Pet Supplies
The Best Dog Crates: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared a wire folding crate, a furniture-style crate, a plastic airline crate, and a heavy-duty escape-proof kennel on security, livability, and fit to purpose.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Crate type
- Escape / chew resistance
- Portability & storage
- Air travel ready
- Ease of cleaning
- Best use case
Dog crates are not one product but four very different tools, so we lined up the main types against each other: an everyday wire folding crate, a hide-it-as-furniture end table, a plastic airline travel kennel, and a welded-steel escape-proof cage. Synthesizing independent testing and owner reports, two earn a clear buy, the travel crate is a genuine it-depends, and the furniture crate is the one to skip. Here is how they stack up and which belongs in your home.
The sturdier, sensible wire folding crate that fits the most homes.
Best for: Puppies in training and calm adult dogs that need a versatile everyday crate.
- Heavier-gauge wire than entry-level folding crates
- Two doors, drop-pin latches, and a puppy divider included
- Folds flat for storage and travel; wipe-clean removable pan
- Not chew-proof against a truly determined dog
- Heavy to carry in the larger sizes
Welded-steel containment for the dogs that destroy everything else.
Best for: Powerful breeds, heavy chewers, and genuine escape artists or high-anxiety dogs.
- Heavy 20-gauge steel tubing with welds at stress points
- Dual latches positioned out of the dog's reach
- Rolls on caster wheels with brakes despite its weight
- Expensive and very heavy
- Does not fold; industrial look, not living-room furniture
A plastic travel kennel that earns its keep only if you actually travel.
Best for: Owners who fly with their dog or take frequent road trips.
- Built to the IATA 51st-edition live-animal standards for air travel
- 360-degree ventilation and secure, hardware-covered door
- Reassuring den-like box for flights and car trips
- Solid walls limit visibility and airflow versus wire crates
- Bulky, non-folding, and awkward to store at larger sizes
Looks like furniture, performs like the compromise it is.
Best for: Small, calm, fully house-trained dogs whose owners prize appearance above all.
- Doubles as a wood end table and blends into living spaces
- Quieter, more enclosed feel than bare wire
- Thin spindles and panels flex and can wobble
- Modest interior, vulnerable to chewers, and hard to deep-clean
| Criteria | MidWest Homes for Pets Ultima Pro Double Door Dog Crate Top pick | ProSelect Empire Dog Cage | Petmate Sky Kennel | Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate End Table |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Puppies in training and calm adult dogs that need a versatile everyday crate. | Powerful breeds, heavy chewers, and genuine escape artists or high-anxiety dogs. | Owners who fly with their dog or take frequent road trips. | Small, calm, fully house-trained dogs whose owners prize appearance above all. |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
| Crate type | Folding wire crate | Welded-steel heavy-duty cage | Molded plastic travel kennel | Wood furniture-style crate |
| Escape / chew resistance | Moderate | Very high | Moderate | Low |
| Portability & storage | Folds flat, moderately heavy | Rolls on casters, does not fold | Non-folding, bulky but carryable | Fixed furniture piece |
| Air travel ready | No | No | Yes (confirm with airline) | No |
| Ease of cleaning | Easy (removable pan) | Easy (slide-out tray) | Easy (wipe-down plastic) | Harder (wood finish stains) |
| Best use case | Everyday home & training | Containing strong or anxious dogs | Flying and car travel | Decor-first calm dogs |
| Price tier | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range |
Which one is right for you?
- Puppies in training and calm adult dogs that need a versatile everyday crate. Buy it MidWest Homes for Pets Ultima Pro Double Door Dog Crate
- Powerful breeds, heavy chewers, and genuine escape artists or high-anxiety dogs. Buy it ProSelect Empire Dog Cage
- Owners who fly with their dog or take frequent road trips. It depends Petmate Sky Kennel
- Small, calm, fully house-trained dogs whose owners prize appearance above all. Skip it Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate End Table
How we judged the field
We do not run our own kennel lab. Instead, we synthesize independent testing, long-term owner reports, and manufacturer specifications, then weigh the patterns that repeat across all three. For crates, four criteria mattered most: containment security (can the dog bend a door, pop a latch, or chew through), everyday livability (assembly, portability, and cleaning), material honesty (does the build quality match the marketing), and fit to purpose. A crate that is ideal for calm crate-training is a poor choice for a powerful escape artist, and the reverse is equally true, so we judged each product against the job it is actually built for. We also restricted the field to models that are current and widely stocked in 2026, so a recommendation you act on is one you can still buy.
MidWest Homes for Pets Ultima Pro Double Door Dog Crate — buy
The Ultima Pro is the wire folding crate we would put in most homes. It uses a noticeably heavier-gauge wire than the brand’s entry-level iCrate, adds a second door for flexible placement, and secures each door with drop-pin latches that owners report hold up better than the single slide-bolts on cheaper crates. It still folds flat for storage and travel, includes a divider panel for growing puppies, and ships with a removable plastic pan that wipes clean. Reviewers consistently describe it as the sensible middle ground: sturdier than a bargain crate, far cheaper and lighter than a welded-steel kennel. It is not chew-proof against a truly determined dog, and at larger sizes it is heavy to carry. Budget-focused buyers who want the same folding format for less commonly step down to the brand’s standard iCrate and accept the lighter build.
ProSelect Empire Dog Cage — buy
When the dog is the problem — a powerful breed, a panic chewer, or a genuine escape artist — the Empire is the honest answer. It is built from heavy 20-gauge steel tubing with welds at the stress points, a design that owners of strong dogs report survives attempts that destroy plastic and fold-flat wire crates. The two latches sit where a dog inside cannot reach or manipulate them, and the whole cage rolls on caster wheels with brakes because it is genuinely heavy. The trade-offs are exactly what you would expect: it is expensive, it does not fold down, and it reads as industrial rather than living-room furniture. For a calm, crate-trained dog it is overkill, but for the animals it is designed for, independent testing and owner reports agree that little else contains them as reliably.
Petmate Sky Kennel — it depends
The Sky Kennel is a plastic travel crate, and whether it belongs in your home depends entirely on whether you travel. Petmate states it is built to the standards in the 51st edition of the IATA Live Animals Regulations, with the 360-degree ventilation, plastic-covered hardware, and secure door most airlines require, though you should always confirm the exact requirements with your carrier before flying. It is also a reassuring, den-like box for car trips. As an everyday home crate it is less appealing: the solid walls limit visibility and airflow compared with a wire crate, it does not fold, and the larger sizes are bulky to store. Buy it for flying and road trips; look elsewhere if you only need a stationary crate at home.
Casual Home Wooden Pet Crate End Table — skip
The appeal is obvious — a crate that hides as a wood end table and blends into a living room. In practice, owner reports point to the same recurring complaints: thin spindles and panels that flex, a tendency to wobble, a modest interior for the footprint, and finishes that scratch and stain and are hard to deep-clean. It is also vulnerable to a chewer, who can damage both the dog and the furniture. For a small, calm, fully house-trained dog whose owner prizes appearance above all, it can work. For most buyers who need a crate to do a crate’s job, the compromises are too large, which is why this is our skip.
MidWest Ultima Pro vs ProSelect Empire: which should you buy?
These two cover the two most common needs, so the decision is really about your dog. For the large majority of households — puppies in training, adult dogs that settle calmly, anyone who wants a crate that folds away — the Ultima Pro is the better buy: lighter, cheaper, easier to move and store, and sturdy enough for normal use. Choose the Empire only when containment is the whole point: a dog that has already escaped or damaged lesser crates, a powerful breed, or serious separation anxiety. It costs more, weighs far more, and never folds flat, but it delivers a level of security the folding crate cannot match. In short: most people should buy the Ultima Pro; escape artists and their owners should pay up for the Empire.
What to look for
- Correct size: the dog should be able to stand, turn around, and lie down fully; use a divider for a growing puppy rather than buying a crate that is too big now.
- Construction matched to temperament: wire or plastic is fine for calm dogs; escape artists and heavy chewers need welded steel with tamper-resistant latches.
- Latch placement: for strong or anxious dogs, favor latches positioned out of paw and muzzle reach.
- Easy cleaning: a removable, leak-proof pan or slide-out tray saves real frustration over the crate’s life.
- Portability vs. permanence: decide honestly whether you need to fold, carry, and store the crate or want a fixed, heavy fixture.
- Ventilation and visibility: open wire maximizes airflow and lets you see the dog; solid plastic feels more den-like and travel-ready.
Our final take
There is no single best dog crate, only the best crate for a given dog and job. For everyday home use and crate-training, the MidWest Ultima Pro is the pick we would hand most owners — sturdy, versatile, and fair value. If your dog defeats ordinary crates, the ProSelect Empire is worth its weight and price. Reserve the Petmate Sky Kennel for genuine travel, especially flying, and approach furniture-style crates like the Casual Home end table with clear eyes: they buy looks at the cost of durability and function. Match the crate to the dog in front of you and every one of these becomes either an easy yes or an easy pass.
Questions, answered
What size crate does my dog need?
Your dog should be able to stand up without ducking, turn around, and lie down fully stretched out. Measure length from nose to base of tail and height from floor to the top of the head or ears, then add a few inches. For a growing puppy, buy for the adult size and use a divider panel to shrink the usable space so it does not become a bathroom corner.
Are wire crates or plastic crates better?
Neither is universally better; they solve different problems. Wire crates like the MidWest Ultima Pro maximize airflow and visibility, fold flat, and suit everyday home use and training. Molded plastic crates like the Petmate Sky Kennel feel more enclosed and den-like and are the standard for air travel. Match the type to how you will actually use it.
Is a furniture-style crate safe for my dog?
For a small, calm, house-trained dog it can be fine, but furniture crates generally use thinner materials than dedicated crates, so they flex more and offer little resistance to a chewer. A determined dog can damage both the crate and itself. If your dog is powerful, anxious, or an escape artist, choose a proper heavy-duty crate instead.
Do I really need a heavy-duty steel crate?
Only if your dog needs it. Heavy-duty cages like the ProSelect Empire are expensive, heavy, and do not fold, which is wasted on a dog that settles quietly. They earn their price for powerful breeds, panic chewers, and dogs with serious separation anxiety that have already bent, popped, or chewed through lighter crates.
Can I use any of these crates to fly with my dog?
The Petmate Sky Kennel is the travel-oriented option here and is built to the IATA 51st-edition live-animal standards that most airlines reference. Folding wire crates, furniture crates, and rolling steel cages are not intended for cargo air travel. Airline rules vary, so always confirm the specific crate requirements with your carrier before booking.
