MidWest iCrate 36-Inch Folding Dog Crate Review (2026): The

Why you should trust this review

I worked from MidWest’s published spec sheet, current Amazon owner photos, and side by side reasoning against the 30 inch iCrate, the 42 inch two door iCrate, and the AmazonBasics 36 inch wire crate. MidWest did not provide a sample and there is no editorial relationship with the brand. Where I cite a measurement or feature, the source is MidWest’s product page or aggregated owner reports.

This is reliable because of the depth of owner data behind this size. The 36 inch holds a 4.7 average across more than 78,000 reviews, which matches the larger iCrate sizes exactly, the expected pattern for the same construction line at a different size. With that many reviews over years, the durability and sizing behavior is documented rather than guessed. The most useful thing I can do is tell you honestly when this is the right size and when the temptation to buy it instead of the 42 inch will cost you a second crate later.

How we evaluated

I evaluated the 36 inch around the questions that actually matter for a medium large crate: is the 41 to 70 pound rating accurate for the breeds it targets, does the construction match the category default 42 inch, and where does the lighter wire gauge become a factor. I checked MidWest’s published 36 by 23 by 25 inch dimensions and the weight rating against how Border Collies, Boxers, and Labradors actually grow, with particular attention to the Labrador puppy sizing trap. I compared the frame, latch, divider, and tray architecture against the 42 inch to confirm what is shared. I read owner photos for long term wear on the tray and wire to locate the specific places the budget tier shows at this size.

Sizing accuracy is the whole story

The single most useful thing about MidWest’s iCrate sizing is that the weight ranges line up with how dogs actually grow, and the 36 inch covers an unusually wide swath of medium large breeds. The 41 to 70 pound rating fits most adult Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Boxers, larger Cocker Spaniels, Vizslas, smaller Labradors, and similarly proportioned dogs, all of which can stand, turn, and lie down comfortably in the 36 inch length. That breadth is what makes this the versatile mid size pick.

The honest tradeoff lives at the edges of that range. For dogs at the upper end, 65 to 70 pounds, the interior is at the lower bound of comfortable, while for dogs at the lower end, 41 to 50 pounds, it is generous. And there is one sizing trap worth flagging clearly: most adult Labradors land in the 70 to 90 pound range, which is the 42 inch class, not this one. For a Lab puppy that will grow into adult size, buy the 42 inch from the start and use the divider to scale down during housetraining. Buying the 36 inch first for a Lab puppy leads to a second crate purchase at 9 to 12 months, which is the most common avoidable mistake at this size.

Construction matches the larger iCrate sizes

The folding wire frame, latch mechanism, divider panel, and composite tray architecture are the same across the iCrate line, so the 36 inch is not a cheaper build, it is the same build at a different scale. The 36 inch wire gauge is lighter than the 42 inch and 48 inch, which is consistent with the lower weight rating and is the correct engineering choice for this class rather than a corner cut.

The folding mechanism is tool free and takes under 60 seconds to set up, and the crate folds flat to roughly 3.5 inches thick. At about 23 pounds assembled it is comfortably one person portable for room to room moves and car trips. The standard SKU is single door, front access only, which keeps the price down and the wire frame slightly more rigid. A separate two door 36 inch SKU exists at a higher price for owners who specifically need side access, but for most placements single door is sufficient. The 4.7 review average confirms this construction holds up the same way the larger sizes do.

The divider panel and the honest wear points

For owners crate training a puppy that will reach the 41 to 70 pound range, the divider panel is the housetraining mechanism that justifies buying a properly sized adult crate from puppyhood. The panel reduces the usable interior to match the puppy’s current size, then moves back as the puppy grows, the same architecture as the larger iCrate sizes. For an already adult dog, it can be removed or left open.

The honest wear points at this size are two. The tray scratches show under heavier dogs, since the 41 to 70 pound class puts more weight and more paw force on the composite tray than the smaller sizes do, and replacement trays are available from MidWest separately. The lighter wire gauge versus the 42 inch is the other, invisible under standard use but more flexible under a dog that paws or pulls at the frame. For a dog that respects the crate as a den, neither is a problem; for a determined frame fighter at the heavier end of this range, the sturdier 42 inch or a heavy duty crate is the better call.

Who should buy the iCrate 36 inch?

Buy it if your dog is in the 41 to 70 pound range and at or near adult size, since the 36 inch is correctly scaled for most adult Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Boxers, Vizslas, and larger Cocker Spaniels. For puppies that will land in this range, the divider scales the interior down during housetraining so one crate covers the whole arc.

Skip it if your dog is a Labrador or similar breed that will reach 70 plus pounds adult, where the 42 inch is the right size and buying the 36 inch first means buying twice, if your dog is under 40 pounds adult, where the 30 inch is properly scaled, or if you need two door access in the standard SKU, where the separate two door 36 inch is required.

The verdict

The MidWest iCrate 36 inch earns the Top Pick Mid Size verdict because for the right dog it is exactly the right size at exactly the right price. It covers the broadest range of medium large breeds, uses the same proven construction as the category default 42 inch, and the 78,000 review track record confirms it lasts. The honest limits are a lighter wire gauge and a tray that scratches under heavier dogs, plus a single door standard SKU. The one mistake to avoid is buying it for a Labrador that belongs in the 42 inch. Match the size to your dog’s adult weight and the 36 inch is the versatile, well priced crate most medium large owners should buy.