Puppy Crates: What to Compare

Specifications come from the manufacturers’ own pages, checked on 2026-10-25. This is not a hands-on review, and no product has been tested by us.

This guide focuses on products and manufacturer information for the US market. Product specifications and the recall search described here reflect the sources checked as of the review date; they do not guarantee that a product has never been recalled or that it is suitable for every puppy.

What you need to decide

A crate needs to fit your puppy now and be practical as they grow. Most decisions come down to size, weight range, whether you need to fold it, and how it will be used: at home, in the car, or on a flight.

What to consider before buying

Size. Petmate’s sizing guidance says the kennel should be 3 to 4 inches taller and longer than your pet, so the dog can stand, turn around, and lie down.
Weight range. Each manufacturer lists a recommended weight range. Use it with the size, not instead of it.
Folding and travel. Check whether the crate folds, and whether the manufacturer says it can be used as a car seat or for air travel.
Cleaning. Check the removable parts and the manufacturer’s cleaning statement. Most pages in this pilot do not give detailed washing instructions.

Compare the documented specifications

Three crates with manufacturer pages. Unknown and conflicting values are marked. On a small screen, scroll the table sideways.

Crate	Type	Length (inches)	Recommended weight	Folding	Door, tray, and cleaning	Our status
Richell Foldable Travel 3-Way Pet Crate	Soft-sided fabric carrier and crate	Small 20.5, Small/Medium 25.2, Medium 30	Up to 11 lb (Small), up to 17.6 lb (Small/Medium), up to 33 lb (Medium)	Folds to 3.3 inches on the product page and 3.5 inches in the manual (the sources differ). The manual shows no tools for assembly.	Mesh panels, doors on all sides, zipper lock. Manual: do not wash; wipe with mild detergent and water; air-dry in shade.	Matches manufacturer page (checked 2026-10-25)
Richell Metal Mesh Pet Crate, Medium	Metal wire-mesh crate	21 (manufacturer lists 21 x 30 x 24 as length x width x height)	8.8 to 44 lb	Not stated	Fully opening door, sliding lock, removable tray. Manual: wipe with mild detergent and water; shade-dry; no scrub brush. The manual mentions no divider or folding.	Matches manufacturer page (checked 2026-10-25)
Petmate Traveler Ultra Vari Kennel	Hard-sided plastic kennel with wire door	21, 32, 36, 40, and 48 listed. The manufacturer lists interior sizes for every size, including 28 inches (interior length 24.25). The 28-inch exterior is not in a specification row.	21-inch up to 15 lb; 32-inch 30 to 50 lb; 36-inch 50 to 70 lb; 40-inch 70 to 90 lb; 48-inch 90 to 125 lb	Not stated	Wire door with squeeze latch and floor moat. Cleaning not stated. Only sizes 21 and 28 include a handle (manufacturer). Heights conflict with the page’s interior sizes, so they are not shown.	Heights not shown: the manufacturer’s figures disagree. Heights conflict within the manufacturer’s page. The 28-inch exterior is not in a specification row.

Heights are shown only where the manufacturer’s spec rows give them. Prices are not shown.

Options by need

No crate here is named the best overall. Each option fits a different use, based on what the manufacturer states.

Car travel and carrying

The Richell Foldable Travel crate folds to 3.3 or 3.5 inches (the sources differ) and includes seatbelt straps. The manufacturer says it can be used as a car seat. The manual says to install it on the back seat with a 3-point seatbelt, and that it is not an airline carrier. Check the weight range for your puppy’s size.
A fixed crate at home

The Richell Metal Mesh Medium crate has a removable tray and a door that stays open with a magnet. The manufacturer’s manual mentions neither folding nor a divider.
Air travel

The Petmate kennel has tie-down holes, and the manufacturer says it “meets most air travel requirements.” Airlines set their own rules, so check yours before you fly.

Limits and what to check before you buy

We have not tested any of these crates. Everything here comes from the manufacturers’ pages.
Petmate’s heights conflict between its specification rows and its own interior sizes, so heights are not shown. Its 28-inch exterior is not in a specification row. Check the label or the manufacturer before you buy that size.
The Richell manuals were read. The foldable manual’s pages 6 to 8 repeat pages 2 to 4 in French and add no new use, limit or safety statements. The foldable manual says the crate is not an airline carrier.
The two sources for the Richell foldable crate disagree on its folded height (3.3 vs 3.5 inches). We show both.
These three crates are a sample from two manufacturers, not the whole market. Do not read the table as a ranking of all crates.
Check the fit for your puppy’s expected adult size, not only its current size.

Questions readers ask

How big should a puppy crate be?

Petmate’s guidance is that the kennel should be 3 to 4 inches taller and longer than your pet. Richell lists a recommended weight range for each size. Use both, and check the label.

Should a crate be used as punishment?

No. The UC Davis handout Crate Training Your Puppy says: “Crates should NEVER be used as punishment.” That handout was written by veterinary students as a class exercise. It is not a faculty-reviewed publication.

Are any of these crates recalled?

We searched the US Consumer Product Safety Commission site on 2026-10-26 and found no recall for these three products. That search is not exhaustive, so check cpsc.gov again before you buy.

Sources, dates, and method

Each specification comes from the manufacturer’s own product page, read on 2026-10-25. Where a page conflicts with itself, the conflict is shown. Retailer listings were used only to find products. Prices and ratings were not used.

Puppy Crates Buying Guide