Best Dog Crates 2026: 14 Compared (22 Sources)

What are the best dog crates in 2026?

Summary

Dog crates come in at least six types — wire, plastic, aluminum, furniture materials, fabric and mixes of these — and the outlets we read test them differently [src1]. Wirecutter considered 23 crates and tested 11, pulling on doors and walls with 50 lb of force and measuring the wire; CNN Underscored's writer, a dog trainer, tested 13 with the same 50-lb door test; Business Insider tested 10 with a 30-lb pull; GearJunkie tested nine with the writer's dog; Field & Stream and Long Haul Trekkers tested car and truck kennels in their own vehicles [src1, src2, src4, src5, src6, src7]. Canine Journal, Canine Bible and Good Housekeeping choose mainly from research and the team's own experience rather than structured tests [src8, src9, src11], and Reviewed tested the Diggs Evolv and drew most of its other picks from research and the writer's own dogs [src10].

For a crate that lives in the house, the tests still come back to MidWest's folding wire crates, and they split on which one. CNN Underscored and Business Insider name the LifeStages Double Door best overall; Wirecutter keeps the heavier Ultima Pro as its top pick and calls the LifeStages, a former pick, "still a great crate"; the lighter iCrate is GearJunkie's budget pick and Wirecutter's lighter-weight pick, while CNN found it an easy crate for a dog to get out of [src2, src4, src1, src5]. CNN's writer puts it plainly: wire-crate alternatives from direct-to-consumer brands "are hundreds of dollars more, and often not worth it" [src2]. No wire crate is escape-proof, and none is protection in a car crash [src2, src3].

For the car, certification is per model and per size. When we checked on 2026-10-12, the Center for Pet Safety listed the Gunner G1 Kennel in Small, Medium and Intermediate, the Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel in Medium, Intermediate and Large and the Cabela's GunDog Kennel in Intermediate and Large; the Gunner G1 Large, which is the Gunner listing we link, is not on the list [src13]. CNN Underscored tested eight crash-tested crates and chose the Gunner; Business Insider and Field & Stream chose it too [src3, src4, src6]. The RuffLand that Wirecutter recommends for travel is not CPS-certified, and Long Haul Trekkers reports mixed CPS results for it [src1, src7].

Three availability notes, each with the date we checked. Diggs listed every Revol size sold out on 2026-10-12 while it redesigns the crate, which it expects back in stock in December 2026 [src15]. Fable listed the Medium Signature crate with the white metal gate — the one we link — as backordered, shipping October 2026 [src16]. CNN Underscored's best soft crate, the Orvis Hose Off Folding Crate, is not on this card: its product page redirected to Orvis's car-travel category on 2026-10-12 [src2, src19].

14 Dog Crates Compared

Sizes and doors are the makers' figures unless a cell names an outlet. Crash certification is the Center for Pet Safety's list as of 2026-10-12.

Spec sources: MidWest for the LifeStages, iCrate and Ultima Pro [src20, src22, src21]; Wirecutter for the Ultima Pro's divider, the Revol's hatches, the Evolv's doors and the RuffLand's sizes [src1]; CNN Underscored for the Gunner and Lucky Duck doors, the Lucky Duck's weight range, the Impact sizes and latches and the Evolv's divider [src3, src2]; Business Insider for the EliteField's sizes and the Sky Kennel's lock [src4]; Gunner, Diggs, RuffLand, Petmate and Fable for their own crates, including the Revol's divider and RuffLand's divider accessory [src14, src15, src17, src18, src16]; the Center for Pet Safety for certification [src13]. The linked sizes and colors are those of the listings we link.

Best for Each Use Case

Top Pick: MidWest LifeStages Double Door (36-inch) — Check price

CNN Underscored's best dog crate after testing 13, and Business Insider's best overall after testing 10. [src2, src4] CNN called it "the best wire crate I tested by far": not as heavy or bulky as the Ultima Pro, with similar strength in its 50-lb door test, and not as flimsy or awkward to set up as the iCrate. [src2] Business Insider's medium held up to its 30-lb pull test, and each of its two doors needs two movements to unlatch. [src4] MidWest makes it in six sizes from 22 to 48 inches, with slide-bolt latches that have a locking tip and MidWest's Paw Block, a divider panel, a leak-proof slide-out pan and rubber feet. [src20] Canine Journal, whose team has used MidWest crates for years, names it its best crate for large dogs. [src8] The flaws the testers found: CNN's unit had a stiff front door and showed some warping and a small gap at the top of the door under 50 lb of pressure, and Business Insider found the first assembly hard work and its 26-lb medium awkward to carry. [src2, src4] Canine Journal adds that some owners report the plastic pan cracking. [src8] Wirecutter lists it as a former pick that is "still a great crate", between the Ultima Pro and the iCrate in strength, weight and durability. [src1] The Amazon listing we link is the 36-inch double-door, which the listing sizes for medium to large dogs of 41 to 70 lb.

Best Budget: MidWest iCrate Double Door (42-inch) — Check price

GearJunkie's best budget crate and Wirecutter's pick for a lighter-weight wire crate. [src5, src1] Wirecutter calls it "a lighter, cheaper, less durable version of the Ultima Pro": the least expensive crate it tested, as easy to set up and fold as its heavier MidWest siblings, with the same removable tray and Paw Block latches, and second only to the Diggs Revol for easy carrying. [src1] GearJunkie found assembly quick and simple and liked the included divider and carrying handle. [src5] MidWest makes it in seven sizes from 18 to 48 inches, single- or double-door. [src22] The weakness is the wire: Wirecutter's panels bent outward more easily under 50 lb of force, and CNN Underscored, which tested it too, met "a lot of buckling and large gaps around the door", pinched its fingers at every setup and recommends the sturdier LifeStages for a little more money. [src1, src2] GearJunkie says it is not for heavy chewers or escape artists. [src5] Availability: the 42-inch Amazon listing we link had no purchasable offer in our last three daily price checks, through 2026-10-11. If you need a MidWest wire crate today, the LifeStages above is the sturdier alternative CNN Underscored recommends. [src2]

Best Heavy-Gauge Wire Crate: MidWest Ultima Pro (36-inch) — Check price

Wirecutter's top pick since 2017. [src1] Its wires were the thickest of any wire crate Wirecutter tested; they still bent outward under 50 lb of force, but less than those of the other MidWest crates, and its plastic tray slides out from the bottom for cleaning. [src1] The costs are weight and fiddliness: Wirecutter found it heavier to carry, the thicker wire made the included puppy divider harder to fit, and its test unit arrived with a bent ceiling hook and a handle that broke during fitting. [src1] CNN Underscored found it "extremely sturdy" but only slightly stronger than the LifeStages in its strength test and much heavier, and says the LifeStages is the way to go for most people. [src2] MidWest builds it from professional-gauge, heavy-duty steel in five sizes from 24 to 48 inches, with two doors. [src21] The Amazon listing we link is the 36-inch.

Best Crash-Tested: Gunner G1 Kennel — Check price

The pick of CNN Underscored's guide to crash-tested crates, which tested eight; Business Insider's best crash-tested crate; Field & Stream's best hunting dog kennel overall; and the kennel Long Haul Trekkers' writer uses for her own dogs. [src3, src4, src6, src7] It is a double-wall rotomolded kennel with a welded aluminum door frame that can open either way (Field & Stream), three locks (CNN), and drop, vise and shotgun tests that Gunner runs on top of the crash tests. [src6, src3] The Center for Pet Safety certifies it in Small, Medium and Intermediate, tested with Gunner's own anchor straps, which are sold separately. [src13, src3] The Amazon listing we link is the G1 Large, which is not on CPS's certified list — CNN notes this too. If certification is why you are buying, choose a Small, Medium or Intermediate from Gunner, which sells all four sizes, or the Lucky Duck below for a dog too big for the Intermediate. [src3, src13, src14] The drawback every tester names is weight: CNN puts the Intermediate at 48 lb, 10 lb more than the Lucky Duck Intermediate, and Business Insider's Small weighed 27 lb. [src3, src4]

Best Crash-Tested Crate for Large Dogs: Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel (Large) — Check price

The Center for Pet Safety certifies the Lucky Kennel in Medium, Intermediate and Large, so unlike the Gunner it is certified in a Large, which CNN Underscored notes suits dogs up to 110 lb. [src13, src3] CNN tested the Intermediate as a lighter alternative to the Gunner — 38 lb against the Gunner's 48 — and liked its strong top anchor points, wide base, two large handles and reversible door with three locks; it chose the Gunner over it for sizing, easier straps and more durability testing. [src3] Field & Stream, which names it its best kennel for trucks, found it sturdy, with a locking door and powder-coated tie-downs, but bulky and heavy, with a plastic door that felt less sturdy than the rest of the kennel. [src6] Tie-down straps are sold separately. [src3] The Amazon listing we link is the Large; the listing gives its interior as 35.75 x 22 x 26.5 in. and recommends going up a size for full-time home use.

Best Premium Crate: Diggs Revol (Medium) — sold out at Diggs when we checked on 2026-10-12 — Check price

Wirecutter's upgrade pick, Canine Journal's best crate overall and GearJunkie's best premium crate. [src1, src8, src5] Wirecutter liked the garage-style side door that slides up under the roof, the two lockable ceiling hatches, the two rear wheels — it was the only crate in Wirecutter's test with wheels — and the diamond mesh, designed to keep paws and jaws from getting stuck. [src1] CNN Underscored ranked it just below the two Impact aluminum crates in its strength test and called it close to the ideal alternative to a wire crate. [src2] The flaws: it is expensive, its first assembly takes more effort than a MidWest crate's, and Wirecutter and GearJunkie both report trays cracking under heavier dogs in the larger sizes. [src1, src5] Canine Journal notes it is not big enough for larger breeds. [src8] Availability: on 2026-10-12 Diggs listed every size sold out and said it is redesigning the Revol, to be back fully in stock in December 2026. [src15] Best you can buy today in this style: Diggs points buyers to its Evolv (below), which Wirecutter liked and CNN Underscored found no stronger than a basic wire crate. [src15, src1, src2]

Best Soft Crate: EliteField 3-Door Folding Soft Crate — Check price

GearJunkie's best crate overall and Business Insider's best soft crate; Canine Journal and Canine Bible pick it too. [src5, src4, src8, src9] GearJunkie assembled and folded it more easily than any other crate it tested and liked its two side doors and top door, storage pouches and carry bag; Business Insider liked its locking frame, which joins the tubes with a sliding collar rather than plastic snaps, and its medium's 13-lb weight. [src5, src4] The limits are a soft crate's: GearJunkie says its double zippers make escape easier and its fleece pad hides a foam insert that soaks up accidents; Business Insider found it not sturdy enough for everyday use; CNN Underscored found it a little harder to set up than its soft-crate pick, the Orvis Hose Off. [src5, src4, src2] Business Insider lists five sizes from 20 to 42 inches. [src4] The Amazon listing we link is the 42-inch, in beige. For calm, crate-trained dogs only.

Best Collapsible Aluminum Crate: Impact Collapsible Dog Crate (40-inch) — Check price

"More durable than all of the models we tested," says Wirecutter, which tested the 40-inch: its small diamond-shaped air holes are hard for a dog to bite or push a paw through, it folds almost as easily as the MidWest crates, and it weighs 38 lb. [src1] Field & Stream names it its best aluminum kennel, and CNN Underscored, whose writer takes one to dog shows, says it would have been a top contender if it cost less; in CNN's strength test only the Impact High Anxiety did better. [src6, src2] The downsides: it is one of the most expensive crates either Wirecutter or Field & Stream tested, it has no removable tray (Wirecutter) and no built-in tie-downs, and Field & Stream found it less sturdy than the kennels that do not fold. [src1, src6] CNN says it comes in sizes up to 54 inches. [src2]

Best for Escape Artists: Impact High Anxiety Crate — Check price

"Easily the safest and strongest dog crate we tested," says CNN Underscored: virtually no movement, buckling or gaping in its 50-lb strength test. [src2] It is welded aluminum with a double-layer door, a paddle latch plus four butterfly latches, and the smallest ventilation holes of any crate CNN tested, too small for a dog's teeth to catch; CNN's Rough Collie puppy was calmer and quieter in its darker interior. [src2] Canine Bible names it its best crate for anxious dogs and describes 0.5-inch vent holes and an aluminum frame 62% thicker than standard. [src9] CNN calls it a last-resort option for a dog that has destroyed several crates and notes its high price; Canine Bible lists it as non-collapsible. [src2, src9] CNN describes a lifetime dog-damage guarantee; read Impact's current terms before you buy. [src2] A crate contains a dog; it does not treat anxiety — pair it with help from a veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist, and see the caveat on confinement anxiety below.

Best Plastic Travel Kennel: RuffLand Kennel (Intermediate) — See at RuffLand

Wirecutter's pick for a plastic crate that travels well, Long Haul Trekkers' best-value car kennel and Field & Stream's pick for duck hunting. [src1, src7, src6] It is a one-piece rotomolded polyethylene kennel made in the US and light enough to move easily — Long Haul Trekkers puts its Intermediate at about 22 lb against about 35 lb for a comparable Gunner — and the only crate Wirecutter found that lets you choose the door setup, with a side or back door and a slant-back version for SUVs. [src1, src7, src17] The trade-offs: it is not CPS-certified (Wirecutter); Long Haul Trekkers reports that in CPS testing it performed well braced against the rear seatback but its door separated without that support, and that its door latches but does not lock; Field & Stream found its walls thinner than other rotomolded kennels and says locking it needs extra accessories. [src1, src7, src6] Tie-down rings and straps cost extra. [src1] RuffLand sells it direct; we link RuffLand's Intermediate page. [src17]

Best for Air Travel: Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel — Check price

GearJunkie's best crate for airline travel and Canine Journal's best travel crate; Good Housekeeping and Canine Bible pick it for travel too. [src5, src8, src11, src9] GearJunkie, which tested the size for 25-35 lb dogs, found it sturdy once its three pieces were screwed together, with tie-down holes and tamper-resistant holes to zip-tie the door, and says it meets the cargo requirements of most major airlines. [src5] Petmate says it meets most air travel requirements and tells owners to check with their airline first. [src18] CNN Underscored rated its performance middling but calls it a good choice for a crate that can also fly; it does not fold. [src2] Cautions: GearJunkie found that listed dimensions may be wrong, so measure it before you book, and Petmate fits a handle only to the 21-inch and 28-inch sizes. [src5, src18] Wirecutter, which used to recommend it, could not find the sizes it needed for its latest test. [src1] The Amazon listing we link is the 28-inch, which the listing sizes for dogs of 25 to 30 lb.

Best Furniture-Style Crate: Fable Signature Crate (Medium, white metal gate) — Check price

Wirecutter's best furniture crate: ash plywood with an acrylic or sheet-metal gate that slides up under the roof like a garage door, a den-like interior with decent ventilation, and a top that, in the smaller sizes, works as a side table. [src1] CNN Underscored found it the prettiest crate it tested and set it up in about 30 minutes, though the larger sizes need two people for the top. [src2] Both say it is for calm, crate-trained dogs: Wirecutter's acrylic door bent out enough under 50 lb for a dog to wedge a limb or head through and scratched in its tests, and CNN says the acrylic door is not escape-proof. [src1, src2] It has no removable tray, and Fable accepts no returns once a crate has shipped. [src1, src16] Fable also warns against the crate for a dog whose head measures within about 3 inches of the crate's window size, a choking risk. [src16] When we checked on 2026-10-12, Fable listed the Medium with the white metal gate — the configuration we link — as backordered, shipping October 2026. [src16]

Also Tested: Diggs Evolv (Large) — Check price

Wirecutter, Reviewed and CNN Underscored all tested it, and they disagree. [src1, src10, src2] Wirecutter calls it an attractive update to the wire crate at a moderate price: the only crate it tested that lets you choose which way the two doors face during setup, with room for up to four doors, the Revol's diamond mesh, and a frame that felt sturdier than the MidWest and Revol crates. [src1] Reviewed, which tested it, ranks it among the best crates for its latch on the outside of the crate and its second life as a playpen. [src10] CNN Underscored found moderate warping and a significant gap at the top of the doors in its 50-lb test, says it does not live up to its price and suggests a refurbished Revol instead. [src2] It does not fold, its assembly is fiddly, and sliding its tray out means lifting the crate (Wirecutter). [src1] Diggs offers it as the crate to buy now while the Revol is sold out. [src15]

Also Tested: Petmate Sky Kennel (36-inch) — Check price

Business Insider's best plastic kennel for travel: its tester found the medium's thick plastic body, four-position metal door lock and extra zip-tie holes reassuring, and its top handle solid with a 20-lb sandbag inside. [src4] Business Insider says it is approved for cargo by most airlines, comes with "live animal" and ID stickers and a food and water bowl, and is made with 90% pre-consumer recycled plastic. [src4] Only the small and medium sizes have carry handles, and the tester found the wire side vents shifted slightly. [src4] Wirecutter plans to retest it. [src1] The Amazon listing we link is the 36-inch.

Key Market Trends (2026)

• Wire crates still win the general tests: three of the four hands-on general roundups we read — Wirecutter, CNN Underscored and Business Insider — put a MidWest wire crate first, and CNN's writer says direct-to-consumer alternatives "are hundreds of dollars more, and often not worth it". GearJunkie is the exception, with the EliteField soft crate. [src1, src2, src4, src5]
• Crash certification has spread beyond Gunner, size by size: the Center for Pet Safety lists three travel-crate lines — Gunner, Lucky Duck and Cabela's — each in specific sizes, and CNN Underscored now tests crash-tested crates in a guide of their own. [src13, src3]
• Rotomolded kennels lead the car-and-truck tests: the top picks in Field & Stream's and Long Haul Trekkers' kennel tests are rotomolded — the Gunner, the Lucky Duck, the RuffLand and, at Long Haul Trekkers, the Dakota 283. [src6, src7]
• The Diggs Revol is being redesigned: Diggs listed every size sold out on 2026-10-12 and expects the redesigned crate back in stock in December 2026, pointing buyers to the Evolv meanwhile. [src15]
• CNN Underscored's soft-crate pick has left its maker's site: the Orvis Hose Off Folding Crate's product page redirected to Orvis's car-travel category on 2026-10-12. [src2, src19]

Important Caveats

• Size first: the AKC's rule is room to sit, stand and lie down comfortably, but not so much that the dog soils one end; measure and add 3 to 4 inches to height and length. Every size is a separate listing at a separate price. [src12]
• Wire crates bend: every MidWest wire crate Wirecutter tested bent outward under 50 lb, and a strong, determined dog can work a paw or its head through the gap; Wirecutter also reports crates arriving bent in the box — inspect yours for sharp edges before use. [src1]
• Crash certification is per size and needs the straps: the Gunner G1 Large we link is not CPS-certified, and CPS tests crates secured with the maker's tie-downs. [src13, src3]
• Soft crates are for calm, crate-trained dogs: a chewing dog can destroy one, and they are not safe for a dog left alone. [src2, src4]
• Airline rules belong to the airline: confirm the kennel and size with your carrier and measure the kennel on arrival. [src18, src5]
• Remove collars and harnesses before crating: they can catch on the crate and hurt or strangle a dog. [src1]
• Confinement anxiety: some dogs panic in a crate and can injure themselves trying to escape; Wirecutter's experts suggest an exercise pen or a dog-proofed room for those dogs. Nothing here is veterinary advice — talk to a veterinarian or a qualified behaviorist about a dog in distress. [src1]
• Furniture crates: Fable takes no returns once a crate ships and warns against the crate for a dog whose head is close to the crate's window size. [src16]