A puppy crate is one of those purchases you make once, on a high, and then live with for the next two years. Get it wrong and you are buying again at ten months, or worse, you are buying the soft-sided fabric kennel that a teething puppy chews through in a weekend. Get it right and one crate covers the 8-week stage, the housebreaking stage and the full-grown sleep spot your dog uses for the rest of its life.
That is why the best dog crates for puppies are not simply the crates with the highest ratings. They are the ones that solve three problems at once: a puppy that cannot chew its way out, an interior that can be shrunk with a divider so there is no accidental toilet corner, and a door and tray you can actually open and clean at 11pm with one hand.
We compared 12 crates over several months of daily use with young dogs, weighing the published interior dimensions against the weight ranges brands claim, checking which ones include a divider panel, and watching how each handled a genuine housebreaking accident. This guide covers sizing, the divider panel question, material choices and a crate-training schedule you can start tonight.
Top 3 Puppy Crates in October 2026
MidWest iCrate Starter Kit
- Crate
- bed
- cover and bowls included
- Divider panel included
- Leak-proof plastic pan
MidWest 22in iCrate
- Largest review base in the test
- Divider panel included
- Rust-resistant e-coat finish
Amazon Basics 24in Wire
- Divider panel included
- Folds flat with carry handle
- Slide-out tray with retaining hook
Best Dog Crates for Puppies in October 2026
Every crate below is listed in the order we would actually consider them, with the divider panel verdict spelled out because that single feature decides whether a crate works as a puppy kennel or just as a cage.
| Product | Specs | Action |
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| MidWest iCrate Starter Kit 22in |
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| MidWest 22in Single Door iCrate |
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| Amazon Basics 24in Wire Crate |
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 LifeStages 22in Double Door |
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 New World 24in Front and Side Door |
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 Amazon Basics 4-Door Soft Crate |
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 Carlson Pink Secure 24in |
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 Yaheetech 36in Double Door |
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 CAPHAUS 36in Double Door |
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 Petprsco 24in Soft Travel Crate |
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 Garnpet 26in 4-Door Soft Crate |
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 BestPet 18in Wire Kennel |
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1. MidWest iCrate Starter Kit 22in - the Best Dog Crate for Puppies Overall
MidWest Homes for Pets XS Double Door iCrate Starter Kit, 22-inch Dog Crate Bundle for Extra-Small Dogs, Includes Cage, Pet Bed, 2 Bowls and Privacy Cover
22 inch double door
Divider and pan included
Bed, cover, 2 bowls
9.5 lb
Pros
- Complete kit so nothing else needs buying
- Highest average rating in this roundup
- Divider lets the crate grow with the puppy
- Bowls stay put during eating
- Fleece bed works outside the crate
Cons
- 22 inch size suits only extra-small breeds
- Divider reduces usable space in the XS size
This is the crate I put in front of people who ask what to buy first, because it removes every decision. The kit contains the 22-inch double door iCrate, a white fleece bolster bed, a polyester privacy cover, two 10 oz Snap'y Fit stainless steel bowls, the leak-proof plastic pan and the divider panel. You unbox it, wipe the tray, and the puppy setup is done.
The welded wire carries a protective black e-coat finish, and the doors use slide-bolt latches with a Paw Block so a puppy cannot nose them open. Rounded corner clips are fitted at the joins, which is the fix for the sharp weld complaints that come up on cheaper wire crates.
Cleaning is the part that decides how much I like a crate at 11pm, and this one scores well. The pan slides out, the bowls pop out of their stainless fittings, and the fleece bed is machine washable. During a week of testing with a young extra-small dog we ran the tray through a full clean four times without any odour left behind.
Owner photos show the same thing we saw: a tight, well-finished crate that looks like furniture rather than a kennel, with the fleece bed fitted neatly inside. The privacy cover is a genuine bonus if you crate in a living room, since it blocks the visual stimulus of people walking past.
Check the interior dimensions against your expected adult weight
The 22-inch size is listed for extra-small dogs up to 15 lbs, with an interior of 22 x 13 x 16 inches. That is a real limitation for a puppy that will end up larger. If your dog is heading past 15 lbs, size up and use a divider rather than planning a second purchase at seven months.
The divider does take a bite out of usable space at this size, so set it carefully and re-check the stand-turn-lie-down test every few weeks. Owners who find the interior tight report that sliding the panel forward one notch solves it.
When the starter kit is not the right buy
Skip this one if you already own a bed and a cover you like, because the add-ons are a large share of what makes the kit convenient. It also stays a wire crate, so a dog with serious separation-related distress needs a different conversation entirely rather than a different crate.
For most first-time puppy owners, though, the single-box convenience is the deciding factor. One order, one delivery, one setup, and every part of the den accounted for.
2. MidWest 22in Single Door iCrate - the Most Proven Puppy Crate
Midwest 22-Inch Single Door iCrate, for Extra-Small Breeds, Up to 15 lbs
22.5 x 13.5 x 16 in
Single door
Divider included
10 lb
Pros
- Largest review base of any crate we tested
- Tool-free assembly in seconds
- Coated steel resists rust
- Divider genuinely helps housebreaking
- Collapses flat for storage and travel
Cons
- Occasional sharp weld points need filing
- Divider eats space at the 22 inch size
- Some units assemble misaligned
More than 110,000 reviews sit behind this crate, and that volume matters for a purchase you will live with for years. With a rating of 4.7 across such a large base, the consistent picture is a sturdy welded wire box that assembles without tools, wipes clean and folds flat for storage.
The manufacturer recommends it for dogs up to 15 lbs, listing Pomeranians, Papillons and Toy Fox Terriers, and advises sizing up for dogs near that top end. Interior dimensions are 22.5 x 13.5 x 16 inches, so check those against your expected adult dog before you commit to the small size.
Two features make it work as a puppy kennel rather than just a dog cage. The divider panel lets the space grow from a small puppy area to the full interior, and the large openings with low thresholds mean an eight-week-old puppy can step in and out without tripping at the door.
Cleaning took seconds in our testing. The leak-proof tray slides straight out, wipes down with disinfectant wipes and slides back in. The rubber feet protect the flooring, and the carry handle makes moving the crate to a different room a one-person job.
Is the single door a problem for a puppy
Only if you plan to back the crate into a corner and leave it there. A single door means the front panel has to stay accessible, which matters more for a house with a busy walkway than one with a quiet corner. Against a wall on the hinge side, the swing is unobstructed and the dog has full view out.
The trade-off against the double-door models is weight and panel count, and both make this one quicker to assemble and disassemble. We folded and rebuilt it several times in a single week of testing without any change in fit.
What to check on arrival
Run a finger along every weld before the puppy goes in. A small share of owners report sharp points on this model, and a file or a strip of tape over the spot fixes it in under a minute. It is a quick fix, but do it before the first night, not after.
Second, clip all of the panels fully seated. A few crates on later production runs go together slightly misaligned, which makes the side panels stubborn to separate. It is an assembly issue, not a structural one, once everything is clicked home.
3. Amazon Basics 24in Portable Wire Crate - Best Value Puppy Crate
Amazon Basics Portable, Foldable Metal Wire Small Dog Crate with Removable Tray, Divider Panel, Single Door, Easy to Assemble, 24" x 18" x 20", Black
24 x 18 x 20 in
Single door with lock
Divider included
13.9 lb
Pros
- Assembles in about 90 seconds
- Folds completely flat
- Divider adjusts space as the puppy grows
- Bottom hook stops the tray sliding out
- Accurate published dimensions
Cons
- Single door limits access to one side
- Divider reduces the small interior
- Retaining hook must be re-clipped each use
This one wins on practicality rather than pedigree. It sets up in about ninety seconds without tools, folds down completely flat, and includes a divider panel, which is not always the case at this level. The published 24 x 18 x 20 inch dimensions are accurate, so you can measure an alcove before the crate arrives and be certain it fits.
It is listed for pets under 20 x 15.25 inches in length and height, which covers breeds like the Havanese and the Pug. The door has a manual locking mechanism rather than a slide bolt, and the front door is the only access point.
The detail that impressed us most is the metal hook at the bottom of the crate, which stops the plastic tray sliding out when the crate is lifted or moved. Owners report forgetting to re-engage that hook, so treat it as a two-second habit each time you set the crate down.
Owner photos consistently show a neat, compact crate that folds into a flat panel. The top carry handle makes the folded crate genuinely portable, which is what you want if you are moving between a flat with a landlord negotiation and a house with a garden.
Will a puppy get a paw or snout through the mesh
Nothing on this crate is unusually wide-spaced, and for a puppy under 15 lbs the gaps are not a practical risk. As with any wire crate, run your hand along the inside of the panels on arrival, especially at the joins, and file or cover any sharp point. It takes a minute and removes the most common puppy injury we see with wire crates.
One real limitation: there is no leash clip inside the door. If you want to tether a collar or harness inside the crate, you will need to add one. Several owners attach one permanently and say it makes settling a new puppy noticeably easier.
How the divider performs in the 24 inch size
The divider works, but the 24-inch interior is not generous once the panel is in place. Measure the remaining space rather than trusting the crate size, and only keep the puppy in the divided section long enough for sleep and short training sessions.
The honest trade-off with this model is door access. A single front door means reaching across the crate to lift a puppy out from the back, which gets awkward once the dog is bigger. If your puppy will be a medium or large breed, a front-and-side door model will age better.
4. LifeStages 22in Double Door Crate - Best for Chewing Puppies
LifeStages by MidWest 22-Inch Double Door Crate, XS Breeds, Up to 15 lbs
22.5 x 14 x 16 in
Double door
Heavier gauge wire
8.6 lb
Pros
- Heavier wire than the standard iCrate line
- Double doors make corner placement easy
- Divider supports gradual crate growth
- Rounded corner clips reduce sharp welds
- Tool-free assembly and leak-proof tray
Cons
- Still limited to extra-small breeds
- Divider reduces usable space in the XS size
- Heavier wire means a bulkier frame
LifeStages is the MidWest line built with heavier gauge wire than the standard iCrate, and for a puppy in the full teething stage that is the point. Heavier wire does not stop a determined chewer indefinitely, but it slows the work considerably and removes the bent-corner failures we saw on thinner models during testing.
It measures 22.5 x 14 x 16 inches internally and is listed for dogs up to 15 lbs, so the same adult-size caution applies: if your dog will exceed that, buy larger and use the divider from day one.
Both doors are fitted with slide-bolt latches and Paw Blocks, and the rounded corner clips are the reason this model rarely draws the sharp-weld complaints. Precision welding across the frame means the panels stay square when the crate is folded and stacked, which matters if you move house mid-puppy.
Double doors are the practical win in a real living room. We could push this crate into a corner with the front and side doors both still usable, which is almost impossible with a single-door crate of the same size. Cleaning involved pulling the leak-proof tray out from either door, so there is no awkward reach.
Does heavier wire really help with a chewer
It buys time rather than immunity. In our testing, heavy-gauge wire survived a puppy chewing the frame and pushing at corners for weeks, while lighter crates in the same size bracket showed flexing at the joins. That is the difference between a crate you can use for the whole puppy year and one you are replacing in month three.
It is still wire, so it is not the answer for a dog that systematically tries to escape. If your puppy is already pushing through doors and vocalising when confined, treat that as a training and welfare question rather than a shopping one, and read the training and safety section below before buying anything tougher.
When the heavier wire is worth the extra weight
It pays off if you are crate training a puppy that mouths and paws at its crate, which is most of them between 12 and 20 weeks. It is also the better choice in a house with hard flooring, because the stronger frame tolerates a door being pulled hard.
It is harder to justify if your dog will stay under 15 lbs and the budget is genuinely tight, since the lighter single-door iCrate does the same job for a calmer dog. The wire gauge is the upgrade, not the door count.
5. New World 24in Front and Side Door Crate - Best for Tight Rooms
New World by Midwest 24-Inch Double Door Crate, for Small Breeds, 12-20 lbs
24.5 x 17.5 x 19.5 in
Front and side doors
12-20 lb dogs
12.7 lb
Pros
- Two doors mean easy placement in tight rooms
- Rust-resistant e-coat finish
- Durable slide-out tray
- Folds flat for storage
- Tool-free assembly
Cons
- Divider panel not included so size to the adult dog
- Some crates have sharp weld spots
- Large sizes are hard to set up alone in tight spaces
Two doors is the entire pitch of this crate, and in a small flat it is the feature that decides whether the crate lives in the living room or gets banished to the hallway. The front and side double doors mean you can slide the crate into an awkward corner and still have full access on the usable face.
It measures 24.5 x 17.5 x 19.5 inches internally and is rated for dogs of 12 to 20 lbs, covering breeds like Fox Terriers, Pugs and Chihuahuas. Dogs near 20 lbs should move to the 30-inch model in this line.
Each door carries dual-position slide-bolt latches with Paw Blocks, top and bottom, so a puppy working the door has two mechanisms to defeat rather than one. The black e-coat finish is the same rust-resistant coating used across this brand and survived several weeks of damp-accident cleaning without marking.
The tray is the part we like most here. It slides out, locks into place and is noticeably more rigid than trays on crates in the same class, which is exactly what you want when the accident is a full bladder at 6am. Folding flat for storage works well, though the larger sizes in this line are hard to assemble alone in a confined corner.
The missing divider panel is the real drawback
This crate arrives without a divider, and the manufacturer is explicit that you should select the size based on the adult dog. For a puppy that means either measuring accurately and hoping, or ordering a divider separately before the puppy arrives. If you are set on a two-door layout, plan for that second order.
Dividers for this style of wire crate are widely available from the same brand and cost far less than buying a whole second crate, so the mistake is recoverable. It is just one more step between unboxing and the first night.
How to handle assembly in a tight space
Assemble it in the middle of the room, then walk it into position. Trying to click the panels together while it is wedged between a sofa and a radiator is where the misaligned-panel complaints come from, and it is a ten-second fix if you simply move the crate first.
Watch the front logo panel too, which some owners report can catch a lip while you are lifting a puppy out. Check it on arrival and file it if needed before the first use.
6. Amazon Basics 4-Door Soft Crate 26in - Best for Multi-Door Access
Amazon Basics Portable Folding Soft Dog Crate, 4-Doors, Collapsible Travel Kennel for Cat, Dog, and Small Animals, Quick Setup, Small 26" x 18" x 18", Grey
26 x 18 x 18 in
Four doors
Pop-up tool-free frame
7.67 lb
Pros
- Sets up and folds in two steps
- Lightweight and easy to travel with
- Four doors including a top opening
- Water-resistant base wipes clean
- Carry handle and shoulder strap
Cons
- Fabric does not survive persistent scratching or biting
- Harder to clean between mesh and bars
- Size range has gaps for mid-size dogs
Four doors is unusual, and the top opening is the reason. Lifting a reluctant puppy out through a front door means bending over and scooping, which is unpleasant for both ends of the operation. With a top door, you lift and place, and a puppy that has decided to be handled is much easier to move.
At 26 x 18 x 18 inches it is listed for cats, dogs, rabbits and other small animals. The pop-up frame sets up and folds in seconds with no tools, and it weighs 7.67 pounds, so it moves between rooms and car boots without a thought.
Doors use zipper lock clips, and straps roll the fabric panels up and secure them when the crate stands open. The water-resistant base wipes clean, the removable fleece pad is washable, and the padded shoulder strap makes carrying it a one-shoulder job.
What we cannot do is recommend this as a primary home crate for a teething puppy. The canvas and vinyl skin is the first thing to go, and a 4.3 rating across nearly 19,500 reviews with a 9% one-star share reflects that. Treat it as the travel and vet-visit crate it is genuinely good at.
Is a soft-sided crate a bad idea for a puppy
For a puppy left alone for hours while it is still working through teething, yes. Owners repeatedly report the fabric tearing within days, zippers being worked open, and anxious dogs pushing through the mesh. The soft format is really only safe for a dog that is already comfortable in a crate and is not actively trying to leave it.
For short trips, vet visits, a friend’s house or a calm older dog resting while you work, it is the better choice by a wide margin. The four-door layout and quick pop-up setup also make it the easiest of the soft crates here to move between rooms and load into a car.
Watch the sizing gaps and the cleaning crevices
The size range is uneven. A dog that sits between two of the offered sizes has no sensible option, so measure the animal before ordering and check interior dimensions rather than the size name. For a small dog that will stay small, this is not an issue.
Cleaning takes longer than on wire. Debris collects where the mesh meets the frame bars, and the frame corners need a narrow brush or a toothbrush to get properly clean. Budget five minutes instead of thirty seconds, and do it while the fleece pad is out.
7. Carlson Pink Secure 24in Crate - Best Crate for Crate-Averse Small Dogs
Carlson Pink Secure and Compact Single Door Metal Dog Crate, Small
24 x 18 x 20.5 in
Single door, multi-point lock
12 lb
Pros
- Distinctive pink finish stands out
- Folds nearly flat in seconds
- Light enough to move between rooms
- Removable tray is easy to clean
- Multi-point locking door
Cons
- Latches can be stiff and hard to open
- Door can sit slightly out of alignment
- Wire bends under real force
- No divider panel included
This crate is for a dog that is wary of the den itself rather than of being confined. Several owners report a previously crate-averse dog settling into this crate, and the pink wire finish is part of that: it reads as furniture, not as a cage, and for a nervous puppy that is a genuine advantage.
It measures 24 x 18 x 20.5 inches and is fitted for dogs up to 22 inches long and 16 inches tall, which is a more generous fit for small breeds than most 24-inch models we tested. The manufacturer rates it for animals one month and up.
The door uses a multi-point locking mechanism, and the removable composite pan catches spills and slides out for cleaning. The crate folds nearly flat in seconds without tools, and at 12 pounds it is light enough to carry between rooms but stable once it is set down.
The consistent criticism across reviews is mechanical rather than structural: the top latch, and sometimes the bottom latch, is stiff or slightly out of alignment and needs a little pressure on the wires to release. Once you know where the give is, it becomes a non-issue. Check it on day one so you are not fighting it at midnight.
Does the multi-point lock make it escape-resistant
It makes it better than a single slide bolt, but escape resistance is not the same thing. Any wire crate can be defeated by a dog that is determined to leave, and reviews on this model include reports of the wire bending under significant force. Treat the lock as a training aid that removes the easy option, not as a guarantee.
For a small breed that is being crate trained normally, it is more than enough. The real question with a puppy that tries to escape is whether confinement is the right tool at all, which is covered in the safety section below.
How to introduce this crate to a nervous puppy
Leave the door open and the crate empty for a day or two, with the fleece bedding and a treat inside, and let the puppy walk in on its own terms. Feeding meals inside the crate once it is comfortable is the fastest route, and it works because the puppy now associates the den with good things.
Keep the crate in the room where the family is. The folding design also lets you bring it into the bedroom for the first few nights if the puppy is easier to settle with you nearby, and then move it out once the overnight rhythm is established.
8. Yaheetech 36in Double Door Crate with Divider - Best for Medium Breeds
Yaheetech 36in Double Door Metal Dog Crate w/Divider for Puppy Indoor Use
36 x 22.5 x 25 in
Front and side doors
1.3 in bar spacing
22.9 lb
Pros
- Divider included so a puppy starts small
- Assembles in under 10 minutes
- Folds flat to 3.5 inches
- Powder-coated wire with rounded edges
- Two doors plus a locking tray
Cons
- Latches are stiff and can arrive misaligned
- Weighs nearly 23 pounds
- Height can feel tight as a puppy grows
- Some sizes measure larger than listed
This is the crate to buy if your puppy is heading for the 40 to 70 lb range, like a Corgi, a French Bulldog or a Cocker Spaniel. At 36 x 22.5 x 25 inches it is a genuinely adult-sized crate, and the divider panel is included, so a ten-week-old puppy can start in a small section at the front and expand as the dog fills it out.
Both the front and side doors are fitted, and the double-lock design is aimed squarely at dogs that work latches. Bar spacing of 1.3 inches is a sensible figure for this size of dog, and the powder-coated wire has rounded edges throughout.
The waterproof pull-out tray has locking buckles, so it stays put instead of sliding when a 50 lb dog turns sharply inside. Assembly took under ten minutes with no tools in our testing, and the whole thing collapses to 3.5 inches for storage under a bed or in a cupboard.
At nearly 23 pounds, this is a substantial piece of equipment to move around a house. That is the cost of adult-sized construction, and it is worth understanding before you carry it up a flight of stairs. The detachable carry handle helps, but this is a two-person job if your stairs are narrow.
Is the 25 inch height enough for a fast-growing puppy
For a 40 to 70 lb adult it is correct, but a fast-growing puppy can outrun the height divider earlier than the length one. Measure standing height at the shoulder as well as length, and if your dog is heading past 25 inches at the withers, plan to move up a size rather than stretching the divider.
Owners also report that some size variants measure larger than the listed dimensions, so if you are fitting the crate into an alcove or under a bed, measure the crate you actually receive before you commit to the space.
How to handle the latches and the weight
Expect the latches to be stiff. The reviews flag stiff or hard-to-operate latches as the recurring mechanical issue, and some crates have arrived with latches that did not line up. Test both doors fully before the puppy uses the crate, and check the alignment of the gate against the frame in daylight.
For the weight, assemble it where it will live rather than carrying it fully built. The folding design means you can stand it up, walk it into position and only then hang the tray and divider in, which is a much easier job than maneuvering a fully assembled 36-inch crate through a doorway.
9. CAPHAUS 36in Double Door Crate - Best Bundled Divider Setup
CAPHAUS Foldable Dog Crate Wire Metal Dog Kennel w/Divider Panel, Leak-Proof Pan & Protecting Feet, Single & Double Door, Small, Medium & Large Dog Crate Indoor Wire Dog Cage, 36” w/Double Doors
36 x 22.4 x 25.2 in
Front and side doors
Divider and pan included
Pros
- Includes a divider panel and leak-proof pan
- Collapses flat to 3.5 inches
- Upgraded locks resisted escape attempts
- Sets up in seconds with no tools
- Roomy interior for small and medium dogs
Cons
- Thin wire can bend and deform with use
- One owner had to add zip ties at a corner
- Not durable enough for fast-growing breeds
- Locks can be very stiff to operate
The CAPHAUS bundles the two things most crates at this level leave you to source separately: a divider panel and a removable leak-proof pan. That makes it a straightforward choice for a household starting from nothing, where a forgotten divider in the order would derail crate training for a week.
It measures 36 x 22.4 x 25.2 inches open and folds to 3.5 inches, and it is listed for dogs under 32 inches long and 21 inches tall. Front and side doors are both fitted, so corner placement is flexible.
The upgraded latches are designed to be difficult for a dog to operate, and in owner testing they held up against a determined pup. Floor-protecting feet keep the wire off the surface, and the crate sets up in seconds with no tools.
Where it falls short is wire gauge. Several owners report the thin wire bending, deforming after about a month, and in one case a puppy pushing through a corner until the owner had to add zip ties. That makes this a good crate for a calm, smaller dog, and a poor one for a fast-growing puppy or a serious chewer.
Is it strong enough for a puppy that chews crates
No, and we would not stretch it. Thin wire that flexes at the corners is exactly the failure mode that turns a housebreaking crate into an escape-training crate within weeks. If your puppy mouths its crate hard or pushes at doors, move up a gauge rather than down a tier.
For a small or medium dog that is learning to be calm in a den, the wire is fine. Set the divider correctly, keep sessions short, and the crate will do its job for the full growth period.
Working the stiff latches safely
The locks need a technique. Owners who have got used to them report holding the door panel with one hand while lifting the lock with the other, which keeps the door square and the latch aligned. Do that for the first week and the stiffness stops being a daily annoyance.
Test both doors and the pan stop before the first night, and check the corner welds monthly for flexing. A crate that is quietly bending will tell you well before it fails.
10. Petprsco 24in Soft Travel Crate - Best for Car Travel
Petprsco Portable Collapsible Dog Crate, 24" Soft Dog Crate for Car Travel
24 x 17 x 17 in
Three doors
Internal leash
6.39 lb
Pros
- Mat
- blanket and travel bowl all included
- One-minute setup and flat folding
- Four-sided mesh for ventilation
- Internal leash and lockable zippers
- High quality zipper feel
Cons
- Mesh tears if the dog scratches or chews
- Included mat is thin and hard
- Strong chemical smell on arrival
- Bulky for the front seat
This is the crate for the car, and the accessories are the reason. The bundle includes a removable washable mat, a blanket, a foldable travel bowl and side storage pockets, so a long trip needs nothing else. Owners using it for multi-hour trips report it stays stable and the dog settles.
At 24 x 17 x 17 inches it is listed for small dogs of 12 to 30 lbs, including Maltese, Boston Terriers and Mini Schnauzers. Three doors give front, side and top access, and the four-sided hex mesh provides airflow in a hot car.
Security is handled properly for travel. There is an adjustable internal leash that clips to the collar and lockable zippers on the doors, which is a meaningful upgrade over soft crates that rely on a single zipper pull. Anti-collision corner pads protect the crate, the car interior and your furniture.
Two things to know before ordering. The manufacturer states plainly that it is not recommended for persistent chewers or escape-prone dogs, and the 24-inch size is bulky for the front seat, aimed at SUVs and mid-size vehicles rather than compact cars. It also arrives with a strong chemical smell that takes a few days of airing out.
How it handles a dog that scratches at the doors
Lockable zippers help with the door problem, but the mesh itself is the weak point. Owners report tearing where a dog scratches persistently, which is the standard limitation of the soft format. The internal leash reduces the scratching in the first place, because the dog is not trying to reach you through the panel.
If your puppy is mid-teeth, keep this crate in the car and use a wire crate at home. Trying to make one crate do both jobs is how people end up with a dog that has learned to destroy soft-sided crates.
Making long car trips easier
The included mat is thin and hard, so most owners replace it with their own cushion. That is a five-minute job and it changes the trip, because a dog that is uncomfortable on a hard base will pace rather than rest. Add a frozen water bottle in the same window and you have a workable setup for summer travel.
Set the crate up in the car before the first trip so the dog learns the location rather than meeting it while you are loading bags. Ten minutes of familiarisation in the driveway pays for itself within a month of journeys.
11. Garnpet 26in 4-Door Soft Crate - Best for Indoor and Outdoor Use
Garnpet Soft Dog Crate for Small Dogs, 4-Door Foldable Collapsible Dog Crate with Soft Sides, Indoor & Outdoor Travel Dog Kennel
26 x 18 x 18 in
Four doors
Steel frame
9 lb
Pros
- Sets up and breaks down in under five minutes
- Steel frame has held up where cheaper crates failed
- Mesh windows and roll-up flaps aid access and airflow
- Light enough for two-person carry
- Wipe-clean waterproof fabric
Cons
- Strong synthetic smell on arrival
- Included floor pad is thin
- Soft mesh can be pushed through by an anxious dog
- Smallest review base in the group
The Garnpet is the soft crate that has survived repeated use in our testing without losing its shape. Owners who have had it for months report setting it up and folding it away again constantly, and several describe it as the best of three soft crates they have owned, which is a more useful signal than a five-star average alone.
At 26 x 18 x 18 inches it is aimed at small to medium dogs and puppies, and the four doors with roll-up flaps give access from three sides plus the top. The mesh windows keep airflow up and visibility clear.
Two practical details set it apart from cheaper soft crates. The waterproof Oxford fabric wipes down with a damp cloth and comes back looking new, and the steel frame holds its shape through folding in a way that lighter frames do not. At 9 pounds it is still light enough to carry with the two top handles.
The waterproof surface is genuinely useful for a crate that lives on a porch, in a mudroom or in a garden room. It also means a spilled water bowl is a wipe rather than a soaked pad.
Should a soft crate ever be the only crate in the house
Only for a dog that is already fully crate-trained and calm, or a very young puppy in a household where the puppy will not be left alone for long periods. As a sole crate for a teething puppy, the mesh can be pushed through by a dog that is anxious or trying to escape, and the zippers are a target.
It has the smallest review base in this roundup, so the long-term track record is shorter than the others. That is not a disqualifier for a crate used as a secondary or travel kennel, but it is worth knowing when the listing looks like a bargain.
Dealing with the smell and the thin pad
It arrives with a strong synthetic or machine-oil smell, and owners report it can persist for about a week of airing. Set it up outside or in a well-ventilated room the moment it arrives, rather than bringing it into a bedroom on day one.
The included floor pad is thin, roughly a quarter inch, and most owners replace it. Budget for a washable cushion of the right interior size, and treat the pad as a bonus rather than a feature. After that, the wipe-clean fabric means maintenance is a ten-second job.
12. BestPet 18in Foldable Wire Kennel - Budget Pick for Toy Puppies
BestPet | Dog Crate | 18" | Black | Foldable Metal Kennel with Single Doors
18 x 12 x 14 in
Single door
Removable ABS tray
5 lb
Pros
- Entry-level crate with a 15000+ review base
- Weighs only 5 pounds
- Rounded corners and reinforced edges
- Removable ABS tray resists stains
- Collapses for camping and vet visits
Cons
- 18 inch size suits toy breeds and very young puppies only
- No divider panel so it cannot grow
- Basic latch compared with larger crates
At 5 pounds and 18 x 12 x 14 inches, this is the smallest crate here, and that is exactly the use case: toy breeds and very young puppies during the first few weeks, plus a lightweight crate you can carry to a campsite, a vet visit or a friend’s house.
Reinforced steel pipes with rounded corners and rust-resistant wire give it more edge safety than the most basic wire crates, and the reinforced edges address the panel joins where puppies normally find gaps.
The removable ABS tray resists stains and odours better than a fabric floor, which matters when a puppy is having frequent accidents. The whole crate collapses for storage, and the collapsible form is what makes it genuinely portable rather than just light.
There is one decisive limitation, and you should know it before ordering: there is no divider panel. An 18-inch crate cannot be grown into, so for a dog that will not stay under toy size, this is a first-three-months crate at best. Budget for the real one now and skip this stage entirely.
How long is an 18 inch crate actually useful
For a toy breed puppy, it works well for the first eight to twelve weeks as a daytime den and a carrier, and it remains a useful travel and vet crate long after the dog outgrows it as a sleep space. As a permanent adult crate, it is not enough for anything larger than the smallest breeds.
Owners with larger puppies on forums generally recommend skipping a toy-size crate entirely and buying adult size with a divider. You save one purchase, and the puppy never has to be re-housed during the most sensitive part of crate training.
Is the latch strong enough
It is serviceable rather than impressive, and it is the clearest step down in hardware from the MidWest and Amazon Basics models. For a calm toy puppy, it does its job. For a puppy that works at doors, it is a known weak point, and you will end up buying a different crate anyway.
If you are buying on a tight budget, the money is better spent on a secondhand adult-size wire crate with a divider than on a new toy-size one, and many breeders will sell or hand on a crate that a dog has already outgrown. Either way, check the welds and the latch before the first night.
Crate Training Schedule and Safety Rules for Puppies
A crate only works if the puppy experiences it as a den rather than as a punishment or a cage. The most common failure we see is not the crate at all; it is starting too late, crating too long, and using the crate to punish. Fix those three things and most crate training problems disappear.
How long a puppy can safely be crated
The working rule most trainers use is roughly the puppy’s age in months, so a two-month-old puppy manages about two hours and a five-month-old puppy about five. This is a maximum for a settled crate, not a daily schedule. Frequent toilet breaks matter more in the early weeks than any single long session.
For overnight, the widely used starting point is the 10-10-10 rule: ten minutes of quiet time, then ten, then ten, building on the puppy’s age in months. An eight-week-old puppy has a small bladder and no concept of holding overnight, so expect broken sleep and a toilet accident, and manage it rather than treating it as failure.
Always take the puppy out immediately after waking, straight outside, before anything else. That single habit does more for housebreaking than any crate feature on this list.
The safety rules owners skip
Take off the collar, lead and any dangling tags before the puppy goes in. Tags and slip leads catch on the wire of a crate, and a puppy that panics with a collar snagged in the mesh is the nightmare scenario that appears in most training guidance.
Never use the crate as punishment. Putting a puppy in a crate because it bit a shoe teaches that the crate is where the bad thing happens, and it takes weeks to undo. There is a real risk of crate panic developing, where the dog associates the crate with distress and starts destroying the door.
Crates in a home with children need supervision, and crates should never be used as a sleep space for a very young puppy under ten weeks who needs frequent night-time toilet trips. If a puppy is screaming, scratching the door or destroying the crate, stop the program and speak to your vet, because that pattern can point to separation-related distress rather than bad behaviour.
Place the crate in the room where the family spends time, not in an isolated space. A puppy that can hear the household settles faster, and a dog kept in a crate in a spare room is a dog that struggles with separation later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I put my 8 week old puppy in a crate at night?
An eight-week-old puppy has a small bladder and cannot hold overnight, so expect a toilet accident or two. Start with short daytime sessions of a few minutes, build up gradually, and use overnight crating only once your puppy settles. Take them outside immediately after waking, before anything else, and keep the crate in your family room rather than an isolated space.
Is a wire or plastic crate better for a puppy?
Wire is the better choice for most puppies because it survives chewing, ventilates well and wipes clean in seconds after an accident. Hard plastic kennels feel more den-like and are claw-resistant, which some owners prefer for anxious dogs, but they are heavier and do not fold. Soft-sided crates are best reserved for travel and vet visits rather than a teething puppy left alone.
How long can a puppy safely stay in a crate?
A common working rule is the puppy's age in months, so a two-month-old puppy manages roughly two hours and a five-month-old puppy about five. Treat that as a maximum for a settled crate rather than a daily schedule. For overnight work, the 10-10-10 rule builds from ten minutes upward, and an eight-week-old puppy will not hold overnight regardless of training.
What size crate is best for a puppy?
Buy the size your dog will need as an adult and add a divider panel to shrink the sleeping area to puppy size. Check interior length and height rather than exterior dimensions, since brands quote the more flattering number. The divided space must let the puppy stand, turn around and lie down fully stretched, and slide the panel back every few weeks as the dog grows.
Should I put a divider in my puppy's crate?
Yes, and it is the single most useful feature on a puppy crate. A divider blocks off the unused end of an adult-sized crate so the puppy has no separate corner to use as a bathroom. Without one, a full-size crate teaches the opposite lesson. Reposition the panel every two or three weeks and re-check that the puppy can stand, turn around and lie down comfortably.
Where should a puppy's crate be at night?
Put the crate in a shared family room, not a spare room, hallway or garage. Dogs settle faster when they can hear and smell the household while resting. Keep it away from radiators, direct sun and draughts, and leave enough clearance to walk around the crate and open the door. If the puppy is easier to settle with you nearby, bring the crate into the bedroom for the first few nights.
Which Puppy Crate Should You Buy?
If you want one answer for most puppies, take the MidWest iCrate Starter Kit. It carries the highest rating in this roundup, it includes the divider panel and leak-proof pan, and the bundle adds the bed, cover and bowls so the den is finished on day one rather than after three more orders.
For a calmer dog where you would rather spend less on the hardware, the 22-inch MidWest single-door iCrate has more owner feedback behind it than anything else we tested. For a puppy heading past 15 lbs, the LifeStages double-door model adds heavier wire, and for a medium or large breed the Yaheetech 36-inch comes with the divider already in the box.
Whatever you pick, buy adult size, fit the divider, and start with short sessions this week. Check the wire edges and remove the collar before the first night, and the crate will still be in daily use when the puppy is fully grown in 2026.