- This review contains affiliate links. Read more here.
When it comes to buying or renting a home, a fenced-in yard is the holy grail for dog owners. If you aren’t lucky enough to already have a fence in place at your home, don’t worry—it’s easy to add one yourself! From puppy playpens to heavy-duty outdoor fencing, a cheap dog fence could be the perfect solution to keep your dog safely contained.
The internet is full of options for dog fences but finding the right one at the right price can be a challenge. Fortunately for you, we’re here to help narrow down the choices. Read on to learn what to look for when shopping for dog fences and to see our top picks for cheap dog fences available online.
MidWest Folding Metal Exercise Pen
Available in multiple heights, this affordable dog pen can be arranged in different configurations and folds flat when not in use.
How to Choose the Right Dog Fence
When you start shopping around for dog fences, you may find that many of them look the same. When you get into the details, however, you’ll realize that there are key features that set one model apart from another and those are the details you need to pay attention to.
Here are some things to look for when you start shopping for a cheap dog fence:
- High-quality materials. The entire point of a dog fence is to keep your dog contained, so if you choose one made from flimsy materials your dog won’t have any trouble escaping.
- Wall height. The height of your dog fence needs to be appropriate for your dog’s size. Larger dogs will inevitably require taller fences while small dogs and puppies can be safely contained by smaller fences.
- Space and shape. For short periods of time, a small fence or playpen may be adequate but if you plan to keep your dog outside for any length of time, he’ll need space to do his business separately from the play area.
- Safety and stability. Safety is always your number-one priority for your dog, so choose a fence that firmly anchors to the ground or has an interlocking design that keeps it from falling over.
Dog fences come in many different shapes and forms from portable puppy playpens to permanent in-ground systems. Choosing the right dog fence is a matter of determining your needs and choosing a fence that is appropriate for your dog.
The 10 Best Options for a Cheap Dog Fence
You could easily spend several hundred dollars on a custom fence for your yard, but that might be more than you really need. We’ve compiled a list of the best cheap dog fences that get the job done without emptying your wallet. Many of the options listed below are under $100.
Best Basic Dog Exercise Pen
If you’re looking for a cheap dog fence you can throw up quickly and pack away when you’re done, this is a perfect choice. A classic exercise pen (x-pen), the MidWest Homes metal dog pen provides 16 square feet of enclosed space for your dog. The eight, two-foot-wide panels can be arranged in several configurations, including a divided space to keep two dogs “together but separate.” Plus, it comes in several heights.
MidWest Folding Metal Exercise Pen
Available in multiple heights, this affordable dog pen can be arranged in different configurations and folds flat when not in use.
Best Indoor/Outdoor Dog Fence
Made from heavy-duty molded plastic, the IRIS exercise pen can be used almost anywhere. It’s durable and weather-resistant for use in the yard but has rubber feet to protect the floors in your home. It consists of 8 panels which come together to provide over 21 square feet of space and it has a small door on the bottom so your pup can go in and out without you having to take apart the pen.
IRIS 8-Panel Exercise Pen
Thanks to its weather-resistant plastic material and soft rubber feet, this exercise pen can be set up and used nearly anywhere.
Best Indoor Pet Gates
This freestanding wooden fence is perfect for blocking off doorways, stairs, and areas where the dog isn’t allowed. Made from durable MDF, its three panels fold into a Z-shape that stands securely on its own. When you don’t need it, you can simply fold it up flat to store in a closet or garage. Keep in mind that this fence doesn’t come with wall-mounting fixtures, so it is best for dogs who respect boundaries. An escape artist may be able to knock it over.
Internet’s Best Pet Gate
This attractive wooden fence is freestanding, making it ideal for blocking off doorways, stairs, and other areas.
This tall gate boasts an attractive bronze matte finish and a swinging door that you can unlock to allow your dog or another small pet to pass through to the other side.
MyPet Extra Tall Petgate Passage Gate with Small Pet Door
Perfect for multi-pet households, this dog gate has a swinging pet door that allows smaller pets to pass through.
Best Outdoor Affordable Dog Fencing
This strong, secure dog exercise pen is made of steel fencing panels coated to prevent rust and corrosion. Each panel is 40″ high, so your excitable large breed puppy won’t be able to jump out.
It can easily be set up in a circle to create a sturdy outdoor dog pen or placed against a wall to encircle a particular area. The secure gate makes it easy for you to get in and out of the pen without letting the dog escape.
BestPet Heavy Duty Pet Playpen
This heavy-duty dog fence is made of coated steel panels to prevent corrosion and is tall enough to keep even large breed puppies securely inside.
If you’re in the market for a cheap dog fence that does it all, this is it. It’s an outdoor dog gate, playpen, and fence that can be used indoors, too. This extra-wide, mountable, convertible dog fence can be whatever you need it to be. It’s made from durable, weather-resistant steel, and the six gate panels let you set it up in any configuration you can imagine.
Carlson Pet Products 3-in-1 144-Inch Wide Pet Gate, Pen and Fence
Depending on how you configure it, this dog fence’s six panels can be set up as a dog gate and a playpen, too.
Best Bargain Dog Fences
This versatile, portable dog fence is a great choice for indoor and outdoor use. It’s easy to set up and fold down, but safe and secure when assembled. It has a step-through door so you can go in and out to hang with your pooch, and it comes in a variety of heights to accommodate puppies of all sizes but is tall enough for adult dogs as well.
Petmate 8 Panel Wire Exercise Pen with Door
Tall enough to accommodate both puppies and adult dogs, this portable dog fence is easy to set up and can be used indoors and out.
With its playful paw print design and light gray finish, this portable dog gate is a stylish choice to have on display in your home. It expands to fit openings between 26 and 40 inches wide. Plus, it relies on pressure mounting, so it’s easy to install and doesn’t require you to drill any holes in the wall or doorway.
North States 40″ Portable Pet Gate
This expandable gate is easy to set up and relies on a pressure mounting system, meaning no drilling or hammering is required to install it.
Best Backyard Cheap Dog Fences
If you’re looking for something unobstructive but more permanent than the previous options, this plastic dog fence is an affordable option.
This pet-friendly border fence installs in a jiffy to keep your dog in—and other animals out of—the yard. It’s made from strong plastic and can be used as temporary fencing or a more long-lasting solution.
It’s easy to install, but you’ll need some stakes or posts as well as zip ties or a staple gun.
Tenax Pet Fence
Need to block off a part of the yard from your dog? This sturdy plastic fencing is a great option that attaches to stakes or posts.
To prevent your dogs from digging underneath your backyard fence (or to keep pests from digging into yours), you need this Dig Defence XL barrier. Each pack comes with 15 in-ground panels made of steel rods that can be secured to the bottom of nearly any kind of fence.
Dig Defence XL (Maximum) Animal Dig Barrier
This steel in-ground panel deters your pet from digging underneath the fence, keeping him securely inside your yard.
Further Reading
Outdoor dog fencing keeps your dog in the yard and away from hazards like busy streets and wild animals. But how do you keep him safe indoors?
Dog gates are the perfect solution to keep your dog away from potential indoor dangers like the basement, garage, or pantry.
If you want something with a higher degree of security, consider an indoor dog pen to keep your dog confined when you can’t supervise him yourself.
No matter which option you choose, be sure to pick one that offers the appropriate amount of space and durability for your dog’s size and temperament.
Check out our guides to the best dog gates and the best indoor dog pens for ideas.
