Edited by: Mike Powell
Reviewed by: Abby TexasLast Update:
The Rundown
Best Dog Crate Tray Overall: Pinnacle Systems Dog Crate Tray
“Pinnacle Systems Tray For Dog Crate is a water-resistant and rust-resistant tray that comes with a lifetime guarantee. This is the perfect pan if your pup is a chewer.”
Most Versatile Dog Crate Tray: MidWest Dog Crate Tray
“MidWest Dog Crate Tray is available in different sizes, serves multiple purposes, durable and easy to clean. It is made with polypropylene plastic that is safe for your pet.”
Best For Odor Control: K&H Odour Control Dog Crate Pad
“K&H Odour Control Dog Crate Pad fits any crate easily with non-slip bottom for extra safety. The foam core is infused with charcoal to help neutralize the smell.”
Dog crates are useful for training, travel, and simply giving your pooch a space in the home to call his own.
If you’ve used a crate before, you’ll be well aware of all the little things you need to consider. Size, material, and aesthetics of the crate are all important factors.
But if you want an easy clean-up and your pup’s paws to be as safe as possible, you’ll need a good dog crate tray or pan on the floor of the crate.
We checked out the top dog crate trays, pans, and pads so you can choose the best for your pet’s comfort and safety.
Table of Contents
Best Dog Crate Trays
Here are our recommendations for the most durable dog crate trays on the market:
- Best Dog Crate Tray Overall: Pinnacle Systems Dog Crate Tray
- Most Versatile Dog Crate Tray: MidWest Dog Crate Tray
- Best for Odor Control: K&H Odour Control Dog Crate Pad
- Best Silicon Tray: DogBuddy Dog Food Mat
- Most Durable Dog Crate Tray: Everila Dog Crate Tray
- Best Value for Money: You & Me Replacement Dog Crate Pan
- Best For Puppy Potty Training: Prevue Pet Products Tinkle Turf
1. Pinnacle Systems Dog Crate Tray
Best Dog Crate Tray Overall
PROS
- Water-resistant and rust-resistant
- Chew-proof and crack-proof, making it one of the most durable out there
- No sharp edges or chemicals, so it’s super safe for your pet
- Comes with a lifetime guarantee
CONS
- Quite a bit more pricey than others (but it lasts longer, so it’s understandable)
If your dog is a chewer, Pinnacle Systems Tray For Dog Crate is a good dog crate tray to use. It’s made of pretty solid steel (you can select galvanized or stainless steel), but you don’t have to worry about your little chewer injuring himself trying to get his teeth on it. The metal edges have been folded over to only expose smooth, safe parts to your pup.
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Built To Last
This dog crate tray may be a bit more pricey than others, the price is justified because of its durability. It’s water-resistant, rust-proof, odor-resistant, and impossible to chew. It can withstand being bounced on, flopped on, dragged around, and more by dogs of all sizes.
Both material options are steel – you can choose between galvanised steel or stainless steel. The stainless steel tray is made with added chromium, while galvanized steel tray is coated with a thin layer of zinc to increase durability.
Safety First
Unlike many other metal trays, this one is quite safe for your pup. Some dog crate trays have sharp metal edges which can be harmful for your dog, especially if there’s a chance your pooch may try and chew on it. This tray, though, is created with safety in mind – the metal edges are folded over to expose only smooth sides and edges, leaving very little danger.
2. MidWest Dog Crate Tray
Most Versatile Dog Crate Tray
PROS
- Available in many sizes (and can be used on crates other than MidWest crates)
- Serves multiple purposes, very versatile
- Well priced for a household name product
- Durable, odour-resistant, and easy to clean
CONS
- May not be safe if your pup likes to chew
MidWest Homes For Pets trays are made from polypropylene plastic, which is one of the most durable and safe plastics out there today. There’s nothing overly fancy about MidWest Dog Crate Tray, but it’s available in many sizes, will get the job done, and is really easy to remove and clean.
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Multiple Uses
One of the great things about dog crate trays is that they can be used for so many things. Stick it in the dog crate when your pup is in there to prevent spills and give them a firm standing surface. Place it under your pup’s food and water bowls to catch mess. Put your pet’s bed on top of it to prevent accidents.
Well-Designed
In addition to being made from tough, safe material, these pans are injection-moulded, which increases their strength even more. They’re durable, odor-proof, and lipped, which keeps messes contained and makes them even easier to clean.
3. K&H Odour Control Dog Crate Pad
Best for Odor Control
PROS
- Slit-corner design and size variety makes it easy to fit to any dog crate
- Charcoal-infused foam inside helps to eliminate odours
- Soft, comfy, and machine-washable (happy pet and happy parent)
- Non-slip bottom for extra safety
CONS
- Might not be as durable as others, especially for chewers
When there’s mess, there’s odor (especially if you’re unable to clean up straight away). If you need something that is going to serve as a dog crate tray but also helps reduce smelly crates, K&H Odor Control Dog Crate Pad is the absolutely worth a try.
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Pad, As Opposed To Pan Or Tray
The alternative to a solid pan or tray is a pad. Pads are helpful in many ways, although they don’t provide as solid a surface as a tray. They’re extremely absorbent which makes a big difference when it comes to reducing odor.
While metal and plastic pans are generally odor-resistant, this simply means that they don’t absorb odor and will smell like nothing once cleaned. It doesn’t mean you won’t smell that distinctive pee smell when you walk into the house, which is what this pad is meant to do – reduce that immediate unpleasant scent.
How It Works
The foam core is infused with charcoal, which helps neutralize smells. The liquid is quickly absorbed, meaning your pooch also has far less chance of stepping or lying in it, which just compounds the odor problem.
It’s soft, available in various sizes, well-designed to fit easily in a dog crate, and super easy to clean – just throw it in the washing machine.
4. DogBuddy Dog Food Mat
Best Silicon Tray
DogBuddy Dog Food Mat is a great option for dogs who don’t typically chew on anything they get their mouths into. Silicon is a safe and durable material. It only comes in two sizes (small and large), so it may not fit every crate. But if it does, you should definitely give it a try.
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Why Silicon?
Silicon is free from BPA, phthalate, and PVC, making it a chemically-safe product. It also doesn’t bring the same dangers as a plastic tray does in terms of breakage and potential for injury.
In addition to that, it’s non-slip while still being bouncy, making it quite comfortable for a pup to stand on. The lipped design helps catch any and all mess, while being very easy to clean.
5. Everila Dog Crate Tray
Most Durable Dog Crate Tray
Everila Dog Crate Tray is the perfect tray for them. It is made from rust-resistant, heavy-duty galvanized steel so your pooch won’t be able to rip this apart easily. And it will most likely be the longest-lasting dog product you ever buy.
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Durable Galvanized Steel
Steel is a pretty heavy-duty material as it is, and galvanising it means a layer of zinc is added to increase strength and prevent rust. That makes this dog crate tray more durable than most, if not all, others on the market.
6. You & Me Replacement Dog Crate Pan
Best Value For Money
You & Me Replacement Dog Crate Pan is a cheap option that works fantastically well. This dog crate tray does the job and is almost disposable so you can change it out every once in a while.
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Protects Floors
This dog crate tray stops messes from reaching your carpet, wood, or tiles and leaving stains and odor. It has bevelled, lipped edges for containing liquid, and a non-slip bottom to prevent the tray itself from causing damage.
7. Prevue Pet Products Tinkle Turf
Best For Puppy Potty Training
Prevue Pet Products Tinkle Turf is a two-piece tray that includes the bottom plastic piece which catches the mess, and the grassy piece that teaches your puppy exactly where he needs to go.
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How It Works
This is a tray just like others, with a synthetic grassy bit that sits on top of it. Your little one will soon begin to understand exactly where he can and can’t go, and once he is actually trained, you can simply remove the grassy piece and have a perfectly good pan.
Cleaning may be slightly more difficult than your average tray, especially when it comes to poop, which may be harder to get out of the grass. But it’s really a simple matter of scooping, throwing away, and rinsing off, like any other pan.
How to Choose the Best Dog Crate Tray for Your Pet
1) Safety
No matter what product you’re looking at getting for your pooch, safety should be concern number one. A product, no matter how cool, useful, or convenient, shouldn’t be considered at all if there’s a chance of your pup being unsafe with it.
Dogs are naturally-born chewers so one of the main things you need to consider when choosing a dog crate tray is the design. Does it have sharp edges which can injure your dog’s mouth? What material is it made of? Is it coated with anything that may be harmful for dogs? These are the things that you need to consider that concerns safety.
2) Durability
There are few things worse than buying a brand new product and having to replace it a very short while later because it was chewed to pieces, dropped and broken, or simply has a high amount of wear and tear in a short period of time.
Look for long-lasting trays and pans so you can be sure you’re getting something that is high-quality and won’t fall to pieces any time soon.
The material that it’s made of will have an effect on how durable the product is, but the manufacturing quality also makes a difference.
3) Size Options
A chihuahua is definitely not going to need the same size dog crate as a German Shepherd. If the tray or pan you like comes in only German Shepherd size, then you’ll have to make do with something else.
Options are great. Apart from the fact that the product should cater for any dog, any size, it’s super helpful if you happen to be the parent of multiple dogs who vary in size, and you want the same high-quality tray for all crates.
We’ve checked out how many sizes these products are available in so that no matter the size of your pup or their dog crate, there’ll be an option for you. Those with less choice when it comes to size will get a lower rating, but we aren’t going to exclude them if their quality is still good.
Questions & Answers
Why do I need a dog crate tray or pan when I use a crate?
Dog crate trays and pans can serve a few different purposes, not always exclusive to using a crate, but they are certainly useful when you do have to leave your pup confined.
Firstly, if your dog has to spend any extended periods of time in their dog crate, chances are they’re going to need to go at some point. Your pup’s tray will ensure that there is no leakage, because cleaning up spills is bad enough when they’re contained – nobody wants to clean up half the living room!
Trays keep liquid contained, which is invaluable when you are coming home to a possible mess. We do advise making sure that your pooch has enough space in their dog crate to allow for messes while still having dry space to sit in.
Apart from this, they give your pup’s paws a solid surface to stand on when in their dog crate. It can’t be comfy for pups to have a metal grid under them while in their crate, even if they have a bed, so giving them a firm surface can make your pet’s crate experience far more comfortable.
What type of materials are available when looking at the best trays and pans?
There are generally three options when it comes to materials – metal, plastic, or rubber. It really depends on what you and your dog need as to which would be best for you.
If your dog is a serious chewer, a metal tray might be the best plan. If they don’t chew too badly, a plastic one is perfectly adequate. A rubber tray is great for comfort but may be slightly less effective in terms of keeping liquid in.
Steel trays tend to be far more durable, but plastic ones are more lightweight. You’ll need to put some thought into which one would work best for you and your pet, but they’re all great quality.
Are dog crate trays and pans safe for my dog?
Generally, yes. We’ve also made an effort to be sure the ones we have chosen for this list are as safe as possible, because there’s no point buying something for your pooch if there’s a chance of them being injured or becoming ill while using it.
If your dog likes to chew, you may want to avoid a plastic or rubber tray as there’s a risk of them swallowing pieces of it and injuring themselves. If they keep chewing a metal tray, well, you will need to make another plan! If you’re using a metal tray, make sure to choose one that has no sharp edges.
Some products may contain chemicals that aren’t great for your pet, so it’s best to do your research before buying. We’ve tried to keep this list as safe as possible.
As long as you choose the right material and make sure there’s nothing chemically dangerous for your pup in it, a tray or pan is as safe as can be.
How do I know what size tray or pan to get?
It’s hugely frustrating when you buy a product and it doesn’t end up fitting where you need it to go. If you’ve forgotten what size crate your dog has, it’s as simple as measuring its dimensions to get an idea of what size tray to get.
When you look at buying a dog crate, all you need to do is match up the measurements of the pan to the measurements of your dog crate. It’s that easy!
What’s the difference between a dog crate tray, a pan, and a pad?
Trays and pans are pretty much exactly the same things just with a different name. A pad, however, is something else.
A tray or pan’s main purpose is to prevent leakage, and a pad does the same thing, but in a different way. A pad is made of absorbent material, and so, as you can imagine, the liquid is not simply prevented from flowing away but is actually absorbed into the material.
They’re also more comfy than a simple plastic or metal tray, although it depends on whether or not your pup has a bed in their dog crate as to whether or not this makes a difference. Disposable pads may need to be placed in a tray for stability.
A pad will need to be washed in the machine as regularly as necessary – if you don’t wash it when it needs to be, you’ll most likely start noticing the smell, even for odor-reducing pads. A tray or pan simply requires a splash under running water.
Again, the choice to go for a pad over a tray or pan is yours and will depend on what your pet really needs.