Best Puppy Crates for Training and Sleep 2026

A crate isn’t a cage, it’s a den. Most puppies feel safer in an enclosed space, and a properly sized crate is your most powerful potty-training tool because puppies instinctively avoid soiling where they sleep. We compared wire, plastic, and premium crates to find the best for training and rest.

Why Every Puppy Needs a Crate

A crate gives your puppy a predictable, low-stimulus spot to sleep and calm down. More practically, it teaches bladder control between bathroom breaks and keeps them from eating your baseboards at 3 a.m. The one rule: the crate should never be used as punishment. Make it where they eat, find surprise treats, and nap with the door open, and they’ll walk in on their own.

Picking the Right Size

The crate should be big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down, but not much bigger. Too much space means they can potty in one corner and sleep in another. Buy for adult size and use the divider for now, sliding it back as they grow, so you buy one crate instead of three.

Adult Weight	Crate Size
Under 25 lbs	24”
25-40 lbs	30”
40-70 lbs	36”
70-90 lbs	42”
90+ lbs	48”

When in doubt, size up. A divider can always make a big crate smaller.

Wire vs. Plastic vs. Soft-Sided

Wire crates are the default: great ventilation, easy to clean, fold flat, and most include divider panels. Plastic crates feel more den-like and are required for airline travel, but they don’t fold and rarely include a divider. Soft-sided crates are fine for travel with trained dogs, but a teething puppy will chew straight through the mesh.

Our 5 Picks

MidWest iCrate

The iCrate is recommended everywhere for good reason: divider panel, leak-proof plastic tray, and it folds completely flat. Setup takes about 30 seconds. The single-door design is the only real limitation, but for most setups it does everything you need. Available in 6 sizes from 18in to 48in.

MidWest LifeStages

Same quality as the iCrate, but with two doors (front and side) and slightly heavier-gauge wire. The double door lets you tuck the crate in a corner and still have easy access. It costs about $8 more and is a bit heavier to move, so it’s the pick if the crate stays in one spot.

Petmate Sky Kennel

If you fly with your dog or want an enclosed, den-like feel, the Sky Kennel is the standard. It meets most airline cargo requirements (check your airline) and the heavy-duty shell feels solid. The catch for training is no divider panel, and it doesn’t fold down.

Diggs Revol

The Revol is the wire crate redesigned from scratch: it collapses with one hand, the wire edges are rounded, and the ceiling opens as an extra door. The catch is the price, roughly 2 to 3x a MidWest crate. Great if the budget allows and you want the nicest crate on the market.

AmazonBasics Wire Crate

Functionally similar to the iCrate (wire, divider included, folds flat, single door) with thinner-gauge wire and a flimsier pan. For a calm puppy or small breed it works fine. For a larger or more energetic breed, spend the extra $12 on the iCrate.

How They Compare

Crate Training Basics

1. Start with the door open. Toss treats inside and let your puppy go in and out freely.
2. Feed meals in the crate to build a positive association fast.
3. Close the door for short stretches while you’re in the room, gradually increasing duration.
4. Don’t let them out when whining. Wait for a quiet moment, or you teach them that fussing means freedom.
5. Never use the crate as punishment.

For a full schedule, see our potty training guide.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What size crate should I get for my puppy? ＋

Buy for your puppy’s expected adult size and use the divider panel to shrink the usable space for now. The crate should let your puppy stand, turn around, and lie down, but not have so much room they can potty in one corner and sleep in another.

How long can a puppy stay in a crate? ＋

Puppies under 6 months should not be crated more than 3 to 4 hours at a stretch during the day (overnight is different, as they sleep). They need frequent bathroom breaks, play, and socialization.

Should I put a bed or blanket in the crate? ＋

Wait until your puppy is reliably house-trained. Some puppies will potty on soft bedding because it absorbs the mess, so start with just the plastic pan, then add a bed once accidents stop.

Is it cruel to crate a puppy at night? ＋

No. Used correctly, a crate mimics a den and helps most puppies feel secure. The first few nights of whining are normal. The key is that the crate is never used as punishment.

Prices are accurate as of April 2026 and are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.