Small pets
Small animal playpens
Small pets, big personalities.
25 items picked for everyday life with your pet, with shipping estimates on every item.
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All small animal playpens
Little essentials. Lots of love.
A little guidance
Help choosing small animal playpens
Buying guides and care advice written for this range: what to measure, what matters and what to skip.
From our guides
This page brings together playpens for small pets: DIY metal grid pens that can be shaped to fit your space, pet playpens with doors and mallets, portable wire playpens, guinea pig pens around 47 by 24 inches, covered small animal enclosures up to 87 inches with roofs for indoor or outdoor use, and pens with gates that connect to a cage. They suit rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas and other small pets that need safe exercise space. The guide below covers size, height and setup.
Why small pets need a playpen
Rabbits, guinea pigs and chinchillas need far more room to move than a cage alone provides. A playpen gives them a safe area to run, explore and stretch, either attached to their cage or as a separate play zone for daily exercise.
The House Rabbit Society describes a 4 by 4 foot exercise pen with free-roam time as an ideal setup for most rabbits, with at least four hours of active play a day. Guinea pigs also benefit from floor time every day to run, popcorn and forage.
Panel height and bar spacing
Panel height depends on the animal. Guinea pigs rarely jump, so low pens around 12 to 24 inches work well. Rabbits can jump surprisingly high, so 24 to 36 inches suits most, and athletic rabbits may need a covered pen. Chinchillas climb and jump, and usually need a fully enclosed pen.
Check the gap between bars. Small guinea pigs and young rabbits can squeeze through or get their heads stuck in wide gaps. Choose narrow spacing for small animals and supervise until you know your pet cannot slip through.
DIY panel pens and covered enclosures
DIY metal grid pens are made of connecting panels that clip together, so you can build a square, rectangle, L-shape or two-level layout and connect it to a cage door. They are easy to expand as your pet's needs change, and a door panel makes access easy.
Covered enclosures with roofs suit outdoor use and leapers, keeping pets in and predators such as hawks and cats out. Use outdoor pens only in mild weather, in shade, with water and a hiding place, and bring pets in if it is hot, cold or wet.
Setting up a safe play area
Lay a washable rug, fleece or grass mat inside the pen for grip, since small animals slip on hard floors. Add a hide box, hay, water and a few toys, and a litter box for rabbits. Remove cables, houseplants and anything chewable from within reach of the pen walls.
Supervise play time, especially at first, and check panel connectors regularly. Outdoors, secure the pen to the ground or use a mesh floor, since rabbits dig. If your pet stops eating or seems unwell, contact a vet who treats small animals promptly.
What size playpen do rabbits need?
A 4 by 4 foot pen is a common recommendation for one rabbit's exercise area, and larger is better. Rabbits also need several hours of active time outside a small enclosure every day.
How tall should a guinea pig playpen be?
Guinea pigs rarely jump, so a pen of about 12 to 24 inches usually works. Check bar spacing carefully, since small guinea pigs can squeeze through wide gaps.
Can small animal playpens be used outdoors?
Yes, in mild weather and with supervision, ideally with a roof or cover to keep out predators. Provide shade, water and a hiding place, and secure the pen against digging.
Can I connect a playpen to my pet's cage?
Many DIY panel pens can be joined to a cage door, giving your pet free access between the cage and the pen. Make sure the connection has no gaps.
What should I put inside a small animal playpen?
A non-slip mat or rug, a hide box, hay, water, toys and a litter box for rabbits. Keep cables and houseplants well out of reach of the pen walls.