12 DIY Dog Crate Table Plans You Can Make Today (With Pictures)
By Kit Copson
Updated on
If you’re fed up with ugly dog crates that just don’t go with your furniture, why not take matters into your own hands with a bit of DIY? With a simple dog crate and a few basic materials, you can make your own dog crate table, add a cozy, stylish touch to your dog’s chillout area, and really make the most of the space you have.
We’ve scoured the web for the best DIY dog crate tables, and we hope you leave feeling crafty and inspired! Please refer to the plans linked in each description for the specifics regarding materials, tools, and full instructions on how to complete each project.
12 DIY Dog Crate Table Plans
1. Easy Build DIY Dog Crate Side Table by The Palette Muse
| Materials: | Wood panel, dog crate, polyacrylic, stain, table legs, hinges |
| Tools: | Circular saw, palm sander, electric drill, drill bits |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
This cute, simple dog crate side table is perfect for small dogs that enjoy sleeping in your bedroom. The table is made to fit over the crate rather than being attached to it, which makes it easy to move around and rearrange whenever you feel like it. If you don’t feel like using tools to put everything together, a (very lazy) solution is to simply buy a table that fits over your crate!
2. Large DIY Double Dog Kennel from Build Blueprint
| Materials: | Lumber, hinges, rebar, pocket screws |
| Tools: | Cordless drill, tape measure, pocket-hole jig, miter or circular saw, screwdriver, sandpaper or sand block |
| Difficulty: | Medium-difficult |
If you’re a multiple-dog household and need something a little larger that looks classy instead of bulky, we recommend this double dog kennel for large dogs. This one may be a little hard for beginners, but if you’re patient and don’t mind spending a bit of time on a project, why not give it a go? If it’s a bit much for you, though, keep reading for simpler options.
3. DIY Dog Kennel Cover by DesignCo
| Materials: | Pine plywood, fence boards, wood glue, wood screws, oak trim, paint, wood conditioner, stain, polyurethane |
| Tools: | Circular saw, miter saw, table saw, drill, sander, pocket-hole jig, tape measure |
| Difficulty: | Medium |
For those with a hefty tool set already on hand, this simple design turns a boring dog crate into an elegant coffee table. We’d recommend this project for intermediate and advanced DIY-ers that don’t mind a bit of a challenge, as it’s pretty equipment heavy but the end product is definitely worth it.
4. DIY Wooden Dog Crate Cabinet by Woodshop Diaries
| Materials: | Plywood, boards, dowel rods, dowel for joinery, pocket-hole screws, butt hinges, surface blot latch, wood glue, wood putty, edge banding, paint, spray paint, poly |
| Tools: | Circular saw, miter saw, pocket hole jig, Forstner bit, dowel jig, nail gun, cutting guides |
| Difficulty: | Medium |
For medium-sized dogs, you might want to consider making this cabinet crate, the top of which can be used as a table to put your bits and bobs on. This cabinet fits in beautifully as a piece of furniture with its warm, modern appearance. It offers plenty of space for medium-sized dogs (or even large dogs, if you’re happy to change up the dimensions) in need of something a bit roomier.
5. DIY Dog Crate Cover by Heather’s Handmade Life
| Materials: | Wood, stain, crate, screws |
| Tools: | Sander, drill, saw |
| Difficulty: | Easy-medium |
This sweet dog crate cover doubles up as an end table for you to pop your cup of tea or a book on while your dog snoozes. It looks like the perfect size for a small-sized dog (it was originally made for a Boston Terrier) but could certainly be adapted for larger dogs. The creator didn’t adhere to strict measurements, so if going with what works well at the time is more your style, this could be just the DIY project you’re looking for!
6. Tasteful DIY IKEA Bench Dog Crate from IKEA Hackers
| Materials: | Ikea storage bench, hinges, hook for door |
| Tools: | Drill, tools to reinforce the floor and top |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
If you aren’t that hot on DIY, you can minimize the hassle with a ready-made IKEA bench. This Ikea bench was made into a dog crate for a small dog, measuring around 20 inches at the shoulder. We couldn’t find specifics as to the tools needed for this project, but judging by the picture, it doesn’t seem like you’d need too many.
7. DIY Barn Door Dog Crate by Shanti 2 Chic
| Materials: | Plywood, barn wood, wood glue, spray paint, pocket-hole screws, metal bars |
| Tools: | Saw, drill, jig saw, cobalt drill bit, clamp |
| Difficulty: | Medium-difficult |
This cozy dog crate is a great idea for medium to large-sized dogs. Instead of using a standard metal crate, this crate is made from scratch from plywood and leftover barn wood. If you’re up for a bit of a challenge, the end result is truly beautiful. We love the rustic-style door that gives it such a cozy, comfortable vibe.
8. DIY Dog Crate with Sliding Door by Woodshop Diaries
| Materials: | Drawer slides, plywood, pocket-hole screws, wood screws, wood glue, edge banding |
| Tools: | Kreg pocket-hole jig, drill, miter saw, circular saw, clamp |
| Difficulty: | Medium-difficult |
As adaptable as wire crates are, they do have an unmistakable “prison” look about them. If you’d like something that doesn’t feel so “shut up”, this awesome DIY dog crate utilizes a sliding door instead. It doesn’t appear to be the easiest crate to make, but it doesn’t require any hard-to-come-by materials and is put together with a few simple tools.
9. DIY Crib Dog Crate by My Love 2 Create
| Materials: | An old crib, plywood, pocket-hole screws, hinges, bolts, paint, poly sanding |
| Tools: | Miter saw, drill, clamp, circular saw |
| Difficulty: | Medium-difficult |
If your dog is medium-large in size, repurposing an old crib as this creator did is a great way to give them the space they need. By covering the top with wood, it can double up as a shelter for your dog and a tabletop. It clearly takes quite a bit of time to put everything together, so this DIY dog crate may be best for an experienced crafter.
10. DIY IKEA Dog Cage Table by IKEA Hackers
| Materials: | Ikea table, lattice pieces, dog crate, panels, magnets |
| Tools: | Saw, hot glue |
| Difficulty: | Easy-medium |
Another great design by Ikea hackers, this IKEA table was jazzed up with a few lattice pieces, some magnets, and some hot glue. We’re seriously impressed by how the creator managed to turn a drab black metal crate into a classy piece of furniture with only a few simple tools and materials. We think this one should be fine for beginners and intermediate DIY-ers.
11. DIY IKEA Hack Pet Bed/Table from IKEAPets
| Materials: | Ikea storage table |
| Tools: | Saw, marker, metal file, gloves, protection glasses/goggles |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
Though not a full-on crate with a door, this simple IKEA table-turned-cat/dog-bed offers small dogs a comfy, private spot to chill out in. It’s just the right size for your dog’s favorite cushion or fluffy blanket, too. The steps are super simple—all you need to do is saw off some of the bars, pop in a cushion or blanket, and voila!
12. DIY IKEA Furniture Dog Crate System by IKEA Hackers
| Materials: | IKEA desks, crates |
| Tools: | Drill |
| Difficulty: | Easy |
To finish off—another IKEA hack! This one is so simple that you may not need any extra tools or materials other than the desks and some standard dog crates. The construction appears to be as simple as popping the crates under the desks and kitting them out to make your dog comfortable. This is a great option for people who aren’t too comfortable with DIY but want a simple way to hide ugly crates around their homes.
Conclusion
If you don’t mind spending a bit of time on a DIY project and enjoy a challenge, building a DIY dog crate table from scratch is likely more up your alley. If you’re looking to get started in DIY, there are plenty of easy DIY table crates that require minimal materials and tools.
For DIY-phobes who like to keep things as simple as possible, you can always go the easy route with a piece of—usually IKEA—furniture and place your dog’s crate inside it!
Whichever option you choose, we hope you’ve enjoyed perusing the amazing works of the very talented creators above and have found some inspiration for your dog crate table project.
See also: 15 DIY Dog Crate Covers You Can Make at Home: Simple Plans!
Featured Image Credit: Jus_Ol, Shutterstock
