is ideal for escape artists and pups who tend to destroy plastic and wire crates. Welded steel bars hold firm against chewing and pawing, while the lack of sharp edges protects your pup against injury.
In our testing, we found it did an excellent job of standing up to and containing Ruby, a Bernese Mountain Dog known for her disappearing acts. In particular, we liked that there weren’t any latches accessible from the interior and that the removable tray made for easy cleanup. The locking wheels also make this crate easy to transport to different rooms.
Key Features:
- Latches are inaccessible from the inside
- Welded steel bars stand up to determined pups
- Locking wheels for room-to-room transport
- Available in three sizes
- Slide-out trays for easy cleanup
How We Chose
The puppy crates featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing, a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms, and interviews with veterinary experts. We prioritized crates with puppy-friendly attributes, such as durability and security. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated pets, who are never stingy with their feedback.