Short answer: The best crate for a puppy is usually a wire crate with a divider. It’s one piece of a new puppy starter kit. Buy it in her adult size. On paper, the MidWest iCrate Single Door fits most homes. It includes the divider and was $70.35 on Amazon on October 21, 2026.
For a strong puppy or a big breed, look at the heavier MidWest Ultima Pro. It has been Wirecutter’s top wire pick since 2017.
Three tabs open. A $70 wire crate, a $799 designer crate and a plastic kennel. Meanwhile, the puppy comes home Saturday, and every review says something different.
Guess wrong and you pay twice. Too roomy, and she can potty in one corner and sit away from the mess. Too snug, and you’re shopping again as she grows.
Which crate is best for a puppy?
- Best for most puppies: MidWest iCrate Single Door, divider included
- For strong puppies and big breeds: MidWest Ultima Pro, MidWest’s thickest wire
- Budget pick for small breeds: Amazon Basics 30 inch Double Door
- Best for car rides and a den feel: Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel, plastic, no divider
- Not a crate: our First 14 Days Kit, for her first weeks home
| Crate | Type | Size checked | Fits weight | Divider | Price, Oct 20, 2026 | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidWest iCrate Single Door | Wire, folds flat | 36 in | 41 to 70 lb | Included | $70.35 | Thinner wire bent more in Wirecutter’s test |
| MidWest Ultima Pro | Heavy wire, folds flat | 30 in | 21 to 40 lb | Included | $81.99 | Heavy; Wirecutter found the divider hard to fit |
| Amazon Basics Double Door | Wire, folds flat | 30 in | No weight listed; pets under 26 by 17 in | Included | $44.99 | Untested by Wirecutter; some owners report bent bars |
| Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel | Hard plastic | 40 in | 70 to 90 lb | None | $215.95 | Reviews say the latch can jam |
Prices change daily.
Too many tabs open at midnight?
A story from Michael Northcutt, our founder: At midnight I had more browser tabs open than I could count. My phone was hot in my hand.
One tab said crate for naps. One said never crate during the day. For example, one had a schedule down to the minute. One said, “Just follow your puppy.”
I read until my eyes burned and woke up knowing less than when I started.
The advice wasn’t all bad. That wasn’t the problem. Yet nobody told me what to do first, today, at 3 p.m.
So the next morning, I closed every tab. Every single one. It felt like setting down a heavy bag.
So I picked one simple rhythm: wake, potty, eat, short play, potty, nap. Repeat. Then I printed it and stuck it on the fridge. Then I gave myself permission to ignore the rest of the internet for one week.
After all, the best plan isn’t the one with the most pages. It’s the one that stays on your fridge when you’re tired.
Crate shopping works the same way. Pick one that fits her adult size and has a divider, then close the tabs.
We earn a small commission on our Amazon crate links, at no cost to you.
The four puppy crates, one by one
MidWest iCrate Single Door: best for most puppies
It’s #1 in Basic Dog Crates on Amazon, rated 4.7 from 111,053 ratings. Also, a divider panel lets it grow with your dog. It also has one door and a leak-proof tray.
However, Wirecutter calls it a lighter, cheaper, less durable version of its top pick. Still, its thinner wires made the puppy divider easier to install. In addition, its latches have MidWest’s Paw Block, a small wire piece that stops a paw from flipping them open.
- Price: $70.35 for the 36 inch on Amazon, October 21, 2026
- Good for: a puppy who will grow to 41 to 70 pounds, and owners who move the crate between rooms
- Watch out for: in Wirecutter’s test, its thinner panels bent outward more easily than the Ultima Pro’s. Amazon’s review summary says some owners report bent frames and latches that aren’t very secure.
MidWest Ultima Pro: best for strong puppies and big breeds
In fact, of the 11 crates Wirecutter tested, the Ultima Pro had the thickest wires of any wire crate. It still bent outward under 50 pounds of force, but less than the other MidWest crates.
- Price: $81.99 for the 30 inch on Amazon, October 21, 2026
- Good for: a strong puppy and a crate you’ll keep for years. The listing goes up to 49 inches, for 91 to 110 pounds.
- Watch out for: weight. The 30 inch weighs 30.1 pounds. The testers found the divider harder to attach, and one plastic handle broke during setup.
Tip: Unbox it and check every panel before she goes in. However, both MidWest crates draw complaints about arriving bent, and a damaged crate can have sharp edges.
Amazon Basics 30 inch Double Door: best budget pick for small breeds
The listing sizes this crate for pets under 26 by 17 inches, length by height. For example, think Beagle, Dachshund, Shih Tzu or Chihuahua. It also has two doors, a divider and a removable tray. Its rating is 4.7 from 12,268 ratings.
- Price: $44.99 on Amazon, October 21, 2026
- Good for: a small breed puppy on a tight budget
- Watch out for: Wirecutter didn’t test it. Amazon’s review summary says some units arrived with bent bars. Lock the tray hook every time, as the listing asks.
Petmate Ultra Vari Kennel: best for car rides and a den feel
Meanwhile, Wirecutter calls this former pick a tough crate that handily contains accidents. Also, the listing says it meets most airline cargo rules and has tie-down holes.
- Price: $215.95 for the 40 inch, sized for 70 to 90 pounds, on Amazon, October 21, 2026
- Good for: a puppy who settles better in a closed den, and families who drive a lot
- Watch out for: no divider, so a growing puppy may need a second size. Reviews say the latch can jam, with safety worries for dogs with separation anxiety. Check your airline before you fly.
We make and sell the kit below.
How to choose the best crate for a puppy: 4 rules
- Buy for her adult size, then use the divider. She needs room to sit, stand and lie down comfortably, the AKC says.
- Check the latches. On a MidWest crate, look for the Paw Block. Some models Wirecutter tested in February 2025 lacked it.
- Put it where the family is. In a basement or an isolated spot, she’ll see it as punishment, vet and behavior consultant Dr. Susan Krebsbach told Wirecutter. Instead, a busy room like the kitchen works better.
- Take her collar off inside. A collar or harness can catch on the crate and hurt or even strangle a dog, Wirecutter warns.
What size is the best crate for your puppy?
Buy an expandable crate as large as her breed’s typical adult size. For example, the 36 inch iCrate lists 41 to 70 pounds, and the 30 inch Ultima Pro 21 to 40. Similarly, the 40 inch Ultra Vari fits 70 to 90, and the Amazon Basics lists pets under 26 by 17 inches. Our crate training guide shows how to check the fit as she grows.
Is a crate divider worth it for a puppy?
For a growing puppy, yes. When a crate is too big, many owners report good luck with a crate divider, the AKC notes. Move it back as she grows.
Also, how long she can stay in there depends on her age. A common guideline is about one hour per month of age. That holds up to about 9 months to 1 year. Her outer limit is her age in months plus one hour, per Humane World and the AKC.
Wire, plastic, heavy duty or soft: which type fits?
Wire crates: often the best crate for a puppy
In fact, wire crates are probably the most popular choice for home use, Cosmic Canine’s trainers write. They come with dividers for growing puppies, which saves buying new sizes. Besides, they give good airflow and visibility, the AKC adds.
Plastic crates for a puppy
By comparison, plastic gives a more den-like feel, Cosmic Canine says, but little protection in a serious car crash. Plastic is easy to clean by the AKC’s account, and it doubles as a travel carrier.
Heavy duty and escape proof crates for a puppy
Some crates sell as indestructible. Still, Wirecutter says no crate is completely safe for a very determined dog. Specifically, its testers found the aluminum Impact Collapsible the most durable of everything they tried. However, they note that Impact’s High Anxiety Crate, which the company claims is escape proof, doesn’t collapse. Yet in Cosmic Canine’s test, the Impact’s rivets popped off and the sides came loose.
Tip: Whatever the label says, check what Wirecutter’s testers checked. Above all, look for sharp edges, panels that bend and pinch, and spots she could gnaw.
Soft crates for a puppy who won’t chew
Meanwhile, fabric crates suit a small dog who won’t chew them, the AKC says. They’re light and fold down, but they’re harder to clean after an accident. Moreover, Cosmic Canine adds that one good paw swipe from a large dog can rip the mesh door.
Wooden and furniture crates for a puppy
Finally, wood crates are typically the most attractive and priciest type, per the AKC, and harder to clean. Even so, Wirecutter says the Fable is mainly for chill, crate-trained adult dogs, and the company takes no returns.
The best crate for a puppy in the car
Skip wire for the car. However, Cosmic Canine warns the wires can break and become a deadly hazard in a crash. By contrast, the Gunner G1 has passed Center for Pet Safety testing. Wirecutter’s experts stress keeping dogs contained while you drive.
Wire or plastic crate for a puppy? Where the experts split
“Dogs can chew those crates. They can get their jaws stuck around them.”
Jerry Klein, DVM, chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club, speaking to Wirecutter about wire crates
Wire crates aren’t Dr. Klein’s first choice, though he added that it depends on the dog. Wirecutter still names a wire crate its top pick. The AKC’s buying guide similarly calls metal crates best for dogs who chew through other materials.
Source: Wirecutter, the 40 inch Impact beside similar MidWest crates.
In short, a calm puppy at home does fine in wire with a divider. But a puppy who rides in the car often may be better off in plastic. Meanwhile, a puppy who bites the bars or panics needs your vet or a trainer first.
What about the $500+ crates on page one?
Life With Klee Kai tested more than 10 crates with two Alaskan Klee Kai. Its puppy pick, the Kindtail PAWD, suits owners not ready to spend over $500 before their pup is crate-trained. It comes in small and medium only, at $139.99 and $209.99. Its overall pick, the Impact Collapsible, starts at around $760.
Wirecutter’s upgrade pick, the Diggs Revol, has a garage-style door, and Diggs makes a puppy divider for it. On October 20, 2026, every Revol size showed out of stock on Diggs’s own site. The review also notes owner complaints about its tray cracking in larger sizes. So for a puppy who may chew, soil or outgrow it, a $70 wire crate is a smaller risk.
Do you need to buy new? Used, rented or a pen
Also, with a used or free crate, check for bent panels, sharp edges, a missing divider or a cracked tray. Disinfect the tray before she uses it. After all, no divider means spare room she may potty in.
That’s where renting helps. Your local shelter may rent out crates, so you can trade up as she grows, Humane World says. Alternatively, for dogs who struggle in crates, two vets Wirecutter interviewed suggest an exercise pen as a complement or alternative. If yours panics inside, read our guide to dog anxiety in the crate.
Best puppy crate FAQ
Should I buy a crate cover for a wire crate?
Fabric covers give a dog extra privacy and can dress up a wire crate, the AKC says. Our crate training guide covers using one at night, and when to take it off.
What should I put in my puppy’s crate?
A soft blanket or bed makes it inviting, Humane World says. The AKC suggests a washable bed for dogs who don’t regularly chew fabric.
Does the crate pad need to fit the divided space?
Size it to the part she uses now. Our chew proof crate pad guide says to measure that space again each time you move the divider.
Will my puppy hate the crate?
She may need time to get used to it. Never, ever use it as punishment, Dr. Krebsbach says. A few dogs have confinement anxiety, says Dr. Juliet Caviness, a University of Wisconsin vet instructor. They may pant, get vocal or soil inside. If yours does, bring in your vet or a trainer.
What these picks rest on: Nobody at LoveMyPuppy tested these crates, and none of us is a veterinarian. In October 2026 we read Google’s page one for “best crate for puppy,” led by Wirecutter’s 11-crate test. We added the AKC, Humane World and owner forum threads, and read each Amazon listing on October 20, 2026, rechecking prices and stock on October 21, 2026.
Sources
- Wirecutter: The Best Dog Crate, by Mel Plaut
- American Kennel Club: How to Choose the Best Crate for Your Dog, plus My Dog Pees in Her Crate and How to Potty Train Your Puppy
- Humane World for Animals: How to Crate Train Your Dog or Puppy
- Life With Klee Kai: Ultimate Dog Crate Comparison Guide
- Cosmic Canine: What Is the Best Type of Crate for My Dog?