Crate storage is really two different problems depending on what you own. A collapsible crate folds flat and goes anywhere. A wire or plastic one is a large rigid object that has to live somewhere whether you are using it or not.
Mine collapses, which is why it moves between the car and indoors depending on whether I am taking her anywhere. That flexibility is the whole benefit, and it is not available with a rigid crate. Our note on what size crate you need covers choosing one.
Quick Answer
Collapse it if it collapses, make sure it is completely dry before storing, and keep it somewhere dry and out of sun. Fabric crates need the most care and take the least space.
Storage by Type
| Type | Folds to | Storage need |
|---|---|---|
| Fabric | Flat, a few inches | Minimal, keep dry |
| Wire | Flat panels | Needs a wall or gap |
| Plastic carrier | Sometimes splits in half | Bulky either way |
| Wooden or furniture | Does not fold | Stays as furniture |
| Heavy-duty | Does not fold | Permanent footprint |
Dry It Before Anything Else
This is the step that decides whether a crate comes out of storage usable, and it applies most to fabric.
Fabric panels hold moisture in the weave even when the surface feels dry, and folded damp fabric develops mildew within days in a warm space.
Anything that has been cleaned needs to be fully dry rather than nearly dry, which usually means longer than seems necessary.
A crate stored damp comes out smelling, and once mildew is in fabric it is difficult to remove entirely. Our note on choose dog gear covers the washing.
What Mine Does
It collapses down and either stays in the car or comes inside, depending on whether I expect to be taking her anywhere.
If I know I am not going with her for a while, it comes in and gets stored indoors rather than taking up space in the car for no reason.
That back-and-forth is only practical because folding it takes a moment and it goes flat. A wire crate would have stayed wherever I first put it.
It is also the reason the crate gets used at all rather than becoming a large object I resent. Our note on using a crate as a travel carrier covers the car side.
Long-Term Versus Between-Trips
Storage means two different things and they want different handling.
Between-trip storage is days or weeks, and it mostly needs the crate somewhere out of the way and dry. A quick shake out and a fold is enough.
Long-term storage is months, and that is where the problems accumulate. Fabric holds smells, mildew develops from moisture nobody noticed, and pests find hair and residue attractive.
The difference in effort is small: a proper clean and a genuine drying period before long-term storage, against a fold and a stow between trips.
Getting that wrong in the other direction is the common version, where a crate stored for a season comes out needing cleaning before it can be used. Our note on cleaning a dog bed covers the washing.
Where to Store It
Dry above all
Damp storage areas cause mildew in fabric and corrosion on wire, and both happen slowly enough to go unnoticed.
Out of direct sun
Sunlight degrades fabric over months, and a crate stored in a sunny spot fades and weakens.
Flat rather than leaning
A folded fabric crate stored on edge under weight develops creases the frame does not fully recover from.
Somewhere you will actually retrieve it from
A crate stored inconveniently stops being used, which defeats owning it. Our note on setting up for a dog covers space generally.
Temperature is the factor people forget alongside damp. A crate stored somewhere that swings between hot and cold, like a garage or an attic, expands and contracts through the seasons, and fabric and plastic both age faster for it than they would somewhere stable.
Wire Crates Are the Awkward Case
They collapse into a stack of flat panels, which sounds compact and is heavy and unwieldy.
The panels are hinged rather than separate, so the folded shape is fixed and does not fit into odd spaces the way fabric does.
Sliding one behind a wardrobe or under a bed is the usual solution, and both work if the gap is deep enough.
Wire also picks up surface rust in damp storage, particularly at the joints and coating chips, which is worth checking before reassembling one after months away. Our roundup of dog gates covers the types.
Getting It Out Again
A crate that has been folded for months does not always go back up cleanly, and it is worth knowing what to expect.
Fabric holds creases along the fold lines, and those relax over a day or two once the crate is assembled and under its own tension.
A stored smell is the more common complaint, and airing it outside for a few hours clears most of what is not actual mildew.
Frame joints on a fabric crate can stiffen, and forcing one is how a pole gets bent. Working it gently is the difference between a crate that lasts and one that does not.
Wire crates sometimes have surface rust at joints after damp storage, which is worth checking before a dog goes in rather than after. Our roundup of small dog crates covers replacements.
Keeping the Parts Together
Trays, dividers, covers, and any clips or pins are what go missing between uses.
Storing them inside the folded crate, or in a bag taped to it, avoids the situation where the crate is fine and the divider is gone.
Photographing the assembled crate before folding it is worth doing once, since reassembly after months is where people discover a piece is missing or facing the wrong way.
Fabric crates have fewer parts than wire ones, which is another reason they survive periods of storage better. Our note on crate covers covers the accessories.
None of that takes long, and it is the difference between a crate that comes back out ready and one that needs work before it can be used again.
Before It Goes Away
Clean it rather than storing it as it comes out of use, since hair and residue attract pests and set into fabric over months.
Check the frame and fastenings while it is out, because a bent frame or a broken clip discovered at storage time is easier to deal with than one discovered when you need the crate.
Note where the parts are, even roughly, since months is long enough to forget.
And decide honestly whether it is coming back out. A crate stored for years because it might be needed is furniture in a cupboard rather than equipment. Our note on dog leashes for small dogs covers the same principle.
Storing a Dog Crate FAQ
How do I store a dog crate?
Collapse it if it collapses, make sure it is completely dry, and keep it somewhere dry and out of sun. Whether it folds decides how easy this is.
Do fabric crates fold flat?
Yes, to a few inches, which is what makes moving one between the house and the car practical. Mine goes back and forth depending on whether I am taking her anywhere.
Why does it matter if it is dry?
Fabric holds moisture in the weave and folded damp fabric develops mildew within days. Once mildew is in fabric it is hard to remove entirely.
Where should I store it?
Somewhere dry, out of direct sun, and stored flat rather than leaning under weight. Also somewhere you will actually go and get it from.
How do wire crates store?
Into a stack of hinged flat panels that are heavy and awkward. Sliding one behind furniture or under a bed is the usual answer.
What about the tray and divider?
Store them with the crate, inside the fold or in a bag attached to it. Those are the parts that go missing between uses.
Should I clean it first?
Yes. Hair and residue attract pests and set into fabric over months, and cleaning it later is harder than cleaning it now.
Does sun matter in storage?
Over months, yes. Sunlight degrades fabric and fades it, and a crate stored in a bright spot weakens where one stored in shade does not.
