Best Dog Crate 2025: Top Picks for Every Size and Breed

A dog crate is one of the most useful tools for training, travel, and giving your dog a safe, private space. When introduced correctly, most dogs come to love their crate as a den — a calm retreat from a busy household. Choosing the right crate depends on your dog's size, temperament, and how you plan to use it. Here are the best dog crates of 2025.

Why Crate Training Is Beneficial

Crate training is not cruel when done properly. Dogs are naturally den animals and often seek out small, enclosed spaces to rest. A crate provides:

Security: A crate gives dogs a space that is entirely their own, which reduces anxiety in busy or chaotic environments.

House training: Dogs naturally avoid soiling their sleeping area. A correctly sized crate speeds up house training significantly.

Safety: When you cannot supervise a puppy, a crate prevents destructive or dangerous behavior like chewing electrical cords.

Travel: A crate-trained dog is much easier to transport by car or plane safely.

Recovery: After surgery or injury, a crate limits movement during healing.

What to Look for in a Dog Crate

Size: The crate should be large enough for your dog to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably. It should not be so large that a puppy can eliminate in one corner and sleep in another.

Material: Wire crates offer visibility and airflow. Plastic kennels feel more den-like. Soft-sided crates are lightweight for travel. Heavy-duty crates are for escape artists or anxious dogs.

Divider panel: For puppies, a crate with a divider lets you start with a smaller space and expand it as the puppy grows.

Ease of cleaning: Removable trays and dishwasher-safe parts are important for puppies or dogs prone to accidents.

Door configuration: Double-door models offer more flexibility for placement in different rooms.

Best Dog Crates of 2025

1. MidWest Homes for Pets iCrate (Best Overall Wire Crate)

The MidWest iCrate is the most popular dog crate in the world for good reason. It offers exceptional value, solid build quality, and thoughtful design for everyday use.

Key features:

• Double door (front and side entry)
• Includes divider panel for puppies
• Removable plastic tray for easy cleaning
• Folds flat for storage or transport
• Available in 7 sizes (from XS to XXL)
• Slide-bolt latches on both doors

The iCrate hits every practical need at an accessible price point. The divider panel is one of the best features — instead of buying a small puppy crate and then a larger adult crate, you buy one crate sized for the adult dog and use the divider to shrink the space while the puppy grows.

The folding design stores flat in minutes and the removable tray makes cleanup straightforward.

Best for: Puppies and adult dogs for everyday home use. The default recommendation for most dog owners.

2. Frisco Fold and Carry Double Door Collapsible Wire Crate

Frisco's version of the wire crate is a strong MidWest alternative at a competitive price, available through Chewy.

Key features:

• Double door configuration
• Includes divider panel
• Rounded corners for safety
• Easy fold-down design
• Multiple sizes available

Performance is nearly identical to the MidWest iCrate. The Frisco crate has slightly rounded corners (safer for curious puppies) and often comes at a lower price point. Worth considering if you find it on sale.

Best for: Budget-conscious buyers who want the same features as the MidWest iCrate.

3. Petmate Sky Kennel (Best Plastic Kennel for Travel)

The Petmate Sky Kennel is the gold standard for airline travel and dogs that prefer an enclosed, den-like space. It meets IATA airline requirements for checked pet travel.

Key features:

• Heavy-duty plastic construction
• Metal door with security clips
• Ventilation on all four sides
• Live Animal labels and tie-down holes included
• Available in sizes XS through XXL
• IATA airline compliant

The enclosed design reduces visual stimulation, which helps anxious dogs calm down. Many dogs that pace in a wire crate settle quickly in a plastic kennel because it feels more like a den.

The Sky Kennel also holds up better than wire crates if your dog is a determined chewer or pusher.

Best for: Air travel, anxious dogs, and dogs that prefer enclosed spaces.

4. Diggs Revol Dog Crate (Best Premium Wire Crate)

The Diggs Revol is the most thoughtfully designed dog crate on the market. It is more expensive than standard wire crates but packs in features that genuinely improve the experience for both dogs and owners.

Key features:

• Rounded corners with no exposed sharp edges (safer for puppies)
• Door opens downward (like a drawbridge) for easier entry for short or reluctant dogs
• Garage door-style top panel for top entry
• Collapsible design
• Removable tray and washable pad included
• Includes divider panel

The downward-opening door is the standout feature. Many dogs (especially small breeds and puppies) step onto the lowered door and walk in, rather than having to step over a raised threshold. This makes crate training significantly easier.

The build quality is noticeably higher than budget crates — no sharp edges, smooth finishes, and solid hardware.

Best for: Puppies, small breeds, and owners who want a premium experience.

5. EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Dog Crate (Best Soft-Sided Crate)

Soft-sided crates are ideal for calm, well-trained dogs that need a lightweight, portable option for travel or visiting.

Key features:

• Three doors (front, side, top)
• Folds flat in seconds
• Includes carrying bag
• Machine washable fleece bed included
• Available in multiple sizes

The EliteField is durable for a soft-sided crate, with reinforced corners and sturdy zippers. It is not suitable for puppies or dogs that chew or push against boundaries, but for a trained adult dog, it is the most travel-friendly option available.

Best for: Travel, camping, and well-trained adult dogs.

6. Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate (Best for Escape Artists)

For dogs with severe separation anxiety or those that consistently escape from standard crates, the Impact crate is built for containment.

Key features:

• Aircraft-grade aluminum construction
• Welded joints (no screws to loosen)
• Extremely heavy — not designed to be moved frequently
• Door locks from the outside
• Available in two configurations (standard and high anxiety)

Impact crates are expensive and very heavy, but for dogs that destroy standard crates and injure themselves in the process, they are the safest option. The aluminum is bite-proof and the welded construction cannot be pushed apart.

Best for: Dogs with severe anxiety, escape-prone dogs.

Dog Crate Size Guide

Dog Weight	Crate Size
Under 25 lbs	24 inches
26-40 lbs	30 inches
41-70 lbs	36 inches
71-90 lbs	42 inches
91-110 lbs	48 inches
Over 110 lbs	54 inches

Crate Training Tips

Introduce gradually: Never force your dog into the crate. Start by placing treats near the open crate, then just inside, then at the back. Let the dog explore at their own pace.

Feed meals in the crate: This builds a positive association. Over several days, move the bowl progressively further into the crate.

Build up time slowly: Start with a few minutes, then 10 minutes, then 30, then an hour. Never jump to long periods without building up to them.

Never use the crate as punishment: The crate should be a positive space. Using it as a timeout creates negative associations and undermines training.

Cover the crate: Draping a blanket over three sides of a wire crate creates a darker, more den-like environment that many dogs find calming.

Exercise before crating: A tired dog settles in a crate much more easily than a high-energy one.

Final Verdict

For most dog owners, the MidWest iCrate is the perfect balance of value, features, and reliability. If you are willing to spend more for a better design, the Diggs Revol is the best premium option. For air travel, the Petmate Sky Kennel is the standard. For escape artists, the Impact crate is the only option.

Choose the right size, introduce it positively, and your dog will come to love their crate as a retreat.

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