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Best Puppy Crates for Training and Sleep 2026
Why Every Puppy Needs a Crate
A crate isn’t a cage — it’s a den. Dogs are den animals by nature, and most puppies feel safer in an enclosed space than in the middle of a wide-open room. A crate gives your puppy a predictable, low-stimulus spot to sleep, calm down, and feel secure.
More practically, a crate is your most powerful potty training tool. Puppies instinctively avoid soiling their sleeping area, so a properly sized crate teaches them to hold it between bathroom breaks. It also keeps them from eating your baseboards at 3 a.m.
The key: the crate should never be used as punishment. If your puppy goes in the crate only when they’re in trouble, they’ll hate it. If it’s where they eat meals, find surprise treats, and nap with the door open, they’ll walk in on their own.
Picking the Right Size
This trips up a lot of first-time owners. The crate should be big enough for your puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably — but not much bigger than that. Too much space means they can potty in one corner and sleep in another, which defeats the purpose.
Buy for adult size, use the divider for now. Most wire crates come with a divider panel you can slide to make the usable space smaller. Start with just enough room for your puppy’s current size, and move the divider back as they grow. This way you buy one crate instead of three.
A rough guide to sizing:
| 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, go one size up — a divider can always make a big crate smaller.
Wire vs. Plastic vs. Soft-Sided
Each type has its place:
Wire crates are the default for most puppies. Great ventilation, easy to clean, fold flat for storage, and most include divider panels. The downside is they’re not as cozy-feeling (a blanket draped over the top helps) and they’re noisy if your puppy paws at the metal.
Plastic crates (like airline kennels) feel more den-like and are required for airline travel. They’re darker and more enclosed, which some anxious puppies prefer. But they don’t fold down, have less airflow, and rarely include a divider panel — so you’ll likely need to buy different sizes as your puppy grows.
Soft-sided crates are lightweight and great for travel with already-trained dogs. They’re a terrible choice for puppies. One teething session and your puppy will chew right through the mesh walls.
Our 5 Picks
MidWest iCrate — Best Overall
The iCrate is the crate you’ll see recommended everywhere, and for good reason. It comes with a divider panel, a leak-proof plastic tray, and it folds completely flat for storage or travel. Setup takes maybe 30 seconds — you just unfold it and clip the corners.
The single-door design is the only real limitation. If you need flexible placement (like a corner where a front-opening door doesn’t work), the LifeStages below might be a better fit. But for most setups, the iCrate does everything you need at a price that’s hard to beat. Available in 6 sizes from 18” to 48”.
Price: ~$44.99 (36” model)
MidWest LifeStages — Best with Divider
Same quality as the iCrate, but with two doors (front and side) and slightly heavier-gauge wire. The double-door setup is genuinely useful — you can position the crate in a corner or against a wall and still have easy access. The divider panel works the same way as the iCrate.
It costs about $8 more than the iCrate for the same size, and the extra weight makes it a bit less convenient to fold and move. If you’re going to put the crate in one spot and leave it, the second door is worth the upgrade. If you travel a lot or move the crate around frequently, save the money and get the iCrate.
Price: ~$52.99 (36” model)
Petmate Sky Kennel — Best Plastic / Airline-Approved
If you fly with your dog or want the enclosed, den-like feel of a plastic crate, the Sky Kennel is the standard. It meets most airline cargo requirements (always check your specific airline), and the heavy-duty plastic shell feels solid without being unreasonably heavy.
The dealbreaker for puppy training is the lack of a divider panel. You’ll either need to buy the right size for your puppy now and replace it later, or stuff the back of a larger crate with a box or towel (not ideal). It also doesn’t fold down at all, so storage is whatever footprint the crate takes up. Best if you genuinely need an airline crate or have a puppy that’s anxious in open wire crates.
Price: ~$64.99 (32” model)
Diggs Revol — Best Premium
The Revol is what happens when someone redesigns the wire crate from scratch. It collapses with one hand (actually useful when you’re juggling a puppy and a leash), the wire edges are rounded so there are no sharp points, and the ceiling opens up as an additional door. The built-in divider is easy to adjust.
The catch is the price — it’s roughly 2-3x what a MidWest crate costs. It’s also heavier than a standard wire crate, and the size range is more limited. If the budget allows and you want the nicest crate on the market, it’s great. If you just need a functional crate that does the job, the MidWest options are perfectly fine.
Price: ~$115.00 (medium)
AmazonBasics Wire Crate — Best Budget
Functionally similar to the MidWest iCrate — wire construction, divider included, folds flat, single door. The difference is thinner-gauge wire and a flimsier-feeling plastic pan. For a calm puppy or a small breed, it works fine. A determined, strong puppy might bend the wire or rattle the pan loose.
At roughly $33, it’s the cheapest option here by a good margin. If money is tight and your puppy isn’t a Houdini, this gets the job done. If you’re crate training a larger or more energetic breed, spend the extra $12 on the iCrate — you’ll have fewer headaches.
Price: ~$32.99 (36” model)
Comparison Table
| Feature | MidWest iCrate | MidWest LifeStages | Petmate Sky Kennel | Diggs Revol | AmazonBasics |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Wire | Wire | Plastic | Wire | Wire |
| Divider | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Doors | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 (incl. top) | 1 |
| Foldable | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Size Range | 18”-48” | 22”-48” | 21”-40” | S-L | 22”-48” |
| Price (36”) | $44.99 | $52.99 | $64.99 | $115.00 | $32.99 |
Crate Training Basics
Getting your puppy to love the crate takes a little patience:
- Start with the door open. Toss treats inside and let your puppy go in and out freely.
- Feed meals in the crate. This builds a positive association fast.
- Close the door for short stretches while you’re still in the room. Gradually increase duration.
- Don’t let them out when they’re whining — wait for a quiet moment, then open the door. Otherwise you teach them that fussing = freedom.
- Never use the crate as punishment.
For a more detailed crate and potty training schedule, check out our potty training guide.
Common Crate Mistakes
- Crate is too big — Your puppy has room to potty and sleep separately. Use the divider.
- Too much time in the crate — Puppies under 6 months shouldn’t be crated more than 3-4 hours at a stretch (except overnight). They need bathroom breaks, play, and socialization.
- Using it as punishment — This one bears repeating. If the crate is a penalty box, your puppy will fight going in every single time.
- Putting bedding in too early — Some puppies will potty on soft bedding because it absorbs the mess. Start with just the plastic pan until they’re reliably house-trained, then add a bed or blanket.
- Giving up too soon — The first few nights involve whining. That’s normal. If you give in and let them out every time they cry, you’ll never get past it.
Prices are accurate as of April 2026 and are subject to change. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.