# The 6 Best Small Dog Crates on Amazon in 2026 > Best small dog crates on Amazon in 2026: wire crates with dividers, a double-door option and plastic kennels, matched to weight and size. Guide: https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/ · Updated 2026-10-13 · By TwelveTabs · Search it live: https://twelvetabs.com/?q=small%20dog%20crate&guide=best-small-dog-crates As an Amazon Associate we may earn from qualifying purchases. Our picks are independently researched, written by TwelveTabs AI and never sponsored. Prices and ratings change often: see the guide for today's. ## The top picks - **A wire crate for an extra-small dog:** MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Single Door. A 22.5 by 13.5 by 16 inch metal wire crate for dogs up to 15 pounds, with a divider panel, a leak-proof tray, rubber feet and a carry handle. - **A single-door wire crate with a divider:** Amazon Basics 24 Inch Wire Crate. A 24 inch metal wire crate for pets under 20 by 15.25 inches, with one door, a divider and a removable plastic tray that folds flat. - **A double-door wire crate for 11 to 25 pounds:** Internet's Best 24 Inch Double Door Crate. A 17 by 24 by 19.5 inch wire crate for dogs of 11 to 25 pounds, with front and side doors, two-sided bolt latches and a leak-proof plastic pan. - **A low-cost double-door crate with a divider:** FDW 24 Inch Foldable Crate. A 24 inch wire crate with a front door and a side door, dual latches, a divider and a leak-proof tray, folding to under 3 inches thick. - **A plastic kennel for a small dog:** Petmate Two-Door Plastic Kennel. A 24 inch plastic kennel for small dogs of 0 to 15 pounds, with a top door and a front door, ventilation holes and airline approval. - **A hard-sided option for a 12 to 20 pound dog:** Amazon Basics Hard-Sided Pet Carrier. A hard-sided carrier with front and top entry for a cat or a dog of 12 to 20 pounds, with plastic walls, steel wire doors and spring latches. Our top pick is the **[MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Single Door](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-1)**, a wire crate for extra-small dogs up to 15 pounds. We read 120 Amazon result cards for "small dog crate", compared 10 contenders on their own pages, and kept six. Crate type matters more than brand, so the picks are grouped by wire and plastic. If your dog is closer to 20 pounds, the **[Amazon Basics 24 Inch Wire Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-2)** has a single door and a divider. The **[Internet's Best 24 Inch Double Door Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-3)** and the **[FDW 24 Inch Foldable Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-4)** both have a front and a side door. For plastic, there are the **[Petmate Two-Door Plastic Kennel](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-5)** and the **[Amazon Basics Hard-Sided Pet Carrier](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-6)**. ## How to choose a small dog crate A crate can give a dog a den-like spot, and it is useful for house training. Four things separate the listings. - **Type.** The AKC says metal crates suit dogs who chew through other materials, plastic crates also work as travel carriers, and soft crates are an economical choice only for a small breed that will not chew. Cornell's vets add that fabric or mesh crates are not very durable and puppies or chewers may destroy them. Four of our picks are wire and two are plastic. - **Size.** Cornell says a dog needs room to stand without ducking, turn around and lie down comfortably. The AKC says to measure your dog's height and length and add 3 to 4 inches to each, and warns that a crate that is too large may encourage a dog to use one end as a toilet. Check each listing's weight or size range, such as the 15 pounds named for the [MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Single Door](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-1). - **A divider for a puppy.** Both sources say to buy for the adult size and use a divider while the puppy grows. The [MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Single Door](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-1), the [Amazon Basics 24 Inch Wire Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-2) and the [FDW 24 Inch Foldable Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-4) list dividers. - **Doors and latches.** More than one door gives you a choice of where to put the crate, and a latch is the part a dog tests first. Latch feedback is mixed on several picks below, so read the drawbacks. Two cautions before the picks. First, no pick here is rated for a dog who escapes or chews, and Cornell says to work with your vet or a trainer if a dog is very stressed when confined. Second, bedding takes up room, so allow for it when you size the crate. ## Our picks in detail ### 1. MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Single Door: best wire crate for an extra-small dog **Why it made the list** - Its listing describes a 22.5 by 13.5 by 16 inch metal wire crate for dogs up to 15 pounds, such as Pomeranians and Papillons. - It comes with a divider panel, a leak-proof tray, rubber feet, a carry handle and tool-free setup. - Amazon's summary of the feedback says it is spacious, sturdy and easy to assemble. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's summary of the feedback says some find the latch too easy for a dog to push open. - Durability feedback is mixed, with some saying it holds up well and others not. **Watch for this:** [MidWest](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-1) sells this crate in several sizes that share one pool of feedback, and some of the review lines we read describe the 42 inch size. This page is the 22 inch one. **Skip it if** your dog is near 15 pounds, because the listing itself suggests sizing up. Try the [Amazon Basics 24 Inch Wire Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-2). ### 2. Amazon Basics 24 Inch Wire Crate: best single-door crate with a divider **Why it made the list** - Its listing describes a 24 inch metal wire crate for pets under 20 by 15.25 inches, with one door, a divider and a removable plastic tray. - It folds flat and has a top handle for carrying. - Amazon's summary of the feedback says it is spacious, easy to assemble and has a secure door lock. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's summary of the feedback says some report bent metal bars. - It has one door only, so it gives you less choice of where to put it. **Watch for this:** [Amazon Basics Wire Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-2) comes in other sizes that share one pool of feedback, and some review lines we read describe a 42 inch crate. This page is the 24 inch one. **Skip it if** you want a second door. Try the [Internet's Best 24 Inch Double Door Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-3). ### 3. Internet's Best 24 Inch Double Door Crate: best double-door wire crate for 11 to 25 pounds **Why it made the list** - Its listing describes a 17 by 24 by 19.5 inch crate for dogs of 11 to 25 pounds, with front and side doors. - It has two-sided bolt latches, a removable leak-proof plastic pan and a detachable carrying handle. - Amazon's summary of the feedback says it is well constructed and goes together without tools. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's summary of the feedback says sturdiness is mixed, and some find the front door hard to open and close. - One review line we read describes the medium size, so some feedback is not for this size. **Skip it if** you want a divider, which the part of the listing we read does not mention. Try the [FDW 24 Inch Foldable Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-4). ### 4. FDW 24 Inch Foldable Crate: best low-cost double-door crate with a divider **Why it made the list** - Its listing describes a 24 inch wire crate with a front door and a side door, dual latches and a divider. - It has a leak-proof tray and folds to under 3 inches thick. - Amazon's summary of the feedback says it is well sized for small to medium dogs and easy to assemble. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's summary of the feedback says the latches are a pain to open and close, and sturdiness is mixed. - A critical review says a kitten got through a wider gap between the bars until it was blocked with the divider. **Watch for this:** [FDW](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-4) sells 18 inch and 30 inch crates under separate listings that share one pool of feedback. This page is the 24 inch one. **Skip it if** your dog is very small, since a review describes a wider gap between the bars. Try the [MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Single Door](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-1). ### 5. Petmate Two-Door Plastic Kennel: best plastic kennel for a small dog **Why it made the list** - Its listing describes a 24 inch plastic kennel for small dogs of 0 to 15 pounds, with a top door and a front door. - It is listed as airline-approved to meet most airline cargo specs, with ventilation holes all round. - Amazon's summary of the feedback says it is high quality and easy to take apart for cleaning. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's summary of the feedback says some find it spacious and others a bit small. - A critical review in French says it arrived without its carry handle. **Watch for this:** The listing calls this a carrier as well as a crate. It suits a dog who is comfortable in a closed plastic space. **Skip it if** you have little storage room, because Cornell says plastic crates can be cumbersome to store. Try the [Amazon Basics 24 Inch Wire Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-2), which folds flat. ### 6. Amazon Basics Hard-Sided Pet Carrier: best hard-sided option for a 12 to 20 pound dog **Why it made the list** - Its listing describes a hard-sided carrier with front and top entry for a cat or a dog of 12 to 20 pounds. - It has plastic walls with steel wire doors, spring latches that open one-handed and a top carry handle. - Amazon's summary of the feedback says it is sturdy, spacious and easy to assemble. **Drawbacks** - Amazon's summary of the feedback says some find the top door hard to open, and the fit of the top is mixed. - A critical review reports scratches and a missing part on arrival. **Watch for this:** [Amazon Basics Hard-Sided Pet Carrier](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-6) is sold as a travel carrier, not as a crate-training product. Use it for trips, and check the size against your dog. **Skip it if** you want a wire crate with a divider. Try the [FDW 24 Inch Foldable Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-4). ## What we left out, and why We read 120 result cards on the first two pages of "small dog crate". 26 were sponsored and we skipped them. The other 94 were organic, and many were the same crate under several listings, plus playpens, soft carriers, dog beds and pee pads. We narrowed them to 10 contenders, read each product's own Amazon page and kept six. Four were left out: - **MidWest iCrate 24 Inch Single Door.** Its page showed no new offer to buy, only a note of one option with no featured offers, so a shopper cannot add it to a cart from that page. - **MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Double Door.** The buy box showed only a used offer, so it cannot be a pick. The single-door 22 inch size is the [MidWest iCrate 22 Inch Single Door](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-1). - **Amazon Basics Soft Folding Crate.** The page we read is the 30 inch size for dogs up to 50 pounds, and Amazon's summary of the feedback reports tearing and broken zippers. - **27 inch furniture-style crate.** A critical review says the thin wires cut a puppy, and the listing's base is particleboard that the same review says got chewed and wet. No Wirecutter page appeared in Google's top 20 for this phrase, so there is no Wirecutter pick in the comparison table. ## Questions people ask ### What size crate does a small dog need? Enough room to stand, turn around and lie down. The AKC says to measure your dog's height and length and add 3 to 4 inches to each. Then compare that with the size and weight range in the listing. ### How big should a puppy's crate be? Buy for the adult size and use a divider while the puppy grows, which both the AKC and Cornell advise. A crate that is too large can encourage a puppy to use one end as a toilet. The [Amazon Basics 24 Inch Wire Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-2) and the [FDW 24 Inch Foldable Crate](https://twelvetabs.com/reviews/best-small-dog-crates/#pick-4) list dividers. ### Wire, plastic or soft? Wire gives good airflow and suits chewers, per the AKC. Plastic works as a travel carrier too. Soft crates are lighter but suit only a small dog who will not chew, and puppies may destroy them, says Cornell. ### How long can a dog stay in a crate? Cornell says a dog should never be left alone in a crate for an extended period without the chance to relieve itself, play or exercise. A dog that barks, paces or drools when crated may need a different setup, so ask your vet or a trainer. ### How did TwelveTabs choose these crates? TwelveTabs, our AI shopping agent, compared Amazon's results for "small dog crate", read the pages of 10 contenders and named six picks, as of October 13, 2026. We checked the background against the AKC and Cornell's vet school. AI wrote this guide from that research. To see what it picks today, run the search yourself with the button on this page. ## How we researched On October 13, 2026 we read the first two pages of Amazon's results for “small dog crate”: 120 result cards, 94 of them organic. AI compared them, read the Amazon pages of 10 contenders and named six picks. AI wrote this guide from that research. Listings change: we read them on October 13, 2026, and a size, door or seller may differ today. Size and weight lines are the makers' own wording on Amazon, several crates share one feedback pool across sizes, and no crate here is rated against escape or chewing. ### Sources - [AKC: How to Choose the Best Crate for Your Dog](https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/choose-best-crate-dog/) - [Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Dog crates, when to use them and how to pick one](https://www.vet.cornell.edu/departments-centers-and-institutes/riney-canine-health-center/canine-health-topics/dog-crates-when-use-them-and-how-pick-one)