The 9 Best Dog Pens of 2024, Tested and Reviewed

Best Overall

Frisco Wire Dog & Small Pet Exercise Pen

$47 at Chewy

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  4/5
• Versatility
  4/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Value
  4/5

Exercise pens (sometimes called “x-pens”) are simple playpens made of metal or plastic. They usually have about six or eight side panels that connect together so the entire pen can be configured in a square, rectangle, or octagon shape. This Frisco pen comes in five different heights, which you choose based on your dog’s size and interest in climbing.

Unlike some pens, this one has a step-through door, which makes it easy to walk in when you need to feed your pup or clean up any messes. The door has two sturdy latches which are difficult for pets to open, but sometimes tough for people too.

It’s made of coated wire which should help it last, and make it easier to use outside. The pen is easy to set up: Just unfold and latch together with the enclosed clips. It folds flat for storage and to be moved, but it can be heavy, so it likely won’t be something you want to unfold and set up every day.

“This pen is somewhat heavy (about 25 lbs) and I wouldn't want to lug it around for a long period of time, but carrying it on my own is still doable,” said one tester. “The weight wouldn't deter me from purchasing. It has a latch to hold the ends together, as well, so I didn't have to worry about the doors smacking me in the face while moving. It would fit in most standard car trunks.”

The pen has metal stakes that can help hold it in place when you’re outside on the grass. But one drawback to these pens is that rowdy pups can push them around when they jump on the sides. If that’s the case, try using bricks or exercise weights on the outside of the pen to keep it from moving. That’s the best way to keep the pen in the shape you want. It’s smart to place the pen on a safe surface (like tile or synthetic wood flooring, or even a vinyl remnant that you buy at the hardware store. That will keep the pen from scratching your floor. 

Some agile pups can also climb out, particularly when a pen is too short, so see how your pup acts before leaving them alone.

“It was intuitive to set up and take down,” noted one tester, “and it's still sturdy without being clunky or oversized.”

_{Dimensions: 62 x 62 inches x 24 inches, 62 x 62 x 30 inches, 62 x 62 x 36 inches, 62 x 62 x 42 inches, 62 x 62 x 48 inches︱Material: Metal | Colors: Black}

Best Budget

Amazon Basics Foldable Metal Exercise Pet Play Pen

$38 at Amazon

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  3/5
• Versatility
  3/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Value
  4/5

This metal pen is easy to set up and take down, but it’s even easier than some because there’s a built-in latch instead of clips. Clips can get wonky from puppy chewing and it’s easy to lose them when you store the pen. (Tip: Clip them all on the top.) Set-up instructions are easy to follow and it has a clip to keep the pen together when folded.

This pen comes with or without a door. Unlike some pens that have step-through doors that don’t take up an entire panel, this gate is one of the eight panels and goes all the way to the ground. That makes it a little difficult to use outdoors because it can get caught on grass or turf when opening and closing.

The medium and large sizes have three latches on the gate. That’s good for security, particularly with crafty pups who want to Houdini their way out. Not all our testers were fans of the hardware, however. “The three latches were also a bit cumbersome, and with more latches, it is more likely to get them misaligned and have difficulty opening the pen,” said one tester.

The pen is less expensive than some, comes in five heights, and has a rustproof black finish. It’s lightweight, so you’ll need to brace the sides to keep a pup from moving it around. You can clip two pens together if you need more space.

“Taking down this pen was very easy, and it was not too heavy so it was easy to carry,” one tester noted. “It also included a clip to keep the pen together while carrying which was nice.” 

_{Dimensions: 48 x 48 x 24 inches, 48 x 48 x 30 inches, 48 x 48 x 36 inches, 48 x 48 x 48 inches, 59.06 x 59.06 x 42 inches | Materials: Metal | Colors: Black}

Best Convertible

Richell Convertible Pet Playpen

$337 at Amazon $357 at Chewy $357 at Chewy

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  4.5/5
• Ease of Use
  4.5/5
• Versatility
  5/5
• Portability
  1/5
• Value
  4/5

This multitasking product does triple-duty as a pen, gate, and room divider. It’s made out of relatively lightweight molded plastic and is very easy to clean, as well as assemble and take apart. The panels lock in place at a 90-degree, 120-degree, or 180-degree angle. There’s a lockable gate so it’s easy for owners to move from room to room or get inside the pen to clean.

The pen is “difficult to transport since it's big and clunky,” says one tester, who suggested keeping the original carton if you wanted to take it apart and use it somewhere else. “This pen is more for a permanent fixture in the home or backyard.”

The gate is available with four or six panels and you can attach more if you need a larger pen or want to block off a bigger room. The manufacturer says it’s meant to contain dogs that weigh up to 88 pounds. But because the pen is only 36 inches tall, a large or athletic pup could jump out.

It’s “lightweight, easy to clean, assemble and take apart with clear instructions,” said a tester. “It's made out of durable, rigid, plastic thereby avoiding any rust issues if one decides to keep this in the backyard.” 

_{Dimensions: 63.8 x 33.1 x 36 inches︱Material: Plastic | Colors: Tan}

Best Portable

EliteField Two-Door Soft Playpen

$100 at Amazon $100 at Chewy

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  3.8/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Versatility
  5/5
• Portability
  3.8/5
• Value
  3.5/5

This pop-up playpen has soft sides, is foldable, and comes with a carrying bag, so it’s easy to take on the road with you or move around your home. There are two zippered doors, and a canvas floor and mesh top that can be zipped on and off. The floor is thin, but waterproof, so it’s helpful if your pup is prone to accidents or splashes in the water bowl. You can take off the bottom if you want to put your dog in the grass and can keep on the top if you worry about an escape artist.

The EliteField 2-Door Dog & Cat Playpen isn’t all that suitable for rambunctious or big dogs. Energetic pups can tip the playpen over or climb out. Teething puppies can chew the canvas or netting. Because it’s so portable and lightweight, it might be a good option for young puppies or older small dogs, particularly at nap time when they need a safe place to stay.

“There are multiple velcro compartments on the sides of the pen that can potentially be used for toys and doggie treats,” said one tester. “And it's spacious enough for almost any dog to roam around in, roll around in and/or sleep within it.”

There are mesh windows for ventilation, handy pockets for storage, and stakes to keep it anchored outside. Rambunctious dogs can learn how to tip this over and clever ones can unzip the zippers so it’s best for less energetic pups. It comes in eight sizes and a rainbow of seven colors.

It’s simple to pop open, but there’s a bit of a learning curve to folding it back up.

“It’s flat enough to pack into a car trunk or stow away in a closet,” said one tester. “However in order to pack it in the bag, it would require the owner to fold it in a certain pattern which can become frustrating for first time users.”

_{Dimensions: 30 x 30 x 20 inches, 36 x 36 x 24 inches, 42 x 42 x 24 inches, 48 x 48 x 32 inches, 52 x 52 x 32 inches, 62 x 62 x 24 inches, 62 x 62 x 30 inches, 62 x 62 x 36 inches︱Materials: Nylon, mesh, fabric | Colors: Brown and beige; beige and green; black and beige; maroon and beige; purple and beige; royal blue and beige; navy blue and beige}

Best Indoor

Iris 4, 6, or 8 Panel Plastic Playpen

$94 at Amazon $99 at Chewy $110 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Versatility
  4/5
• Portability
  3/5
• Value
  3/5

This pen is a great-looking option when you need to keep a pet out of trouble in the middle of your living room. It comes in gray, black, and white, and is made of molded plastic that will never rust. The panels are easy to assemble and, depending on which version you buy, they connect with built-in latches or long rods.

“This pen was clearly made for people on the go. The setup was easy and intuitive and I could do it by myself,” said one tester. “The instructions were short and simple and I felt like I was able to really easily build the pen.”

Although the playpen is easy to put together and take apart, it’s bulky when disassembled and doesn’t have a carrying case. You’ll need plenty of storage space when you aren’t using it.

One segment includes a dog door that opens and locks with a latch. On the taller pens, the door is only half the size of one panel, so you have to either step over the side (not easy if you’re short) or remove a panel if you need to clean up after your pup.

“I think this would be best for a consumer with a small dog that definitely won't run away who brings the dog to outdoor events (like beach days or park days or backyard hangs) and wants to keep it in a limited area,” said one tester, “or just for someone who wants to keep a small dog/ puppy limited to one area of their house.”

_{Dimensions: 35.13 x 35.13 x 23.75 inches, 60.75 x 60.75 x 23.75 inches, 60.75 x 60.75 x 23.75 inches, 63 x 63 x 34.25 inches | Material: Plastic | Colors: White, black, gray}

Best for Large or Rambunctious Dogs

Yaheetech Dog Playpen 8 Panels

$85 at Amazon $96 at Walmart View on Yaheetech.shop

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  3/5
• Ease of Use
  3/5
• Versatility
  4/5
• Portability
  2/5
• Value
  3/5

For big dogs and dogs with lots of energy, the Yaheetech Dog Playpen 8 Panels offers a sturdy yet flexible enclosed structure with 40 inches of height and a convenient step-through gate with an easy-to-lock latch. The eight-panel pen surpassed the other dog pens we tested when it came to stability, and the metal tube frame with wire fencing has a rust-resistant coating that can withstand the outdoor elements and chewing.

We tested the eight panel model which can be positioned as a square, octagon, or rectangle pen, but Yaheetech offers a variety of sizes for their metal fram Dog Playpens with flexible sets of panels ranging from 2 to 32 pieces, and panel heights ranging from 24 to 47 inches, including a 6-Panel model with 40 inches of height, an 8-Panel model with 32 inches of height, and 6-Panel model with 24 inches of height for small pets.

Tools are not required for assembly, but it's very helpful to have an extra set of hands when you are installing into an outdoor or indoor space because the panel pieces are heavy. Each piece comes together securely with metal stakes that contribute to the playpen's overall stability. The playpen panels are detachable and lay flat when disassembled, but the metal pieces are heavy so it's challenging to use the full 8-panel set for travel.

_{Dimensions: 128 x 128 x 40 inches; 128 x 128 x 32 inches; 128 x 128 x 24 inches | Material: Metal | Colors: Black}

Best for Puppies

Evenflo Play-Away Portable Playard

$56 at Amazon $55 at Walmart

Our Ratings

• Ease of Setup
  5/5
• Ease of Use
  5/5
• Versatility
  4/5
• Portability
  4/5
• Value
  4/5

This human baby playpen can be a good option for tiny, young puppies or even small, calm adult dogs. It's so easy to pop open, snap shut, and store in its handy carrying case. It weighs only about 10 pounds and is simple to stash away.

“This playpen was incredibly easy to set up with minimal lift. I am impressed by the ease of assembly and its lightweight structure,” said one of our testers.

The pen has a padded, water-resistant padded floor that can be wiped clean in case of accidents and a locking bar across the top to keep the pen from folding. Pets have to be lifted out over the top; there’s no door. But a more expensive version comes with a shade to cover the top.

This may not be the best choice for older, rowdier puppies, who may try to climb up the sides or gnaw on the netting. But it’s an excellent option for very young puppies who need a safe space to hang out after naps or between feedings.

It’s easy to move and the mesh sides give you a clear view of your pup.

“This product would be great for dog owners who want to see their dog directly while they are within the pen, and for dog owners who may want peace of mind that their dog is maintained in a specific area,” said one tester.

_{Dimensions: 48 x 48 x 28.5 inches | Material: Vinyl, plastic, and metal | Colors: Blue}

Best for Small Dogs

North States MyPet Petyard Passage

$90 at Amazon $90 at Chewy View on Northstatesind.com

The MyPet Petyard Passage 8-Panel from North States offers several features that make it an ideal dog pen for smaller dogs, including a swinging doggy door, an overall height of 26 inches, and the flexibility to remove two panels to reduce the amount of space the structure occupies.

The built-in doggy door is 9.5 x 8 inches and can be locked in the closed position by turning a knob to the upright position. The Petyard Passage we tested has 8-Panels that when assembled make up an enclosed space a little over 34 square feet. The dog pen can be reduced for use as a training crate by removing two panels and connecting the remaining six together, but the top area will remain open. There is also a 4-Panel model of the Petyard Passage that provides a little over 7 feet of enclosed space.

For assembly, we found it necessary to get two humans involved as the panel pieces are rather heavy and clunky to maneuver on one's own. Each individual panel piece has two sections that self-lock into place for strength and stability of the full structure. You'll hear a clicking sound that indicates a piece is properly in place. The panels have gripping feet to keep them in place on carpet indoors and outside on grassy areas, but the plastic dog pen can be used on any type of flooring and comes with skid-resistant pads for protection of hardwood, tile, and stone.

North States manufactures their MyPet products in the United States including the Petyard Passage 6-Panel, the Petyard Passage Plus with a larger easy-access door, and the Petyard Passage Barrier/Pen that comes with a wall mounting kit.

^{Dimensions: 78 x 78 x 26 inches | Material: Plastic | Colors: Brown, white}

Best for Fencing

ZENY Foldable Dog Playpen

$92 at Amazon $115 at Walmart View on Zeny.us

Equipped with 16 panels, the Foldable Metal Pet Playpen from Zeny is our top choice for dog parents in search of optional fencing that is easy to set up and fold down when not in use. “It is easily expandable with additional units and is very flexible, so it can be arranged into almost any space. It’s pretty easy to put together and only takes a few minutes,” shared one of our real world testers.

The black coated iron panels provide 24 inches of height along with a versatile assortments of formations, including a rectangle, circle, square, and octagon. The 16 panels can even be split in half to create two 8-panel playpens.

The Zeny Foldable Metal Pet Playpen is safe for use outdoors and indoors, but we did notice slight rust after leaving the dog pen outdoors for a few days. On the plus side, the playpen is easy to fold and light enough to be carried to storage when not in use. Plus, the walk-thru gate is easy for humans to open and closes securely with a latch that locks the door in the shut position.

Zeny also offers an 8-Panel version of the Foldable Metal Pet Playpen and a 16-Panel version with 32 inches of height.

^{Dimensions: 31 x 24 inches | Material: Powdered coated iron | Colors: Black}