10 Best Dog Crate Trays, Pans & Alternatives (2020 Guide)

Every dog parent should have a dog crate. They’re 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 pan or tray on the floor of the crate. 

We’ll be checking out the best dog crate trays, pans, and pads so you can choose the best thing for your pet’s comfort and safety.

10 Best Dog Crate Trays

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Testing Protocol & Criteria Used For Evaluation

Criteria 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.

Of course, things can happen (such as chewing), but we’ve done our best to make sure the dog crate trays and pans we’ve reviewed are as safe as possible for your pet.

Things we’ve considered here include the materials they’re made of and any coating that may be present (to ensure there is nothing toxic in there), and the design of the pan (to make sure there are no sharp parts or potential for injury). 

Criteria 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. 

We’ve checked out how long-lasting these trays and pans are, 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. We’ve tried to make sure the things we’ve reviewed here are not only durable, but last a good long while without compromising safety along the way. 

Criteria 3 – Effectiveness

Another thing nobody wants is to spend money on a product and get home only to discover that it doesn’t really serve the purpose it’s supposed to. 

While it’s not possible for us to physically test every single one of the products we have reviewed here, we’ve done a good amount of research and pored over customer reviews to make sure we’re bringing you products that accomplish their purpose properly. 

Of course, it also depends on what exactly you’re going to be using the tray or pan for. Some are designed simply to catch waste and prevent stuff from going all over the place, while others are designed for more specific purposes, such as odour reduction. 

We’ve rated the products based on their general ability to serve the basic purpose of a pan or tray, as well as their ability to do anything else they may claim to. Bear in mind that if you use a tray that is not designed for what you want – ie. using a metal tray to try and reduce the odour of waste – you are unlikely to be impressed with its effectiveness! 

Criteria 4 – Size Options

A chihuahua is definitely not going to need the same size 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 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. 

Criteria 5 – Affordability

As always, we aim to please dogs and their parents alike, and this criterion definitely benefits the pup parent more than the pet. 

We understand that having a pet can take a toll on the bank balance, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from experiencing the joy of being a pet parent! It also shouldn’t mean that the poor pooch eats sub-standard food or has to go without useful and comfort-creating accessories. 

We believe honesty is always the best policy, so we aren’t afraid to rate products a little lower if we believe they are more on the pricey side. We also have a Best Value For Money option, so there’s something for everyone on this list. 

Don’t be afraid to go for a slightly more pricey option if you can afford it and you like a particular one. While a lower price may seem to indicate a worse product, all of the dog crate trays and pans we’ve chosen for this list are of comparable quality, so you’ll be getting something awesome no matter what. 

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Questions & Answers

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 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 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 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. 

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. 

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. 

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 crate, all you need to do is match up the measurements of the pan to the measurements of your crate. It’s that easy! 

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 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.