7 Best Indestructible Dog Crates and Buyer’s Guide
Are you looking for the best indestructible dog crates?
Maybe you’ve got an escape artist on your hands.
Or maybe your dog has jaws of steel?
These chew proof dog crates can withstand repeated abuse from your dog.
In this blog post, we review some of the best indestructible dog crates on the market. By the way, I also wrote an article on the best chew-proof dog beds for crates, if interested.
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Note: To create an “even playing field,” all of the prices, size, and weight information for this list is based on the standard 42-inch crate size. If a particular vendor offers more sizes, those sizes will be noted in the “Sizes” section of each crate’s review.
At A Glance: Top Picks for Indestructible Dog Crates
Best Overall for Medium/Large Dogs: LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Cage for Medium and Large Dogs
Best Runner Up for Medium/Large Dogs: SMONTER Heavy Duty Strong Metal Dog Cage
Best Premium Option: Pro Select Empire Cage for Large Dogs
Most Durable Material: PUPZO Dog Cage Crate Kennel Heavy Duty for Large Dogs
Highest Weight Capacity: Lemberi Heavy Duty Dog Cage Crate for Large Dog
Most Lightweight: JAXPETY Tip Roof Heavy Duty Dog Cage for Dogs
Most Budget-Friendly: Polar Aurora Heavy Duty Pet Dog Cage
1. LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Cage for Medium and Large Dogs
First on our list and best overall is the LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Crate. As a pet supply company, LUCKUP has great reviews on their products and customer service.
Some of this crate’s best features include easy installation, a 3-year warranty, a small feeding window, and high strength materials.
Unlike most of the indestructible dog crates on our list, the LUCKUP crate features a small feeding window to make it easier to give your dog the food and water he needs throughout the day.
Rather than opening the front door of the cage and letting an excited puppy loose, or opening a top door and letting your dog jump out (and potentially hurt himself), you can open the small feeding window on the front of the cage.
Materials & Weight: The LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Crate is made from corrosion-resistant steel and coated in a non-toxic finish to protect your pup’s health.
In addition to the feeding window on the front, this crate has a large front door to let your dog in and out and a top door to give him some love throughout the day.
Because of the steel material, this crate weighs in at 81 pounds.
Additional Features: The LUCKUP crate has two removable plastic trays that catch any stray food, shedding, or other messes that may happen in the crate. They’re easy to clean, dry, and slide back into place without much hassle. This crate is also equipped with four caster wheels that rotate 360 degrees and can lock firmly in place to keep your dog’s crate in one spot – no matter how much tossing and turning he does.
Warranty: If you experience an issue with this crate, LUCKUP offers a 3 year warranty. You will need to contact their customer service through Amazon for assistance.
Sizes: 38 in., 42 in., 46 in., 48.5 in.
Bottom Line: The LUCKUP crate meets the standards of other indestructible crates but stands out with a feeding window, great 3 year warranty, easy installation and quality materials. However, keep in mind that this crate doesn’t appear suitable for small dogs. Additionally, they don’t offer a phone number to call, so you will need to contact them through Amazon or by email.
2. SMONTER Heavy Duty Strong Metal Dog Cage
$225.99
If you need extra assurance that your indestructible dog crate is a good investment, the SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate has you covered.
Not only is their crate made of welded steel bar and a heavy-duty metal frame, but they also offer a three-year warranty for your purchase. With that long period of quality assurance, SMONTER is clearly confident in their product.
Materials & Weight: Despite the sturdy metal frame and welded steel bar, the SMONTER crate weighs in at 69 pounds, which is not bad for an indestructible crate like this one. It also features a non-toxic finish to protect your pup if they decide to try and chew their way out. They also have two locks with safety buckles to prevent your dog from escaping the crate.
Additional Features: Like most of the indestructible dog crates on this list, the SMONTER crate features four caster wheels that rotate 360 degrees, all of which you can lock in place for some extra stability. There is a removable plastic tray to help catch spills, which makes cleaning quick and easy.
A distinct feature for SMONTER crates is their “Strengthen” upgrade option. Their standard crate has an escape-proof, Y-shaped design to prevent your dog from reaching the lock of the crate.
However, if you need to take that one step further, the “Strengthen” upgraded crate features the Y-shape design plus an anti-escape plug lock to be absolutely sure your escape artist doesn’t go anywhere. The “Strengthen” upgraded crate does not have a top door and does not include the feeding window – both of which the standard model does.
Even still, the upgraded “Strengthen” version of the SMONTER crate is priced around $70 more.
Warranty: Both versions of the SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate come with a three-year warranty.
Sizes: 38 in., 42 in. (can also be upgraded to “Strengthen”)
Bottom Line: With an optional upgraded version of the crate and an impressive three-year warranty, the SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate is an excellent investment for dog parents who are at their wit’s end with their aggressive chewer or escape artist.
3. Pro Select Empire Cage for Large Dogs
If you’re willing to pay a pretty penny for your indestructible dog crate, look no further. The ProSelect Empire Dog Cage will run you about $500 – but with good reason. This is the only chew proof dog crate on our list with a “Veterinarian Approved” endorsement, and it’s made from heavy-duty steel. If money is no object, or you’re simply tired of spending money on lesser quality crates every few months, this is the crate for you.
Materials & Weight: The ProSelect crate is made of ¾-inch, 20-gauge steel, reinforced with ½-inch steel tubes, and heavy-duty welding at high-stress points. The crate also features a high-grade hammer tone finish to keep the corrosion and rust far, far away.
Because of the indestructible steel frame and materials, this crate weighs in at a whopping 99 pounds.
Additional Features: The ProSelect crate comes with a steel tray for easy cleanup of spills and messes and four removable casters that you can lock into place (yep, all of them). This crate also features heavy-duty dual door latches to keep your dog safely inside, no matter how anxious he gets. It’s also worth mentioning that the ProSelect crate is the self-proclaimed “Alcatraz of pet cages.” If you have an escape artist or high-anxiety pup, this is a fantastic option for you.
Warranty: While there is no warranty listed for the ProSelect crate, several reviews on Amazon say that it isn’t necessary due to the heavy-duty steel.
Sizes: Medium (34 in.), 42 in.
Bottom Line: While you will pay a premium for the ProSelect Empire Crate, it’s worth it. With a veterinarian stamp of approval and heavy-duty, reinforced steel, this crate will keep your dog securely in place – for years to come.
4. PUPZO Dog Cage Crate Kennel Heavy Duty for Large Dogs
While most of the crates on our list are made from steel, PUPZO kicks it up a notch with carbon steel. Carbon steel is a bit harder and stronger than regular steel (thanks to the high carbon content), but it’s more susceptible to corrosion if left unfinished. Luckily, the PUPZO Dog Cage has a non-toxic coating to keep the rust at bay without posing a risk to your pup.
Materials & Weight: Like many of the crates on our list, the PUPZO dog crate has a large front door to let your pup in and out and a top door to interact with your dog.
That carbon steel frame isn’t just stronger – it’s also more lightweight than standard steel frames. As such, this crate weighs in at 78 pounds.
Additional Features: While this crate has four wheels to help you move it around easily, only two of them can lock into place. If your dog has high anxiety and moves around in his crate a lot, you may see the crate scooting to one side a bit! Just make sure the crate is in a location that can accommodate a bit of movement.
The PUPZO crate also comes with one steel tray to catch fallen food and messes, easy to clean and strong enough to last for years.
Warranty: PUPZO offers a 1-year warranty from the date of purchase for this crate.
Sizes: 38 in., 42 in., 46 in.
Bottom Line: With a carbon steel frame, this crate is made of the most sturdy material out of the ones on our list. It is a bit heavy, but worth it for the durability. A one-year warranty helps you feel even better about your investment.
5. Lemberi Heavy Duty Dog Cage Crate for Large Dog
Most dog crates don’t list focus as much on weight capacity. However, the Lemberi Heavy Duty Dog Cage boasts a monstrous 300-pound weight capacity! No matter how big your pup is, Lemberi’s dog crate can handle him – and then some.
Materials & Weight: The Lemberi Heavy Duty Dog Cage is made from 20-gauge steel and reinforced steel tubes. According to their product listing, the non-toxic coating on the steel frame is corrosion-resistant and environmentally friendly. Thanks to the all-steel materials, this crate weighs in at 84 pounds.
Additional Features: A with most indestructible crates, the Lemberi crate has four casters that rotate 360 degrees to make it easy to move the crate from one spot to another. However, only two of the wheels lock into place, leaving the other two loose. There are two doors, one large front door, and a large top door, both of which are equipped with anti-escape locks. This crate also comes with a removable metal tray to catch food and other spills.
As mentioned, this indestructible crate’s most distinctive feature is its weight capacity. At 300 pounds, the weight capacity can handle any dog’s size and breed.
Warranty: Almost as impressive as the weight capacity is the warranty. Lemberi offers a 30-month warranty on their Heavy Duty Dog Cage. Yes, 30 months, not 30 days!
Additional Sizes: 42 in., 48 in.
Bottom Line: If you have a large breed dog that you need to contain, Lemberi is likely the right choice for you. With a weight capacity of up to 300 pounds, reinforced steel tubing, and a 20-gauge steel frame, even your biggest buddy will be safely contained in this chew proof dog crate. If you have any issues with it, you can take advantage of the 30-month warranty that Lemberi offers with their crates.
You may need a crate option that strikes a balance between being indestructible while being light enough to move around the house whenever you need it. In that case, JAXPETY’s Heavy Duty Dog Cage is just the thing for you. This dog crate is heavy-duty, but it only weighs 62 pounds – just right for quickly moving your pup’s crate from place to place without too much strain.
Materials & Weight: The JAXPETY crate is super light thanks to the galvanized metal frame. It’s still indestructible but much lighter than steel, or even carbon steel frames are. At only 62 pounds, this is an ideal choice for you if you need to move your dog’s crate around the house a lot.
Additional Features: The JAXPETY dog cage comes with the standard tray and four casters that most other indestructible crates have. You can only lock two casters into place, so just be mindful of the crate’s location. The front door has two slide-bolt latches, and the top door has one so you can easily take a peek inside and interact with your pup.
The most distinctive feature of this crate is the pointed rooftop design. This gives your dog plenty more headspace than traditional dog crate designs while still maintaining structural integrity to handle your pup on his most wild and wiggly days. If your dog is a little on the tall and lanky side, this crate will provide some extra height to help him stay comfortable.
Warranty: Unfortunately, JAXPETY does not list a warranty for any of their dog crate products.
Sizes: 42 in.
Bottom Line: The JAXPETY Heavy Duty Dog Cage is a great lightweight option at only 62 pounds and is easier on the budget than other indestructible crates. The extended rooftop is excellent for taller dogs, but be aware that there is no warranty listed.
Let’s take a trip to the flip side of the coin and check out the most budget-friendly option on our list – the Polar Aurora Heavy Duty Dog Cage. This crate is on the lighter side, has many of the same features as most crates on our list, but it will only cost you $150. If you’re just getting into the indestructible crate scene and not sure where to start, this may be it.
Materials & Weight: The Polar Aurora crate has a heavy-duty steel frame but does not list a finish or coating material. It’s relatively light for a steel frame, weighing in at 64 pounds, and according to the product listing, you can easily fold it down to transport it anywhere you’d like.
Additional Features: This chew proof dog crate features four casters, two of which are lockable, and a steel tray to catch all of the messes, food, and fur that falls through the grate. The front door has two latches for extra security, and the top door has one latch.
Warranty: Unfortunately, there is no warranty listed for the Polar Aurora Heavy Duty Dog Cage.
Sizes: 37 in., 42 in., 48 in.
Bottom Line: If you just want to try out an indestructible dog crate to see if it is a viable solution for your pup, this is an excellent starter crate. It’s lighter than most, easily movable, and only costs $150. Just be aware that there is no warranty for the Polar Aurora crate.
Buyer’s Guide for Indestructible Dog Crates
So, now that you have a few solid options to work with (pun intended) let’s talk about the specifics you need to consider when picking the perfect indestructible dog crate. You need to iron out your list of needs before you go shopping to make sure you get a crate that is tailored perfectly to your pup and your home.
Answer these questions before you make your final pick:
What’s your pet’s breed and size?
It seems obvious, but you’d be surprised how many people order a dog crate without measuring their dog first or not accounting for growth. Your pup should be able to walk comfortably into the crate without crouching down, and he should be able to turn around a full 360 degrees without issue once he’s inside.
He should have plenty of room when he stands, but it’s okay if he has to duck a little bit when he sits – dogs are usually taller when they sit down.
To get the specific dimensions you’ll need, measure your dog’s length from the tip of his nose to the base of his tail. Then, measure his height from the top of his head to the floor. Got your measurements? Now, add four inches to each measurement.
For example, if your dog measured 30 inches tall and 37 inches long (average size of a Golden Retriever), your final measurements are 34 inches tall and 41 inches long. These numbers will tell you roughly how big your crate should be.
If you’re buying a crate for your young puppy who will do a lot of growing, look up the average adult size for his breed and use those numbers to guide your buying decision. You can buy crates that come with divider panels to keep your puppy from having too much space, but that also allows you to adjust the area in the crate as he grows.
Is this easy to clean?
This is a critical question, especially if the crate is housing a young puppy in the early days of his life! The grate floor of most indestructible crates will let food, loose fur, and pee right through, but as soon as poo comes into the equation, it gets a little messy; well, messier. The poo won’t go through the bars very easily.
And when you try to pull out the tray to clean up the stuff that did get through, you have to pull piles of waste through a thin slot. Imagine how well that will go! (Hint: it won’t go well at all.)
If your dog is well potty-trained and you don’t foresee this to be an issue, then there’s nothing to worry about. The slide-out trays are a breeze to pull out, wipe or hose down, and slide back into place.
However, if you have a young puppy or your dog has accidents often due to stress and anxiety, consider putting the plastic or steel tray on top of the grate floor or finding some other alternative to make cleanup a little easier.
What kind of lock do I need?
If you’re in the market for an indestructible dog crate, chances are you have quite the escape artist on your hands – whether by cunning skill or brute force.
As such, you’ll want to pay close attention to the locks on your potential crate purchase.
Are they standard locks? Are they anti-tamper locks? Is there one lock on the main door or two of them for extra security? Can my dog reach the lock through the slats of the crate with his nose or paw?
All of the indestructible crates on our list have heavy-duty locks, but some only have one lock on the front door. Just be mindful of the lock specifications when you’re shopping around for your crate.
Do I need it to be portable or stay firmly in place?
You probably don’t want to be lugging your 99-pound dog crate over to a friend’s house for the day! But maybe your dog is less anxious when he’s in the same space as you, so you want to be able to move the crate from room to room in your house.
In this case, make sure your chosen crate has caster wheels to make things much easier for you. You can wheel the crate into the living room while you’re watching TV, into the kitchen while you cook, and even into the bedroom if that’s where you prefer to have your dog sleep.
On the flip side, maybe you want to set up your crate and leave it that same spot for years to come. Check the specification of your chosen crate and make sure that the caster wheels are optional rather than built-in. You might be able to remove them, but you’d have a heck of a time getting them off! Better to go with the optional caster wheels and leave them off when you assemble the crate at home.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for the best indestructible dog crates, then some of these 7 chew proof crates should fit your needs.
There’s crates that are feeding-friendly, lightweight, durable, budget-friendly, vet-approved, capable of supporting heavy weight, or come with a good warranty.
Check out our buyer’s guide to help decide the best choice for your dog.
And if you’re interested in crate training a puppy, I wrote an entire guide on it.
Let us know if you have any questions or comments below.