Big dogs need crates that can take a beating — and most “one-size-fits-all” listings quietly fall apart under 70+ pounds of determined dog. We narrowed this list to five crates that actually hold up for large and giant breeds: a rock-solid budget wire crate, a design-forward option for anxious dogs, an ultra-heavy-duty steel crate, an IATA-compliant travel kennel, and a no-nonsense folding alternative. Every pick is sized for large breeds and chosen for a specific real-world use case.
Quick Comparison
| Crate | Best For | Size Range | Material | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidWest iCrate 42″ | Best Budget Pick | 71-90 lb dogs | Wire steel, folds flat | See Price on Amazon → |
| Diggs Revol (Large) | Best for Anxious Dogs | Up to 90 lbs | Steel + aluminum mesh | See Price on Amazon → |
| Frisco XX-Large 54-in | Best Heavy-Duty Pick | Giant breeds | Reinforced steel wire | See Price on Amazon → |
| Petmate Sky Kennel 40″/48″ | Best for Air Travel | 70-125 lb dogs | Molded plastic + steel door | See Price on Amazon → |
| Carlson Large Double-Door | Best for Multi-Dog Households | Up to ~90 lbs (42″/48″) | Metal wire, folds flat | See Price on Amazon → |
1. MidWest iCrate Double Door — Best Budget Pick
The iCrate is the crate every large-breed owner eventually buys, and there’s a reason it’s stayed a bestseller for over a decade: it’s cheap, it folds flat in about 10 seconds, and the divider panel means you can size it up as a puppy grows into a 90-pound adult. The wire construction is plenty sturdy for house training and everyday confinement, and the included leak-proof tray makes cleanup painless. The tradeoff is that it’s not escape-proof or chew-proof — a determined 80-pound dog with separation anxiety can bend the door latch or walk the whole crate across the floor.
Pros: budget-friendly, folds flat for storage, growth-adjustable divider panel.
Cons: latches aren’t escape-proof, wire can dent or bend under heavy pressure.
2. Diggs Revol Dog Crate — Best for Anxious Dogs
Diggs built the Revol specifically to solve the problems owners hate about traditional wire crates, and for large, anxious dogs it genuinely works better. The diamond-mesh aluminum panels don’t have the finger-width gaps that let dogs catch paws or claws, the top hatch lets you load a nervous dog without wrestling them through a front door, and the rounded edges mean less noise and less bite-down temptation on stressed teeth. The catch is price — the Large runs several times what a wire iCrate costs, and it’s heavier to move than it looks despite the built-in wheels.
Pros: low-anxiety design, wheels for easy moving, sturdy aluminum mesh.
Cons: significantly pricier than wire crates, heavy to lift up stairs.
3. Frisco XX-Large Heavy Duty Wire Dog Crate — Best Heavy-Duty / Chew-Resistant Pick
For genuinely giant dogs — think Great Dane or Mastiff territory — a standard 42-inch crate just isn’t big enough, and this is where the Frisco XX-Large earns its “heavy duty” label. The steel gauge is noticeably thicker than a standard wire crate, the frame doesn’t flex or wobble under a 150-pound dog leaning on it, and the double-door layout makes placement in a room much more flexible. The obvious tradeoff is footprint: at 54 inches long, this eats real floor space.
Pros: thicker steel gauge than standard wire crates, huge 54″ interior for giant breeds, double door for flexible placement.
Cons: large footprint needs real floor space, heavier to fold/carry than smaller crates.
4. Petmate Sky Kennel (Travel) — Best for Air Travel / Road Trips
This is the crate to buy specifically because it’s not trying to be a house crate — it’s built and rated for cargo-hold air travel and rough handling. The molded plastic shell shrugs off baggage-handler abuse that would crack a cheaper carrier, and the four-way ventilation keeps large dogs from overheating on the tarmac. For big dogs, size up carefully: the 40″ fits most Labs and Shepherds, but true giant breeds need the 48″ size. The catch is that it’s not a great everyday home crate — it’s bulky and doesn’t fold flat.
Pros: IATA airline-compliant, rugged molded plastic shell, made in USA.
Cons: doesn’t fold flat for storage, bulkier than wire crates for everyday use.
5. Carlson Pet Products Wire Crate — Best Alternative Wire Crate / Multi-Dog Households
Carlson is the “other” major wire crate brand and it’s worth comparing directly against MidWest’s iCrate, because the differences are small but real. The latch mechanism feels a bit more secure in daily use, and the fold-flat design is genuinely quicker to collapse than some competitors. It’s essentially in the same price and quality tier as the iCrate, so this is really a pick for people who want a second, matching crate without spending Diggs-level money. The honest tradeoff: it’s not a night-and-day upgrade over the MidWest option.
Pros: secure latch design, folds nearly flat, includes divider panel.
Cons: not a meaningful upgrade over MidWest at a similar price, wire gaps not ideal for anxious or paw-catching dogs.