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Quick pick
- Small apartment or a corner of the lounge: the Carlson 4-panel plastic pen, 61 cm high and about 91 x 91 cm on the floor (first card below).
- Room for a bed and a pad tray side by side: the IRIS USA 6-panel plastic pen with a door, about 154 cm across (second card).
- No bars for tiny paws and heads: the FXW AuraSpace clear acrylic pen (third card).
- Soft pen for visits and weekends away: the X-ZONE PET fabric pen in Medium (fourth card).
What a playpen is for (and what it is not)
A playpen is a fenced area, usually 1 to 2 square metres, where a puppy can play and nap without getting into the rest of the house. It sits between a crate, which is a small den for sleeping, and free run of the home. Most owners use one for short stretches during the first months, such as while they are cooking dinner or on a work call.
It is not a place to leave a puppy for most of the day. Young puppies need company and regular toilet breaks. How long a puppy can comfortably spend in a pen depends on age and temperament, so ask your vet or a qualified trainer for advice on your own dog.
60 cm or 80 cm: picking a height
Most pens come in heights of roughly 60, 80, 100 and 115 cm. For a Chihuahua, Maltese, Toy Poodle or Shih Tzu puppy, a 60 cm pen is a common starting point, and the lower walls make it easier for you to step over or lean in to lift a puppy out.
Height starts to matter with dogs that jump or climb. Jack Russells and Miniature Pinschers are quick to test a fence, and so are plenty of Cavoodle and Spoodle puppies. A pen with horizontal bars can work like a ladder. If your puppy is likely to grow past 8 to 10 kg or is already scrambling at the panels, an 80 cm pen, or a smooth-sided pen with no footholds, may suit better. Watch your puppy for the first few days and go taller if you see climbing.
Gaps and latches for tiny puppies
An eight-week-old toy breed may weigh only 1 kg, with a head small enough to fit through gaps that look narrow to us. This is the detail people tend to skip.
- Bar spacing. Look for the gap size on the listing. Many listings leave it out, including the plastic pens below, so measure the gaps yourself when the pen arrives. Hold a tape measure against your puppy's head and paws, and if the gap looks close, choose a solid-panel pen or line the lower part of the pen until your puppy grows.
- Door latch. A puppy that leans on the door should not be able to pop it open. Two latches, or a latch at the top and bottom, help.
- Threshold. Some doors have a raised bar at floor level. A threshold-free door is easier to walk through with a pad tray, but check that your puppy cannot squeeze under the door when it is shut.
- Panel joins. Push on each join once the pen is set up. Pens that join with clips or hinges can work loose, and a curious puppy will find the weak spot.
Indoors or outdoors
Metal and acrylic pens are mainly made for indoor use, though many metal pens come with ground stakes. Outdoors in Australia, think about heat first. Steel bars soak up the sun, and a pen gives no shade of its own, so a small puppy inside one can overheat quickly. If you use a pen in the backyard or on a balcony, put it in full shade with water and stay nearby. On hot days, bring your puppy inside.
Plastic panel pens stay cooler to the touch than steel, but a pen in the sun is still a hot spot for a small puppy. Clear acrylic pens are indoor only. Soft fabric pens suit short indoor or travel use, but a teething puppy can chew through mesh, so they are not a good choice for an unsupervised chewer.
Setting up a pen in an apartment
A 4-panel pen of about 91 x 91 cm tucks into the corner of most living rooms, while a 6-panel pen around 154 cm across takes up about as much floor as a small rug. Measure the space before you buy, leaving room to open the door.
- Lay a washable mat or a cheap rug under the pen. It protects timber and laminate floors and stops the panels sliding.
- Keep it clear of heaters and balcony doors. Puppies chew power cords, so check none run behind the panels.
- Place it where your puppy can see you. A pen in a back room can feel lonely.
- If you share walls, a soft mat under the pen and a chew toy on hand can reduce some of the rattling and barking in the early days.
Joining a pen to a crate and a toilet area
A common layout puts a crate at one end of the pen with its door left open and the toilet spot at the far end, with water somewhere between the two. Your puppy gets a den to sleep in and a toilet spot well away from the bed. Our crate guide for apartments covers sizing, and the puppy pad and indoor toilet guide explains the main pad and tray options.
The Carlson and IRIS USA listings both say extra panels are sold separately, which helps if you want a bigger area later. Check the listing for which add-on panels fit before you order them.
A Christmas puppy: set up before the day
If a puppy is joining your family over Christmas, put the pen together a few days early. Choose a quiet spot away from the tree and the fairy-light cords. Chocolate can poison dogs, and so can the dried fruit in Christmas pudding and fruit cake, so keep them well out of reach. With visitors coming and going, the pen gives your puppy somewhere calm to rest and stops it slipping out an open door. Our puppy essentials checklist and the printable first-week checklist list what else to have ready.
How the four pens compare
Sizes are as shown on each Amazon listing when we looked. Check the current listing before you buy.
| Pen | Type | Height | Floor size on listing | Where it suits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlson, 4 panels | Plastic panels, door with sliding lock | 61 cm | 91 x 91 cm | Apartments, a corner of the lounge |
| IRIS USA, 6 panels | Plastic panels, door panel, rubber feet | 60 cm | 154 x 154 cm | A bed and pad tray in one pen |
| FXW AuraSpace, 8 panels | Clear acrylic panels | 60 cm | 100 x 100 cm | Very small puppies and climbers, indoors |
| X-ZONE PET, Medium | Fabric and mesh, zip top | 58 cm | 91 cm across | Short supervised use and trips away |
The shortlist
All four were shown with an Add to cart button on Amazon Australia when we checked on 3 November 2026. Stock and sellers change, so check again before you order.
Carlson 4-Panel Plastic Pet Pen, 61 cm (24 inch), White, with Door and Lock
This Carlson pen has four white plastic panels and is listed at 91.4 x 91.4 x 61 cm, with a 16 inch (about 41 cm) door that closes with a sliding lock. The listing describes it for puppies and whelping, indoors or out, and says 2-panel extensions are sold separately.
Caveat: It is a small space, so a crate and pad tray may not both fit inside. The listing does not give the gap between the panel slats, so measure it against your puppy. Amazon AU ships and sells it, but stock was very low when we checked, so it may sell out.
IRIS USA 24 Inch Exercise 6-Panel Pet Playpen with Door, White
This IRIS USA pen has five plastic panels and a door panel that snap together, with rubber feet on each panel to protect floors and stop sliding. The listing gives it as 61 x 61 x 24 inches (about 154 x 154 x 60 cm) and says more panels can be added.
Caveat: At about 1.5 metres across it needs a clear patch of floor. Plastic panels are lighter than steel, so a strong or determined dog may push the pen along the floor. Amazon AU ships and sells it, but only a few were left when we checked.
FXW AuraSpace Clear Acrylic Indoor Dog Playpen, 60 cm, 8 Panels, Black
Clear panels with a black frame, listed at 100 x 100 x 60 cm. The listing says there are no climbing bars and that paws cannot get caught in gaps. It also says the panels wipe clean and go together without tools.
Caveat: This is an indoor pen. Clear panels show smudges and nose marks, and some puppies settle better with a solid side or a blanket over one panel. It is shipped by Amazon and sold by FXW AU.
X-ZONE PET Portable Foldable Playpen, 600D Oxford Cloth, Medium (Blue)
A fabric and mesh pen listed at 36 inches (about 91 cm) across and 23 inches (about 58 cm) high. It has a zip front door and a top cover that zips off, and it packs into its own carry case.
Caveat: Fabric and mesh are not chew-proof, so this is not a pen to leave a teething puppy in unsupervised. A strong or determined dog can push it around. It is shipped by Amazon and sold by X-ZONE PET AUS.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Gives a puppy a safe area while you are busy nearby
- Keeps the bed and the toilet spot in one place
- Keeps teething jaws away from skirting boards and power cords
- Folds away once your dog is trained
Cons
- It does not replace company and regular toilet breaks
- Some puppies climb or push on panels
- Gaps can be too wide for very small puppies
- Metal pens get hot in the sun outdoors
Common setup mistakes
- Buying a pen without measuring the floor space, then finding the door will not open.
- Choosing by height alone and not checking gap size for a 1 kg puppy.
- Putting the pen in direct sun on a deck or courtyard.
- Placing the toilet pad right next to the bed.
- Leaving a teething puppy alone in a fabric pen.
- Using the pen as a long-term spot for the whole workday.
Frequently asked questions
Is a 60 cm playpen tall enough for a small dog?
For most toy and small-breed puppies, yes. Breeds that jump or climb, such as Jack Russells, may need 80 cm or a smooth-sided pen. Watch your puppy for the first week.
Do I need a crate if I have a playpen?
Not always, but many owners use both. A crate gives a small, den-like place to sleep, and the pen gives room to move. Our crate guide has sizing tips.
Can I put puppy pads in a playpen?
Yes. Put them at the opposite end from the bed and water. A pad holder or tray stops a puppy shredding loose pads. See our puppy pad guide.
Can a playpen go on a balcony?
Only with care. Set it up in full shade, well back from the railing, and stay close by. Bring your puppy inside in hot or stormy weather.
How long can a puppy stay in a playpen?
It depends on your puppy's age and temperament. Ask your vet or a qualified trainer, and plan regular breaks to toilet and play.
How we choose
For this guide we compared the main types of puppy playpen and read the size and seller details on the four Amazon Australia listings we link, on 3 November 2026. We have not tested these pens ourselves, and we have not verified the safety or durability claims on the listings. Check the details on each Amazon page before you buy.
This guide is research-based. We have not hands-on tested these products. We compare manufacturer and listing specifications and general guidance, and any pros, cons and picks are the Small Paw Guide editorial team's own assessment, not test results. We do not show prices or customer feedback, so check the current listing before you buy. See how we work and our affiliate disclosure. The review date for this guide is shown under its title.
If you only do one thing before your puppy comes home, put the pen up and hold a tape measure against the gaps.
Keep reading
- Best Dog Crates for Small Dogs in Australian Apartments: Choosing a crate to sit inside or beside the pen as a sleeping den.
- Best Indoor Dog Toilets and Puppy Pads for Australian Apartments: Pads, trays and holders for the toilet end of the pen.
- Puppy Essentials Checklist Australia: What to Buy First: What else to have ready before a new puppy comes home.
- Best Puppy Toys for Chewing in Australia: Safe chew toys to keep a teething puppy busy in the pen.
- Best Dog Beds for Small Dogs in Australia: A bed or mat for the sleeping corner of the pen.
More in this topic: gear and setup guides, or browse all guides.