Retractable dog gates are one of the most useful contraptions that you can buy if you have a dog. They are perfect for keeping your dog (and any fragile objects) safe in your home.
Before we review five of the best retractable dog gates in 2024, let’s discuss what you should consider when buying one.
To decide which gate you want, you should ask yourself what you need the gate for.
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What Can You Use Retractable Dog Gate for?
Retractable dog gates are a type of pet gate that can successfully stop your dogs from entering specific spaces and can be conveniently collapsed afterward to save space. They can typically be collapsed by rolling them up, sliding them open or folding them. This convenience is the main advantage of these barricades over other types such as swing gates.
These barriers are most commonly used indoors as a way to cordon off specific rooms or areas of your house.
Even if your dog is your best friend, there might be reasons why you want to limit their movement or where they can go. There might be hazardous plants or goods in your home, or your pet might enjoy chewing on some of your furniture.
Collapsible gates are ideal to use if you only need to close off spaces for specific periods of time, like if you do not want your pets and children to play unsupervised.
If you have ever raised a puppy, you would know that as part of introducing him or her to your home it’s necessary to let them get used to one room at a time. Doing this, helps them to feel safe and comfortable and helps to house train them.
Essential Attributes to Consider
To make sure that the product you want to buy is right for you check how well its features match your needs.
1. Location of the Gate
The type of gate that will work for you depends on where you want the gate to be set up.
Will the gate be in a passageway or between two walls or structures like on the top of stairs?
If so you can consider a gate that can be attached to a wall. If not you should probably buy a freestanding pet partition.
You should also measure the opening that the barricade should cover.
2. Ease of Opening or Collapsing
For your own sake, you probably don’t want to buy a gate that is too tricky to open, especially if it will be placed so that you will have to open it several times a day. At the same time, it should close safely enough that your pet can’t get through.
If by any chance your pet gate will double as a barrier for toddlers or babies you will want to buy one with more complicated locking and closing mechanisms.
3. Appearance
You don’t want your dog gate to be an eyesore in your home, even more so if it is situated in spaces like your living room.
Luckily, many of the barriers that are available are very stylish. You can find some in different kind shades and types of wood. The ones in softer material like fabric are often also available in different patterns and colors.
4. Safety and Durability
The material that the partition is made of should be sturdy enough to stand up to some punishment. Your dog will probably scratch the barrier at some point or jump up against it. You don’t want the gate to give way or to fall over.
To ensure that this feature matches your needs, check the material of the product and how it can be fastened. Some are much stronger than others and your gate should be able to take anything your pet throws at it.
5. Your Dog’s Size and Abilities
You need to consider the breed of your dog when you look for a gate. Companies manufacture these gates with different dogs in mind. You don’t want to buy a barrier for your Great Dane which is only tall enough for a Chihuahua. That’s why it’s crucial to double check the height of the product you want to buy.
Besides this, your dog shouldn’t be able to squeeze between the spaces in the barrier. If your pup is particularly athletic, you need to make sure that he or she won’t be able to jump over.
Here are some of the products that perform well based on these considerations.
5 Of The Best Retractable Dog Gates
Editor's Picks | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
Best Choices | Retract-A-Gate Safety Gate | |
Best Gate for Small Dogs | Carlson Pet Products 2323 DS Easy Fit Plastic | |
Best Value for Money Gate | Evenflo Expansion Walk Thru Room | |
Best Pet Gate for Stairs | Stair Barrier - Wall-to-Banister Baby/Pet | |
Best Mobile Pet Gate | Internet's Best Traditional Dog Gate |
For: Large dogs
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Retract-A-Gate safety gate is made from a mesh that can can be extended or rolled up to put it away neatly. This material is scratch resistant to make it dog proof. This partition needs to be mounted on the opposing surfaces of an opening using screws as you can see the video below. You can purchase additional spacer kits for a more secure fit.
A handy feature is that this barrier comes with an extra wall bracket that can be installed in another opening so that the gate can easily be relocated.
The gate comes in a 52 inch as well as a 72 inch wide variety. You can choose between a wide, beige, or black gate. Of these, the black one is definitely the most visually appealing. It is relatively see through so your dog won’t be completely shut out from the rest of the house.
One of its most prominent features is the fact that it automatically rewinds into a cylindrical roll with the use of a dial placed at the top.
Pros
Cons
For: Small dogs
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Carlson Pet Products Wide Pet Gate is an adjustable barrier that is pressure mounted to the wall. This makes this nifty gate very easy to install as it is only fitted to the wall with pressure mounted rubber bumpers. You don’t even need tools to set it up!
Carlson’s Pet Gate is made of a sturdy light grey plastic. The plastic has hexagonal holes across the barrier making it possible to see through it. This can be a pro or a con depending on what you want out of a gate and how your dog will react to being able to see the other side of the opening.
The appearance is not unattractive, but this type of plastic aesthetic isn’t to everybody's taste.
The gate is 28 to 42 inches wide and is 23 inches high. So, this partition will work for you if your dog is a small or medium breed.
Although the gate can easily be collapsed to open it, you will have to remount it afterwards.
Pros
Cons
For: Both babies and pets
Quality
Price
Our rating
Evenflo’s Walk Thru Room Divider is made of a wooden lattice that can be contracted and expanded. You can choose between a dark shade or a light shade of wood. The lattice has features that need to be mounted on surfaces on either side by bolting them into the wall with screws or nails.
The lattice is made extra safe with a “telescopic” plastic rail which helps to prevent your dogs paws or other body parts from being pinched when it is contracted.
However, the thin lattice means that it’s not as sturdy as some other barriers. Dogs will be able to seriously damage the gate by chewing or even repeatedly jumping against the gate. We all know that dogs are unpredictable so you have to prepare for the unexpected.
It can be used for openings from 24 to 60 inches wide. At 32 inches high, most dogs won’t be able to jump over the partition.
This retractable dog gate is very maneuverable and has more than one way to open. You can swing it open in any direction or simply contract it to walk through.
Pros
Cons
For: Both babies and pets
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Stair Barrier Signature Baby/Pet gate is designed to block the bottom of stairs. It is made of durable and high quality upholstery fabric. On one side the barrier needs to be attached with fixtures that are screwed into the wall. On the other side, it can be easily clipped around the stairs’ banister.
The video below shows you exactly what we mean.
The partition can screen off openings of 36 to 46 inches wide and is 32 inches high.
The retractable gate is made so that it can neatly be rolled up to the side when it isn’t needed. This convenience is definitely one of its best features.
The Stair Barrier comes in optional colors of gre and black, but the “Signature” gate is much more decorative.
Unlike many of the other gates, the “Signature” gate is nice to look at. It’s covered with a pleasant chevron pattern in black on a white background. The patch spelling “Welcome” adds a homely touch to the barrier.
Pros
Cons
For: Dogs of all size
Quality
Price
Our rating
The Internet’s Best Traditional Dog Gate is a freestanding collapsible gate. It’s made of four solid wood panels that can be folded into a Z pattern.
This accordion style partition’s best feature is its versatility. When folded, it’s only 3 inches wide and it’s open, you can extend it to an incredible 80 inches wide. Because the gate can be folded and opened in this way you will be able to use it as a barrier in a variety of places and can be moved around. At 36 inches tall the gate will work with pets of most sizes and heights.
Unlike many other gates, they can be used in any type of opening.
You can choose between a white coloured gate or beautifully dark espresso colored gate.
Pros
Cons
Picking The Winner
So, only one question remains, which of these retractable dog gates is the best?
That depends on what you would need the gate for and what dog you have. Here is a roundup of all the products:
Smart Retract | Carlson Pet Products | Evenflo | The Stair Barrier | Internet's Best | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Price | $$$ | $$ | $$ | $$$ | $$ |
Breed Suitability | Small to large but not really tiny dogs. | Small to medium | Small to large. | Small to large | Any size |
Need Installation | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Localtion | Anywhere between two surfaces | Between even surfaces | Anywhere between two surfaces | On the bottom of stairs | Anywhere |
Best feature | Automatically rewinds | Durable plastic material | Very Maneuverable | Can be rolled up | Mobile and can be moved around |
My review | 5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 | 4.5 / 5 |
My overall favourite is the Retract-a-Gate Safety Gate.
This retractable dog gate scores high on most of the crucial attributes. It’s durable and scratch resistant. And works for most breeds and sizes of dogs. In addition to this, unlike many of the gates, this partition can be attached to a wide variety of surfaces and can therefore cover a variety of openings. Its biggest disadvantage is its price.
What did you think about these partitions? Don’t forget to share the review if it has helped you and tell us in the comments if you have tried and tested one of these retractable dog gates.
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Hey there, I’m Ruby Smith, founder of Pet So Fun, and I’m here to provide you with useful information about your precious pet. All pets deserve the best care, don’t they? But not all pet owners have access to the right products and tips for their pets. And the central core of my work here is to change that.