Wire crate or furniture crate?
Updated 16 September 2026
Both give a dog a den. A wire crate is light and folds flat for the car. A furniture crate is a wooden box that works as a side table, so it can stay up in a room people sit in.
The dog crate that works is the one that stays up, because a dog settles into a den they can walk into at any hour. That is what decides this choice more than anything on the spec sheet.
So the question is simple. Do you want the lightest thing to fold away, or the one you are happy to look at every day? Both answers lead to a crate your dog will use.
Side by side
Wire crate
This is a folding metal crate with a plastic tray and one or two doors.
Suits
- Puppies and crate training from scratch
- Cars, holidays and visits, because it folds flat
- Homes that need the crate to fold away
Ones we like
Cardys
Dog Crate, medium, dual access
This folding wire crate is built from solid steel, with dual access doors and a slide out tray.
A good choice if the crate lives in a bedroom, since the steel frame keeps things quiet at night.
MidWest
New World Double Door Crate Kit, 76cm
This two door wire crate arrives with a matching bed and cover in one box.
Measure your dog standing and lying down before you choose the size, because the bed and cover are matched to the crate.
DogCrates+
Folding Crate, medium, two doors
This folding wire crate has two doors and a removable non-chew tray, sized for medium dogs.
It folds flat in about a minute, so it travels easily at holiday time.
BELOFAY
Folding Crate, 30 inch, two doors
This 30 inch folding wire crate suits a spaniel or a beagle for life.
BELOFAY say to match the size to your dog's strength and temperament, and to supervise the first few sessions of crate training.
Straame
This small folding wire crate measures 60 centimetres, which suits puppies and little dogs.
Measure your dog standing and sitting, then take the size up while they are still growing.
Straame
This folding wire crate is 107 centimetres long, which is room enough for a retriever or a shepherd.
A crate this size deserves a settled spot, so pick the room it will live in before it arrives.
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Furniture crate
This is a wooden crate with a door, built to look like a side table.
Suits
- Living rooms, where the crate is on show
- Settled adult dogs past the chewing phase
- Homes short on space, since the top is usable
Ones we like
Hzuaneri
Crate Furniture, 81cm, barn door
This wooden furniture crate has a sliding barn door and a top that works as a side table.
This one suits a settled adult dog. Hzuaneri keep the board edges covered and use 10 mm steel tubes, so the frame stands up to daily use.
Hzuaneri
Crate Furniture, 68cm, arched door
This smaller wooden crate is 68 centimetres wide, with an arched door for a small dog.
Check the internal height of 53 centimetres against your dog sitting up, so they have room to hold their head high.
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Common questions
What size dog crate does my dog need?
It should be tall enough to stand without ducking, long enough to lie stretched out, and wide enough to turn round. Measure your dog rather than trusting the breed names on the box, and take the next size up while a puppy is still growing.
Should I cover a wire dog crate?
Yes, many dogs settle faster with three sides covered, because a covered crate reads as a den. Leave the front open during the day and drop the panel at bedtime so the light and noise drop with it.
Can a puppy use a furniture crate?
A furniture crate suits a dog past the teething stage, when the wood can stay looking smart. During teething, a wire crate with a chew-resistant tray is the one to start with, and the wooden crate can follow later.