The Best Dog Crate Mat
We’ve spent more hours than we’d like to admit crouching over dog crates, poking foam inserts, running cover fabrics through back-to-back wash cycles, and watching our dogs give us their completely unfiltered opinions.
A dog crate mat isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s what determines whether your dog sees their crate as a punishment or a place they genuinely want to be. The right mat transforms a cold wire cage into a cozy den. The wrong one gets bunched into a corner by 7 a.m. and ignored for the rest of the day. So let’s get into it.
Ready to buy? KSIIA Washable Dog Bed 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.
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Best Overall
The 3.5-inch premium fiber filling with 6 keyhole fixations provides superior joint and pressure relief.
Deluxe rose velvet plush offers a soft, anti-shedding surface to help calm your anxious pet.
An anti-slip and anti-scratch bottom keeps this kennel pad securely in place for added safety.
This machine-washable bed maintains its shape after cleaning thanks to the durable 6 keyhole fixations.
This 35x23x3.5 inch mat supports 60 lb dogs for versatile crate or travel use.
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For Senior Dogs and Large Breeds
Multiple size options ensure a perfect fit for kennels, crates, and floors for your dog.
High-density 3.5-inch egg foam provides essential orthopedic support and comfort for your aging pet.
This high-quality 3.5-inch foam slab provides a flat, supportive surface for daily pet rest.
The plush sherpa top and non-skid bottom create a soft surface that won’t slide around.
The zippered removable cover is machine washable; allow 24-48 hours for the foam to expand.
Everyday Versatility
Ultra-soft faux fur provides a cozy surface to ease anxiety and protect sensitive pet joints.
This machine-washable pad features an anti-slip bottom and retains its shape after moderate drying cycles.
Simply shake or wash the mat after unpacking to restore full fluffiness for your pet’s comfort.
Use this versatile all-season bed as a crate pad, kennel cushion, or portable travel pillow.
The 36″ x 23″ dimensions perfectly fit 40 to 70 lb dogs like Beagles and Bulldogs.
Why the Right Dog Crate Mat Actually Matters
A lot of pet owners treat the crate mat as an afterthought — something to toss in after buying the crate itself. But here’s the thing: if your dog is reluctant to enter their crate, or keeps circling and pawing at the bedding before they lie down, the mat is often the culprit.
Dogs, especially puppies and older dogs with joint sensitivity, need proper cushioning. A hard crate floor puts direct pressure on elbows and hips during long rest periods. Over time, that pressure can lead to calluses, skin irritation, and even worsening joint conditions in senior dogs. Joint-related discomfort is one of the most underdiagnosed quality-of-life issues in dogs, and where your dog sleeps plays a direct role.
Beyond health, there’s the behavioral angle. A comfortable, familiar-smelling mat gives your dog a sensory anchor — something consistent and calming that helps with separation anxiety and crate training. That’s not fluff; that’s science. The crate training is most effective when the space feels like a safe retreat rather than a confinement.
What We Looked for in the Best Dog Crate Mat
Before diving into our picks, here’s a quick rundown of the criteria our team used when evaluating every mat:
Cushioning and orthopedic support. We measured foam thickness and density. A mat that compresses flat under a 60-pound dog within a week isn’t doing anything useful. Egg-crate foam and high-density PP fiber were the two materials that held up best across our tests.
Washability. Every mat in this guide survived at least five machine wash cycles without significant shape loss, fabric pilling, or foam degradation. This matters enormously for puppies in training and for households dealing with seasonal allergies or odor buildup. A dog crate mat that can’t be laundered easily is one you’ll end up replacing far sooner than you should — so this criterion carried serious weight in our evaluation.
Non-slip performance. We tested on tile, hardwood, and vinyl surfaces. A mat that slides every time your dog steps in is a safety hazard and an annoyance. Oxford fabric bottoms with silicone grip dots consistently outperformed basic rubberized backings.
Fit and sizing options. We cross-checked dimensions against the most common wire crate sizes (24″, 30″, 36″, 42″, and 48″) to make sure our picks actually fit without excess bunching or dangerous overhang.
Durability over time. We didn’t just test these mats fresh out of the box. We kept dogs on them for weeks, put covers through repeated washing, and checked seams and zippers for early failure signs.
Value. Price matters, but so does cost-per-use. A cheaper mat that needs replacing every two months is a worse deal than a pricier one that lasts two years.
Our Top Picks for the Best Dog Crate Mat
If we had to pick just one mat to recommend across the board, this is it. The KSIIA Washable Dog Bed hit the sweet spot between plush comfort, practical maintenance, and everyday durability in a way that none of the other mats we tested quite matched.
What strikes you first is the fabric. The top surface is a heavyweight deluxe plush — and when we say deluxe, we actually mean it. It’s the kind of softness that makes you want to touch it again after you put it down. When one of our testers first laid it in their 35″ wire crate, their Labrador mix walked in, turned in a circle, and flopped straight onto it without any of the usual hesitation. That immediate buy-in isn’t something you can fake.
The interior is filled with high-quality PP cotton, and the mat has a flat sleeping profile that suits dogs who like to sprawl. It’s not bolstered or shaped — it’s pure sleeping surface, which is exactly what you want in a crate where space is already defined by the wire walls. Dogs who like to press against the sides or stretch out diagonally had plenty of room and no weird lumps to negotiate around.
The bottom is built with Oxford fabric, which resists scratching and scuffs, and the silicone non-slip dots do a solid job on hardwood and tile. During our testing, we had a medium-energy border collie mix who typically shoves her mat into a corner every morning. With the KSIIA, she moved it once on day two, couldn’t budge it on day three, and by day five had stopped trying altogether.
Cleaning is genuinely painless. The KSIIA goes in the washing machine, comes out without clumping, and dries without that odd stiff-then-soft texture cycle that cheaper poly-fill mats tend to develop. After five washes, our test mat looked essentially identical to how it arrived.
Available in seven sizes — from small (for cats or toy breeds) up to jumbo — the KSIIA scales well. It works in standard 24″ crates for small dogs and comfortably fits larger crates up to 42″ for bigger breeds. The gray colorway blends cleanly into most home environments, which is a small but genuinely appreciated detail.
This mat is best suited for owners who want a reliable, easy-care everyday crate mat; dogs of any age who prefer a soft, flat sleeping surface; and households that need something that washes well and holds up to frequent use.
There’s a specific kind of worry that comes with watching an aging dog lower themselves slowly onto a hard surface. You see the hesitation, the careful weight distribution, the way they circle longer than they used to before settling. That’s the problem the EHEYCIGA Orthopedic Dog Bed is built to solve — and it does it remarkably well.
The core of this mat is a 3.5-inch high-density egg-crate foam layer, sized at 41″ x 27″, designed specifically for large and extra-large dogs. Egg-crate foam works differently from flat foam: the raised peaks and valleys distribute pressure across a wider surface area, which means less concentrated load on hip joints, elbows, and shoulders. Our testers who have senior dogs — a 9-year-old Golden Retriever and an 11-year-old German Shepherd mix — both noticed their dogs settling faster and repositioning less frequently during the night. That might sound minor, but for a dog with arthritis or hip dysplasia, uninterrupted sleep is genuinely therapeutic.
The plush sherpa surface on top is soft without being too warm — important for large breeds who tend to run hot. The cover is fully removable via a clean-operating zipper, and the whole thing goes in the washing machine. We ran ours through multiple cycles, and the sherpa held its loft without matting, which is often the failure point for cheaper sherpa-style covers.
The non-skid bottom kept the mat firmly in place even when a 90-pound Rottweiler did his usual dramatic, full-body flop onto it. No sliding, no bunching — it just stayed put.
One thing that genuinely surprised our team was how the foam recovered after being compressed. Most budget foam mats stay flattened after a few weeks of use. The EHEYCIGA’s egg-crate foam bounced back to near-original height after each rest period throughout our entire testing window. That resilience is the difference between a mat that supports your dog today and one that leaves them sleeping on effectively flat fabric within a month.
EHEYCIGA was founded specifically to address the lack of quality orthopedic bedding for large dogs, and that focused purpose shows in the product. This is not a general-purpose crate pad — it’s engineered for a specific need, and it delivers on that promise.
This mat is best for: senior dogs, large and extra-large breeds, dogs with joint issues or arthritis, and owners who want vet-quality orthopedic support without paying for a specialty pet store markup.
Not everyone needs orthopedic foam, and not everyone wants to spend a premium price for a mat that’s going to be used primarily by a healthy two-year-old Beagle who mostly naps. The VERZEY Dog Beds Crate Pad is the option we’d recommend for budget-conscious buyers who still refuse to compromise on the basics — and it earns that recommendation honestly.
The VERZEY’s calling card is its rose velvet surface, which creates that signature soft, cloud-like feel that dogs seem to gravitate toward. When we introduced it to three different dogs during testing — a French Bulldog, a mid-sized mutt, and a sleepy Dachshund — all three went to it unprompted within minutes. There’s something about that velvet texture that seems to trigger an immediate comfort response, and it held up through multiple wash cycles without going rough or pulling at the threads.
The pad comes in a wide range of sizes: from 24″ x 18″ for small dogs up to 48″ x 30″ for XL breeds, with the dimensions matching standard wire crate floor sizes closely enough that you don’t end up with awkward folded edges or pressure ridges. For medium dogs around 25–40 pounds (think French Bulldogs, Miniature Schnauzers, Dachshunds), the 30″ x 19″ version is a near-perfect fit for a standard 30″ crate.
The OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification on VERZEY’s materials stood out to us as a meaningful differentiator. That certification means the fabrics have been tested for harmful substances — relevant for dogs who chew or lick their bedding, and for households with children who also interact with the crate space.
The anti-slip bottom works well on smooth floors, though, like most pads in this category, it performs best when the dog’s weight is on it. The machine-washable design is straightforward — cool wash, low-heat dry — and the pad retains its shape and loft reliably through repeated cleanings.
The VERZEY doesn’t have the orthopedic foam depth of the EHEYCIGA or the ultra-plush premium feel of the KSIIA. But at its price point, it offers genuine comfort, solid construction, a safety-certified fabric, and a fit-first sizing philosophy that makes crate training noticeably easier. If you’re shopping for your first dog crate mat and aren’t sure where to start, this one removes most of the guesswork.
This mat is best for: budget-conscious buyers, healthy adult dogs who don’t need orthopedic support, puppies in active crate training, multi-crate households, and owners who want a versatile mat that works in crates, cars, and as a standalone travel bed.
How to Choose the Right Dog Crate Mat for Your Pup
With the picks out of the way, let’s talk about how to apply this framework to your own situation, because the “best” mat really does depend on a few key variables.
Start with Your Dog’s Age and Health
Puppies and young adult dogs in good health can do well with any well-padded mat. But if your dog is over seven years old, noticeably stiff after naps, or has been diagnosed with hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, or arthritis, orthopedic foam is not a luxury — it’s a genuine health intervention. In those cases, the EHEYCIGA is the clear choice, and the investment is worth it.
Match the Mat to the Crate Size
This is where most people make mistakes. Your crate mat should fit flush with the floor of the crate with minimal gap and zero overhang. A mat that’s too small will slide around. A mat that’s too large will fold at the edges, creating pressure ridges that your dog will feel and dislike.
The general rule: measure your crate’s interior floor dimensions, then find the mat size that matches most closely. Standard wire crates typically have interior dimensions about 1–2 inches smaller than their nominal label size (a “36-inch crate” usually has a 35″ floor). Adding four inches to your dog’s length and width measurements is a good starting point for finding the right size.
Think About Your Cleaning Routine
If you’re someone who stays on top of pet bedding and washes it weekly, a removable-cover design like the KSIIA’s is ideal — quick removal, quick wash, quick reinstall. If you’re more of a “wash it monthly” type, prioritize a mat with odor-resistant fabric and a tighter weave that doesn’t trap hair easily.
Consider Your Dog’s Chewing Habits
None of the mats in this guide is marketed as chew-proof, and we won’t pretend otherwise. If your dog is an active chewer or still in the destructive puppy phase, you’ll want to either supervise crate time or look at purpose-built chew-resistant options. The mats here are best suited for dogs who primarily sleep in their crates rather than treat the bedding as entertainment.
Factor in Seasonal Temperature
Dogs regulate temperature differently than we do. A thick, plush mat that feels perfect in January can be uncomfortably warm in July for a double-coated breed. The KSIIA’s breathable plush and the EHEYCIGA’s sherpa surface both have enough airflow not to trap heat excessively, but in very warm climates or for breeds prone to overheating, consider a cooling mat for summer months and swap to one of our main picks for fall and winter.
Common Questions About Dog Crate Mats
Do I really need a crate mat, or will my dog be fine without one?
For short crating periods (an hour or two), a healthy adult dog will generally be fine. But for overnight crating or multi-hour daytime crating, a mat makes a genuine difference in comfort and willingness to use the crate. It also helps with house training — a dog with a comfortable, defined sleeping space is less likely to soil it. Think of the right dog crate mat as a small, one-time investment that pays dividends every single day your dog uses their crate.
How often should I wash a dog crate mat?
A good rule of thumb is every one to two weeks under normal use, or immediately after any accident. Allowing odor and bacteria to build up in the mat can undermine all the positive crate associations you’ve worked to create. The mats in this guide are all machine washable, which makes this task less of a chore than it sounds.
Can I use a regular dog bed in a crate?
Sometimes, yes — but fit is everything. Bolstered or donut-style beds with raised edges rarely fit inside a wire crate without bunching awkwardly. Flat mats and pad-style beds designed specifically for crate dimensions, like the ones we’ve reviewed here, work far better. They’re also less likely to shift around when your dog enters and exits.
My dog keeps bunching up their mat. What should I do?
This usually means one of three things: the mat is too large for the crate floor, the bottom lacks sufficient grip, or your dog is anxious and “nesting” behavior has become a habit. Try downsizing to a better-fit mat, ensure the bottom grip is engaging with the floor surface, and consider adding a worn piece of your clothing under the mat for a calming scent cue during the adjustment period.
Are there crate mats suitable for puppies in potty training?
Yes, but with some caveats. During active potty training, some trainers recommend starting without a mat to avoid creating a surface that absorbs accidents and encourages repeat soiling. Once your puppy is consistently clean overnight, introducing a washable mat like the VERZEY (which can handle frequent machine washing without degrading) is a logical next step.
A Note on Sizing: Quick Reference Chart
| Crate Size | Recommended Mat Size | Suitable Breeds |
|---|---|---|
| 24″ crate | 23″ x 15″ approx. | Chihuahua, Maltese, small cats |
| 30″ crate | 29″ x 19″ approx. | French Bulldog, Dachshund, Cavalier |
| 36″ crate | 35″ x 22–23″ approx. | Beagle, Bulldog, Cocker Spaniel |
| 42″ crate | 41″ x 27–28″ approx. | Labrador, Golden Retriever, Aussie |
| 48″ crate | 47″ x 29–30″ approx. | German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Husky |
Our Final Recommendation
If you walk away with one takeaway from this guide, it’s that fit, foam quality, and washability are the three pillars of a good dog crate mat — in that order.
The KSIIA Washable Dog Bed is our overall pick because it nails all three. It’s the mat we’d buy for a new puppy, a family member’s dog, or as a replacement for a worn-out pad without a second thought.
The EHEYCIGA Orthopedic Dog Bed is our top recommendation for senior dogs and large breeds with joint concerns. If your dog has ever shown signs of stiffness or reluctance to lie down, this mat is the most direct, affordable intervention you can make.
The VERZEY Dog Beds Crate Pad earns its place for anyone who needs a well-made, safety-certified mat at a friendly price — especially useful for multi-dog households or for dogs who are still in the “let’s see if this survives puppyhood” phase.
Your dog spends a significant portion of their life in that crate. Making the surface they sleep on genuinely comfortable isn’t an indulgence — it’s good pet ownership.
