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A crate is one of the first purchases most new dog owners make, and one of the easiest to get wrong. Buy the flimsy option for a determined chewer and you will replace it within weeks. Buy the heavy one when you needed something to fold into a car trunk and it will gather dust in a closet. The three main crate styles — wire, plastic, and soft-sided — each solve a different problem, and the best one depends entirely on your dog and how you will use it.
Wire crates are the versatile, well-ventilated default that most trainers reach for. Plastic crates are the enclosed, den-like option favored for travel and anxious dogs. Soft-sided crates are the lightweight, packable choice for calm dogs and trips. Getting the match right means thinking about security, portability, ventilation, and your dog’s temperament before you buy.
Quick answer: A wire crate is the best all-around choice for most dogs and home training, a soft-sided crate is the best budget travel pick for calm dogs, and a sturdy plastic crate is the upgrade for secure transport and den-loving dogs.
Our verdict at a glance
- Best overall: Wire crate — ventilated, collapsible, and adaptable with a divider that grows with a puppy.
- Best budget: Soft-sided crate — lightweight and inexpensive for calm, crate-trained dogs and occasional trips.
- Best upgrade: Plastic crate — enclosed and rugged, the go-to for secure travel and dogs who prefer a den.
- Best for puppies in training: Wire, thanks to the adjustable divider that prevents a too-large space.
- Best for anxious or den-seeking dogs: Plastic, whose enclosed walls can feel more secure and reduce visual stimulation.
How the three crate types compare
| Attribute | Wire | Plastic | Soft-sided |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price tier | $$ | $$ | $ |
| Ventilation | Excellent | Moderate | Good (mesh panels) |
| Security for chewers | High | High | Low |
| Portability | Folds flat, heavy | Rigid, moderately heavy | Very light, packable |
| Den-like enclosure | Open (cover optional) | Enclosed | Semi-enclosed |
| Best suited to | Home training, most dogs | Travel, anxious dogs | Calm dogs, trips |
Wire crates: the versatile all-rounder
Where it wins: The wire crate is the trainer’s default for good reason. It offers excellent airflow, folds flat for storage, and usually includes a divider panel so a single crate can grow with a puppy — sized small at first to aid house-training, then expanded as the dog matures. Most models have a removable tray for easy cleaning, and the open design lets a dog see out, which many find reassuring in a busy home.
Honest drawbacks: Wire crates are heavy and clanky to move between rooms or into a car, and the open sides mean some dogs feel over-stimulated rather than settled — a draped cover often fixes this. A powerful, determined dog can occasionally bend or work at the door latch, so look for sturdy construction and secure latches for strong chewers.
Who should buy it: Most owners, especially those crate-training a puppy at home who want one crate that adapts as the dog grows.
Who should skip it: Frequent flyers who need airline-style transport, and owners who want to carry a crate easily and often.
Plastic crates: the secure, den-like upgrade
Where it wins: Plastic crates enclose a dog on most sides, creating a den-like space that anxious or easily distracted dogs often settle into more readily. The rigid shell is rugged, wipes clean, and is the style most associated with secure car and, for suitable models, air travel. The reduced visual stimulation can genuinely calm a nervous dog, and the solid walls hold up well to everyday knocks.
Honest drawbacks: Ventilation is more limited than a wire crate, so airflow and temperature matter more in warm conditions. They do not fold flat, so they take up rigid space when stored, and they lack the grow-with-your-puppy divider that makes wire crates so training-friendly. Sizing up for a growing dog can mean buying more than once.
Who should buy it: Owners who travel by car, dogs who prefer an enclosed den, and anxious dogs that benefit from reduced visual input.
Who should skip it: Those who want maximum ventilation, easy flat storage, or a single adjustable crate that spans a puppy’s whole growth.
Soft-sided crates: the lightweight budget pick
Where it wins: Soft-sided crates are the featherweights of the category — fabric over a collapsible frame, with mesh panels for airflow and visibility. They pack down small, carry easily, and cost the least, which makes them ideal for calm, already crate-trained dogs on trips, at events, or in a hotel room. For the right dog, the light weight and quick setup are hard to beat.
Honest drawbacks: This is not a containment crate for a chewer or an escape artist — fabric and mesh are no match for teeth or determined pawing, and a dog that wants out often can get out or cause damage. They are harder to clean thoroughly than a wipeable shell, and they are best treated as a convenience for trusted dogs rather than a training or security tool.
Who should buy it: Owners of calm, crate-trained dogs who want a light, affordable option for travel and occasional use.
Who should skip it: Anyone with a puppy in training, a chewer, an anxious dog prone to escaping, or a need for secure daily containment.
What to consider before you buy
The right crate is the one that matches your dog’s temperament and your intended use, not simply the cheapest or the sturdiest on the shelf. Before you buy, weigh these practical factors so the crate becomes a lasting safe space rather than a mistake you replace.
- Training vs. travel: A crate for house-training a puppy has different demands than one for the car. Wire crates excel at home training, plastic at secure transport, and soft-sided at light travel for trusted dogs.
- Your dog’s chewing and escape habits: Determined chewers and escape artists need the security of wire or plastic. A fabric crate is only safe for calm, reliably crate-trained dogs.
- Correct sizing: Your dog should stand, turn, and lie down comfortably without so much room that a puppy can soil one end. A wire crate’s divider is invaluable for a growing dog.
- Ventilation and climate: Open wire crates breathe best in warm conditions, while enclosed plastic crates hold heat more. Consider your home’s temperature and your dog’s coat.
- Portability and storage: Wire crates fold flat but are heavy, plastic crates are rigid, and soft-sided crates pack down small. Think about how often you will move or store it.
- Temperament and anxiety: Nervous or easily distracted dogs often settle better in an enclosed, den-like space, whether that is a plastic crate or a covered wire one.
Work through these and the choice tends to make itself. A first-time puppy owner is usually best served by a versatile wire crate, a frequent road-tripper by a rugged plastic one, and an owner of a calm, trained dog by a packable soft-sided model. Get the fit right and the crate stops being a container and becomes a place your dog chooses to relax.
How we compared
We evaluated the crate types against the factors that actually determine success: security against chewing and escape, ventilation, portability, ease of cleaning, and how well each suits training versus travel. Instead of leaning on a single review, we looked for patterns that recur across many owners and trainers over time, because crate performance is highly dependent on the individual dog’s size, strength, and temperament.
Where feedback consistently pointed one way — such as soft-sided crates being unsuitable for determined chewers, or wire crates being the training favorite for growing puppies — we treated it as reliable guidance. Where it depended on the dog, we described the range rather than overpromising. We did not fabricate durability ratings or weight-limit figures, and we encourage you to match the crate to your specific dog rather than to a generic recommendation.
We also considered the details that reveal themselves only with use: how well latches hold up to a determined dog, whether trays and pans clean easily, and how each style survives repeated folding, travel, and the occasional accident. A crate is often bought once and used for years, so durability and ease of cleaning weigh heavily in whether owners stay satisfied. Because so much comes down to an individual dog’s size, strength, and temperament, we described the range of likely outcomes rather than promising a single result, and we consistently steered toward the safest option when a dog’s tendency to chew or escape was in any doubt.
Frequently asked questions
What size crate does my dog need?
A dog should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably, but not have so much extra room that a puppy can soil one end and sleep in the other. Wire crates with dividers are handy here, letting you size the space down for a puppy and expand it as they grow.
Are soft-sided crates safe for puppies?
Generally no, at least not for unsupervised training. Puppies chew and test boundaries, and fabric crates are easily damaged or escaped. A wire or plastic crate is the safer choice for training; save the soft-sided crate for when your dog is calm and reliably crate-trained.
Which crate is best for car travel?
Rigid plastic crates are the traditional pick for secure car transport thanks to their enclosed, sturdy shells. Some wire crates travel well too, but soft-sided crates offer the least crash protection and are best reserved for calm dogs on low-key trips.
Should I cover my dog’s crate?
Covering a wire crate can create a calmer, den-like feel that helps some dogs settle, mimicking the enclosure of a plastic crate. Make sure airflow stays adequate and the fabric is out of reach of a chewer, and watch how your individual dog responds.
How do I get my dog to like the crate?
Introduce it gradually and positively — feed meals inside, add comfortable bedding, and never use the crate as punishment. Short, rewarded sessions that build up over time help a dog see the crate as a safe personal space rather than a place of confinement.
Bottom line
For most dogs and most homes, a wire crate is the smart first buy: it ventilates well, folds away, and adapts to a growing puppy with its divider. A soft-sided crate is the budget-friendly travel companion for calm, crate-trained dogs — just never for chewers or escape artists. A plastic crate is the upgrade for secure car travel and for anxious or den-loving dogs who settle better behind solid walls. Match the crate to your dog’s temperament and how you will actually use it, and it becomes a genuine safe haven rather than a box in the corner.
Setting up the rest of your dog’s world? Visit our Pets hub, or read our guides to choosing dog food and GPS dog trackers.