Why this product
The MidWest iCrate 24 inch Two-Door is the small breed wire crate that consistently shows up in dog owner shopping lists as the default starter crate, and the long form Amazon reviews back up the choice. The current listing holds a 4.7 average across more than 80,000 owner reviews, which is one of the most stable signals in any pet product category. The combination of a folding wire frame, two door access, a leak proof plastic pan, and an included divider panel covers the full use case for small breed crate training, travel, and daily resting at a price under $40.
For this review, we built our analysis from MidWest’s published spec list, recent Amazon owner photos, and direct comparison with three other small breed wire crates. MidWest did not provide a sample. Where we cite a measurement, the source is the manufacturer spec sheet or aggregate owner reports.
The defining trade with the iCrate compared with the AmazonBasics single door at a slightly lower price is the second door. Two door access (front and side) makes the crate work in more placements: against a wall with the side door for daily access, in a hallway with the front door for travel, in a car with whichever door faces out. For about $7 more than the single door, the flexibility is worth it for most owners.
What MidWest claims (specs)
MidWest lists the iCrate 24 inch with outer dimensions of 24 by 18 by 19 inches, a folding wire frame, two doors (one front and one side), a leak proof plastic pan that slides out for cleaning, and an included divider panel that lets the crate adjust in size as a puppy grows. The crate folds flat to approximately 4 inches thick for transport and storage, and the setup is tool free fold out.
Per the current listing, the recommended weight range is up to approximately 25 pounds, which covers most toy breeds, miniature dachshunds, Yorkies at adult size, small terriers, and similar small adult dogs. Warranty is 1 year manufacturer.
Who should buy
This crate is the right call for an owner crate training a small breed puppy, traveling with a small adult dog, or providing a daily rest space for a toy breed. The 24 inch size, two door access, leak proof pan, and divider panel cover the full use case at a price that lands well below heavy duty steel crates and at parity with generic single door crates while offering more flexibility.
Buy this crate if your dog is a small breed under 25 pounds at adult weight, if you want a crate that travels with you (folds flat in a car trunk), and if you want the divider to size the crate down for puppy training and back up as the puppy grows.
Skip this crate if your dog is a medium or large breed (this is the wrong size, MidWest sells iCrates up to 48 inches), if your dog has a known history of destroying wire crates (look at heavy duty steel options), or if you want a more refined crate aesthetic for a living room (furniture style crates are the better fit).
For larger breed dog owners looking at the same wire crate design at a larger size, MidWest sells the iCrate in 30, 36, 42, and 48 inch options. For travel carriers rather than wire crates, the Sleepypod Air is a soft sided carrier built for in cabin airline travel.
Two doors and placement flexibility
The two door access is the feature that separates this crate from the AmazonBasics single door at a similar price point. Single door crates work, but they limit where you can place the crate in the home. Against a wall with a single front door, the dog has to walk through the room to enter; in a hallway placement, the front door blocks foot traffic when open.
Two doors solve the placement problem. The front door works for travel and daily access in the middle of a room. The side door works for placements against a wall. In a car, whichever door faces out is the one you use. For about $7 more than the single door, the flexibility is worth it for most owners.
Divider panel and puppy growth
The included divider panel is the small feature that makes the iCrate a long term value rather than a short term purchase. Crate training works best when the crate is just large enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. A puppy with too much space tends to use one corner as a bathroom, which works against the training.
The divider lets you use the full crate from day one and shrink the usable space to the right size for the puppy’s current weight. As the puppy grows, you move the divider back, then eventually remove it. For a single small breed puppy this means one crate purchase rather than three. For larger breed puppies (where the adult size needs a 36 to 48 inch crate), the same MidWest divider system applies at the larger sizes.
Long term durability
In owner photos at the 12 and 24 month mark, the wire frame holds up well, the latches stay snug, and the divider panel keeps its shape. The two parts that show wear are the plastic pan (cracks under heavy use over years, particularly if the crate is dragged across the floor with a heavy dog inside) and the latch springs (lose tension after thousands of open and close cycles).
MidWest sells direct replacement pans and replacement parts on Amazon and through pet retailers, which is the right service architecture for a $39 crate that is expected to last a dog’s lifetime.
For more on how we evaluate dog crates and other pet products, see our methodology page. For an in cabin travel carrier rather than a wire crate, the Sleepypod Air is the soft sided carrier built for airline travel.
MidWest iCrate 24 inch Two-Door Folding Crate vs. the competition
| Product | Our rating | Doors | Pan | Divider | Price | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MidWest iCrate 24 inch Two-Door | ★★★★★ 4.7 | Two | Leak proof | Included | $39 | Best Budget Small Crate |
| AmazonBasics Single Door 24 inch | ★★★★★ 4.6 | One | Leak proof | Included on some sizes | $32 | Recommended Budget |
| Frisco Heavy Duty Wire Crate 24 inch | ★★★★★ 4.5 | Two | Leak proof | Included | $59 | Recommended Heavy Duty |
| Generic eBay folding crate 24 inch | ★★★★☆ 3.7 | One | Thin plastic | Not included | $24 | Skip |
Full specifications
| Outer dimensions | 24 x 18 x 19 inches |
| Frame | Folding wire |
| Doors | Two, one front and one side |
| Pan | Leak proof plastic, slide out |
| Divider panel | Included |
| Recommended weight range | Up to approximately 25 pounds per MidWest's listing |
| Recommended for | Toy breeds, small breed puppies, small adult dogs |
| Folded thickness | Approximately 4 inches when folded flat |
| Setup | Tool free fold out |
| Warranty | 1 year manufacturer per MidWest's listing |
Should you buy the MidWest iCrate 24 inch Two-Door Folding Crate?
The MidWest iCrate 24 inch is the small breed wire crate we recommend most often for crate training puppies, toy breeds, and small adult dogs. The folding wire frame, two door access (front and side), leak proof plastic pan, and included divider panel cover the use case for breeds up to about 25 pounds, and MidWest's published spec list lines up with what owners describe in long term photos.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 24 inch the right size for my dog?+
The 24 inch is sized for dogs up to about 25 pounds at adult weight per MidWest's listing. That covers most toy breeds, miniature dachshunds, small terriers, Yorkies at adult size, and similar. For small puppies of larger breeds (golden retriever puppies, labrador puppies), the puppy fits the 24 inch for the first weeks but quickly outgrows it. Pick the crate sized for the dog's expected adult weight, then use the divider to make it smaller during training.
How does the divider work?+
The divider is a wire panel that drops into the crate and clips into place to make the usable space smaller. Crate training a puppy works best when the crate is just large enough for the puppy to stand up, turn around, and lie down comfortably. A puppy with too much space tends to use one corner as a bathroom. The divider lets you use the full crate from day one and adjust as the puppy grows, rather than buying multiple crate sizes.
Can my dog fold the crate by leaning on it?+
Not under normal use. The wire frame locks into the open position with side latches that have to be released intentionally before the crate folds. Owner reports of dogs folding the crate are rare and typically involve dogs much larger than the crate's rated weight or repeated focused destructive behavior. For separation anxiety dogs that destroy crates, look at heavy duty steel crates rather than folding wire.
Is wire crate safe for unsupervised use?+
For most dogs in normal training and travel use, yes. For dogs with severe separation anxiety, a history of biting wire, or destructive behavior, a wire crate may not be the right fit; some dogs damage their teeth on wire bars over time. Crate training pairs the crate with positive associations from day one to keep the dog comfortable inside.
Does the pan break?+
The plastic pan is the most common replacement part. Heavy use over years (multiple daily slides for cleaning) can cause cracks, and large breed adult dogs may exceed the pan's intended weight tolerance even when the wire frame is rated for them. MidWest sells replacement pans direct, which is the right service architecture for a $39 crate.
📅 Update log
- May 9, 2026Initial review published. Comparison set includes AmazonBasics single door, Frisco Heavy Duty 24 inch, and generic eBay folding crates.
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