The Best Dog Travel Crates in 2022

Made from durable, easy to clean hard plastic, the Petmate is also airline-approved, making it the ideal air travel crate. Designed for small dogs up to 20 pounds, you also get a neat top opening for easy access for your traveling pooch. The design is straightforward to look at, but the quality for the price is high, and the whole crate is comfortable to carry around. With a steel grate front door, you also get plenty of side ventilation, without losing that sense of privacy for the more timid pet. For car travel, overnight stays, trips to the vet and even overseas travel, we think the Petmate is the best portable dog crate you can buy for smaller pets.

The EliteField 3 door folding crate is a soft travel carrier which works with dogs of most sizes. With multiple sizes and colorways available, you get plenty of choice and for car travel, this soft dog crate is an excellent option. It is also adaptive to how your dog feels during their road trip, with roll-back panels to give plenty of viewing space, or privacy when the panels are closed. The durable 600D fabric is lightweight, removable and washable, stabilized by a strong steel tube frame. With plenty of ventilation, fleece pad, side doors and locking entry, the whole Elitefield 3 door folding car crate also folds down in seconds, for total storage convenience.

For travel on a budget, you can’t beat the value of this smart travel carrier from Henkelion. As a soft travel crate, it is nice and sturdy and is also airline approved. The top entry is convenient for loading and there’s plenty of air circulation, thanks to the four side mesh panels. The whole carrier is padded, and you also get a cozy fleece pad. For car travel, this carrier works well too, and keeps your pooch secure thanks to the two connection straps. Add in a water resistant outer and padded carry handles and you get a lot of soft crate for your money. It is, however, only sized for small dogs, up to 15 pounds.

The Petsfit is a sizeable travel crate for medium dogs that can also be safely used for crate training younger pups. Soft-sided, with a foldable frame, it is also easy to transport, so makes it a good choice as one of the best dog cages for car travel. And what we really like about this crate is that it can also be used as an open bed, by simply screwing off the frame. The crate space is well ventilated, thanks to the large mesh windows, which also feature roll down panels for when pooch needs a little more privacy. Waterproof, with a washable bed pad, the Petsfit is worth its medium budget price tag.

Designed for in-cabin air travel, we think the Petmate also makes a secure everyday travel crate for appointments and short car trips. Made from heavy duty hard plastic, with strong steel wire door and window grills, your pet will be totally protected and comfortable, thanks to the 360-degree ventilation. You also get a clip-on bowl for their food and water and live animal stickers for when your pooch is in transit or cargo area. Add in a sturdy top carrying handles available in two size options and you get a portable, secure and solid feeling dog crate for your money.

Ideal for small dogs, as well as cats, this travel carrier from Midwest has all the core features you need to comfortably and safely transport your cat. Well-sized for a dog car crate, it also needs no tools for assembly, so a good choice if you need to break it down to store. With a heavy duty plastic body, well-served with ventilation strips, you also get a stainless steel wire door for secure access. A top pull out handle makes the whole carrier nicely portable, and the plastic parts release easily for convenient cleaning.

Yes, the Sleepypod may be at the top end of our best dog travel crates budget, but for sheer stylish air travel we think this is the business! And this premium air travel dog crate is more than looks, as it has all the spec you need to keep your pooch a happy high-flyer. With its clever expanding/contracting size, the Sleepypod works within most airlines’ under seat size restrictions, without compromising on safety or comfort for your pet. The crate has also been crash tested at the Center for Pet Safety. However, the Sleepypod can only accommodate small dogs up to 17 pounds. But they do get a good ride, with easy access top entry, full roof mesh panel, washable plush bedding and seatbelt straps to keep the crate secure if you take your pet in the car.

With a cool ‘camo’ fabric design, the 2Pet foldable comes in a choice of sizes so can even work as a large dog traveling crate. And its robust design, means it’s also a good choice for overnight camping trips. A strong steel tube frame gives the 2 Pet its durable structure, while the soft fabric cover is both water resistant and washable. The top entry makes getting your dog in and out a breeze, and the four-sided mesh windows come complete with roll down panels for when privacy is the order of the day. Tough enough for regular indoor and outdoor use, this is an ample size crate for the active, dog-loving household.

For a durable, ‘throw in the back of the RV’ type of travel crate, both you and your pooch will be impressed by the MidWest. Designed as a tent crate, this portable carrier will cope with the rigors of the open road and is also a good choice if you need a training crate for your puppy at home. It is pretty roomy, although not big enough to be a travel crate for large dogs, so the size of your dog could make your decision. But, if your pooch is no more than 25 pounds, he’ll feel right at home. It’s lightweight, has an easy to erect steel frame and the water resistant cover has ample mesh window space for your dog to watch the world travel by.

Our final travel crate for dogs is the cute looking Port-A-Crate which is a great choice for outdoor active households who don’t like to leave their pooch behind. And the beauty of the Port-A-Crate is that it comes in sizes up to extra-large, so your big dog can come along. Easy to use – it sets up and packs away in seconds – this tent crate is durable, thanks to the heavy-duty tight weave mesh fabric. This also makes for great ventilation, keeping your pet comfortable and cool. With two doors, front and top, fastening straps, strong zippers and door latches, the crate makes a lovely home-from-home for your travel adventure-loving pet.