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The best dog beds offer pups a comfortable, safe place to rest, but choosing the perfect one they'll want to cuddle up in can be hard. Veterinarians told us that comfort is key when choosing a bed for your dog. Beds with bolsters and supportive cores made of memory or orthopedic foam are ideal for easing pressure on both young and old dogs' joints.
Our reporters tested over 30 beds to find the best ones for dogs of all sizes and needs. Our top pick is the Brentwood Home Griffith Pet Bed, a waterproof orthopedic bed with a durable, attractive quilted cover. If you're looking for an affordable option with plenty of comfort and durability, the Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed is a supportive bolster bed available in a wide variety of colors and sizes.
Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and evaluates pet products.
Our top picks for the best dog beds
Best overall: Brentwood Home Griffith Pet Bed – See at Brentwood Home
Best budget: Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed – See at Amazon
Best orthopedic: Petfusion Ultimate Dog Lounge – See at Chewy
Best for small dogs: Frisco Faux Suede Bolster Dog Bed – See at Chewy
Best outdoor: K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot – See at Chewy
Best cave: Furhaven Snuggery Burrow Dog Bed – See at Chewy
Best stylish: Molly Mutt Dog Bed Duvet – See at Chewy
Best overall
Our top pick for the best dog beds, the Brentwood Home Griffith Pet Bed, is a simply designed rectangular bed that excelled in nearly all our tests. With a 4-inch double-layer core, it provides dogs with cushiony support. One of our test dogs, a 50-pound pit mix, immediately gravitated toward this bed. We also tested the large version with a 99-pound Bernese mountain dog who loved it, ultimately securing it the top spot for the best large dog beds.
The bed's quilted upholstery cover is available in three neutral colors that complement most decor. Even better, the waterproof liner protects the foam from soiling, and stains and fur are easy to clean. Frequent diggers may snag the quilted stitching, but we don't consider this a dealbreaker since the zippers and seams passed our durability tests with flying colors.
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However, the bed doesn't provide perfectly even support, so older dogs with joint conditions and those with uneven weight distribution, like our top-heavy pit mix tester, may do better with one of the best orthopedic dog beds. If your dog prefers a bed with raised sides, Brentwood sells a similar but pricier bolster bed, the Runyon Orthopedic Dog Bed, although we haven't tested it.
Best budget
Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed
This well-designed bolster bed with a wide entry and nonskid bottom comes in more sizes and colors than any other bed we tested.
Finding a durable, comfortable bed that's inexpensive isn't easy. The Bedsure Orthopedic Dog Bed is an excellent choice for budget-conscious shoppers who want the bolsters, support, and extra features that usually come with an expensive bed.
This bed features bolsters around its perimeter, except for an opening that gives plenty of room for dogs to climb in and out, which Dr. Kathleen Mullins, veterinarian and small animal surgery consultant at Vespecon, says is important for ease of access. In addition to its low entrance, the bed features supportive, dense egg-crate foam, making it an excellent option for senior dogs who need extra support when resting.
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We did have some issues with the bed. Spot-cleaning left some stains, and placing it in the washing machine was tedious since the bolsters couldn't be removed. This made the bed bulky in the washer and a pain to put back together. The zipper on the interior waterproof liner also got stuck during reassembly, so this might not be the best bed for frequent washers.
Best orthopedic
Memory foam is a shock-absorbing foam typically made of polyurethane, a type of flexible plastic. This foam is used in orthopedic beds because the flexible material conforms to the body and cradles limbs and joints to relieve pressure. Dr. Oscar Chavez Zamora, assistant clinical professor of small animal orthopedic and soft tissue surgery at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine, says that especially hard surfaces can put too much pressure on tissues and compress blood vessels, thereby causing or increasing inflammation. He says an orthopedic bed can lessen this inflammation by molding to the body's shape rather than forcing the body to mold to the bed.
The Petfusion Ultimate Lounge Memory Foam bed will get you the most support for your dog. It provided a dense, evenly supportive surface for our 45-pound Labradoodle tester. The foam mattress comes in varying thicknesses from 2 inches (small size) to 6 inches (jumbo) to support dogs of all sizes. The twill-covered bed also has bolsters, which our test dog frequently used, but they make for tricky assembly since they don't arrive attached to the bed.
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If you have a senior dog who tends to have accidents, the waterproof liner offers full protection. The cover was easy to spot clean, and tossing the cover and liner in the washing machine and dryer was a breeze.
Best for small dogs
Our two small dog testers couldn't get enough of the budget-friendly Frisco Faux Suede Bolster Bed, whining and begging for it anytime it was removed from their space. While the bed's core consists of polyester filling instead of super supportive memory foam, it has a soft, fluffy feel that a 10-pound chihuahua mix and a 12-pound terrier loved to cuddle up in. The side walls provided good support, and the pups burrowed their heads into the area where the sidewalls met the cushiony base.
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We were impressed that the bed held its shape even after lots of sleeping and lounging. The thick cover was also resistant to damage. It didn't puncture or tear when we took a fork to it, and our dogs didn't tear it when they went to town digging.
This bed isn't waterproof, which may be a dealbreaker for some, and the cover is not removable. However, you can run it through the washer and dryer. It came out looking great after we washed it.
Best outdoor
Platform beds are ideal for dogs who lounge outside when the weather is nice, as they allow air to circulate underneath the sleep surface. Our favorite elevated dog bed is the K&H Pet Products Original Pet Cot. The outdoor bed supports dogs with a tightly woven nylon canvas platform, which prevents sagging while still allowing breathability. We tested the medium size bed, which can accommodate dogs up to 200 pounds. We put 137 pounds of our own weight on it and felt nicely supported.
The bed is easy to assemble, with plastic legs that snap into place. However, this convenient feature can be a hassle since the legs can fall out of alignment if you move the bed around. It's important to place it on a flat surface when in use.
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We hosed the bed down for quick cleaning and also washed the fabric platform in the washing machine. While it cleans up well, the fabric is not as durable as we'd hope to see. It was easy to puncture the fabric with dull scissors, so it's not a great option for dogs who are tough on their things. Given the medium-sized bed is raised 7 inches from the ground, it's also not appropriate for very short dogs or pups with limited mobility.
Best cave
Some dogs like to feel sheltered, and cave beds like the Furhaven Snuggery Burrow Bed meet that need. This bed features a top layer of cozy fabric that can be propped up with a plastic interior arch, creating a cave-like bed for your dog to sleep in.
This bed is exceptionally supportive, so much so that we'd sleep in it ourselves if it were larger. The bed held up after multiple washing and stain tests. Spot cleaning removed almost all the materials we placed on it — black tea, dirt, and peanut butter — and a quick wash removed anything that remained. Given that the interior of this bed is made of white faux sheepskin fabric, we were impressed that it came out of the washing machine still retaining its snowy color.
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Although the blanket-like cover gives dogs a place to burrow, the frame is a little flimsy, and big dogs can easily knock it down. Our 50-pound pit mix preferred to lounge on the bed without the frame propping up the fabric and instead snuggled under the cover like she would a blanket.
Best stylish
Pet parents looking for a stylish dog bed will want to take a peek at the Molly Mutt Dog Duvets. These duvets are not beds but covers you can fill with sheets and towels to create the perfect loft for your dog. You can also purchase a bed insert from the brand.
We love the unique designs Molly Mutt offers, with more than two dozen colors and prints ranging from tropical leaves to constellations. Beyond aesthetics, the cotton-canvas covers are stain and damage-resistant. We filled ours with old towels and sheets, and the cover protected the materials inside against dirt, peanut butter, and black tea spills. The spills also washed out easily. The cover isn't waterproof, however. You'll have to pick up the Molly Mutt Water Resistant Liner for that. It passed all of our waterproofing tests.
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The downside of this cover is the time it takes to fill up with your own material and make it comfortable for your dog. It took a lot of maneuvering and adjusting to get the comfort just right, and things can shift with too much movement. But when we took the time to make this bed appealing to our test dog, she loved to lay on it. Molly Mutt is also one of only a few pet companies that are Climate Neutral Certified, and the brand has taken several actions to reduce its carbon footprint.
What to look for in a dog bed
When shopping for the best bed for your dog, there are a few key qualities to look for.
Comfort and support: Our experts say comfort and support are the most important things to consider. Since many dogs spend a lot of time cozying up in their bed, it must be a safe and comfortable resting place. We recommend looking for bolster beds to appease dogs who prefer head support while resting. As for the cushion, Zamora says dogs who spend excess time in their beds should have one specifically designed to relieve pressure, either an orthopedic or a memory foam bed with a thick cushion.
We found that mattresses that are 2 inches or higher are standard in most beds and provide good support. In addition to mattress height, Dr. Erin Tate, a veterinarian and vice president of clinical development at CityVet, likes to see certifications for non-toxic materials. OEKO-TEX and CertiPUR-US certifications are two common labels you may see on dog beds. An OEKO-TEX certification ensures that a bed's foam insert won't off-gas harmful chemicals. A CertiPUR-US label certifies the foam is free of heavy metals, formaldehyde, and other toxic substances. Tate says these certifications are good to pay attention to if your pup has allergies or is sensitive to certain materials like synthetic filling or wood chips.
Durability: For dogs that chew, dig, or scratch, a tough bed is essential. Look for beds with strong polyester or nylon fabric covers, which resisted damage from tearing and scratching in our testing. While no bed will last forever, we recommend beds with dense foam to limit the chance of premature flattening.
Materials: Tate says the best material for a dog bed will depend on where you place the bed. Dogs that spend much of their time outdoors will need a bed with breathable and weather-resistant material, like mesh. A bed kept indoors can be made of simple fabrics such as cotton or polyester. If you're unsure where to start, Tate says a cozy material will usually be a hit with your dog. “A nice, soft fluffy bed is what most dogs like,” she says.
Water resistance and ease of cleaning: Our experts say cleaning your dog's bed should be easy, whether you have a puppy that you're potty-training or an adult dog. “As our pets age, accidents may happen, especially while sleeping, either because they can't get up quickly enough or due to incontinence,” Mullins says. “Without thoroughly cleaning the bed's surface, urine and/or fecal leakage can lead to skin ulceration and infection.” Look for beds with machine-washable covers and water-resistant or waterproof liners to protect the foam core.
Size: Many brands provide sizing recommendations for dogs of various lengths and weights, but some general guidelines exist. For dogs that stretch out in bed, a bed that's as long as their length from nose to base of tail is appropriate. Dogs with longer legs will benefit from extra depth. Bolster beds should be chosen based on the sleep surface's dimensions rather than the bed's overall size.
Warranties and return policies: Make sure to read any policies closely. Some brands offer generous trial periods, while others will not accept returns of used beds. If you're investing a couple hundred dollars in a bed, a manufacturer's warranty of one year or more is ideal.
How we tested the best dog beds
To choose the best dog beds, we tested over 30 beds with dogs of all sizes and ages. But we also tested the beds ourselves according to the above criteria to see what the fuss was about. We evaluated comfort and support using weighted bags to see how well uneven weight was distributed. Durability testing involved using dull scissors to simulate chewing and sandpaper to simulate wear over time. We also ran all zippers back and forth to test for failure. Finally, we looked at each bed's water resistance and ease of cleaning by pouring warm water on the beds and smearing them with dirt, black tea, and peanut butter.
Finally, we consulted three experts to learn what to look for in a dog bed. Our experts are Dr. Oscar Chavez Zamora, assistant clinical professor of small animal orthopedic and soft tissue surgery at the Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine; Dr. Kathleen Mullins, a veterinarian and small animal surgery consultant at Vespecon; and Dr. Erin Tate, a veterinarian at City Vets.
Dog bed FAQs
What type of bed is best for dogs?
Our experts say the best dog bed depends on your pet's preferences. Keeping their preferences in mind, we recommend purchasing a bed with a dense foam base and soft fabric to offer your dog support and comfort. Zamora says buying a memory foam or orthopedic bed for a dog with joint issues is important. He adds that these beds can be helpful for any dog since they ease stress on the body. Bolsters are ideal for dogs who need head and neck support, especially those who tend to let their head hang off the side of the bed, which Tate says can strain the muscles in the neck,
Do dogs prefer round or rectangle beds?
While your dog might love to curl up in a round bed, Zamora says it's generally good to have a bed where your pup can stretch out. This doesn't mean you shouldn't select a round bed for your dog — just make sure to pick out a large enough size to allow them to lay flat from head to tail. Zamora says that laying flat can more evenly support the tissues and muscles, especially those of the limbs where there are fewer muscles than the rest of the body. He says that dogs who can sleep stretched out may also be able to regulate their temperature more effectively, so keep this in mind if your dog sleeps hot.
Do dogs prefer hard or soft beds?
While each dog has individual preferences, Tate recommends purchasing a soft bed. In addition to comfort, a soft but evenly supportive core allows a dog to sink deeper into the bed, which may lessen the strain on tissues and joints.
