Searching for the best soft sided dog crates for small dogs usually means one question is really two questions. Are you looking for a quiet den in the corner of a studio apartment, or a carrier that folds into a bag for a vet visit and a flight? Those are different jobs, and most crate lists blur them together, which is how people end up with a carrier that flattens against the wall every morning.
We looked at ten soft-sided dog crates sized for dogs roughly under 25 pounds, read thousands of verified owner reviews, and split each one by the job it actually does well. Three of the ten carry genuine top-hatch access and tool-free folding. Nine of the ten have confirmed owner photos, which gave us a much better read on long-term wear than the marketing copy did.
A soft-sided dog crate is a fabric or mesh enclosure built on a collapsible steel or PVC frame, with zippered or roll-up doors and a washable pad. It is quiet in a way wire and hard plastic are not, it folds flat, and it is light enough for one person to carry. It is also not a containment device for a dog determined to leave, and it is not crash protection. We say that plainly in every section below.
Table of Contents
Top 3 Soft-Sided Dog Crates for Small Dogs
These three cover the widest range of real situations, from a den that lives in a bedroom to a carrier that goes under a seat. The EliteField takes our top slot for its roomy interior and washable covers, the Amazon Basics four-door wins on access and review volume, and the Petsfit spiral-frame model is the one to buy if your dog leans on the walls or a frame that holds shape matters most to you.
EliteField 3-Door Soft Dog Crate
- 36 x 24 x 28 inches
- 600D fabric over steel tubing
- Three mesh doors
- 2-year warranty
Amazon Basics 4-Door Soft Crate
- 26 x 18 x 18 inches
- Four doors with lock clips
- Water-resistant base
- Removable fleece pad
Petsfit Spiral Steel Frame Crate
- 24 x 18 x 17 inches
- Adjustable spiral steel frame
- Leak-proof bottom liner
- Lockable zippers
Quick Overview: All 10 Soft-Sided Dog Crates in 2026
Every crate below folds without tools, and every one is designed for a small or medium dog rather than a large breed. Read the door count column carefully: two doors means you reach in from one side, three means you can reach in from above for treats, and four gives you the most flexibility for grooming or handling a sore dog.
| Product | Specifications | Action |
|---|---|---|
| EliteField 3-Door Soft Dog Crate with Bed and Carrying Bag |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Amazon Basics Portable Folding 4-Door Soft Crate, 26 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Petprsco Portable Collapsible Dog Crate, 24 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
 JESPET 3-Door Soft Dog Crate, 36 Inch |
|
Check Latest Price |
| Petsfit 24 Inch Crate With Adjustable Spiral Steel Frame |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Petsfit 22 Inch Lightweight Crate for Toy Breeds |
|
Check Latest Price |
 LE SURE 26 Inch Waterproof PVC 4-Door Crate |
|
Check Latest Price |
 Garnpet 26 Inch 4-Door Foldable Soft Crate |
|
Check Latest Price |
 X-ZONE PET 28 Inch 3-Door Oxford Cloth Crate |
|
Check Latest Price |
 SportPet Designs Lightweight Pop-Open Kennel |
|
Check Latest Price |
Two things stand out when the ten are viewed together. Only the LE SURE has a fully waterproof shell that wipes clean in seconds, and only the Petsfit spiral-frame model uses a frame with no centre fold, which is why it holds its shape longest under a dog that leans on the walls.
How We Picked and Tested
We rated each crate on five things, in this order. First, closure security: a locking zipper head beats a plain zipper, and a single front door is a real limitation when you want to reach in without opening the whole side.
Second, frame stability, because a soft crate that wobbles or rolls lets a small dog spill out onto the floor. Third, ventilation and mesh coverage, which matter more in a warm apartment than most buyers expect. Fourth, washability: a removable cover, a wipe-clean base, and a pad you can replace all extend the life of a crate that a housetraining puppy will abuse daily.
Fifth, and the heaviest weight we gave anything, the size and consistency of verified owner feedback. A crate with hundreds of reviews and a steady four-plus average tells you more about month eight than any spec sheet does. Where owners repeatedly reported the same failure, we put it in the cons rather than quietly dropping it.
1. EliteField 3-Door Soft Dog Crate with Bed and Carrying Bag
EliteField 3-Door Soft Dog Crate with Bed & Carrying Bag (2-Year Warranty)
36 x 24 x 28 inches
600D fabric and hex mesh
Steel tubing frame
14 pounds
Folds to 3 inches
2-year warranty
Pros
- Roomier interior than most 36 inch soft crates
- Sets up and folds flat in seconds with no tools
- Three mesh doors with zipper locks
- Removable washable cover and bed cover
- Carrying bag with padded shoulder strap
- Two-year warranty
Cons
- Heaviest crate here at 14 pounds so least portable
- Mesh and fabric will not hold a dog that chews persistently
Best for: a crate-trained small dog that sleeps in it every night and needs more interior room than the size label suggests.
This is the one we keep coming back to. The listed dimensions are 36 by 24 by 28 inches, which puts it two inches wider and four inches taller than most competing 36-inch soft crates, and owners on r/dogtraining point out that difference immediately because a Chihuahua or Toy Poodle who has to crouch will not settle. A 77 percent five-star share across more than thirteen thousand ratings is a strong signal for a fabric product that has to survive daily use.
The steel tubing frame is the reason it feels solid. It pops up in a couple of seconds and folds down to about three inches thick, which is thin enough to slide behind a sofa. Both the crate cover and the bed cover unzip and come out for washing, and the fleece bed and carrying bag with an adjustable padded shoulder strap are in the box rather than sold as add-ons.
Our only real gripe is weight. At 14 pounds this is by a wide margin the heaviest crate on the list, so it is a home den that you set up once rather than something you carry to the car every morning. The second limitation is structural: a small dog that chews the mesh seams will get through them, and no amount of zipper locking fixes that.
Check the floor area before you buy for a toy breed
The 24-inch width sounds generous next to a 15-pound dog, and it is. The real question is whether your dog can lie down, stand, and turn around without touching fabric on both sides. Measure your dog from nose to base of tail while lying down naturally, then compare that length against the 36-inch interior minus wall thickness. If the numbers leave less than two inches of slack at one end, step down a size.
For a Chihuahua, Maltese, or Toy Poodle this crate is generous rather than tight, and the extra room is what makes it workable as an overnight den instead of a daytime timeout pen. For a Pug or a Shih Tzu at the top of the small-breed range, the height matters more than the length, and 28 inches clears the head clearance most of them need.
Where it will disappoint you
It will disappoint you if you are trying to lift it into a hatchback twice a day, or if your dog is a scratcher. The hex mesh is the weakest point on the whole crate, and owners who have had this model for a year report that it is still intact only because their dog settled quickly and stopped working at the seams. The fabric will not survive a determined chewer, full stop.
It is also not a car safety device. Nothing fabric and tubular is. If you need crash protection, you need a tested rigid crate, and we explain that difference later in the guide.
2. Amazon Basics Portable Folding 4-Door Soft Crate, 26 Inch
Amazon Basics Portable Folding Soft Dog Crate, 4-Doors, Collapsible Travel Kennel for Cat, Dog, and Small Animals, Quick Setup, Small 26″ x 18″ x 18″, Grey
26 x 18 x 18 inches
Four doors including a top hatch
Water-resistant base
7.67 pounds
Fleece pet bed pad included
Pros
- Largest review base here with nearly 19500 ratings
- Four doors give the most access points of any crate here
- Pop-up setup and fold-down in seconds
- Carry handle plus padded shoulder strap
- Removable fleece bed pad included
- Quiet and cleaner than hard plastic in a car
Cons
- Canvas fabric gives way fast for scratchers or chewers
- Not suitable for dogs with separation anxiety
- Front roll-up door anchors on one side only
- Mesh bars make it harder to clean
Best for: owners who want a four-door crate for short car trips and daytime handling, without a heavy frame.
Four doors is the headline here. The top hatch lets you deliver a treat or check on a sick dog without crouching to a roll-up door, and two side doors mean a groomer or a vet helper does not have to reach through the front. With nearly nineteen and a half thousand ratings behind it, this is also the most widely owned soft crate in the group, which is why owners on r/dogs repeatedly describe the back seat as calmer and quieter with it than with a plastic kennel.
At 26 by 18 by 18 inches and 7.67 pounds, it is a genuine small-dog crate rather than a miniature one. The pop-up frame needs no tools, the base is water-resistant, and the fleece bed pad comes out for washing. Straps roll up and secure the fabric doors when you want the front open, which is the setup most crate-training households end up using daily.
Two honest caveats. The roll-up front door is anchored on one side only, so it can flap and dangle if a dog leans on it, and the canvas-style fabric is the first thing to fail with a scratcher or a dog that bites at mesh. Owners also note that the mesh bars collect hair and smell, which makes full cleaning a longer job than it is on a smooth waterproof shell.
Whether the top hatch is worth paying for
For crate training, yes. Treat delivery through a top opening removes the need to open the front door, and that removes the chance of a dog bolting out every time you approach with food. That single change does more for crate training progress than any other trick, and this is one of only two crates here with a proper top hatch.
The tradeoff is that a top hatch only helps if you use it. Owners who leave the front door rolled and strapped open report the fastest housebreaking progress, because the dog can go in and out freely while you are not home and the crate reads as a den rather than a punishment. A crate you shut every time is a crate your dog will resist.
Where it will disappoint you
This is not a crate for a dog with separation anxiety, and the reviews are unusually blunt about that. A dog that works at the fabric out of distress will shred a canvas shell in days, and the damage is usually to the mesh rather than the frame. If your dog already chews bedding, pick something with a lockable zipper and a stiffer weave instead, such as the X-ZONE PET or the LE SURE.
It is also the model to skip if you need airline clearance for a specific aircraft, since the measurement is a general small size rather than a documented under-seat specification. Measure your airline’s limits before you commit.
3. Petprsco Portable Collapsible Dog Crate, 24 Inch
Petprsco Portable Collapsible Dog Crate, 24″ Soft Dog Crate for Car Travel
24 x 17 x 17 inches
600D Oxford cloth and hex mesh
Lightweight steel frame
6.39 pounds
Three secure doors
Pros
- Four-sided mesh gives excellent airflow and visibility
- Richest accessory bundle including travel bowl
- Anti-collision corner pads protect car interiors
- Folds nearly flat for small-space storage
- Interior leash attachment adds security
Cons
- Included bottom mat is thin so most owners replace it
- Chemical smell on arrival that takes days to air out
- Mesh and fabric will not stop a determined chewer
- Not designed for airline travel
Best for: a small dog that needs maximum airflow and a crate rich enough that you do not have to buy a mat and a bowl separately.
Four-sided mesh is what sets this crate apart. Most soft crates put mesh on three sides and a panel of solid fabric on the fourth; this one wraps the ventilation all the way around, which owners in warmer climates and in the American South specifically call out. At 6.39 pounds it is light enough to move between rooms, and the anti-collision pads on all four corners protect both the crate and a car interior when you load it into a back seat.
The accessory bundle is the other reason it keeps coming up. You get a removable washable mat, a cozy blanket, and a foldable travel bowl in the box, plus side pockets for toys or treats and an adjustable interior leash attachment that clips to a collar. The lockable zippers are real locks rather than decorative sliders, which matters if your dog is a Houdini type.
The mat is the weak point. Reviewers consistently describe it as thin and hard, and most of them add their own cushion within a week. There is also a recurring complaint about a strong chemical smell in the packaging that takes a few days of airing out in a ventilated room before it fades. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing before it arrives on a birthday morning.
Ventilation in a warm room and a warm car
If your dog spends crate time in a room without air conditioning, mesh coverage is not a nicety. Heat is the quiet risk in soft crates because fabric panels trap air, and a dog in a parked car with a tent-style nylon shell can heat up fast. The four-sided mesh here is the reason we recommend this crate for warm climates and long summer road trips, and it is also why it works well for cats, which several owners mention using it for two large cats at once.
The catch is that ventilation does nothing for structural strength. The 600D Oxford cloth and hex mesh are thin, and a dog that claws at a corner will find the seam long before the panel gives way. Treat this as a crate for a calm, crate-trained dog, not a containment pen for a stressed one.
Where it will disappoint you
Skip it if you fly regularly. The 24 by 17 by 17 inch interior is sized for small dogs and large cats, not for an under-seat airline carrier, and the steel frame and accessory bundle add bulk you would be measuring against a published aircraft limit. It is also too small for anything approaching 30 pounds even though the seller lists a broad range.
The other disappointment is interior width. At 17 inches across, a 20-pound dog with a longer body will have less turning room than the weight range implies. Measure length first and trust the number over the label.
4. JESPET 3-Door Soft Dog Crate, 36 Inch
JESPET 3 Door Soft Dog Crates Kennel, Collapsible Travel Pet Carrier
36 x 24 x 27 inches
600D cationic Oxford fabric
Steel tube with retractable springs
6.25 pounds
Includes fleece bed
Pros
- Roomy interior often fits two small dogs
- Very quick tool-free setup and collapse
- Attractive enough to keep in a living space
- Mesh on three sides gives airflow and visibility
- Low weight for its interior volume
Cons
- Thin fabric a determined dog can rip through
- Zippers have no genuine lock so escape artists can work them open
- Included fleece mat breaks apart and is hard to clean
- Some builds show uneven welds and misaligned top zipper
Best for: post-surgery crate rest and indoor den use, where you need a roomy interior and frequent access more than any kind of durability rating.
Veterinary recovery is the use case owners mention most often, and it makes sense. At 36 by 24 by 27 inches and only 6.25 pounds, this is a lot of interior space for very little mass, so a dachshund or a Chihuahua recovering from surgery can lie, turn, and be helped in and out without you wrestling the frame. Owners on r/dogs also praise the fact that it is attractive enough to leave set up in a living room rather than hiding in a hallway.
The three doors on top, front, and side give you the access pattern that recovery needs. You can pass food through the top without bending, open the side to help a stiff dog step down, and roll the front up for toileting. Collapsible bars with retractable springs let it set up and fold in seconds with no tools, so the crate can move between the living room and a vet drop-off across town.
Be clear-eyed about the zippers, though. This crate does not have genuine locking hardware, and multiple owners of escape-prone dogs report that a determined dog can work the sliders open from the inside over a period of days. If your dog has a history of escaping, this is the wrong crate regardless of how well it treats recovery.
Size expectations versus actual interior
The listed footprint is generous, and the dimensions were taken manually, so allow roughly an inch of deviation. In practice owners report the interior being roomy enough for two small dogs or two Chihuahuas, which is unusual at this weight. If you are sizing for a single small dog, you may find it more spacious than a den needs, and an oversized crate can slow housebreaking because a puppy disperses further from the door.
For recovery, the opposite logic applies. A dog with limited mobility does better with room to stretch out and a low, wide entry, and this crate gives you both. The fleece mat that comes in the box breaks apart and is awkward to clean, so plan to replace it with something washable.
Where it will disappoint you
It will disappoint you on build consistency. Reviews mention poorly wrapped edges, uneven welds, and top zippers that arrive misaligned, so inspect the closures before you rely on them. The fabric is thin enough that a chewer will make progress within days, and the fleece mat is the first item to fall apart.
At 36 inches it is also the least suited here to airline travel, since no under-seat specification will accommodate it. This is a home crate and a car crate, nothing more.
5. Petsfit 24 Inch Crate With Adjustable Spiral Steel Frame
PETSFIT Portable Dog Crate for Small Dogs, – 24″ Soft Dog Travel Crates with Lockable Zippers & Thicken Mat, Adjustable Patented Spiral Steel Frame, Collapsible Kennel for Indoor & Outdoor
24 x 18 x 17 inches
Patented spiral steel frame
Waterproof leak-proof liner
6.7 pounds
1-inch cushion included
Pros
- Spiral frame holds shape better than pop-up frames and resists sagging
- Full steel frame with no centre fold lets a dog lean safely
- Leak-proof liner and removable cover simplify cleanup
- Lockable zippers are a real improvement
- Quiet in the car
- Five sizes from 24 to 40 inches
Cons
- Fabric is not chew-proof and can be gone in seconds
- Included cushion and pad are thin so most owners substitute bedding
- No external tie-down points so it can slide in an SUV
- No middle fold means larger sizes do not pack as flat
Best for: a dog that leans on the walls of its crate, sleeps in it nightly, and needs a frame that will not soften after a few months.
The frame is the story. This crate uses a patented adjustable spiral steel frame, which lets you tune the tension of the cover and holds its shape through daily use and through washing. There is also no middle fold in the frame, so a dog can stand and lean against a side without the sag you get in a pop-up design. That single change is why this is the one we recommend for a dog that presses against the door to get a look at you.
Everything else is built for a housetraining-stage dog. The waterproof, leak-proof bottom liner and the removable washable cover mean a puppy accident is a wipe rather than a soak, and the non-slip pad keeps the crate from skating on a hard floor. Reinforced mesh doors sit on the front, side, and top with roll-up Velcro curtains, and the zippers lock. A one-inch cushion is included, which is thinner than it sounds.
Owners report quiet, rattle-free car rides with no metal or plastic noise at all, and a lot of people use this crate for post-surgery confinement, where the top access and the roll-up doors make handling a sore dog much easier. The size ladder runs from 24 to 40 inches in several colours, with a one-year warranty.
Frame tension and what it means for escape prevention
Shape retention is really an escape-prevention feature in a soft crate. A frame that sags does not rip, but it creates a gap at the corner where a small dog can push a snout through and start working a zipper. A spiral frame that you can tension yourself removes that gap, and the lockable zippers on top of it are the most secure closure combination in this list.
That is still not containment against a determined chewer. Owners are consistent on this point: the mesh is reinforced, not indestructible, and any dog that chews bedding will eventually find the fabric. What this crate resists is scratching, pawing, and leaning, which covers most small dogs.
Where it will disappoint you
The supplied cushion and pad are thin and most owners substitute their own bedding within days. There are no external tie-down points, so in an SUV or a hatchback the crate can slide during hard braking, and you need to wedge it against a seat or add your own strap. And because there is no middle fold, the larger sizes do not pack flat the way a two-piece pop-up frame does, which matters if you are trying to hide it in a cupboard.
6. Petsfit 22 Inch Lightweight Crate for Toy Breeds
Petsfit Collapsible Dog Crate，Travel Crate for Cat/Puppy，Pop Up Small Pet Cage for Indoor/Outdoor，Lightweight Soft Dog Kennel Carrier for Small Dogs，Grey
22 x 13 x 17 inches
Weighs 2.2 pounds
Firm 600D fabric
Three mesh sides
Waterproof base
Pros
- Lightest full-size option here at 2.2 pounds
- Twist-fold setup needs no assembly and collapses very small
- Self-lockable zipper head is a useful puppy safeguard
- Waterproof base wipes clean easily
- Suited to Chihuahuas and Pomeranians
Cons
- Smallest interior on the list at about 15 pounds
- Only a single front door so access points are limited
Best for: a Chihuahua, Pomeranian, or Yorkie under about 15 pounds, and for anyone who needs to carry a crate in one hand.
At 2.2 pounds, this is the crate you can move without thinking about it. The twist-fold design needs no assembly at all, so a puppy can go from folded-in-the-closet to set-up-in-the-hallway in one motion, and the whole thing folds small enough to live in a narrow apartment storage space. The self-lockable zipper head is a genuinely useful safeguard on a puppy that has learned that zippers open when pushed.
Sizing is the strength. The 22 by 13 by 17 inch interior is tight enough for a toy breed to feel den-like rather than lost, which is exactly the security forum owners ask for. Three mesh sides give airflow and visibility, and the waterproof base wipes clean during a housetraining phase. A 4.5 rating with a 77 percent five-star share and only 3 percent one-star reviews is the most consistently positive rating profile in the group.
The trade against the larger Petsfit spiral-frame crate is simple. That one is rigid, heavy, and built to outlast a leaning dog, while this one is built to be carried. For a dog under 15 pounds that spends most of its crate time on the floor, the 2.2-pound frame is the more useful of the two, and the money and shelf space you save are real.
Two things are worth checking before you order. The folded package is short enough to slide under a bed or into a hall cupboard, and the door opening is lower than the 17-inch side panel, so check that a sitting dog can step in without ducking. A puppy that has to lower its head to enter will sometimes start refusing the crate altogether.
Getting the size right for a toy breed
Owners on r/puppy101 and poodleforum.com are blunt about how misleading breed labels are, and they are right. A Chihuahua that weighs 3 kg can barely fit a carrier advertised for Chihuahuas, which is usually dimensionally correct but sized to a larger adult of the breed. Measure the dog lying down from nose to tail base, and from the floor to the top of the head when sitting. Both numbers need to fit inside the interior with a couple of inches of slack, or the dog cannot lie down properly.
For a dog under 10 pounds, this 22-inch crate is usually right on. For a dog between 10 and 15 pounds, check the height especially, since short-legged breeds like a Pug or a Shih Tzu need clearance to sit up and turn. Above 15 pounds, step up to the 24-inch model rather than stretching this one.
Where it will disappoint you
It has one front door. That means you cannot reach a settling dog from above with a treat, and it limits you during grooming or nail trims. If your plan involves crate training with treat delivery, the three-door designs are meaningfully easier to live with.
Its capacity ceiling is also real. This is a crate for crate-trained pets up to about 15 pounds, and a dog that exceeds that will be cramped in a way that reads as punishment rather than rest. It is also narrow enough that a dog turning around will touch both side panels, which some dogs find unsettling.
7. LE SURE 26 Inch Waterproof PVC 4-Door Crate
Lesure Portable Soft Collapsible Small Dog Crate, 26in Light Grey
26 x 18 x 18 inches
Waterproof PVC shell
Four doors and four mesh windows
8.66 pounds
Removable sherpa mattress
Pros
- Waterproof PVC wipes clean in seconds
- Four zippered doors plus roll-up mesh panels
- Zipper clip locks proved secure with an anxious dog
- Interior leash and mesh held up in a reported stress test
- Five sizes from 26 to 42 inches
- No setup required
Cons
- Sherpa mattress is thin and most owners add a blanket
- PVC is less breathable than fabric for extended crate use
- Larger sizes are bulky to move around a home
Best for: a dog recovering from illness, a puppy mid-housebreaking, or any crate that will get wet, muddy, or smelled repeatedly.
The waterproof PVC shell is the whole argument. It wipes clean in seconds, which no fabric-covered crate in this list can match, and that single property matters enormously for a small dog who is housetraining, has just come back from a vet visit, or spends time in mud. Owners with anxious dogs also gravitate here because the material has no loose threads to grab.
Four zippered doors and four high-density mesh windows give you the most flexible access arrangement here. Mesh panels roll up and secure with Velcro for open airflow, the side doors use heavy-duty locking zippers, and an interior leash clips to the collar. One detailed owner review reported a dog with separation anxiety spent over an hour clawing and biting the mesh without breaking through, which is a rare and reassuring data point in this category.
At 8.66 pounds it is mid-weight for the group, and it needs no setup at all, so it is ready the moment it comes out of the bag. Five sizes run from 26 to 42 inches in several colours, with a removable washable sherpa mattress, carry handle, side pockets, and an elastic strap for a water bottle.
Breathability, the trade you make for cleanability
This is the honest compromise. PVC does not breathe the way 600D Oxford or mesh fabric does, and owners note that for extended crate time in warm conditions the fabric crates feel better. If your dog spends eight hours a day in its crate in a room without air conditioning, weigh that against how much you value a ten-second clean.
For most people the trade is worth it. Housetraining accidents are the single biggest reason soft crates get replaced, and a shell you can wipe is the difference between a crate that lasts a year and one that starts to smell in month two. The mesh windows help, and rolling them up improves airflow further.
Where it will disappoint you
The sherpa mattress is thin, and most owners add their own blanket over the top within days. The larger sizes are bulky to move around a home, since the PVC shell is rigid and does not twist away the way fabric does. And for an apartment with tight doorways, measure the folded package before you commit, because this one does not collapse like a pop-up frame.
8. Garnpet 26 Inch 4-Door Foldable Soft Crate
Garnpet Soft Dog Crate for Small Dogs, 4-Door Foldable Collapsible Dog Crate with Soft Sides, Indoor & Outdoor Travel Dog Kennel
26 x 18 x 18 inches
Waterproof Oxford fabric
Steel frame
9 pounds
Four doors
Pros
- Sets up and breaks down repeatedly in under five minutes
- Door flaps roll up and stay open
- Zippers operate smoothly without sticking
- Handles at both ends of the top make it easy to move loaded
- Frame and fabric feel sturdier than most at this price
- Waterproof fabric wipes clean
Cons
- Included floor pad is thin cheap fleece
- Strong chemical or machine-oil smell that persists after airing
- Soft mesh sides cannot contain a dog determined to escape
Best for: a small dog whose crate lives permanently in a bedroom or living room, where appearance and access matter more than grams.
This is the one we would leave set up. The 26 by 18 by 18 inch size suits a dog under about 20 pounds as an overnight den, the waterproof Oxford fabric wipes clean with a damp cloth, and the mesh windows keep air moving without the look of a camping tent. One buyer who tried three soft-sided models called it the best of the three, which is a reasonable read of the build quality at this level.
Four doors, with flaps that roll up and stay open, mean you can reach a dog from either side without dismantling anything. Reviewers single out that the zippers run smoothly without sticking, which sounds minor until you have cleaned a sticky zipper at bedtime with a dog waiting to go out. Handles at both ends of the top let you move the crate while the dog is still inside, which matters if you are shifting it around a small apartment.
The steel frame and heavy nylon-type fabric feel sturdier than most soft crates in this group, and the collapsible design folds for compact storage between uses. Four sizes run from 26 to 42 inches in beige and dark grey.
The two consistent complaints are about what arrives in the box rather than the crate itself. The floor pad is thin, cheap fleece about a quarter inch thick, and a stronger, chemical or machine-oil smell that persists even after days of airing out. Air it in a ventilated room before use.
Making a crate work as furniture
The gap between a dog crate and a piece of furniture is mostly a matter of colour and whether anything is bolted to the floor. Dark grey and beige tones in this crate read as neutral rather than industrial, and the mesh windows let your dog see out, which stops the den from feeling like a kennel. Positioning matters more than any product choice: put the crate against a wall in a corner of the room your dog already likes, not in a hallway.
Because it folds, you can keep it deployed at night and collapse it during the day in a studio or a one-bedroom flat. That is the single most valuable trait for apartment living, and it is why soft crates in general outperform wire for small spaces.
Where it will disappoint you
At 9 pounds it is heavier than most crates of this size, so moving it between rooms takes two hands despite the handles. And the soft mesh sides are exactly that: soft. A dog that has decided to leave will find a way, and this is not the crate to buy if your dog has an escape history. The included pad will also need replacing almost immediately if you want anything resembling comfort.
9. X-ZONE PET 28 Inch 3-Door Oxford Cloth Crate
X-ZONE PET 3-Door Portable Soft-Sided Folding Soft Dog Travel Crate Collapsible Pet Kennel,Medium, Tan, 28 x 20 x 20 Inches
28 x 20 x 20 inches
602D Oxford cloth
Thickened steel tube frame
8 pounds
Three mesh doors
Pros
- 602D Oxford cloth and thickened frame are sturdier specs than most rivals
- Tool-free fold in seconds to a compact package
- Three mesh doors with zipper locks on two
- Side pockets for treats and waste bags
- Removable and washable construction
Cons
- Smallest review base here at 600 ratings
- 28 x 20 x 20 inches is a cramped interior for medium dogs
- Soft fabric is not intended for dogs that scratch or paw hard
Best for: a dog around 15 to 25 pounds who needs a stiffer shell than most fabric crates, and for owners who care about fabric spec weight.
602D Oxford cloth with a thickened steel tube frame is a stronger paper specification than most of what is on this list, and it is the reason we put this crate in the roundup at all. Most competing soft crates use 600D, which is a thinner weave. Combined with zipper locks on both the front and side doors, this is a sensible choice for a small dog with some physicality who is already crate trained.
It folds in seconds without tools to a compact package, and the removable, washable design keeps cleanup simple. Three mesh doors on top, front, and side give ventilation and visibility, and the side pockets for treats, leashes, and waste bags are the kind of detail that only matters once you are walking a dog to and from the crate twice a day.
Two things to weigh. This has the smallest review base in the group at 600 ratings, so its long-term durability story is less well documented than the others, and a 4.5 average across a smaller pool deserves a little more caution. The 28 by 20 by 20 inch interior is also one of the more cramped here for anything past a small breed, and the four-inch folded height means it stores neatly but not flat.
Reading fabric weights without getting lost
Denier is a thread-density measure, and higher is denser. Moving from 600D to 602D is not a dramatic jump, so the real difference here comes from the thickened frame rather than the fabric number. What you are actually gaining is a frame with more material in the tubes, which resists the bowing you get when a dog leans on a side panel for months.
Do not treat any denier number as chew resistance. Fabric this weave will not stop a determined chewer, and reviewers say so directly. Treat it as durability against scratching, pawing, and general wear, which is the realistic failure mode for a small dog that is settled and crate trained.
Where it will disappoint you
The interior is the issue. At 28 by 20 by 20 inches, a 20-pound dog can stand and turn but will not stretch out fully, and a dog that sleeps curled still has less floor space than the weight limit suggests. The thin review base also means you are relying more on the specification sheet than on a long owner record, which is a trade we make deliberately and rarely.
10. SportPet Designs Lightweight Pop-Open Kennel
SportPet Designs Soft Sided Pop-Open Kennels, Light Green
32 x 19.5 x 19.5 inches
Weighs 1.33 pounds
Nylon fabric with mesh panels
Folds completely flat
Includes carry bag
Pros
- Lowest cost option in the roundup
- Only 1.33 pounds so trivially light to carry
- Seatbelt straps stop it sliding on a car seat
- Pop-open frame with no loose rods folds completely flat
- Removable washable cushion and waterproof base
- Roomy enough for two medium cats
Cons
- Lowest average rating here with 9 percent three-star reviews
- Soft bottom tips if a dog leans on the side
- Zippers are stiff and have been reported failing within weeks
- No top handle so two people may be needed
- Thin mesh a determined pet can claw through
Best for: vehicle containment on a budget, and for anyone who wants a crate that lives in a car boot and folds into a storage cube.
At 1.33 pounds this is the lightest crate here by a wide margin, and the pop-open frame has no loose rods, so it folds completely flat and disappears into a small space. The included carry bag for the folded kennel makes it easy to move between the car and a hotel room, and a 32 by 19.5 by 19.5 inch interior is roomy enough that several owners use it for two medium cats.
The seatbelt straps are the feature that makes it a genuinely good car crate rather than a compromise. Owners with a dog that won’t settle in a back seat report strapping this in ends the sliding around. The removable washable cushion sits on a waterproof base, and four colours are available.
Durability is the honest weakness. It has the lowest average rating of the group at 4.2, with 9 percent three-star reviews, and the specific complaints repeat: stiff zippers that are awkward to operate, and at least one report of zippers failing within weeks. The soft bottom also tips if a dog leans against a side, and there is no top handle, so a loaded crate may need two people to move.
When a lighter frame is the right trade
Weight is not a vanity metric for a car crate. A crate you can lift one-handed into a boot at six in the morning gets used daily, while a 14-pound crate that needs two hands gets left in the garage. For owners who travel frequently with a small dog and use the crate mainly for vehicle containment, that convenience outweighs a lot of sturdiness.
The same logic applies if your dog only uses the crate for a few hours at a time. A 4.2 rating on a 6,000-plus review base tells you the product does its job most of the time, with predictable weak points at the closures. Just inspect the zippers weekly, and keep a spare clip on hand.
Where it will disappoint you
It is not a home den. The thin tent-like nylon and the soft bottom are fine for a few hours in a vehicle and inadequate for a dog sleeping in it every night, where a soft base and a tilting frame affect comfort and sleep quality. The thin mesh is also clawable, and there is no interior leash or top access to give you a treat. If you want one crate for everything, buy a three-door model instead.
How to Size a Soft-Sided Dog Crate for a Small Dog
Size a soft crate by measurement, not by breed label, because the labels are unreliable in both directions. Measure your dog lying down from the tip of the nose to the base of the tail, and separately measure from the floor to the top of the head while the dog is sitting. The crate interior needs to be at least that long and at least that tall, plus a few inches of slack in each direction so the dog can lie down, stand, and turn around without pressing against fabric.
As a general mapping for the weight bands this roundup covers: under 10 pounds fits roughly a 22 by 13 by 17 inch interior; 10 to 15 pounds fits 24 by 18 by 17; 15 to 20 pounds fits 26 by 18 by 18; and 20 to 25 pounds needs at least 28 by 20 by 20, with more length preferred for long-bodied breeds like a Dachshund. For anything larger than that range, our large dog crate picks cover the size classes this roundup leaves out.
Two cautions about oversizing. A crate that is much too large slows housebreaking, because a puppy disperses further from the door and it takes longer to signal. A crate that is much too small is worse still, because a dog cannot fully stretch out, which produces the same stress you are trying to solve. When you are between two sizes, the smaller one is usually the better choice for a puppy, and the larger one is better for an adult or a dog in recovery.
Our broader crate guide covers wire and hard-sided options in more depth if you want to compare the categories, and the complete dog crate breakdown is a good place to start if you are still deciding on a type.
Soft vs Wire vs Hard Plastic: Which Crate for a Small Dog?
A soft-sided crate is not simply a cheaper version of a wire crate. It is a different tool, and picking the wrong one is why some owners conclude that soft crates are flimsy. The honest comparison for a small dog looks like this.
Soft-sided crates win on quiet, portability, weight, and appearance. They lose on chew resistance, structural rigidity, and any kind of crash protection. Wire crates win on chew resistance, ventilation, cleanability, and durability, and they lose on noise, weight, and storage, since a wire crate is a fixed volume of steel in your living room.
Hard plastic kennels are the easiest to clean and the best for containment, and they are the loudest and the least pleasant to have in a bedroom. For a small dog that is crate trained and calm, a soft crate is the right call. For a heavy chewer or an escape artist, buy a wire crate instead, and our heavy duty dog crate picks cover the stronger end of the market.
Wooden crates, in the furniture category, solve appearance rather than durability, and they are worth a look if the crate will live in a living room you look at all day. Our guide to the best wooden dog crates covers that trade-off properly. None of them are the right answer for a dog under 15 pounds who needs a portable crate, which is why they do not appear in this roundup.
When Not to Buy a Soft-Sided Crate
The single most common regret in this category is buying soft-sided for a dog who chews, escapes, or suffers from separation anxiety. Owners on r/Dogtraining raise escape risk in almost every thread on the topic, and it is a fair concern. A fabric shell is a comfort object first and a containment device second. If your dog has ever worked a zipper or shredded a fabric bed, you need wire, and no soft crate on this list will change that.
Long unattended days are the second reason to skip soft crates. A dog crated for eight hours in a fabric tent is comfortable, but comfort does not replace exercise, toileting, and company. This category is built for crate-trained dogs with short or medium holds, not for dogs that spend most of the day confined. Dogs that are crated excessively can develop crate syndrome, a cluster of behaviour problems that makes the crate itself stressful rather than restful.
Third, car safety. No soft-sided crate on this list is crash-tested or crash-rated, and the Center for Pet Safety certification programme exists precisely to mark the ones that are. A soft crate in a car is a way to keep a dog out of the driver’s lap and off the seat, which is worthwhile, but it is not impact protection. If you drive a lot, spend your safety budget on a tested crate instead, and use a soft one for the parts of the trip that are not driving.
Fourth, any dog that is not yet house trained and not yet crate trained. A soft crate with mesh and fleece panels rewards exactly the behaviour a puppy should not be repeating, like chewing, because there is a chewable object attached to the confinement. Crate training works better with a hard or wire crate, and you can move to a soft crate later if you want one.
Cleaning, Odor Control and Bedding
Small dogs and housetraining make cleanability a deciding factor, and it is where soft crates differ most. The best-case options on this list are the ones with a removable cover and a wipe-clean or waterproof base. The LE SURE with its PVC shell and the Petsfit spiral-frame model with its leak-proof liner both handle accidents in seconds, and the EliteField unzips both its crate cover and bed cover for a full wash.
For cleaning, most fabric crates should be spot-cleaned with a damp cloth and mild soap rather than machine washed, because the frame and the mesh can distort in a spin cycle. The removable fleece and sherpa pads on nearly every model here are machine washable, and replacing the pad rather than cleaning it is the cheaper long-term answer. Check that the cover comes out before you buy, because a crate you cannot strip is a crate you will replace early.
Odor usually comes from the base and the seams rather than the fabric itself. A crate that sits on carpet will hold smell in the base fabric, so line the floor with a washable mat and dry the crate fully before folding it. The X-ZONE PET, the Petsfit 22-inch, and the Amazon Basics all include a removable pad for exactly this reason.
Car and Air Travel With a Soft Crate
For car travel, the practical rules are simple. Secure the crate with the seatbelt or the headrest straps, or wedge it against a seat so it cannot move during braking, and never let a dog ride loose in a front seat. The SportPet Designs and Amazon Basics models include seatbelt straps for this, and the Petprsco’s corner pads protect the car interior where it is least protected.
Air travel is more specific. In-cabin carriers must fit under the seat in front of you, and the size limits are set by the aircraft, not by the product listing, so measure against your airline’s published dimensions before you buy anything marketed as airline approved. Soft crates that fold completely flat and include a carry bag, such as the SportPet Designs, are the most practical shape for that, but you still need to confirm the numbers. For a soft-sided pet carrier specifically, under-seat fit matters more than any other single specification.
One last thing worth saying plainly: a soft crate is not a checked-bag solution. Dogs in the cargo hold travel in rigid, crash-tested kennels, and that is a different product category from everything on this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best soft-sided dog crate?
For most small-dog households the EliteField 3-Door model is the strongest all-round choice, because its 36 by 24 by 28 inch interior is roomier than most crates in the same size class and the cover and bed cover both unzip for washing. Pick the Petsfit spiral-frame model instead if frame sag is your main worry, and the Amazon Basics four-door if you need a top hatch for treat delivery.
Are soft-sided crates good for dogs?
They are good for dogs that are already house trained and crate trained, especially small breeds in apartments where wire crates are heavy and noisy. They are not good for heavy chewers, escape artists, or dogs with separation anxiety, because fabric and mesh give way under sustained chewing or clawing.
What is the best crate for a small dog?
For a dog under 15 pounds, a soft crate around 22 by 13 by 17 inches with a self-locking zipper works well and stays light enough to carry one-handed. Between 15 and 20 pounds, move up to 26 by 18 by 18 inches. Above 20 pounds, choose 28 by 20 by 20 inches or larger so your dog can stretch out and turn around.
Can a small dog escape a soft-sided crate?
Yes, if your dog is determined. Soft fabric and mesh are not containment surfaces, and owners on dog training forums repeatedly report dogs working zippers open from the inside over several days. A locking zipper head reduces the risk, and a frame that does not sag helps, but a dog with an escape history belongs in a wire crate.
Is 2 hours too long to leave a dog in a crate?
Two hours is generally fine for an adult small dog that is house trained and relaxed in its crate. What matters more than the clock is how the time is spent: short training sessions spread through the day build better habits than one long block. Puppies and dogs with separation anxiety should not be crated for two hours at all.
What is crate syndrome and how do I avoid it?
Crate syndrome is a set of behaviour problems, including anxiety, pacing, and destructive behaviour around the crate, that develop when a dog spends long stretches confined. Avoiding it means keeping crate time short and positive, never using the crate as punishment, and pairing every session with a walk, a meal, or a treat.
Conclusion
The EliteField 3-Door Soft Dog Crate is our pick for the best soft sided dog crates for small dogs, because roomy interior space, a washable cover, and a two-year warranty in one package is hard to beat at this category. Buy the Amazon Basics four-door if you want a top hatch and the widest owner record; buy the Petsfit spiral-frame model if your dog leans on walls and you want a frame that will not soften.
Whatever you choose, measure your dog before you order, lock the zippers, and keep the crate somewhere your dog already likes spending time. We updated this roundup for 2026, and every pick above is chosen for a crate-trained small dog rather than a determined escape artist.