The Best Crash-Tested Dog Crates
Only a handful of crates have ever passed independent crash certification — and the certification applies to the exact size that was tested, not to the product line.
The single most important fact on this page: crash certification is issued per product and per dog weight. A crate certified with a 75 lb test dog is not certified for a 110 lb dog. There is no CPS-certified Gunner G1 Large or XL — only Small, Medium and Intermediate. If you own a big dog and you bought a G1 Large because you read that Gunner is crash-tested, you own an uncertified crate.
If your dog is up to 110 lb, the Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel in Large is currently the only CPS-certified crate that exists at that weight. That is not a marketing line, it is a reading of the certified list.
The actual CPS-certified crate list
This is every travel crate on the Center for Pet Safety’s certified list, with the test-dog weight each was certified at. Nothing else on the market is CPS certified, regardless of what its packaging says.
| Crate | Size | Test dog weight | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunner G1 Kennel | Small | 30 lb | 5 star |
| Gunner G1 Kennel | Medium | 45 lb | 5 star |
| Gunner G1 Kennel | Intermediate | 75 lb | 5 star |
| Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel | Medium | 50 lb | 5 star |
| Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel | Intermediate | 75 lb | 5 star |
| Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel | Large | 110 lb | 5 star |
| Cabela's GunDog Kennel | Intermediate | 75 lb | 5 star |
| Cabela's GunDog Kennel | Large | 90 lb | 5 star |
| Rock Creek Crates Aluminum Kennel | Medium | 50 lb | 5 star |
Nine entries. That is the entire universe of crash-certified dog crates. Note that Gunner and Cabela’s certifications are formally for the kennel with its strength-rated anchor straps — the straps are part of what was tested, and a crate installed without them is not the thing that passed.
The crates that are NOT certified (but are sold as if they were)
This matters more than the list itself, because these are the ones you are most likely to buy by accident.
- Diggs Evolv — not certified, and Diggs no longer holds a CPS certification on anything. Its Passenger Carrier was certified at 18 lb in October 2021; that certificate has since been delisted and its CPS page now redirects to the index. So a buyer who remembers Diggs as “the certified brand” is working from a certificate that is no longer published, on a product that was never the crate.
- Rock Creek Crates Collapsible — not certified, and this one catches people out because the brand genuinely holds a certification. CPS certified Rock Creek’s Medium Stationary kennel. Rock Creek says of the other model, in its own words, that the Collapsible “has not been crash tested and, by nature of design, does not incorporate the same internal welded structure as the Stationary crates.” The collapsible is the only Rock Creek currently sold on Amazon.
- Impact crates — excellent, aluminum, expensive, and not on the CPS certified list. Impact does not claim to be crash tested either, and the assumption that it is comes almost entirely from the price and the material. We answer the brand question in full, including the warranty sentence that decides which Impact to buy, in are Impact dog crates crash tested.
- Petmate Sky Kennel — airline compliant, which is a completely different standard about ventilation and fastenings for cargo transport. It says nothing about crash performance.
- Wire crates of every kind. CPS tested them and their conclusion is blunt: wire crates “should be considered as distraction prevention tools and will not provide significant protection in the case of an accident.”
- 4x4 North America / MIM VarioCage — was tested in the 2015 crate study and failed: the cargo connections failed, the webbing ruptured, and the crate crushed by an average of 10 inches.
A quick warning about names, too. Lucky Duck sells the Lucky Kennel on Amazon under the title “Lucky Dog Kennel,” and Lucky Dog is also the name of an unrelated company that makes welded-wire kennels. Buy the listing whose brand line reads Lucky Duck and whose seller is Lucky Duck Decoys; that is the certified kennel. If it is going in the back of a pickup rather than an SUV, the strapping, the drainage and the heat all change, and we rank for that separately in the best dog crates for truck beds.
Quick picks
The short answer, ranked and scored against our published durability rubric. Where a manufacturer does not publish a spec, we say so rather than estimating it.
| # | Photo | Product | Durability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  | Gunner G1 KennelA CPS-certified crate — in the sizes that are actually certified | 86/100 | $550.00 · Amazon |
| 2 |  | Lucky Duck Lucky KennelThe only CPS-certified crate for a dog up to 110 lb | 86/100 | $699.99 · Amazon |
| 3 |  | Diggs Evolv Modular CrateA crate you can live with in a living room | 70/100 | $381.65 · Amazon |
| 4 |  | Impact Collapsible Aluminum CrateTravel, if you accept a warranty that excludes the dog | 76/100 | Check price |
| 5 |  | Rock Creek Crates Collapsible Aluminum Crate (30 in)Aluminum build and a 10-year warranty — but not the crate CPS certified | 75/100 | Check price |
| 6 |  | Petmate Sky KennelAirline travel — and nothing else | 51/100 | $107.95 · Amazon |
Tap any row to jump to the full review. Prices are pulled live from Amazon as of October 18, 2026; where we have no verified live price we show none rather than a stale number. #ad — how our links work.
The picks, ranked
1. Gunner G1 Kennel
Durability score 86/100Best for: A CPS-certified crate — in the sizes that are actually certified
One of the few genuinely CPS-certified crates — but only in Small, Medium and Intermediate. Buy the size that was tested, not the size that fits.
- CPS certification
- 5-star: Small (30 lb test dog), Medium (45 lb), Intermediate (75 lb)
- NOT certified
- Large and XL — CPS has not certified them at any weight
- Protocol
- CPS-002-016.01, tested with strength-rated anchor straps
- Construction
- Double-walled rotomolded shell, welded aluminum frame
- Door
- Paddle latch with key lock; backup safety latches top and bottom
- Warranty
- Lifetime against defects — but 'does not extend to cover destruction done to the product by the pet'
Pros
- Genuinely CPS 5-star certified in Small, Medium and Intermediate — one of only a handful of crates that is
- The certification covers the crate WITH its strength-rated anchor straps, which is how it must actually be installed
- Backup safety latches top and bottom, plus a lockable paddle latch
Cons
- There is NO CPS-certified Gunner G1 Large or XL. If you have a 110 lb dog, a G1 Large is an uncertified crate — this is the single most misunderstood fact in the category
- The lifetime warranty explicitly excludes destruction by your dog
- Gunner sells a separate steel 'Chew Kit' for high-drive dogs, which is a tacit admission the base kennel is chewable
- Very expensive and very heavy
How we assessed it: on published materials, hardware specs and construction — not long-term chew-tested. We say so because it is true, and because a claim we cannot back is worth nothing to you.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026; Amazon prices change often, so check before you buy. How our links work.
2. Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel
Durability score 86/100Best for: The only CPS-certified crate for a dog up to 110 lb
If your dog is over 90 lb and you want a certified crate, this is currently the only one that exists.
- CPS certification
- 5-star: Medium (50 lb test dog), Intermediate (75 lb), Large (110 lb)
- The Large
- Currently the ONLY CPS-certified crate tested at 110 lb — certified with Lucky Duck's own ratchet strap kit
- Construction
- One-piece rotomolded, stainless hardware, powder-coated tie-downs
- Latch
- Locking paddle latch, one-handed operation
- Large dimensions
- 38 x 24 x 29 in external; 45 lb; for dogs 70–110 lb
- On Amazon
- Listed as 'Lucky Dog Kennel' — brand Lucky Duck, sold by Lucky Duck Decoys
- Warranty
- Lifetime against manufacturing defects, original purchaser only — excludes 'pet-related chewing or scratching' and 'Dropping or impact damage'
Pros
- The Large is the only CPS-certified crate on the entire list tested with a 110 lb dog. For a giant breed there is currently no certified alternative
- Certified across three sizes — Medium, Intermediate and Large
- One-piece rotomolded shell with stainless hardware and integrated tie-down points
Cons
- The warranty excludes 'Dropping or impact damage' — the kennel is certified for a crash and not covered after one
- The lifetime warranty excludes chewing and scratching, like almost every crate in this category
- The certified configuration includes Lucky Duck's own ratchet straps, which are sold direct rather than on Amazon
- Expensive
How we assessed it: on published materials, hardware specs and construction — not long-term chew-tested. We say so because it is true, and because a claim we cannot back is worth nothing to you.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026; Amazon prices change often, so check before you buy. How our links work.
3. Diggs Evolv Modular Crate
Durability score 70/100Best for: A crate you can live with in a living room
The best-designed crate here and a genuinely clever latch — but it is not crash-certified, and its warranty walks away from chewers.
- Materials
- High-strength steel wire on a reinforced frame; nylon-coated steel, diamond mesh, rounded pet-safe edges (Diggs)
- Latch
- Dual latching system — Diggs states the two locks cannot be opened from inside the crate
- Capacity
- S up to 16 in / 30 lb; M 16–18 in / 30–50 lb; Intermediate 18–22 in / 50–70 lb; L 22–28 in / 70–90 lb; XL up to 29 in / 90–110 lb
- Size on this listing
- Intermediate — dogs 18–22 in tall (50–70 lb), Ash
- Warranty
- 1 year — and Diggs' warranty terms exclude 'damage caused by dogs who are not crate-trained or who chew on the product'
- Steel gauge
- Not published
- Crash certification
- None. Diggs holds no CPS certification at all today - its Passenger Carrier was certified at 18 lb in October 2021 and has since been delisted
Pros
- The dual latch genuinely defeats the paw-and-nose crate escapes that beat a single slide bolt — Diggs states it cannot be worked from inside
- Five sizes with published height AND weight bands, which is more than almost any crate maker publishes
- Modular panel construction, so it comes apart for storage without tools
- The only crate here that does not look like a piece of kennel equipment
Cons
- Diggs is sometimes remembered as a certified brand; its only CPS certificate was on the Passenger Carrier and it has been delisted. Nothing Diggs sells is crash-certified
- The warranty excludes chewers outright, which is a strange exclusion on a crate this expensive
- Diggs will not publish the steel gauge
- It breaks down into panels rather than folding flat — easier to store than a rigid crate, not as quick as a true collapsible
How we assessed it: on published materials, hardware specs and construction — not long-term chew-tested. We say so because it is true, and because a claim we cannot back is worth nothing to you.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026; Amazon prices change often, so check before you buy. How our links work.
4. Impact Collapsible Aluminum Crate
Durability score 76/100Best for: Travel, if you accept a warranty that excludes the dog
A well-made travel crate whose warranty is weaker than the brand's reputation implies — and it carries no crash certification.
- Material
- Aluminum, collapsible
- Dog Damage Guarantee
- Does NOT apply. Impact: 'This warranty only applies to our High Anxiety crates and does not apply to our Collapsible or Stationary crates'
- What the warranty excludes
- Impact: 'dog damage, paint issues, or normal wear and tear like scratches'
- Crash certification
- None — not on the CPS certified list
- Aluminum gauge
- Not published
Pros
- Aluminum construction that folds down for transport
- The same material and build quality as the crate that carries Impact's strongest warranty
Cons
- The Dog Damage Guarantee many buyers assume they are getting does not apply to this model — Impact says so in one sentence, and it is the sentence that matters
- Dog damage is excluded, which in a crate bought for a dog that destroys crates is the exclusion that counts
- It is not CPS crash-certified, despite being marketed for travel
How we assessed it: on published materials, hardware specs and construction — not long-term chew-tested. We say so because it is true, and because a claim we cannot back is worth nothing to you.
#ad We only show a price when we have a live one from Amazon. We don’t have one for this product right now, so we’re not going to guess. How our links work.
5. Rock Creek Crates Collapsible Aluminum Crate (30 in)
Durability score 75/100Best for: Aluminum build and a 10-year warranty — but not the crate CPS certified
A well-made collapsible aluminum crate with a ten-year warranty — and not the Rock Creek that CPS certified, which is the stationary model and is not sold here.
- Crash certification
- NONE on this model. CPS certified the Rock Creek Medium STATIONARY kennel with strength-rated anchor straps (5-star, 50 lb test dog, December 2020, protocol CPS-002-016.01) — a different crate
- Maker's own statement
- Rock Creek: the Collapsible "has not been crash tested and, by nature of design, does not incorporate the same internal welded structure as the Stationary crates"
- Construction
- Aluminum, collapsible, non-slip feet (Amazon listing)
- Size
- 30 in (this listing); Midnight Black
- Warranty
- 10-year (Amazon listing)
Pros
- Aluminum construction with a 10-year warranty on the listing — the longest warranty of any crate here
- Collapses, which none of the certified aluminum kennels do
- Rock Creek is unusually straight about what is and is not tested, which is more than most of this category manages
Cons
- This crate is NOT crash certified. Rock Creek says so itself: the collapsible does not use the internal welded structure of the stationary crates
- The certified Rock Creek — the Medium Stationary — is not sold on Amazon, so you cannot buy the tested crate through this listing
- Ships in 6 to 7 days rather than from stock, and it is the most expensive crate here
How we assessed it: on published materials, hardware specs and construction — not long-term chew-tested. We say so because it is true, and because a claim we cannot back is worth nothing to you.
#ad We only show a price when we have a live one from Amazon. We don’t have one for this product right now, so we’re not going to guess. How our links work.
Search Amazon for the Rock Creek Crates Collapsible Aluminum Crate (30 in)
6. Petmate Sky Kennel
Durability score 51/100Best for: Airline travel — and nothing else
Buy it to fly. Do not buy it believing airline approval means it will protect your dog in a car crash — it does not.
- Design
- Molded plastic, airline compliant (Amazon listing)
- Crash certification
- None — it is not on the CPS certified list
- Made in
- USA (Amazon listing)
Pros
- Meets airline requirements, which is a real and specific job
- Inexpensive
Cons
- Airline compliance is NOT crash protection. They are unrelated standards and the Sky Kennel carries no crash certification
- Plastic shell with wing-nut fasteners — a determined chewer defeats it
How we assessed it: on published materials, hardware specs and construction — not long-term chew-tested. We say so because it is true, and because a claim we cannot back is worth nothing to you.
#ad Price as of October 18, 2026; Amazon prices change often, so check before you buy. How our links work.
Your car is part of the safety system, and it is not certified
This is the part almost nobody tells you, and CPS is explicit about it. The crate is only as safe as what you have strapped it to, and “Cargo area anchors are not always weight-rated for the forces generated in an accident.”
CPS's own advice is to:
- Verify your cargo anchor strength with your vehicle manufacturer
- Anchor the crate with strength-rated straps — not bungees, not rope
You can buy a 5-star certified crate, strap it to an anchor point that tears out of the floor, and have achieved nothing. The certification covers the crate. It does not cover your car.
And none of them will pay if your dog eats it
Worth knowing before you spend four figures. Gunner’s lifetime warranty states it “does not extend to cover destruction done to the product by the pet”. Lucky Duck excludes “Pet related wear and tear including chewing and scratching”. Gunner will sell you a separate steel Chew Kit to armor the kennel you already bought.
For the full picture on which crate warranties actually cover your dog, see our heavy-duty crate roundup.
Before you buy, read this
The certification system is more nuanced than any product page admits, and the nuance is where dogs get hurt. We wrote a full explainer: what CPS crash testing actually certifies. If you are spending real money on a travel crate, read it first.
The G1 is the crate most people mean when they say “crash tested,” so it gets its own page: which three sizes CPS actually certified and at what test-dog weights, why the Large is not among them, why the tie-down straps are part of the certified configuration, and what the lifetime warranty excludes. See our Gunner G1 kennel review.
Frequently asked questions
Which dog crates are actually crash-tested and certified?
Only nine crate/size combinations are CPS certified: the Gunner G1 in Small (30 lb), Medium (45 lb) and Intermediate (75 lb); the Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel in Medium (50 lb), Intermediate (75 lb) and Large (110 lb); the Cabela's GunDog Kennel in Intermediate (75 lb) and Large (90 lb); and the Rock Creek Crates Aluminum Kennel in Medium (50 lb). Nothing else is CPS certified, regardless of what the marketing says.
Is the Gunner G1 Large crash tested?
No. The Center for Pet Safety has certified the Gunner G1 in Small (30 lb test dog), Medium (45 lb) and Intermediate (75 lb) only. There is no CPS-certified G1 Large or XL at any weight. If you have a large dog in a G1 Large because Gunner is known as the crash-tested brand, your specific crate is not certified.
What is the only crash-tested crate for a 110 lb dog?
The Lucky Duck Lucky Kennel in Large, which CPS certified at 5 stars with a 110 lb test dog in July 2022. It is currently the only CPS-certified crate tested at that weight — for a giant-breed dog there is no certified alternative.
Is the Diggs Evolv crash tested?
No. Neither the Evolv nor the out-of-production Revol is on the CPS certified list, and Diggs no longer holds a CPS certification on anything. Its Passenger Carrier - a different product entirely - was certified at 18 lb in October 2021, but that certificate has been delisted and its CPS page now redirects to the index. If you remember Diggs as a certified brand, that is why, and it does not cover the crate.
Can I use a wire crate to transport my dog in the car?
You should not rely on it for protection. The Center for Pet Safety's 2015 crate study concluded that wire crates 'should be considered as distraction prevention tools and will not provide significant protection in the case of an accident'. They keep a dog from distracting the driver. They are not a crash-protection device.
Does a crash-tested crate need special straps?
Yes. The Gunner and Cabela's certifications are formally for the kennel WITH strength-rated anchor straps — the straps were part of what was tested. CPS also warns that vehicle cargo anchors 'are not always weight-rated for the forces generated in an accident', and advises verifying anchor strength with your car's manufacturer. A certified crate on an inadequate anchor is not a certified system.
Sources
Every spec on this page traces to one of these. Where a manufacturer does not publish a figure, we say “not published” rather than estimating it.
- Center for Pet Safety — the CPS Certified product list
- CPS 2015 Crate Study — wire crates are not crash protection
- CPS — cargo area connection advisory (your car's anchors are not rated by CPS)
- Center for Pet Safety — about (501(c)(3); takes no funding from pet product manufacturers)
- Lucky Duck — Lucky Kennel Large (CPS 5-star; the only kennel rated to 110 lb)
- Gunner — warranty (excludes destruction done to the product by the pet)
Related
- Gunner G1 Kennel Review
Dog Car Restraint Laws in the United States
Airline Dog Crate Requirements- What CPS Crash Certification Actually Covers
- The Best Crash-Tested Dog Harnesses
Dog Car Harness vs Crate- The Best Heavy-Duty Dog Crates
- Are Crash-Tested Dog Crates Worth It?
- Are Impact Dog Crates Crash Tested?
- The Best Dog Crates for Truck Beds