The 9 Best Puppy Playpens for Your Playful Pup

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• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

If you have a new puppy in your home, chances are good that you might be looking for some options to safely contain them. Puppy playpens can help—especially while your pup is still in training and learning the ropes of their new home.

Good puppy pens are made from durable and safe materials, fit a dog’s size and habits, are easy to set up and break down, and can be stored if needed. They’re especially helpful in concert with crate training to help acclimate a new pup to life in your home.

We’ve talked to the experts about the best puppy playpens, outlined some of the most important considerations, and selected a few of our favorites to help you find the best option for your home.

Best All-Around Puppy Pen: Frisco Dog Exercise Playpen

According to Dr. Brian Moore, DVM, a good puppy playpen should offer a safe enclosed area where pups can play, explore, and rest. Ideal pens are lightweight and made of non-toxic materials, in the (not unexpected) event of puppy chewing or gnawing. We like the Frisco Playpen because it checks all of these boxes.

The Frisco is available in five different sizes, with the smallest size standing just 24 inches tall and the largest a full 48 inches. The pens all feature sturdy metal wire construction—recommended by all the experts we interviewed for escape-prone puppies—finished with a thick black electro-coat for long-lasting durability. With ample space, this pen can accommodate multiple puppies.

It features an easy-access doorway that securely latches closed with double locks. The pen can be assembled in a variety of configurations and comes with metal anchors if you choose to use it outdoors. Plus, it conveniently folds flat for storage and transport.

Key Features:

• Available in five sizes and different heights
• Features sturdy metal wire construction
• Includes easy-access door and secure latches
• Large enough for multiple puppies

Best for Large Breeds: Petmate Wire Exercise Playpen

If you’re looking for a pen to suit even a large puppy, this eight-panel exercise pen comes in five different sizes—including giant. According to Dr. Moore, puppies should have enough room to engage in their natural behaviors, and that is especially important for larger breeds who may need more space.

As with some of the other wire options, the panels easily configure into different shapes—no tools required—with a solid hinge design that makes it easy to fold down for storage and travel. It also features a large step-through door and a convenient snap hook assembly so you can attach it to a wire crate.

Key features:

• Easy to configure into different shapes
• Fold down for easy storage and travel
• Can be attached to a wire crate for extended space

Best for Multiple Puppies: FXW Rollick Dog Playpen

According to veterinary assistant Alex van Der Walt, puppy pens should strike a balance between freedom and safety. We like the FXW because it can be used both indoors and out and is large and sturdy enough to accommodate multiple rambunctious pups. This pen comes in heights from 24″ to 48″, and pet parents can select from sizes between 6 and 48 panels to configure their ideal space for their new friend(s).

This pen features a gravity locking system that cannot be manipulated from the inside, with rounded posts to protect paws, and the rods can be staked into the ground if you opt for outdoor use. (If you choose to use indoors, the manufacturer recommends padding under the supports to protect flooring.)

Key Features:

• Available in multiple height options and panel options
• A spacious option for indoor or outdoor play
• Safety features include gravity lock and rounded posts

To Consider:

• If you choose to use indoors, may require padding to protect floors

Best Convertible: Richell 3-in-1 Convertible Pet Pen

This all-in-one puppy playpen is made up of four or six panels that click together. Use it as an exercise pen, or convert it to a freestanding pet gate and room divider. It’s made from water-resistant materials, so it transitions from indoors to outdoors in a snap.

When using this convertible playpen as a crate, you can use a floor mat or tray for padding and protection. Or set it up as a gate to keep your dog out of off-limits spaces. The panels are 31.5″ high and the playpen can be configured in an enclosure for a maximum length of 68.9″.

Key Features:

• Multiple configuration options, including gate, pen and room divider (135″ total length)
• Can be used indoors and outdoors
• Features 31.5″-high panels
• Uses wood and metal wire

Best Soft-Sided: Esk Collection Small Dog and Puppy Playpen

If you need a lightweight and portable playpen, this soft-sided puppy pen is a good choice for creating a safe play space on the go. It sets up in seconds and packs into an included travel tote to move from space to space. It measures 48+ inches in diameter and 25 inches in height. Pet parents may find that this model works well for puppies who already have some crate training experience.

The fabric is waterproof and durable, but it’s too lightweight for heavy-duty chompers and runners. Reviewers love the zip-off top and bottom panels (zip off the bottom so your puppy can play in the grass, and zip on the top to keep them from jumping out). However, this pen is only suitable for puppies who are out of the chewing stage.

Key Features:

• Lightweight and portable
• Includes travel tote
• Measures 48″ in diameter and 25″ in height

To Consider:

• May not be suitable for chewers
• May not be suitable for multiple puppies

Best Pen for Escape Artists: PGYuCien Foldable Dog PlayPen

This indoor dog playpen is available in two different heights, 24″ and 30″, to accommodate different-sized pups. This pen is unique because it includes a covering made from mesh and Oxford fabric that discourages your puppy from jumping or trying to escape but also creates a comfortable kennel-like atmosphere. (And, if you wanted to bring the pen outside, the cover provides UV protection.)

This pen is easy to set up and folds flat for storage. The metal wire panels are sturdy and double-coated to prevent wear.

Key Features:

• Includes a nylon and Oxford cover to deter escape artists
• Available in 24″ and 30″ heights
• Easy setup, and folds flat for storage

Best Small Pen: IRIS Exercise Dog Playpen with Door

This indoor playpen features four plastic panels that can be used to create an enclosure or a fenced-off area for your new puppy (or puppies) to relax and play. The IRIS playpen uses durable and non-toxic plastic materials that are lightweight and easy to wipe clean, plus additional panels for purchase if you want to build a larger play area.

Each panel has rubber feet to protect flooring, and a small door lets your dog in and out so you don’t need to lift them.

Key Features:

• Uses easy-to-clean plastic panels
• Features a small door
• Lightweight: perfect for those first few months
• Uses rubber feet
• Extra panels available for purchase
• Uses easy-to-clear plastic panels

Most Durable: PawHut Heavy Duty Pet Playpen

Dr. Sabrina Kong, DVM and veterinary contributor at We Love Doodles, recommends a few features for dogs who are prone to escapes and chewing, including metal materials that are more resistant to chewing and taller heights. The PawHut heavy-duty playpen has these features and more to help keep escape artists safely inside. It features wood-plastic composite and metal wire materials and can be configured in multiple shapes.

This is a large-capacity playpen, with a full length of 13.75 feet and a heigh of 24 inches—though it can collapse for easy storage. This pen includes a locking door system that can be unlocked from the exterior only to help keep even crafty puppies inside.

Key Features:

• Double door locks on the outside
• Configures into multiple shapes
• Extra large interior
• 24″ in height

Best Budget Pen: MidWest Wire Dog Exercise Playpen

An affordable option that offers greater security than some wire playpens, this MidWest model features a full step-through door with a stable door locking system. Eyelets and a handle lock keep the door securely shut in place, keeping your pet safe during playtime.

The eight wire panels sport a durable electro-coat finish for long-lasting protection against rust and corrosion. As many experts recommend, this lightweight but durable pen is ideal for puppies and allows them to play naturally and explore their surroundings (with boundaries).

Key features:

• Full step-through door
• Extra-secure door locking system
• Electro-coat finish is rust- and corrosion-proof

How We Chose

We selected the puppy playpens featured here based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized durability and flexibility in our choices, as well as looking at particular features for different usages; for example, portability for travel, or materials and sizes that would be particularly suitable for different-sized puppies and their habits.

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.

Further Reading

• The 12 Best Dog Gates To Keep Your Pup Safe and Secure
• How to Choose the Right Dog Crate: Your Complete Guide
• The Best Puppy Puzzle Toys to Keep Them Busy