Pet Supplies · Head-to-head
MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Exercise Pen with Door vs Richell Convertible Indoor/Outdoor Pet Playpen 6 Panel
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Pet Playpens: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The MidWest wire pen wins on the thing that decides this category, which is buying enough height for the money, and it folds away and holds up to chewing. The Richell costs more but fixes the wire pen's one structural flaw with vertical slats, and it converts into a gate once the puppy phase ends.
MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Exercise Pen with Door
Buy itThe default pick: five heights, folds flat, metal wire that holds up to chewing, and cheap enough to overbuy on height.
- Sold in about 24, 30, 36, 42, and 48 inch heights, so you can match the pen to the dog
- Accordion setup takes seconds with no tools, and it folds flat for storage
- Metal wire construction holds up to teething puppies better than mesh or plastic
- Add-on panels expand the footprint or reshape it around furniture
- Horizontal cross wires act as a ladder, and agile dogs are widely reported climbing out
- Many owners end up buying the separate wire top to close that gap
- Slides on hardwood and tile unless anchored or set on a mat
Richell Convertible Indoor/Outdoor Pet Playpen 6 Panel
Buy itVertical slats give climbers nothing to grip, and the panels combine into a gate or divider when the puppy phase ends.
- Vertical-slat panels with no horizontal rails, which removes the usual climbing foothold
- Panels combine into a playpen, hexagon, gate, or divider layout
- Durable blow-molded plastic wipes and hoses clean
- Locking door and tool-free assembly
- Large or pushy dogs can shove the whole pen across a smooth floor, and there is no built-in way to anchor it
- Costs well above a comparable wire pen and stores far less compactly
- In room-divider mode an agitated big dog can knock a panel out of alignment
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Exercise Pen with Door Our pick | Richell Convertible Indoor/Outdoor Pet Playpen 6 Panel | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Most puppy owners, and anyone who wants maximum containment height for the least money. | Owners of climbers, and anyone whose pen has to live permanently in a room they care about. |
| Price tier | $ · budget | $$$ · premium |
| Height options | Five heights, roughly 24 to 48 inches | Fixed, about 36 inches |
| Climb resistance | Weak: horizontal cross wires give a foothold | Strong: vertical slats only |
| Stability on hard floors | Slides unless staked, matted, or wall-backed | Wide base, but a big dog can push it |
| Expandability | Add-on panels, reshapes freely | 4 and 6 panel sets, extra panels sold separately |
| Setup and storage | Accordion open in seconds, folds flat | Tool-free, bulky to store |
| Chew and accident resistance | Steel wire, wipes clean | Rigid plastic, hoses off |
| Best use | Everyday containment on a budget | Everyday containment plus gate duty |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Exercise Pen with Door if
most puppy owners, and anyone who wants maximum containment height for the least money.
Know before buying: horizontal cross wires act as a ladder, and agile dogs are widely reported climbing out.
Pick the Richell Convertible Indoor/Outdoor Pet Playpen 6 Panel if
owners of climbers, and anyone whose pen has to live permanently in a room they care about.
Know before buying: large or pushy dogs can shove the whole pen across a smooth floor, and there is no built-in way to anchor it.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the MidWest Homes for Pets Foldable Metal Exercise Pen with Door - The default pick: five heights, folds flat, metal wire that holds up to chewing, and cheap enough to overbuy on height. Choose the Richell Convertible Indoor/Outdoor Pet Playpen 6 Panel instead if owners of climbers, and anyone whose pen has to live permanently in a room they care about.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Pet Playpens: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).