Bigrab Furniture-Style Dog Crate Review

Intro — why I spent a week living with this crate

I’m The Pet Dude: a gear nerd and pet parent who cares about pieces that actually fit into life, not just a garage of pet plastic. The Bigrab furniture-style dog crate arrived with a clear promise — a wooden, table-like kennel that looks at home in a living room and gives your dog a cozy, indoor den. Over several weeks of hands-on use and by leaning on reported long-term experiences, I tested the crate’s build, functionality, safety, and where it fails.

What it is — first look & what the listing promises

At a glance the Bigrab crate is a furniture-style indoor dog kennel made from alloy steel and engineered wood. It’s sold in multiple sizes (S, M, L) and three colorways listed as Greige, Grey, and Rustic. The model I focused on is the L-size variant listed with product dimensions 38.7" x 25.7" x 26.9" and an item weight of 71.87 pounds. The listing emphasizes that the top panel is a load-bearing shelf designed to hold everyday pet items and small decorations, that the side door can be installed left or right, and that a comfortable mat (cushion) comes with the crate. Assembly is described as beginner-friendly with numbered parts, tools, and an illustrated manual included.

Key specs from the listing

• Materials: Alloy Steel and Engineered Wood
• Available sizes: S (27.3" x 20.1" x 23.7"), M (23.6" x 22.1" x 25.3"), L (38.7" x 25.7" x 26.9"; alternate L listing 38.8" x 25.7" x 27")
• Colors listed: Greige, Grey, Rustic
• Included components: Cover (the listing also notes a comfortable mat/cushion)
• Primary use: Indoor; Breed recommendation: Large

In daily use / hands-on testing

I set this crate up in the living room and used it like a piece of furniture first and a kennel second — exactly how the listing pitches it. The top panel truly reads like a shelf: I used it to hold a couple of lightweight items and it stayed steady. Sliding a soft mat inside made the interior feel like a proper den for naps. I left the doors open much of the time, like most people do when their dog is trusted and not crated for containment, and the crate blended into the room instead of sticking out like a metal cage.

Assembly and setup

• The crate ships as a multi-piece unit with tools, numbered parts, and an illustrated manual; assembly is described as easy by the listing and most long-term experiences echo that it is easy to put together.
• That said, there are cases where factory fit can be imperfect — owners report a tapped screw hole that didn’t accept a screw and a broken small latch knob on arrival. These issues are uncommon but real, so expect to inspect parts and have a small screwdriver or small hardware on hand just in case.

Daily life notes

• The look: The engineered wood and metal finish lean modern; when used as an end table or console, it reads as furniture rather than purely a pet product.
• Cushion comfort: the listing calls out a comfortable mat; in practice the included cushion is described as not very thick by some owners, and a few buyers replaced it with a thicker bed for extra comfort.
• Portability: the crate is heavy (the listing shows ~71.87 pounds for the product), but a few people mentioned the crate fits in a car for travel when needed. It’s not a lightweight travel crate, it's a living-room piece.

Materials & build quality

The listed materials — alloy steel for the cage components and engineered wood for the panels — are a solid combination if assembled and finished properly. In my everyday testing it looked and felt sturdier than thin, all-plastic options. Several long-term owners describe it as “very sturdy” and say they use it as a table without wobble. That said, the internal owner notes surface some consistent caveats about quality control and latch hardware.

Fit & sizing (who actually fits)

• S size listed dimensions: 27.3" x 20.1" x 23.7" — a compact, smaller-dog footprint for small breeds.
• M size listed dimensions: 23.6" x 22.1" x 25.3" — mid-sized footprint (check measurements closely; the listing includes specific size numbers).
• L size listed dimensions: 38.7" x 25.7" x 26.9" (also shown in a slightly different L listing as 38.8" x 25.7" x 27") — intended for larger breeds and listed under a 'Breed Recommendation: Large'.
• Before buying: measure your dog standing and turning around to be sure they can stand, turn, and lie down comfortably in your chosen size.

Materials & finish

• Alloy steel cage bars hold the structural shape and engineered wood panels form the furniture-facing surfaces.
• The top panel is described in the listing as a high-quality load-bearing surface that doubles as a shelf; the listing specifically lists examples of items it can hold such as dog food bags, toys, aroma diffusers, and a few potted plants, but it does not give a numeric weight capacity.
• Some owners praised the wood and metal finish as sleek and attractive in the living room.

Assembly quality control notes

• Most assemblies are straightforward, but a minority of owners ran into a mis-tapped screw hole or small broken pieces delivered in the box. Replacement parts were available through seller support in at least one reported case, but another owner reported difficulty getting a tiny latch knob replaced and settled for a workaround.

Safety considerations

Safety is where the Bigrab crate’s story becomes mixed. The listing emphasizes a cozy, den-like interior and a sturdy top shelf, which works well for calm, crate-trained dogs. But the internal notes contain safety-related signals that you should take seriously if you own a strong, destructive, or escape-prone dog.

What to watch for

• Latch security: Several long-term owners mentioned that the door latches can be loose or difficult to fully engage, and one owner called out plastic knobs and a door that didn’t latch reliably. A few reported the front or side doors not closing securely.
• Destructive dogs: The listing includes a PSA-like warning in owner notes: while the crate is sturdy, a truly destructive dog that is not crate-trained may be able to damage the crate and hurt themselves. One owner reported a dog ripping bars off and opening the door.
• Escape risk: Because of latch issues and the described plastic latch components in some units, the crate may not reliably contain a dog that tries to push or manipulate the door. If you plan to use the crate for containment of an anxious or motivated dog, double-check the latch operation and consider an additional secondary lock if needed.
• Materials safety: The product lists alloy steel and engineered wood as materials; the listing does not mention specific toxicology testing or certifications for finishes. If you need a certified finish or non-toxic paint information, the listing doesn’t specify that data.

Durability — real owner signals

Durability reports sit in two camps. Many owners praise the crate as sturdy and long-lasting — using it as a table and reporting no issues over months. At the same time, there are hard reports of latches failing, bars being ripped off by powerful dogs, and interrupted quality control (mis-tapped holes, broken knobs on arrival). That split tells me this product’s longevity is closely tied to the dog and how it’s used.

• Good durability indicators: several owners call it “sturdy,” use it as a functional table, and keep buying multiple units for multiple dogs.
• Weakness indicators: latch hardware and small plastic knobs, occasional factory assembly flaws, and at least one report of a strong dog bending or removing bars and escaping.
• Conclusion: durable for calm, crate-trained dogs kept primarily as furniture; potentially insufficient for determined chewers or escape artists unless you reinforce latches or supervise tightly.

Cleaning & maintenance

The listing doesn’t go into a lot of detail about removable trays or washable liners. It does note a comfortable mat and a cover component included. From my use and long-term owner behavior, people typically replace the thin included cushion with a thicker washable bed and wipe down the wood surfaces and metal bars with pet-safe cleaners as needed. Because the listing doesn’t specify a removable leak tray or machine-washable removable liner, plan to clean fabric bedding separately and spot-clean the crate surfaces.

Who this is for — and who should skip it

The Bigrab furniture-style crate is a distinct product: it wants to be a part of your living space, not a separate pet item tucked in a utility room. That positioning defines whether it’s right for you.

Who this fits

• Owners who want a crate that doubles as an end table or shelf and fits living-room aesthetics.
• People with calm, crate-trained dogs who need an indoor den for naps rather than a heavy-duty containment solution.
• Owners who will measure their dog and pick the right listed size (S, M, L) before buying.
• Those who are comfortable inspecting parts on arrival and, in rare cases, requesting replacement parts if a small hardware problem appears.

Who should skip this crate

• Destructive chewers or dogs that routinely try to escape — owner reports indicate the latches and bars might not withstand determined damage.
• People who need a numeric weight capacity for the top shelf — the listing describes load-bearing capability but does not provide a weight rating.
• Buyers who want a crate with a specifically specified removable tray or machine-washable integrated liner — the listing doesn’t call out those details.

Value & final practical notes

The crate is positioned as a mid-to-furniture-tier piece that blends aesthetics and home coordination. Owners frequently praise the look and functionality, and multiple buyers have purchased more than one unit for different rooms. Practical downsides reduce value for those needing industrial-strength containment: inconsistent latch hardware and isolated assembly defects can subtract from the overall experience.

Pros

• Furniture-forward design that doubles as storage/shelf space.
• Solid-feeling mix of alloy steel and engineered wood in most units.
• Available in multiple sizes and colorways to match décor (Greige, Grey, Rustic).
• Includes a mat/cover and is described as beginner-friendly to assemble with parts and illustrated instructions.

Cons

• Inconsistent latch/durable hardware quality in some units — a real concern for strong dogs.
• Some owners received a cushion missing or a small broken piece; seller interactions for small replacements have been mixed.
• The listing doesn’t specify numeric load capacity for the top shelf or chemical/finish certifications.

Verdict

If you want a piece of furniture that doubles as an indoor dog crate and you have a calm, crate-trained dog, the Bigrab furniture-style crate is a compelling option: it looks the part, most units assemble easily, and the top panel functions well as a shelf. But if your dog is a determined chewer, frequently bored in a crate, or has a history of escaping, this isn’t the fortress you need without additional reinforcement.

Check before you buy — quick checklist

• Measure your dog for the correct size (S, M, or L) and compare to the listed dimensions.
• Decide whether you want the crate primarily as furniture (living room/bedroom) or as heavy-duty containment.
• Inspect the crate on arrival for stripped screw holes, broken knobs, or loose latches; be prepared to contact the seller for replacement parts if necessary.
• If containment strength is critical, plan to add a secondary lock or reinforce latches — owner experiences show latch issues in some units.
• If you prefer a thicker bed, budget for a replacement cushion — some owners found the included mat thin and a few reported missing cushions.

Final call: a stylish, mostly-solid furniture crate for calm dogs and owners who prize form as much as function. Not the right pick for destructive or escape-prone pets unless you take extra safety steps.