With their powerful jaws and overall strength, pitbulls require special dog crates. The crates need to be made of thicker wire, have secure locks, and be made of heavy-duty materials.
If you’ve already started looking for the best crate for your pitbull, it’s probably become clear that there are an overwhelming number of choices.
To make your job easier, we’ve compiled a list of reviews of the best dog crates for pitbulls. We’ve also included a buyer’s guide so you know what features to look for. Read on for our recommendations.
A Comparison of Our Favorites for 2022:
Rating | Image | Product | Details | |
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Best Overall | LUCKUP Heavy Duty |
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Best Value | AmazonBasics Single Door & Double Door |
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Premium Choice | ProSelect Empire |
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SMONTER Heavy Duty |
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New World Folding Metal |
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The 7 Best Dog Crates for Pitbulls:
1. LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Cage – Best Overall
Our best overall choice is the LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Cage because it has a heavy-duty frame made from rust- and corrosion-resistant steel. There are two doors to access your dog: a big front door and one on top of the crate. The door has two locks with safety buckles for added security for escape-artist dogs. It includes an easy-to-clean, removable plastic tray. It also has four wheels that allow you to move the crate around easily. The wheels lock, so you don’t have to worry about your dog wheeling themselves across the floor. It’s also quite an attractive crate.
It’s on the pricier end because of the heavy-duty materials, but we like the overall quality of this dog crate.
- Heavy-duty frame
- Rust- and corrosion-resistant steel
- Two locks on door with safety buckles
- Two access doors
- Easy-to-clean, removable plastic tray
- Four wheels with locking button
- Attractive
- Expensive
2. AmazonBasics Metal Dog Crate – Best Value
The AmazonBasics Metal Dog Crate is the best dog crate for pitbulls for the money. It has a front-entry door, but you also have the option of choosing the model with two doors. To keep your dog safely inside, it has two slide-bolt door latches. It has sturdy metal construction for durability. For easy portability and storage, it folds completely flat. If you plan on using a bigger crate while your dog is a puppy, it has a divider panel to help them feel safe and secure in a smaller space.
The metal edges on this crate are sharp since the corners aren’t rounded, which could be a safety hazard for many dogs. It’s also one of the more flimsy crates on the list. If you have a very determined dog bent on escape, this might not be the best choice.
- Front-entry, single door
- Two slide-bolt door latches
- Sturdy metal construction
- Folds flat for easy portability/storage
- Divider panel
- Metal edges of wire are sharp
- Flimsy construction
3. ProSelect Pitbull Dog Cage – Premium Choice
Our premium choice is the ProSelect Empire Dog Cage because it’s made with 20-gauge steel that has reinforced 0.5”-diameter steel tubes. This makes the bars of the crate quite strong. The crate is raised above floor level on wheels, so you can move it around easily. If you prefer not to have the wheels, you can leave them off during assembly. The crate has two strong latches to secure it, so you don’t have to worry about your dog being able to get out when you’re not home. The crate is available in medium and large sizes, so you can find the best fit for your dog.
Because of the high-quality construction, this is an expensive option. The tray is located beneath a grate, so if you have a dog who continually destroys their bedding, they’ll be forced to lie on the metal grate. The tray also makes it difficult to clean.
- 20-gauge steel cage with reinforced 0.5”-diameter steel tubes
- Floor grate with tray
- Removable wheels
- Strong latches
- Available in two sizes
- Expensive
- Tray is beneath the grate
- Difficult to clean
4. SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate
The SMONTER Heavy Duty Dog Crate is made of thick stainless steel bars to keep your dog safely secure. It’s a heavy, sturdy crate, but it includes four wheels for easy transport. The wheels can lock into place to keep the crate from moving around. This model has two anti-escape locks to keep even the most determined escape-artist dog inside. The crate arrives partially assembled, saving you some work.
The trays on the bottom of the crate are flimsy and can allow waste to slip between them. It can be difficult to clean because of this. The bottom of the crate is a grate, so it can be uncomfortable for a dog without a thick bed to protect them from the metal.
- Heavy-duty steel frame
- Four wheels with locks
- Anti-escape lock
- Arrives partially assembled
- Tray on bottom of crate is flimsy
- Difficult to clean
- Uncomfortable grate
Need a litter box for your dog? Click here to see our recommendations!
5. New World B42 Metal Dog Crate
The New World Folding Metal Dog Crate is a great choice if you need a portable crate that folds flat easily. It’s available in numerous sizes, so you can find the perfect fit for your dog. It also assembles easily without tools.
Because the frame bends easily, this isn’t the best choice for very strong dogs. The door lock can also fail, so a dog who is used to escaping crates probably won’t have any problem getting out of this one. It has sharp corners that can easily cut a dog’s nose or tongue. Because it bends so easily, the quality isn’t as high as some of the other options.
- Available in numerous sizes
- Folds flat for travel and storage
- Assembles easily without tools
- Frame bends easily
- Door lock fails
- Poor quality
- Sharp corners
6. Gelinzon Heavy Duty Dog Cage
The Gelinzon Heavy Duty Dog Cage is made of wide bars of stainless steel. It includes four wheels that rotate 360 degrees and lock into place, which makes the crate both sturdy and easy to move around. The crate includes a three-year warranty in case your dog manages to damage it.
The door latches are not that sturdy, and an additional lock (like a carabiner) is required to keep your dog secure. The wheels are welded on and break easily, and there’s no way to replace them. Even though the bars are wide, they’re hollow and bend easily. The overall quality of the crate is questionable. Assembly with tools is also required, which can be time-consuming.
- Heavy-duty frame made of stainless steel
- Four wheels with 360-degree rotation and lock
- Three-year warranty
- Poor quality
- Door latch fails
- Wheels are welded on and break easily, with no way to replace them
- Bars are hollow inside and can be bent
- Assembly with tools required
7. PARPET Heavy Duty Empire Dog
The PARPET Heavy Duty Empire Dog crate is made of high-quality materials. It has 20-gauge steel bars that are thick and strong. It’s easy to move around, thanks to the four wheels that attach to the bottom of the crate. They lock in place so you don’t have to worry about the crate being unsteady or moving around. It includes two slide-bolt latches to keep your dog safe and secure.
This is one of the more expensive options on the list. The bottom of the crate has the same thick, metal bars, so it can be uncomfortable for dogs to lie on without a bed. Waste can also slip between the two removable trays, so it can be hard to clean. This is a heavy crate, and assembly with tools is required.
- 20-gauge steel
- Four wheels with 360-degree rotation and lock
- Two slide-bolt latches
- Expensive
- Grated floor can be uncomfortable
- Waste can slip between the two removable trays
- Assembly with tools required
- Heavy
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Buyer’s Guide: Picking the Best Dog Crates for Pitbulls
There are several things to look for in a crate strong enough for a pitbull. To help you in your search, we’ve created a buyer’s guide.
Heavy-Duty Material
Crates can be made from many different types of materials, but the most common are steel, aluminum, and plastic. Thinner wire might work for older, well-behaved dogs, but for escape artists, heavy-duty steel wire is a necessity. High-end aluminum is another strong metal option, though it’s pricier.
Plastic crates can be durable and are great for travel. A determined pit, though, can create a hole that gets larger over time until they finally escape. If you have a determined chewer, then a metal crate is the best option.
Wire Size
The wire should be thick and made of heavy-duty materials. How close the wires are together is important too. The farther apart they are, the easier it will be for your dog to get out.
You should also be aware of any gaps in the crate. Pitbulls can easily break through the corner of a wire crate. One of the most secure options is to get a heavy-duty crate with galvanized steel walls. This way, there are no gaps for your pup to take advantage of.
Latches
Latches are important too. They should be inaccessible to your dog. Simple barrel locks, for example, are easy for escape-artist dogs to open. A slam latch is the safest choice because it’s harder to manipulate, access, and open.
Size
The crate should be big enough that your dog can lie down, stand, and turn around comfortably. You don’t want to get one much bigger than that, however, because it will decrease that comfortable “den” feeling and might even entice your dog to use the other end as a potty.
The recommended crate size for an American pit bull terrier is 32 inches long by 23 inches wide by 25 inches high. This can be used as a guide when you choose a crate for your dog.
Other useful doggie info:
Conclusion:
Our best overall choice is the LUCKUP Heavy Duty Dog Cage because it’s made from high-quality materials. It has a heavy-duty frame made from rust- and corrosion-resistant steel. For added security, it has two locks with safety buckles.
The AmazonBasics 9001-36A Metal Dog Crate is our best value choice because it folds flat and is easy to transport or store. It has two latches for added security, as well as a divider panel for puppies.
We hope our list of reviews and buyer’s guide has helped you find the best dog crate for your pitbull.