There are many different styles of dog crates available on the market today. Whether you want an everyday wire dog crate, a stackable dog crate, a crate for airline travel, or a crate that will keep a canine escape artist confined.
High-quality dog crates can be expensive to buy and what’s out there might not be exactly what you want for your pet. So, if you’re into DIY and you have a little spare time on your hands during the lockdown, why not have a go at making your own dog crate?
Keep reading for 19 excellent DIY dog crate plans and design ideas that you can build at home.
Great DIY Dog Crate Plans And Designs
Most dog owners choose to crate train their canine companions, and there are certainly plenty of crate styles and brands to pick from. But if you’re good at DIY, you might want to try your hand at building your own customized dog crate for your beloved canine companion.
Many of these dog crate ideas are ideal for beginners and novices to carpentry, whereas others are aimed at those of you with more experience and a broader skillset. You can get everything you need to create all these dog crates from hardware stores for a fairly low cost. If most of the common crate sizes that are available to buy don’t fit your dog, the solution could be a homemade kennel.
So, here are 19 DIY dog crate plans and design ideas that are intended to provide you with some inspiration and get your creative juices flowing!
1. Wooden Car Crate For Canine Travel
This enterprising DIYer wanted a custom dog crate that he could use when he went on road trips with his beloved canine companion.
All the commercially produced dog crates that were available on the market at the time were either too expensive for the guy’s budget, didn’t fit so that he could use the luggage net in the back of his car, or rattled so much that they drove him crazy.
So, this smart, wooden larger crate design was born!
You’ll need a few basic woodworking tools and skills to complete this project but the end result is well worth the effort.
2. Corner Dog Crate For DIY Woodworkers
This plan shows you how to build a corner dog kennel that will fit neatly into a small space in your lounge or bedroom. You get clear step-by-step instructions, including diagrams, in the form of a pdf file download, and there are instructional videos, too, that show you how to achieve this project.
If you’re not confident in woodworking and you don’t want the hassle of building this custom dog crate yourself, you could ask the carpentry department at your local DIY store to cut the wood for you or could cut out the pieces yourself if you prefer.
This crate measures 73″ x 56″ x 32″(H) and costs around $200 to make. The main drawback to this kennel is that it’s not a collapsible crate.
3. Pine Dog Crate Cover
You can buy a whole array of crates that double as pieces of furniture, such as end tables or nightstands. However, these crates are typically quite pricey, especially if you’re working to a budget. Cheaper crates are usually of poor quality and they don’t last. However, there is a much cheaper alternative, as shown in this plan.
Basically, this dog owner has taken a regular wire dog crate and used a flatpack IKEA table to create a cover for the crate. The result is an attractive piece of furniture that functions as a beautiful dog crate kennel. You can choose from a variety of different finishes to complement the decor scheme in your home. Alternatively, you might want to paint the crate with non-toxic paint.
This crate disguise idea is simple to achieve, making this a perfect project for a relative novice to take on.
4. Kitchen Counter Dog Crate
This beautiful wooden dog crate was created to blend and fit with the maker’s kitchen, specifically so that their canine companion could live underneath the counter.
You need a few basic woodworking tools and skills to complete this project, but the instructions and crate furniture plans that are supplied with it are clear and easy to follow. This is one of the cutest crate options that we found that fits in perfectly in a kitchen.
5. XL DIY Dog Kennel
If you have a very large dog, you might struggle to find a bulky dog crate that’s big enough to accommodate your pet. Well, this dog kennel has 40” of headroom and an interior width of 50”, making it pretty sizeable. You can also use a divider to create a double dog crate console if that suits your requirements.
As well as the downloadable PDF plan, you get detailed instructions that are suitable for both beginners and experienced DIYers. As well as the plans, you’ll need some basic DIY tools, including a measurement tape, assorted nails, a nail gun, sandpaper, a power drill, saw, and pocket-hole jig. The total cost for this project is around $250.
Other Cool Designs
6. Converted Bunk Bed Dog Crate
If you have multiple dogs, you might struggle to fit them into your car or RV in multiple crates. These inventive dog owners had just that problem, but they figured out a way to overcome that by converting a disused bunk bed into a roomy dog crate that they can use in their vehicle.
Although this dog crate doesn’t have a divider, you might be able to make one if you’re handy. The crate won’t be suitable for use in a flatbed truck where it will be exposed to the elements, although you can use it safely in your car or SUV.
This is a fun project that might be something you’d like to take on if you have some extra time on your hands during the lockdown. This idea provides you with plenty of space for your dogs without costing you a fortune.
7. Houdini Dog Crate
If you have a dog that’s an escape artist and likes to chew his way out of a regular animal crate, this DIY crate could be what you need.
This dog owner wanted a crate that would hold his large German Shepherd dog safely and securely, even though his furry friend has a history of getting loose from regular crates because of separation anxiety issues.
Detailed five-step instructions are provided by the maker who designed and built this crate to successfully house and contain his Houdini hound.
8. Medium-Size End Table Dog Crate
A beautiful dog crate kennel can make an excellent solution for you if you have a small apartment or limited functional space in your home. Unfortunately, a good-quality piece of dog crate furniture will set you back quite a bit of cash, but you can make your own if you have the necessary skills and the time to take on a project like that.
The plans that are given for this beautiful dog crate table are very detailed and easy to follow, so you don’t need lots of woodworking experience to succeed.
9. Large Wooden End Table Dog Crate
Here’s another end table dog crate that you can build at home. This dog crate piece of furniture makes a lovely feature in your home, as well as provides a secure den for your beloved dog.
The designer has included some very detailed, easy-to-follow instructions and plans for you to follow, although this is perhaps a project that would best suit someone with quite a lot of DIY experience.
10. Large Double Dog Kennel TV Stand
If you have two dogs, you’re going to love this double dog kennel that’s designed to work as a TV stand.
The double kennel features a divider to keep the pups separate and can be finished in any color of wood or paint to suit your interior decor scheme.
11. Double Wooden Kennel Feature Table
If you want to replace one large or two medium-sized wire kennels, you might want to consider building this one.
You need to have a set of basic woodworking tools and knowledge of carpentry to take on this project. If you would prefer not to build the crate yourself, you can order one from the advertiser.
12. Wooden Dog Crate With Sliding Door Feature
Unlike most dog crates that have front or side hinged doors, this one has a cleverly-designed sliding door feature.
Although detailed plans aren’t included in this YouTube clip, it’s explained pretty clearly, and those with woodworking experience will be able to work out how to accomplish the build.
13. Modern Dog Kennel
Many dog kennels can look rather utilitarian and they tend to take up a lot of space in your home. But, if you enjoy DIY, have some experience of woodworking, and want a fun, rewarding project to keep you busy during the lockdown, this one could be for you.
This project involves modifying a piece of existing, cheap furniture and upgrading it to something functional and easy on the eye.
14. Modern Dog And Cat House
This modern dog and cat house is equipped with a uniquely transparent, acrylic door that features a stainless metal latch, which is solid and easy to use.
The dog house has plenty of airflows provided by slits on three sides, and the design also gives your dog a clear view of his surroundings.
15. Dog Crate With Sliding Doors
This easy-to-build wooden dog crate is ideal for space-saving, thanks to its sliding door feature.
The sliding door allows you to fit the crate into almost any space in your home, and the attractive wooden construction can be painted or stained to fit with your decor scheme.
16. 22″ H x 19″ W x 22″ D Radius Pet Crate
If you love British TV, you’ll be familiar with the sci-fi series, Doctor Who. One series of Doctor Who featured a robotic dog called K9. Well, this novelty dog crate is made in the image of that famous canine character.
There’s a pretty clear overview of how to build the crate, and you can paint it in any color of your choice. You do need a fairly advanced skill level and a knowledge of tools to take on this project.
17. Indoor Wooden Dog Kennel
This article features a beautifully-made wooden dog crate that doubles as a side table. The crate is built to contain a sizable dog and is a wonderful project for a dog-lover who has experience in carpentry.
You can use this substantial crate to carry pictures, ornaments, and other small items while your furry friend is cozy, secure, and snug beneath in his crate. If you fancy a carpentry project and you’re prepared to invest a bit of time, this is an affordable project that you can achieve in your spare time.
18. Crib To Dog Crate Conversion
If you have an old crib lying around in your basement or attic, you can easily convert it into a stylish, elegant crib dog crate that will look great in your home. Alternatively, you might be able to find an old crib at a yard sale or even online. If you can’t find the exact dog crate to suit your home, homemade crates like this simple conversion might be a good solution.
This blog gives a clear overview of how you can build this crib crate relatively easily with a little DIY experience and a few basic tools. With a little bit of effort, you can create this awesome piece of furniture to give your dog a cozy home that will complement your home.
Related: Dog house plan ideas
19. Indoor DIY Dog Crate Table
Here’s another wooden dog kennel that can be used as an end table, side table, or nightstand. The video shows you clearly how to go about this project, and there are also plenty of detailed instructions included for you to refer to.
You can finish this gorgeous dog crate in any color or stain that you want to suit your home decor scheme and the look you want to create. This is a perfect option if you want an indoor crate. This project could be converted into an outdoor crate if you seal the wood and paint it with outdoor paint.
In Conclusion
Did you enjoy our list of 19 DIY plans and design ideas for dog crates? If you did, please take a few moments to share this article with other doggy DIYers!
If you need a dog crate for an especially large dog, or perhaps you want something totally unique that you can customize, taking the DIY route might be the way to go. Also, if you have a few basic woodworking skills, you can save yourself quite a lot of cash by building a crate for your canine companion.
Most of the crates that are featured in this guide are wooden furniture crate designs. Typically, this kind of crate is expensive to buy, so you can potentially save yourself a fortune by making one.
What crate design did you decide to build? How did it go? Tell us in the comments box below.
