If you are bringing home a new puppy or starting crate training, the MidWest iCrate is almost certainly one of the first crates you will come across — and for good reason. It is one of the best-selling, most affordable folding wire crates on the market, trusted by millions of dog owners. But is it actually the right crate for your dog? In this MidWest iCrate dog crate review, we break down the features, sizing, pros and cons, and who it is really best for, so you can decide with confidence.
Table of Contents
- Why the Right Crate Matters
- MidWest iCrate Overview
- What Makes the MidWest iCrate Stand Out
- What We Love About It
- Any Downsides?
- MidWest iCrate Sizing Guide
- How to Use It for Crate Training
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Final Verdict
Why the Right Crate Matters
A crate is not a cage — when introduced properly, it becomes your dog’s den: a safe, calm space of their own. A good crate makes house-training dramatically easier, gives your dog a secure place to rest, keeps them safe when you cannot supervise, and helps with travel and vet visits.
The key is choosing a crate that is the right size, genuinely secure, and easy to live with day to day. Get it wrong and you end up with a flimsy crate a determined dog can bend, or one so awkward to set up that it lives in a closet. That is exactly where the MidWest iCrate earns its reputation — it nails the fundamentals at a price almost anyone can afford. For the broader picture on safe, positive crate use, the American Kennel Club’s crate training guide is an excellent vet-and-trainer-backed resource.
MidWest iCrate Overview
The MidWest iCrate is a folding metal wire crate designed for easy setup, portability, and everyday convenience. It arrives flat, folds up in seconds without any tools, and sets up just as fast — which makes it ideal for new owners who do not want to wrestle with complicated assembly.
It comes in a full range of sizes and in both single-door and double-door versions, and nearly every model includes a divider panel, a removable plastic leak-proof tray, carrying handles, and rubber roller feet to protect your floors. It is the definition of a practical, no-nonsense starter crate.
What Makes the MidWest iCrate Stand Out
- Tool-free folding setup — Sets up and folds down in seconds, and collapses flat for storage or travel.
- Included divider panel — Lets you expand the usable space as a puppy grows, so you only buy one crate for the whole journey to adulthood.
- Single or double doors — Door configurations with secure slide-bolt latches give you flexible placement in any room.
- Leak-proof plastic tray — Slides out for quick, easy cleaning after accidents.
- Floor-protecting feet — Plastic roller feet guard your floors from scratches.
- Carrying handle — Makes the folded crate genuinely portable.
These practical touches are why the MidWest iCrate remains the go-to recommendation for first-time crate buyers.
What We Love About It
- Outstanding value — you get a complete, functional crate at a budget-friendly price.
- The divider panel saves you money by growing with your puppy.
- Fast, frustration-free assembly straight out of the box.
- Easy to clean thanks to the slide-out tray.
- Folds flat for travel, visits to family, or off-season storage.
- Available in sizes for everything from a tiny puppy to a giant breed.
Any Downsides?
- It is a light-to-medium-duty crate, so it is not escape-proof for powerful, determined, or high-anxiety escape artists — those dogs need a heavy-duty steel crate.
- The thin wire can be bent by a strong chewer over time.
- The tray is plastic and can crack if a dog chews it persistently.
- No top opening, only side doors.
For the vast majority of calm-to-normal dogs and puppies, none of these are dealbreakers — they only matter for serious escape artists.
MidWest iCrate Sizing Guide
Getting the size right is the single most important part of choosing a crate. Your dog should be able to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably — but not have so much extra room that they can potty in one corner and sleep in another (which defeats house-training).
- 22 inch — Very small breeds (Chihuahua, toy breeds)
- 24 inch — Small breeds (Pug, small terriers)
- 30 inch — Medium breeds (Beagle, Cocker Spaniel)
- 36 inch — Large breeds (Bulldog, Border Collie)
- 42 inch — Extra-large breeds (Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd)
- 48 inch — Giant breeds (Great Dane, Mastiff)
The golden rule: measure your dog from nose to tail base and add a few inches, and if you have a puppy, buy for their expected adult size and use the divider to shrink the space while they grow.
How to Use It for Crate Training
The crate only works if your dog sees it as a positive space. A few quick principles:
- Make it inviting. Add a comfortable bed or blanket and place toys inside so the crate feels cozy, not like a punishment.
- Go slow. Let your dog explore it with the door open first, rewarding them with treats for going in on their own.
- Feed meals inside. Serving dinner in the crate builds a strong positive association fast.
- Never use it for punishment. The crate must always stay a safe, happy place.
- Build up duration gradually. Start with short periods and slowly extend as your dog grows comfortable.
If you are setting up for a new arrival, pair this with our new puppy checklist, so you have everything ready before day one. For the full step-by-step method, see our guide on how to crate train a puppy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size MidWest iCrate should I get? Measure your dog’s nose to tail base and add a few inches, then match that to the sizing guide above. For a puppy, buy for their adult size and use the included divider to adjust the space as they grow.
Is the MidWest iCrate escape-proof? For most calm and normal dogs, yes. But it is light-to-medium duty, so a powerful or highly anxious escape artist may need a heavy-duty steel crate instead.
Does it come with a divider? Most iCrate models include a divider panel, which lets you expand the space as your puppy grows. Always check the specific listing to confirm.
Single door or double door — which is better? Double-door models give you more placement flexibility in a room. Single-door versions are slightly more affordable. Both are secure, so it comes down to where you plan to put it.
Final Verdict
The MidWest iCrate is the crate we would recommend to almost any new dog owner. It is affordable, practical, easy to set up and clean, and the included divider means it can be the only crate you ever need to buy. It is not built for serious escape artists or heavy chewers, but for the overwhelming majority of dogs and puppies, it delivers everything you need at unbeatable value. If you are starting crate training or setting up for a new arrival, the MidWest iCrate is a smart, budget-friendly place to begin.
Rating: 9.2 / 10 — Highly Recommended.
Note: E-commerce pricing for dog crates can fluctuate based on size, door configuration, and marketplace demand. Always check current product specifications and sizing before completing your order.
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