Let’s face it—sometimes it’s downright inconvenient to take your dog out to go to the bathroom. Imagine you’re cooking dinner, and your four-legged friend has to go. You’d love to not have to stop to see your dog out— and burn the lasagna in the process. Wouldn’t it be rewarding to have some of the hard work taken care of for you?
If it’s possible in your home, adding a doggy door might alleviate a lot of the headaches. If you aren’t sure where to start shopping, we rounded up the best seven dog doors we could find for you to consider. Let’s take a look at these reviews.
A Quick Comparison of Our Favorites in 2023
Image Product Details
Best Overall
PetSafe White Wall Entry Plastic Pet Door
Fits most doors and walls
Provides adequate insulation
Perfect for multi-pet households
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Best Value
BarksBar Plastic Dog Door
Easy installation
Keeps inclement weather out
2 size options
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Premium Choice
Endura Flap Dog & Cat Door
Terrific for cold weather
Attractive design
Magnetic strip to secure flap
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Best for Puppies
MidWest Ferplast 4-Way Locking Pet Door
Terrific way to train puppies
4-way lock
Wind and draft resistant
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PetSafe Sliding Glass Pet Door
For sliding glass doors
Not cutting required
No damage to existing door
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The 7 Best Dog Doors:
PetSafe White Wall Entry Plastic Pet Door is our favorite dog door overall. We think it definitely works the best for the broadest spectrum of dog owners. It fits into any wall surface, including brick and stucco. So, you don’t have to worry about fitting it directly onto an existing door.
Type of Door: Wall Entry
Dimensions: 21.88” x 21.1” x 14.2”
Difficulty: Easy
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There is a side-in closing panel that boosts insulation and controls access points. If you don’t want your dog out at specific times or you won’t be home, it’s easy to lock up worry-free. It’s also weather-friendly, protecting your entryway from the outdoor elements.
The dimensions of the entire product are 21.88” x 21.1” x 14.2”. The flap itself measures 16.3” x 10.3”. It works for small to large breed dogs, covering multi-pet households. We were pleased with the size and how simple it was to assemble fully.
We think this is a pretty good deal for most families.
Pros
Fits most doors and walls
Provides adequate insulation
Perfect for multi-pet households
Cons
Won’t work for all structures
BarksBar Plastic Dog Door is a really fabulous option for the thrifty buyer. At a modest cost, this door gets the job done while taking it easy on your wallet. It doesn’t offer as much security or durability as some options—but we think it’s the best dog door for the money.
Fits most doors and walls
Provides adequate insulation
Perfect for multi-pet households
- Fits most doors and walls
- Provides adequate insulation
- Perfect for multi-pet households
Won’t work for all structures
- Won’t work for all structures
Type of Door: Wall Entry
Dimensions: 11.25” x 7” x 2”
Difficulty: Easy
This dog door is plastic with aluminum ling around the edges. Even though it might not be the best at combatting extreme weather, testing has shown effectiveness in reducing temperature interference. The whole flap is very flexible but doesn’t warp with wear.
This BarksBar door comes in two sizes, so make sure the dimensions work for your home and pup. We were also impressed at how quick it took to put it together. There is also a self-locking slide panel for times when you need to lock up to leave or rest.
Pros
Affordable
Keeps inclement weather out
2 size options
Cons
Not as much security as some
If you live in a colder area—or just want more security—the Endura Flap Double Flap Wall Mount Dog & Cat Door is a dog door to consider. It’s a little more expensive than some, but the added layers of reinforcement might be worth it for the right buyer.
Affordable
Keeps inclement weather out
2 size options
- Affordable
- Keeps inclement weather out
- 2 size options
Not as much security as some
- Not as much security as some
Type of Door: Insulated wall entry
Dimensions: 30” x 15.6” x 28”
Difficulty: Difficult
The setup is a little more complex than like models, but with the construction—it makes sense. The instructions are easy to follow so you can put it up with ease.
Keeping décor in mind with function, it comes in three neutral colors: white, black, and tan. You can choose whatever works best on our home wall. There are also four sizes total, from small to extra-large, so make sure to look over specific dimensions.
There is a magnetic strip around the rim of the flap. It can withstand winds up to 50 miles per hour. Plus, it’s adjustable, which we found impressive.
Pros
Terrific for cold weather
Attractive design
Magnetic strip to secure flap
Cons
Expensive
Complex
- MidWest Ferplast 4-Way Locking Pet Door – Best for Puppies
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Type of Door: Wall Entry
Dimensions: 9.4” x 8.9” x 9.9”
Difficulty: Easy
If you want to acclimate your puppy early, you can try the MidWest Ferplast 4-Way Locking Pet Door. This option will only work for toy breeds and small puppies, but it’s a nice way to get the ball rolling. This isn’t a suitable option for long-term use, as it won’t hold up for years.
Terrific for cold weather
Attractive design
Magnetic strip to secure flap
- Terrific for cold weather
- Attractive design
- Magnetic strip to secure flap
Expensive
Complex
- Expensive
- Complex
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Type of Door: Wall Entry
Dimensions: 9.4” x 8.9” x 9.9”
Difficulty: Easy
This dog door is wind and draft resistant, so you can use this door in chilly or toasty temperatures without noticing much difference in your electric bill. There is a lock on the inside of the door panel with four different options.
The dimensions of this particular dog door were 9.4” x 8.9” x 9.9”. So, your small dog or young pup can come and go without issue. Clearly, once they start to mature, it will be time to change it out for a bigger one.
If you want a trainer door—this is really your best bet. However, it might be too small for even some very young puppies.
Pros
Terrific way to train puppies
4-way lock
Wind and draft resistant
Cons
Not for larger breeds
Will not last as long as stronger models
PetSafe Sliding Glass Pet Door might be exactly what you need if you have a glass door. It might seem complicated, but the instructions are easy to follow, and it’s a no-cut installation, so it should be pretty easy for you. Everything you need to get started is included in the box.
Terrific way to train puppies
4-way lock
Wind and draft resistant
- Terrific way to train puppies
- 4-way lock
- Wind and draft resistant
Not for larger breeds
Will not last as long as stronger models
- Not for larger breeds
- Will not last as long as stronger models
Type of Door: Sliding glass
Dimensions: 42.5” x 13.5” x 81”
Difficulty: Easy
There are three sizes-small, medium, and large. Make sure to double-check dimensions, so it works for your home and your pooch. You can just as easily install this door on a wall—so you can get creative about where to place it, including stucco, brick, or siding.
This door comes with a double-flap design which helps lock air to keep outdoors, outdoors. We really appreciate the overall efficiency of this product. Plus, there is no complicated assembly. It fits nicely into any sliding glass door with no consequence to the original material—you can even use it in apartments.
However, obviously, this will only be useful to you if you have the right door for it.
Pros
For sliding glass doors
Not cutting required
No damage to existing door
Cons
For sliding glass only
If you live in an area that experiences some pretty extreme temperatures, the Ideal Pet Products Designer Series Ruff-Weather Pet Door is worth viewing. In our honest opinion, it’s the most weather-friendly option on our list.
For sliding glass doors
Not cutting required
No damage to existing door
- For sliding glass doors
- Not cutting required
- No damage to existing door
For sliding glass only
- For sliding glass only
Type of Door: Insulated
Dimensions: 5.75” x 13.94” x 21.63”
Difficulty: Intermediate
The flap on this dog door is tinted, which is UV-resistant. You can get this product in four sizes: small, medium, extra-large, and super large. Because of the size and sturdiness of this pet door, you must place it in a wall or door that will accommodate its fit.
The entire concept of this design was to incorporate optimal insulation and energy efficiency. It’s designed to withstand not only extreme temperatures but basically any type of natural event Mother Nature can throw your way—withstanding winds up to 50 miles per hour.
The frame is sturdy aluminum, but once it’s installed, it’s sleek and modern. It’s the real deal—the flat won’t yellow in the sun, it has a secure locking system, and it’s all-season friendly. But it might be a complicated installation for some.
Pros
Built for extreme storms and temperatures
Heavy-duty, withstanding winds up to 50 mph
Secure locking system
Cons
Complicated installation
Not compatible with flimsy doors or walls
If you need an efficient product that does the intended job, Ideal Pet Products Screen Guard Pet Door might be able to help you out. This is a straightforward product with a vinyl flap with a magnetic closure to separate the inside and outside efficiently.
Built for extreme storms and temperatures
Heavy-duty, withstanding winds up to 50 mph
Secure locking system
- Built for extreme storms and temperatures
- Heavy-duty, withstanding winds up to 50 mph
- Secure locking system
Complicated installation
Not compatible with flimsy doors or walls
- Complicated installation
- Not compatible with flimsy doors or walls
Type of Door: Screen door
Dimensions: 19.5” x 16” x 13.5”
Difficulty: Easy
You have a lot of wiggle room here as this product is available in several sizes. This doggy door is particularly useful because it is designed for screen doors, unlike many similar models. It is engineered to adhere to the screen mesh without ruining the integrity of the door.
For security, there is a lock-out slide panel to control access. In spite of our first impression, it was relatively easy to install. Since this door is installed on a screen, it is slightly more fragile. But if you place the door correctly, it should work beautifully.
Pros
Works on screen doors
Lock-out slide panel
Comes with magnetic rim on vinyl flap
Cons
More fragile than some
For screen doors only
Works on screen doors
Lock-out slide panel
Comes with magnetic rim on vinyl flap
- Works on screen doors
- Lock-out slide panel
- Comes with magnetic rim on vinyl flap
More fragile than some
For screen doors only
- More fragile than some
- For screen doors only
Buyer’s Guide: Finding the Best Dog Door
Attractive Attributes
Sealing
You don’t want to invite the wilderness inside. Having a flap that seals correctly is crucial. Many dog doors have magnetic or resealable components along the outskirts of the flap to attach them to the door frame when not in use.
Safety
Your dog’s safety and that of your household members are paramount. It would help if you had a completely safe door, not allowing any intruders or unwanted escapes.
Locking
All dog doors should have some locking mechanism. It’s important to keep your home secure from wildlife, weather, and intruders outside.
Extra Perks or Add-Ons
Easy Assembly
Installing a dog door might sound like a headache, but not all doors are ultra-complicated. Finding a well-made dog door that’s easy to put together is luckily not as hard as it sounds.
Required Tools
All products should list the required tools to assemble the dog door. You should always check over the list to make sure that you have everything you need for a successful installation.
Instructional Manual
With such a process, easy-to-follow instructions are incredibly helpful.
Replacement Options
Flaps will wear down over time, depending on the material. It’s comforting to know that the company offers flap replacements for the product you order.
Conclusion
We stand by our favorite product—the PetSafe White Wall Entry Plastic Pet Door. We think it would work for most homes across many budgets.
If you’re trying to save but want convenience, consider the BarksBar Plastic Dog Door. It is affordable and efficient for easy indoor/outdoor access.
With any luck, our reviews led you to the dog door that you’ll have installed in just a few weeks.
Featured Image Credit: PetSafe Sliding Glass Door
