The 10 Best Indoor Dog Gates

Reviewed By Kyoko •  Updated: 04/08/19 •  11 min read
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Having a dog is great, but what’s not so great is them having free reign of your house, especially when you’re not around. Some dogs, particularly puppies, might enjoy chewing furniture when left alone, or might even leave little presents for you. To stop this from happening, it’s best to get a dog gate so you can shut them in certain rooms.

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Dog gates are usually multi-purpose, and are exactly the same as baby gates. The whole purpose is to block off a doorway without shutting the door, or to close off a walkway. Doing so will allow you to keep your dog exactly where you want them, often in the kitchen or some other room that they can’t destroy too much. Dog gates can be made from a variety of materials, including fabric, metal, or wood. Obviously metal gates are the most durable, but wood or fabric can be a good alternative if you don’t have to worry about chewing. Gates come in different sizes, so make sure you always measure the space you need to block off before ordering one. To help you make the right choice, here is a list of some of the best currently available.

1. DLM Retractable Mesh Gate for Dogs

This dog gate makes a great alternative to heavy and bulky metal gates, as it’s essentially a mesh screen hung on hooks. While this does make it much easier to install, it also means it can’t take as much abuse as a more bulky gate. That said, it’ll still be fine for small dogs because it’s unlikely they’ll be able to knock it off the hooks. The screen is made from see-through fabric, so your dog will still be able to see you while they’re shut off.

To install the screen you simply attach the hooks to the wall and then hang the screen. The hooks don’t even require much installation as they have adhesive backing and will stick to almost any surface. This gate is a great choice if you want a more portable and easy to install option, but this does mean you sacrifice some durability, and so it might not be suitable for larger or more energetic dogs.

2. Carlson Pet Products Lil’ Tuffy Expandable Dog Gate

Carlson have designed a durable metal gate that can fit doorways between 26 and 42 inches wide. This makes it a great choice if you need to move the gate between several different doorways, and will save you having to buy several. It uses a pressure mounting system to fit the gate, and this only requires you to screw the pads into place. It doesn’t require any tools or much work, and so is really easy to move between doors.

The frame is made from steel, so this dog gate will be able to put up with quite a lot of abuse. It’s 18” tall, and so should keep most dogs where they’re meant to be. The gate even features a smaller pet door in the corner, which is perfect if you have a smaller pet, such as a cat, that doesn’t need to be kept out of the same places. What’s even better is that you can buy this gate in multipacks, meaning you should be able to cover your whole house easily.

3. Regalo Walk Thru Pet Gate

This gate from Regalo is the most traditional kind of dog gate, featuring a small walk-through gate in the bigger frame. The frame is expandable, and can fit doorways between 29-43” wide. What’s more, this gate stands 37” tall, making it a good choice if you have big dogs. It’s really easy to install with the pressure pad system, and the pack comes with several extension kits too.

The smaller gate locks with a one-touch safety release, meaning you’ll still be able to open and close it while carrying things. Even though it’s got such a simple locking mechanism, the gate can withstand a lot of abuse from energetic dogs. This gate is finished in a brushed metal with pine accents, making it a good choice if you don’t want an obvious bright white metal gate in your home. Overall this is a great model that covers a lot of needs.

4. Evenflo Position and Lock Wood Gate

If you’re looking for a more eco-friendly dog gate, then this is a good choice. Made from wood instead of metal or fabric, it’s still durable enough to withstand abuse from dogs. However, it won’t be the best option if your pet is notorious for chewing, as it unfortunately wouldn’t take them too long to get through it. If this isn’t a problem though, consider this model because it’s much nicer looking than a metal gate.

The frame is made of several latticed wooden panels, and locks together using a central bar that can be used to expand the gate to the desired width. The sides are fitted with four non-marking rubber pads to prevent damage to the walls, and it also has some fitted on the bottom. The gate comes in a range of finishes, all of which are quite neutral, and so should compliment a wide range of home décors. This is a great choice if you’re looking for a slightly less garish option.

5. North States Deluxe Pet Gate

This dog gate from North States is perfect if you need to block off wider doorways, as it can be expanded up to 72” wide. It can also be fitted on doorways as narrow as 36” inches, and it’s possible to purchase further expansion panels. It’s easy to install in any doorway using the pressure pads, which simply screw into place. This means you don’t even need tools to install the gate, and it can be taken down and set up within seconds.

The interior gate opens both ways and has a simple one-hand opening mechanism. This makes the gate really easy to use, even when you’re busy. The gate also has pivot points on the side panels, meaning it can be installed in flat or angled doorways, giving you complete control over where you use it. It comes in a matte bronze finish, and so won’t stand out as much as some other metal gates on this list.

6. Arf Pets Free Standing Wood Dog Gate

This gate is free standing, meaning it’s really easy to set up anywhere, but this does also mean it can be knocked over much easier by an energetic dog. Bear this in mind if you think about buying this model, as it won’t be as secure as some others on this list. That said, it’s made from wood and so is reasonably heavy, and so should be fine for use with smaller dogs. This also means it’s really easy to clean, and simply needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth. However, as it’s made of wood it is prone to damage from chewing.

The dog gate comes in either 2- or 4-panel models, and so can be used on a variety of doorways widths. It also has a small internal gate to save you having to take it down every time you want to get through the door. The panels simply slip together, and this means you’ve got multiple ways to set it up. This also means that if you buy more than one pack you can also convert them into a small pen, making it quite a useful model. If you’re not concerned about your dog knocking the gate over, then this model can make a stylish addition that won’t attract as much attention as a metal one.

7. Evenflo Expansion Walk Thru Room Divider Gate

When many people think of a traditional wooden doorway gate, this is the model they see. Made from a wooden lattice, this gate expands to fit a wide range of openings, and is really easy to use. It mounts onto the wall in seconds using a 4-point system, and is really easy to take down whenever necessary. This gate makes a good choice for busy areas of the house because it’s so easy to open and close.

The gate has a plastic guardrail on top to minimize the risk of your fingers getting pinched in the mechanism, and is fitted with metal hinges and locks. While this wooden gate won’t be as durable as the metal ones on this list, it does make a good alternative, and will still take some damage. Also, it’s better for the environment and much easier to repair or replace if it does get damaged. Overall this is a great choice if you need a get to fit a variety of doorways because it can easily be expanded to fit.

8. Carlson Extra Wide Walk Through Pet Gate

This gate is perfect if you have bigger dogs because it stands 30” tall, and so should hopefully keep even keen jumpers in their place. It can be expanded to fit doorways between 29’37” wide, and is really easy to install. Like many other metal dog gates, you simply screw it into place using the 4 pressure pads. This also means it shouldn’t slip around if your dog tries to jump up at it. The frame is made from stainless steel tubing, and so can take quite a lot of abuse from your dog.

The internal gate has a simple lift-up opening mechanism, and swings open both ways, making it really accessible and suitable for installing in a wide range of openings, including on the stairs. To make it even better, it has a small, 10” x 7” pet gate fitted, which you can leave open for animals such as cats, and still keep the bigger pets out. This is a great all-round dog gate suitable for using anywhere in the house, and the small pet door makes it great if you have multiple animals to think of.

9. Regalo 192 Inch Adjustable Pet Gate

If you happen to own a mansion, then this is the perfect pet gate for you. Measuring 192” wide, it can be used to partition off a whole section of a room, which can actually be really helpful if you’ve got several dogs you need to contain. This also means you have complete control over the amount of space you give your dog in the room, as the gate can either be screwed into place using the pressure pads, or left freestanding.

One of the best features of this gate is that it can easily be turned into an 8-panel pen, which is perfect for keeping your dog contained. This also means it’s great for setting up outdoors, or for taking on vacation if you need to shut your dog off somewhere. What’s more, it doesn’t even require any tools to do this, as the panels simply slot together. The gate has an internal walk-through gate with a simple yet durable locking mechanism, making this a great choice for using in bigger spaces.

10. North States Easy-Close Dog Gate

This gate is perfect if you’re looking for an easy to use and durable model. It’s made from stainless steel tubing, which means it’ll withstand lots of abuse from the most energetic dogs, and it’s powder coated to avoid rust and other damage. The dog gate locks into place using 4 pressure pads, which can easily be unscrewed when moving the gate to a different doorway. This model is expandable, and can fit doorways between 28-38.5” wide. It stands 29” tall too, making it a good choice if you have bigger dogs.

The internal gate has a really simple locking mechanism that can be opened with one hand, but holds the gate in place very securely when not in use. The gate swings both ways, meaning it can be set up in any opening, including the stairs. This is a great choice if you’re just looking for an accessible and value for money dog gate.

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Kyoko

Kyoko is from a family of 3 and moved to New York with her parents and siblings when she was 13. Kyoko is fond of spending a great amount of time with pets, specifically her beagle Luna and cat Missy. Her boyfriend often complains that she spends too much time giving attention to their animals. Kyoko has written dozens of articles concerning pets and is aiming at owning a pet shop one day!

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