The Best Dog Crate Cover
If you’ve ever watched your dog pace the house during a thunderstorm or bark at everything that moves past the window, you already know the struggle. Our team spent weeks testing some of the most popular dog crate covers on the market — putting them through real-world situations with real dogs — and we came away with clear favorites. Whether you’re dealing with a new puppy who can’t seem to settle at night, a rescue dog working through separation anxiety, or an older dog who just needs a cozy den to call their own, the right crate cover genuinely makes a difference. A quality dog crate cover is also one of the most affordable upgrades you can make to your dog’s daily routine — and the results tend to be immediate.
Ready to buy? Explore Land Dog Crate Cover is our #1 pick — see it on Amazon
Everything We Recommend
✅ We recommend these products based on an intensive research process that’s designed to cut through the noise and find the top products in this space. Guided by experts, we spend hours looking into the factors that matter to bring you these selections.
⭐ 2.5 million+ people assisted in the last 30 days ⭐
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The Best Overall
Size: 18, 24, 30, 36, 38, 42, 48, and 54 inches
The heavy-duty windproof oxford cloth effectively blocks direct sunlight and harsh cold winds.
A convenient top zipper allows for easy handle access and fast, tool-free installation.
Adjustable mesh windows and double doors provide excellent ventilation and visibility for your pet.
Secure the cover using four bottom toggles to prevent shifting during travel or windy weather.
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Best for Anxious Dogs
- Size: 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 inches
Tear-resistant, light-reducing fabric with reinforced stitching creates a calming, dark den for your anxious pets.
Front and back mesh windows provide adjustable ventilation and visibility to keep your pet comfortable.
Roll-up side flaps accommodate crates with 1, 2, or 3 door openings for versatile access.
Secure hook and loop fasteners at the corners keep this cover firmly attached to crates.
Best for Versatility and Weather Resistance
- Size: 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, and 54 inches
Waterproof 600D polyester shields your pet from sun and rain while offering long-lasting durability.
Mesh windows allow for better airflow and reduce humidity to keep your dog relaxed.
Install quickly using bottom elastic toggles and top zippers for easy access to the handle.
Front and side zippered panels offer flexible entry options to match your crate’s door position.
Why Crate Covers Actually Work
Before we dive into the products, it’s worth understanding why covering a crate helps so many dogs in the first place — because it isn’t just a marketing gimmick.
Dogs are descended from den-dwelling animals. Their wild ancestors sought out small, enclosed spaces for sleeping and resting because those spaces felt protected from predators and the elements. That instinct hasn’t gone anywhere. A properly used crate mimics a natural den environment and can give dogs a genuine sense of security — but an uncovered wire crate, surrounded by visual stimulation from every angle, doesn’t fully recreate that feeling. That’s exactly where a dog crate cover steps in — it completes the picture by transforming open, exposed wire into something that genuinely resembles the snug den dogs are wired to seek.
Covering the crate changes the equation. It blocks out light, reduces visual distractions, and dampens ambient noise. For dogs dealing with anxiety suggests that a darker, more enclosed sleeping environment can lower cortisol-related stress responses and make it much easier for dogs to settle into rest.
That said, a crate cover is only part of the picture. It needs to go hand-in-hand with proper crate training — meaning the dog learns through positive association that the crate is a safe, rewarding place, not a punishment. Tossing treats inside, feeding meals near the crate, and gradually building up the time your dog spends inside are all critical steps. A cover works best when your dog already has a neutral-to-positive relationship with the crate itself.
The Difference a Good Cover Makes: What We Noticed During Testing
Our team tested covers across a range of dogs — a high-energy Australian Shepherd, a three-year-old Beagle prone to barking, a puppy going through crate training for the first time, and a senior Labrador who just needed a quieter nap space. Across all four, we noticed a consistent pattern: dogs settled faster in a covered crate than in an uncovered one. The Beagle, who would normally bark for 20 minutes after being crated, was quiet within five minutes once the cover was in place. The puppy, who had been whining through the night, slept through until 5 a.m. the first night we used a cover — a dramatic improvement. Across the board, adding a dog crate cover was the single most impactful change we made to each dog’s sleeping setup — more than any bed, toy, or ambient noise adjustment we tried.
But not all covers are created equal. Some were poorly ventilated, ran hot, and made the dogs restless. Others shifted around, letting light flood in through the gaps. A few were flimsy enough that our Australian Shepherd figured out how to pull the fabric through the wire within the first hour. The products we’re recommending below are the ones that actually held up under those conditions.
Top Dog Crate Covers Our Picks
Available Sizes: 18,24, 30, 36, 38, 42, 48, and 54 inches
Material: Heavy-duty 600D polyester Oxford cloth
Notable Features: Dual entrance doors, mesh visibility window, 4–5 toggles at the base, top zipper carry handle
Best For: Most dog owners — especially active households, families with puppies, and anyone who travels with their dog
The Explore Land is, without question, the cover we kept coming back to. It currently holds the #1 bestseller rank in Dog Crate Covers on Amazon, and after putting it through its paces, we completely understand why it has earned over 18,000 ratings. This isn’t a cover that coasts on brand recognition — it earns it.
When we first pulled it out of the packaging, the weight of the fabric was immediately noticeable. The 600D Oxford polyester has a ripstop-style weave that feels meaningfully more substantial than the flimsy covers we’ve tried before. One of our testers — who had already burned through two cheaper crate covers after her Labrador mix managed to chew the edges — said she almost laughed at how much sturdier this one felt by comparison. “I was prepared to be let down again,” she told us. “I wasn’t.”
Installation took less than two minutes. The cover slips over the top of the crate, and the base toggles clip directly onto the wire, keeping everything snug even when a dog leans or shifts inside. The top panel features a zipper that also doubles as a carry handle when you need to move the crate — a small detail that sounds obvious in hindsight but that a lot of competitor covers somehow miss entirely.
The dual entrance doors are where the thoughtfulness of the design really shines. You can open the front panel, the side panel, or both, depending on how your crate is positioned and which doors you actually use. The mesh visibility window with its adjustable roll-up flap means you can give your dog a peek at the room without fully exposing them to visual stimulation — useful during the early stages of crate training when you want the dog to feel enclosed but not completely cut off from you.
During testing with our Beagle, who sleeps in a crate positioned against a wall near a hallway, we used the side panel exclusively — the front was against the wall and completely inaccessible on competing covers. With the Explore Land, it was simply a matter of choosing which door to use. That kind of real-world flexibility is hard to appreciate until you actually need it.
The fabric is water-resistant and windproof, which came in handy during an unexpected overnight stay at a dog-friendly cabin where the crate was positioned near a drafty window. The cover stayed in place, and the dog stayed warm. It’s marketed as suitable for indoor and travel use alike, and in our experience, that holds up accurately.
It comes in a range of sizes — from 18 inches for smaller breeds up to 54 inches for larger dogs and double-door crates — and is available in multiple colors, including black, grey, and tan, to suit different home aesthetics. Cleanup is easy: the cover wipes down for minor messes, and the whole thing can be machine-washed for deeper cleans. A one-year manufacturer’s warranty rounds out a genuinely solid value proposition.
If you’re only going to buy one cover, this is the one we’d point you to first.
Available Sizes: 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 inches
Material: Stain and tear-resistant polyester with thick reinforced stitching
Notable Features: Light-reducing design, all-sides open (roll-up flaps), front and back mesh windows, hook-and-loop fasteners, bottom corner anchors
Best For: Dogs with anxiety, light-sensitive sleepers, puppy training, households that want a clean and simple nightly routine
GORILLA GRIP was started in 2014 by two working moms who were also pet owners, and that backstory comes through in the product. This isn’t an industrial cover built by someone who’s never actually shared a bedroom with a dog crate — it’s designed by people who know what it’s like to need the dog to settle down and go to sleep so you can also settle down and go to sleep.
The GORILLA GRIP’s biggest differentiator is its genuinely light-reducing design. Most covers darken the crate to some degree, but this one takes it further — the fabric is denser and more opaque than many competitors, and combined with the hook-and-loop fasteners at the seams, there’s very little light leakage when everything is closed. We tested it in a living room with afternoon sun streaming in, and the interior of the crate was noticeably darker than with the Explore Land or the HiCaptain.
For our Australian Shepherd — an extremely visually-driven dog who gets activated by movement and light — this made a real difference. She went from spinning restlessly inside the crate to lying down and staying down within about ten minutes of us adding the GORILLA GRIP cover to her setup. One of our testers who uses the cover in her bedroom at night put it bluntly: “It’s the first cover that actually makes my dogs stop looking around and just sleep.”
The all-sides roll-up design is particularly thoughtful. All four side flaps can be rolled up and tied independently, which means the cover works with crates that have one door, two doors, or three doors. Most covers only accommodate front and side access — this one goes a step further and gives you full flexibility. On a practical level, it means you don’t have to buy a different cover if you swap to a new crate with a different configuration.
The reinforced stitching held up well under our testing conditions. We had some concerns during the first week of use with a persistent chewer, and while we wouldn’t call this a chew-proof cover (nothing truly is, short of metal), the thick seams showed no signs of fraying after several weeks of regular use. The fabric is both stain-resistant and machine washable, which we appreciated, given that the cover in our bedroom test was getting nudged and pawed at regularly.
The hook-and-loop fasteners at the seams and bottom corners keep the cover fixed to the crate reasonably well — some reviewers have noted that the velcro doesn’t always line up perfectly on larger crate sizes, and we found that to be occasionally true, though it was easy enough to adjust. It’s worth noting this cover is designed for indoor use only — it’s not water-resistant in the way the Explore Land is, so it’s better suited to a consistent home environment than to travel or outdoor use.
Available in classic grey, black, and a grey paw print pattern, the GORILLA GRIP is a genuinely strong choice for any household where canine anxiety is the primary concern. If your dog is reactive to light and movement, struggles to wind down in the evening, or still whines through the night despite proper crate training, this cover is worth trying before you escalate to more intensive interventions.
Available Sizes: 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, and 54 inches
Material: Heavy-duty polyester, windproof and waterproof with UV resistance
Notable Features: Dual zippered panels (front and side), adjustable mesh window, elastic ties plus toggle combination at corners, top zipper carry handle, no-tool installation
Best For: Dog owners who need flexibility in door positioning, households with drafty rooms, and anyone who uses their crate in multiple locations
HiCaptain has been developing pet products since 2005, and that depth of experience is evident in the details of this cover. Where the Explore Land and GORILLA GRIP each excel in a particular area, the HiCaptain distinguishes itself through its versatility — specifically, its dual zippered panel system, which our team quickly came to appreciate as the most thoughtfully engineered access solution of the three covers we tested.
The key innovation here is that both the front panel and the side panel are full zippered flaps, as opposed to the roll-up designs used by most competitors. In practice, this gives you a level of control that’s hard to convey in a spec sheet. During our testing, we had the crate positioned in a corner of a living room — front against one wall, side accessible. We needed to be able to open the side access quickly without disturbing the dog, and the HiCaptain’s smooth zippers made that a genuinely quiet, one-handed operation. Our tester with the senior Labrador — who startles easily — specifically called this out as the reason she’d buy HiCaptain again. “Every other cover I’ve used, opening it wakes her up. This one I can work without making a sound.”
The waterproofing is meaningfully better than what you’d typically expect at this price point. The interior of the cover has a waterproof coating that handles condensation, light splashes, and — as one of our testers discovered — an enthusiastic puppy who knocked over a water bowl near the crate. The exterior repels wind effectively, too, which made a noticeable difference when we tested it in a room with a ceiling fan running. Other covers shifted and let cold air in; the HiCaptain stayed stable, held in place by the elastic tie and toggle combination at all four corners (plus three additional corner hooks for crates with a side door).
The cover is also UV-resistant, which makes it a reasonable option for any room with significant sun exposure — something the Explore Land and GORILLA GRIP don’t specifically address in their product specs.
Installation is genuinely tool-free and fast. The open-bottom design means you simply drape the cover over the crate and clip the toggles and elastic ties around the base frame — no threading, no complicated fastening sequence. The top zipper creates a carry handle for portable handling, consistent with what we saw in the Explore Land. The breathable mesh window on the side provides reliable airflow even when all panels are closed, which we found reassuring for warmer days when we weren’t sure whether to leave the panels open.
The HiCaptain is available in a wide range of sizes (24 through 54 inches) and multiple color options, including grey, black, beige, and pink. One reviewer who purchased multiple sizes noted that the construction quality is slightly more varied in the larger sizes — the smaller and medium sizes have a liner that makes them feel more robustly built, which is worth keeping in mind if you’re fitting a 48+ inch crate. That said, at the sizes most commonly used (30 to 42 inches), the HiCaptain was consistently solid throughout our testing period.
For the dog owner who wants genuine weatherproofing, quiet zippered access, and the flexibility to use the cover across different crate positions and home environments, the HiCaptain is the clear choice.
How to Choose the Right Dog Crate Cover
With so many covers on the market, it helps to know which features actually matter and which are largely marketing noise. Here’s what our team looks for.
Size: Measure First, Buy Once
The single most important step is measuring your crate before ordering. You’ll need the length, width, and height. Most covers are designed to fit standard wire crate sizes — 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, and 54 inches — but the measurements between brands vary slightly, and a cover that’s even a couple of inches too small can look sloppy and let in too much light. If you’re between sizes, sizing up is generally the safer choice. The cover should drape to near floor level on all sides without bunching.
Material: The Difference Between a Cover That Lasts and One That Doesn’t
The fabric weight matters more than most buyers realize. Lighter polyester covers (generally 300D or below) tend to let in more light, shift more easily, and wear out faster under regular use. We consistently found 600D polyester Oxford to be the sweet spot — heavy enough to block light and resist wind, but breathable enough that the crate interior doesn’t turn into a greenhouse. If your dog is a chewer, look specifically for reinforced stitching and a ripstop weave pattern, which resists tearing even if a dog manages to get fabric between their teeth.
Ventilation: Don’t Sacrifice Airflow for Darkness
A crate cover that blocks all airflow is a safety hazard, not a comfort tool. Every cover on this list includes at least one breathable mesh window or roll-up ventilation panel for this reason. When evaluating a cover, check that the mesh is genuinely functional — not just decorative — and that you have a way to adjust how much airflow enters the crate depending on the season and room temperature. According to the ASPCA, ensuring adequate ventilation in any enclosed pet environment is a basic safety requirement.
Access and Door Compatibility
Think about how your crate is actually positioned in your home before buying. If your crate sits against a wall, you may rely entirely on the side door — in which case you need a cover with a proper side panel access, not just a front panel. The HiCaptain’s dual zippered panels and the Explore Land’s dual entrance doors both handle this well. The GORILLA GRIP’s all-sides roll-up design arguably handles it best of all, but requires a bit more manual adjustment each time.
Washability
Crate covers get dirty. Pet hair, drool, the occasional muddy paw — all of it ends up on the cover eventually. It’s worth remembering that a dog crate cover lives close to the floor and gets nudged, pawed, and breathed on daily, so ease of washing matters far more than people initially expect. All three of our recommended covers are machine washable, which we consider a non-negotiable at this point. Hand-wash-only covers are simply too inconvenient for regular pet owners. For everyday maintenance between washes, a lint roller and a damp cloth handle most light messes quickly.
Price vs. Quality
You don’t need to spend a fortune to get a good crate cover, but the truly cheap options tend to fall apart within weeks and offer poor light-blocking performance. In our experience, the $25–$40 price range is where quality becomes reliable without tipping into diminishing returns. All three covers we’ve recommended fall within or very near this range, depending on size.
How to Introduce a Crate Cover to Your Dog
Even the best crate cover can backfire if you rush the introduction. A dog who hasn’t been properly crate trained may find a sudden enclosure frightening rather than comforting, and layering a cover on top of that anxiety only makes things worse.
The right approach is gradual. Start by simply draping the cover over the top of the crate without closing any of the side panels. Let your dog sniff it, investigate it, and go in and out of the crate freely. After a day or two, begin closing the back panel while leaving the front fully open. Continue building up coverage over the course of a week or two, always pairing each step with positive reinforcement — treats tossed inside, calm praise, meals near the crate.
By the time you’re closing all panels, the dog should already have a strong positive association with the covered crate and will likely seek it out voluntarily. Dogs who go to their covered crate by choice — rather than being placed there — tend to be significantly calmer and more relaxed inside it.
Seasonal Considerations: Adjusting Your Cover Use Throughout the Year
One thing the competitor guides rarely mention is that crate cover use should flex with the seasons. In winter months, a fully enclosed cover creates meaningful insulation — our testers noticed that crate interiors were noticeably warmer with all panels down on cold nights, which can be genuinely beneficial for smaller or short-coated breeds. In summer, however, heat buildup is a real risk. During warm months, we recommend leaving at least one or two panels rolled up, positioning the crate away from direct sunlight, and ensuring the room has adequate airflow. Always place a hand inside the covered crate before leaving your dog unattended to make sure the temperature feels comfortable.
Dogs with thick double coats may need more ventilation year-round than dogs with single coats, and brachycephalic breeds (bulldogs, pugs, French bulldogs) are more sensitive to heat. They should always have maximum ventilation options available. If you’re ever uncertain, err on the side of leaving more panels open — a slightly less calming cover is always safer than an overheated dog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dog Crate Covers
Are crate covers safe for all dogs?
Crate covers are generally safe for the vast majority of dogs when used with proper ventilation and appropriate supervision during the initial introduction period. The main safety considerations are airflow — always ensure at least one mesh panel is accessible — and chewing. If your dog is a persistent chewer, monitor the first few uses closely and consider a heavier-duty cover with reinforced seams. Dogs who are not yet crate-trained should not be left alone with a fully enclosed cover until they’re comfortable in the crate with the door closed.
Can I use a blanket instead of a proper crate cover?
You can, and many dog owners do. A blanket will provide darkness and some insulation, but it comes with real drawbacks: it can be pulled into the crate and chewed, it can restrict airflow if it sags down over the front or sides, and it typically doesn’t stay positioned well on its own. A purpose-built cover with mesh windows, secure fasteners, and proper fit is meaningfully safer and more effective for regular use.
How do I know if my dog likes the crate cover?
A dog who is comfortable with their covered crate will voluntarily enter it, settle quickly, and remain calm. Signs that the cover may be causing stress include pawing at it, attempting to dislodge it, whining or barking that’s more intense than without the cover, and refusing to enter the crate once the cover is on. If you see these signs, slow down the introduction process and work on building more positive crate associations before trying to close the panels again.
Do crate covers help with separation anxiety?
They can be a helpful component of a broader anxiety management strategy, but they’re not a standalone solution for true separation anxiety. Covers reduce visual stimulation and create a calmer sensory environment, which can lower baseline stress levels — but dogs with clinical separation anxiety typically need a combination of behavior modification, veterinary guidance, and in some cases medication alongside environmental management tools. If your dog’s anxiety is severe, we’d recommend consulting with your veterinarian or a certified applied animal behaviorist in addition to trying a crate cover.
How often should I wash the crate cover?
For most households, a wash every two to four weeks is sufficient — more often if your dog is shedding heavily, has been wet or muddy, or has had any accidents near the crate. Between washes, a quick wipe-down with a damp cloth and a pass with a lint roller keeps most covers looking and smelling fresh.
What size crate cover do I need?
Match the cover size to your crate size, not your dog’s size. Measure your crate’s length, width, and height (most manufacturers list these dimensions on their product pages), and choose the cover that matches those dimensions as closely as possible. If you’re between sizes, size up. A cover that fits your 42-inch crate will be labeled as a 42-inch cover, regardless of how large your dog is — it’s the crate dimensions that matter.
Do crate covers make a difference for older dogs?
Absolutely. Senior dogs often sleep more and are more sensitive to light and ambient noise than younger dogs. A covered crate can create a genuinely restful sleep environment that supports quality rest — important for dogs managing joint pain, cognitive decline, or other age-related conditions. Our senior Labrador tester was one of our clearest success stories; her owner reported she spent significantly more time in her crate voluntarily after the cover was introduced.
Our Final Recommendations at a Glance
If you’re looking for a single cover that handles everyday use well across most situations, the Explore Land Dog Crate Cover is our top pick — it’s consistently well-rated, durably built, and thoughtfully designed for real-world use. For households where canine anxiety is the primary driver, the GORILLA GRIP Dog Crate Cover‘s superior light-blocking performance makes it the better choice. And for those who need the most flexibility in door positioning and weather resistance, the HiCaptain Dog Crate Cover earns its place as the most versatile option of the three.
All three are available in multiple sizes, are machine washable, and are built by brands that stand behind their products. Any of them will serve your dog significantly better than an old blanket draped over the wire. At the end of the day, choosing the right dog crate cover is a small decision that tends to pay off every single night — in a calmer dog, a quieter home, and a lot more sleep for everyone.
