Ultimate Dog Crate Comparison: Best Dog Crates Tested

Last Updated on January 14, 2026 by Kieran Beckles

Are you looking to invest in a new dog crate for your pup? If so, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of options.

I share my home with two anxious Alaskan Klee Kai dogs called Copper and Skye. I’ve been searching for the best dog crate to keep them happy and safe.

I’ve reviewed most of the top dog crate manufacturers over the past five years in my quest to uncover the best dog crate for every scenario.

Admittedly, I may have a problem when it comes to acquiring new dog crates to test (that are later gifted to friends with dogs!).

In this article, I’m going to share my top picks to help experienced or new dog owners looking to find a new dog crate for their pup.

I’ll break down my ultimate dog crate comparison into sections to share my top picks, whether you need a dog crate for travel, an anxious dog, or outdoor use.

Ultimate Dog Crate Comparison Table

Best Dog Crate For Dogs With Separation Anxiety

The Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate worked wonders with my Alaskan Klee Kai dogs. They used to suffer from a lot of separation anxiety, but it has improved over the years.

Copper and Skye love the High Anxiety crate, which we’ve been using for three years.

We keep it in our living room to provide our Klee Kai with a safe den when they need respite from our toddler or visitors. They love the den-like feel.

Best Dog Crate For Travel

This is a tricky decision. I’ve tested a few options: High Anxiety, Enventur and Gunner G1 Kennel. Although I sometimes use the Enventur for car travel, I’d recommend the Gunner G1 Kennel.

It comes with tie-downs, and the crate has tie-down pins to make it easy to secure in your trunk. The G1 Kennel has passed crash safety testing, unlike some of the other dog crates in this list.

The Center for Pet Safety has shown that many popular crates fail in crash simulations, which is why crash-tested models matter if you frequently drive with your dog.

Ultimately, we want peace of mind that our dogs will be safe in the event of an unforeseen accident. If you head to Gunner’s website, you can read some incredible testimonials of how the G1 Kennel fared in accidents.

We recommend checking out

Best Premium Collapsible Dog Crate

I love a collapsible dog crate. They’re extremely versatile! There are two options for this category that I’d recommend: Impact Collapsible Crate and the Revol.

I’ve given the Impact Collapsible Crate a slight edge because my dogs preferred it. It’s a sturdier choice with ventilation holes and an easy-to-use steel-latch paddle door.

The Revol is good, but my dogs were nervous of the garage-style roof. It has multiple entry points, which is good, but my Klee Kai were always wary of the garage-style door when being opened or left open. That’s why Impact gets the nod.

Best Affordable Collapsible Dog Crate

The PAWD collapsible dog crate is a great option for pet owners who want an affordable, collapsible crate without sacrificing design or style.

Kindtail have designed the PAWD to be durable despite being made from plastic. It can be collapsed and reassembled in less than five minutes. You don’t require any tools!

It has ample ventilation and is easy to clean. The PAWD is only available in small and medium, which are priced at $139.99 and $209.99 respectively.

Best Inflatable Dog Crate

There’s a clear winner in this category. The Enventur is the best inflatable dog crate I’ve tested. It’s easy to inflate and deflate.

My dogs are extremely comfortable in the inflatable crate, which can withstand various environmental conditions. It’s one of the dog crates that I use the most.

I keep it in my garage because it’s easy to fold and store away. We use it when we do fire pits. We use it in the car (because it comfortably fits my two dogs).

We love its versatility.

Best Dog Crate For Puppies

This is the crate I wish we owned when Copper and Skye were puppies. The Kindtail is collapsible, so it would have been perfect for taking on the road when we stayed in hotels or AirBnBs.

It’s easy to clean, toxin-free and paw-safe because my dogs couldn’t get their snouts or paws between the ventilation holes.

We love the design of the PAWD crate because it fits seamlessly into our home’s interior design. The only caveat: it’s not available in large. So make sure you get the size right!

The Evolv is another contender but more hassle to construct and deconstruct, and it’s pricier. It’s got a modular design.

Best Dog Crate For Air Travel

The Impact Collapsible Dog Crate is the only dog crate approved for air travel in this article. You’ll need to use rails to ensure that it meets airline standards.

We recommend contacting Impact and their airline you plan to use to check that you’ll be able to use your Collapsible Crate and obtain the right size to keep your pet comfortable.

While we haven’t used this crate for air travel since initially reviewing it, you can check their website or social media for testimonials from happy customers you used it for air travel.

I would also recommend checking out the FAA’s latest guidance on travelling with dog crates before booking your trip.

Best Dog Crate For Truck Bed

There are a couple of options that pet owners could select from the crates already mentioned in this article.

Disclaimer: I don’t own a truck, but I’ve done my research.

The Gunner G1 Kennel appears to be the market leader when it comes to the best dog crate for truck beds.

You could also consider Impact’s dog crates but the Gunner appeared to be the market leader based on our research.

Best Dog Crate For Tesla Model Y

I don’t own a truck, but I do own a Tesla Model Y! I’ve used all the crates mentioned in this article in my Tesla. The High Anxiety was a tight squeeze, but the rest fit comfortably.

I would recommend the G1 Kennel. The Enventur is lighter than the G1 Kennel, which makes it maneuverable if my wife is using it.

The G1 Kennel is sturdy but extremely heavy. It’s smaller than my Enventur, which I like. It doesn’t obscure my view in the rear view mirror like my Enventur.

Best Dog Crate For Escape Artists

We’re almost there. If you’ve got a dog with separation anxiety or an expert escape artist, I’d recommend the High Anxiety Crate. Impact describes it as an escape-proof crate!

They provide a dog damage guarantee on this particular crate, such is their confidence that it can withstand even the most anxious dogs.

Copper loves his High Anxiety Crate, and we’ll often find him chilling in there throughout the day. It’s the perfect Klee Kai cave to give them their space.

Most Versatile Dog Crate

It’s a really difficult choice to pick the most versatile crate. There are plenty of reasons to select a few different crates on this list.

I’d give honorable mentions to the PAWD and the Enventur.

But I’d ultimately have to crown Impact’s Collapsible Crate the most versatile because it can be used at home, in the car, in the air (with the rails) and pretty much anywhere!

How We Picked The Best Dog Crates

We’ve either been sent or purchased all the dog crates featured in this ultimate dog crate comparison guide.

So we’ve gort firsthand experience with all the dog crates mentioned, testing and using them in our daily lives with Skye and Copper.

It’s important to remember that the American Kennel Club recommend all dogs should be to stand, turn around, and lie down comfortably without excess space.

We also believe design and ventilation play a big part in dog crate selection, especially with our skittish Alaskan Klee Kai dogs.

Copper and Skye like to feel safe and secure in their dog crate, having that den-like feel that we mentioned earlier.

It’s also important that the dog crate is easy to use in a practical sense, whether that’s opening and close the door, moving it, or collapsing it.

Dog Crate FAQ

Conclusion

So there we have it! We’ve reached the end of our ultimate dog crate comparison.

Hopefully, we’ve provided some quality suggestions to help dog owners in a variety of circumstances.

My favorite dog crate and the one that we get the most use out of would be the Impact High Anxiety Dog Crate and the Gunner G1 Kennel.

I use these two crates on a daily basis. The High Anxiety Crate stays in the same place in our living room, while I use Gunner in the car.