Best Crates For Yorkies (+Yorkie Crate Size Guide)

Crate training is a great way to teach your Yorkie how to behave.

Naturally, that means you will need a crate.

Most owners opt for a standard metal crate, but that’s not your only option.

You can also go with a plastic or fabric pet carrier. Those can perform two functions.

Then there are wooden crates that you can double as a piece of furniture.

The important thing is to get a good quality crate and to get the right size.

Quality is easy. All of our recommendations below give you excellent value for your money.

As for size, we’ll help you figure out what size crate is best for your dog. We’ll also go over the other things you need to consider when buying a crate for your Yorkie.

 

Best Crates For Yorkies Compared

Crate	Verdict	Price	Rating
MidWest Home Life Stages Check Price	Best Overall Value	$$	9.9 / 10
Amazon Basics Check Price	Runner-Up	$$	9.6 / 10
MidWest Home iCrate Check Price	Best Budget Crate	$	9.2 / 10
Amazon Basics Carrier Check Price	Best Plastic Crate	$	9.8 / 10
2PET Soft Dog Crate Check Price	Best Fabric Crate	$$$	9.8 / 10
beeNbkks End Table Crate Check Price	Best Wooden Crate	$$$$$	10 / 10

 

Best Dog Crate For Yorkies: Reviews

Most dog owners prefer to use metal crates for crate training, but you can also use plastic or fabric dog carriers. Each has its advantages, so we made sure to include one plastic and one fabric model.

We also included one wooden one, although we only recommend these if they will occupy a fixed position in your home. The buying guide below the reviews has more on the advantages of each crate type, along with help in choosing the correct size for your dog.

 

Best Value Overall: MidWest Homes For Pets Life Stages Metal Dog Crate

 

MidWest Homes For Pets Life Stages crate is our favorite metal crate option. It keeps your pet safe and secure, which means peace of mind for you.

It is solid and durable, made from heavy steel wire. The iCrate is Midwest Homes’ other brand of dog crates and this one (the Life Stages) is the stronger, more durable line. See our budget pick below for more on the iCrate.

The Life Stages crate features a ton of little details that make it an excellent value for the money. It has a pan stop, to keep the leak proof pan in place. It has rounded corners to keep it from snagging and to reduce the chance of injury. It has padded feet to prevent damage to the surface beneath.

It has a locking tip to keep the lock in place and a paw stop, to prevent your pet from being able to tamper with the lock. You know those videos of dogs opening the locks on their crates and escaping? That won’t happen with this crate.

You can choose between a single-door or a double-door design. The difference is exactly what it sounds like. The second door is on the long side, while the first door is on one of the short sides.

You also have numerous sizes to choose from. The 22 inch is good for Yorkies, but you could go ahead and go a size or two higher, if you have the space and budget. Your pup will appreciate it. The available sizes are: 22, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 inches.

The crate also has a carrying handle and a divider that you can use to split the crate in half. If you are just using it for your Yorkshire Terrier, you will not need the divider.

• Brand: MidWest Homes For Pets
• Color: Black
• Size: 22″ x 13″ x 16″
• Weight: 10 lbs

 

Runner-Up: Amazon Basics Folding Metal Dog Crate

The Amazon Basics single-door and double-door folding metal dog crate’s durable metal structure makes it another great option for puppy training. We prefer the one above, but this one comes very close. That one just has a few extra touches, like the padded feet and the paw stop lock.

This one does come with a removable dividing panel, just like the one above. You can remove the composite plastic pan from the cage’s bottom as well. That makes it easy to fold up the entire crate for easy transport and storage.

The smallest size available is 22 inches, which is suitable for tiny dogs like Yorkies. That said, I would go a size or two larger, just to make things a bit more luxurious for you pup. Other size options are: 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 inches. In general, you want to add 4 inches to your dog’s height and length, at a minimum.

You can choose to have a single door, or a second door on the side. Both doors have a sturdy and reliable lock, to ensure your Yorkie can’t escape.

• Brand: West Homes for Pets
• Type: Metal construction
• Size: 22″ x 13″ x 15.5″
• Weight: 10 lbs

 

Best Budget Crate: MidWest Homes For Pets iCrate

The MidWest iCrate uses a thinner wire frame than the same company’s Life Stages crate. This makes it a little less durable and also slightly cheaper. Apart from that, it is nearly identical.

It also comes in both a single or double door version and includes a divider. The sizes available are also the same, except this one has a smaller 18 inch version, too. The complete lineup of sizes available is: 18, 22, 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 inches.

It has all of the same little touches that the Life Stages crate has, too. This means the paw stop, the padded feet, the rounded corners, the carrying handle, etc.

We prefer the Life Stages, since it is a bit more robust and durable and doesn’t cost too much more. But if you are on a strict budget, this one is almost just as good.

• Brand: MidWest Homes For Pets
• Color: Black
• Size: 22″ x 13″ x 16″
• Weight: 10 lbs

 

Best Plastic Crate: Amazon Basics Plastic Dog Carrier

The Amazon Basics is our favorite plastic dog carrier, because it gives you the most value for your money. It does not have multiple color options like some of the competitors, but it does give you some other options to choose from.

It comes in three different sizes 23, 36 and 40 inches. The smallest is sufficient for a Yorkshire terrier. You can also choose between plastic side vents, metal side vents, and having a second door on top, for top loading.

Our preference is the top loading option, because it costs less and we don’t find the metal side vents worth the extra money. However, if you have the budget, your dog will probably like the metal vents better.

The big advantage of a plastic crate is obviously that it doubles as a pet carrier. Sure, you can use the metal ones for that purpose, too, but their use is limited. For one, airlines will not allow the metal crates. They also weigh about twice as much.

Despite being made from plastic, this crate is just as secure as the metal ones. The door is made from metal and has a spring-loaded lock. You can also remove the entire top half, but the crate does not fold down completely like most metal ones do.

• Brand: Amazon Basics
• Color: Gray and Blue
• Size: 22.8″ x 15″ x 13″
• Weight: 4.9 lbs

 

Best Fabric Crate: 2Pet Folding Soft Dog Crate

The 2Pet carrier is our favorite fabric dog crate. It has some major advantages over metal and plastic crates, but also two big disadvantages.

The advantages are portability and the lightweight. Most dogs also feel more comfortable in one of these. On the other hand, the big disadvantages are a high price and less protection for your dog.

The latter is not an issue when using it at home as a dog crate, but if you use it to transport your dog, the soft fabric is obviously not nearly as protective as metal or hard plastic.

However, it does have an alloy steel frame, which offers some protection, in addition to maintaining the crate shape. Overall, it is far more sturdy than it looks.

The nylon cover has multiple mesh windows for ventilation. You can easily wash it in a washing machine whenever it gets dirty. The waterproof mat on the floor has a fleece cushion and is also washable.

A few nice added features are a protected zipper that means your pet can’t tamper with it, a cup holder for a water bottle, and another holder for a food container. You also get a 1-year warranty.

• Brand: 2Pet
• Material: Alloy steel frame with Oxford 600D nylon cover
• Color: Beige, blue, gray, or red
• Dimensions: 24″ x 17″ x 17″

 

Best Wooden Crate: beeNbkks Furniture Style End Table Dog Crate

The beeNbkks furniture style dog crate is very different than the other options on this page. For one, it costs more than twice as much as the second most expensive option.

Is it worth it? Not for most. It really depends what you want.

If you want a dog crate that remains in a fixed location and can double as a piece of furniture, this is it. You can use it as an end table and it will fit into the decor of your home. If it does not, get a different model

There are two colors and three sizes available. As mentioned, if neither color works with your home, there are other brands that are almost as good. The main difference are different designs and colors. For this type of crate, the look is vital, so get the one that fits your home best.

For other style, simply search around on Amazon. You’ll see what options are out there.

Naturally, if you want to use your crate to also travel with your Yorkie, get one of the other options above. This type of crate is not suitable for traveling.

The reason we recommended this model above other similar ones is that is is especially well made and it comes with a removable cushion. As mentioned, the others are good too. It really comes down to the color and design you want.

• Brand: beeNbkks
• Color: Walnut or Weathered Gray
• Size: 23.5″ x 18.3″ x 20.6″
• Weight: 33 lbs

 

Yorkie Crate Size

Most crate manufacturers will give you information on how to measure your dog for a crate. They might also give you a general suggestion of the crate size, depending on what specific breed you have.

But it is best to measure your dog and compare it against the size of the crates your are considering. You want to make sure your Yorkie’s crate has enough room for it to move around and get in and out easily.

How big do Yorkies get? Their size can vary widely. To find the ideal crate size, measure your Yorkie’s length, width and height. Then add a minimum of 4 inches to each number. That is the smallest crate size you should get. I’d always go over by a few inches, but don’t go below your dog’s measurements plus 4 inches.

If your dog is still a puppy, research the expected size of the breed as an adult. Get a crate that is plenty large enough, even if your dog ends up larger than average. Better to go too big, than to have to buy another crate in a year or two.

 

Dog Crate For Yorkies Buying Guide

The correct size is the most important consideration when buying a dog crate for your Yorkshire terrier, but it is not the only one. You also need to think about the type of crate you want and things like ventilation and locking mechanism. Portability may also be important.

Here are some other features to consider when buying a Yorkie crate.

 

Type Of Crate

As mentioned above, the most popular crate style for Yorkies are the wire dog crates. But there are also other options might want to consider. Let’s take a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

 

Metal Dog Crate

This type of crate is the most robust. It is great for chewers, scratchers, and escape artists. The cost is generally lower than other types, too. A big disadvantage is that these crates are not great for travel. They weigh more and you can’t take them on flights.

 

Plastic Dog Crate

Plastic crates are lightweight and inexpensive. They are the best option for traveling, so they perform a dual function better than other types. On the other hand, they are not as robust and they do not let in as much light. Most plastic crates don’t allow your dog to see much outside the crate.

 

Soft Dog Crate

This type of crate has a metal frame covered by a fabric cover. This makes it lightweight, but obviously less robust than other types. The cost is also higher than the two types above. It is ideal if you travel a lot by car, for example to go camping.

 

Wooden Dog Crate

These crates are by far the most expensive, but they are also sturdy and the most visually appealing. They usually double as a piece of furniture, light an end table. These crates are great if you will keep the crate in a fixed position and not move it around. They are not suitable for traveling at all.

 

Type Of Ventilation

Most metal crates are fairly open, so your dog can easily see what is going on outside. Plastic crates tend to be more closed. Both have their advantages. A closed crate may be better for isolating your dog and is certainly better in cold weather. A more open crate is better if you want your pup to still feel like part of the action, even when inside the crate.

 

Locking Mechanism

We’ve all seen those videos of dogs escaping from their crates. That happens when the locking mechanism is easy to open. You want to get a crate that dogs can’t open, unless you are specifically looking to shoot those types of videos.

 

Portability

If you will be using your crate as a travel carrier as well, the size and weight becomes an important factor. Get a crate that you can easily carry, even with your dog inside. With a tiny dog like the Yorkie, this is an option.

 

Best Dog Crates For Yorkies: Conclusion

If you are buying a crate to use in training, make sure you read up on crate training a Yorkie, so that you do it right. Doing it wrong could border on abuse.

You also need to make sure you get a crate that is large enough that your little pup feels comfortable. You don’t want to make your Yorkie suffer, do you?

If you travel a lot and plan to use the crate to transport your Yorkie, you definitely want to get one that is lightweight and easy to move around. If you plan on flying with it, you’ll need to get one that airlines allow, which means a plastic crate.

All of the crates listed above are excellent values. The best values on the market. But there are other good crates, too, especially if you go up in price.

If you don’t like any of the ones here and want to go with something else, just make sure you do your homework, so you don’t end up with a low quality product.