The Best Hamster Cages: Reviewed and Ranked

Written by Sharon Parry
Updated: February 7, 2023
© Freer/Shutterstock.com

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Hamster cages are the single most important purchase that you will make for your little pet hamsters. It is important to get it right. A hamster’s environment has a huge impact on their health and welfare so you will want the best hamster cage for your pet.

We have spent hours reviewing all the hamster cages on the market to find the best hamster cage and used our own experience as owners of both Syrian and Russian hamsters. We look for many important features including total space, safety and security, and a deep base to allow for digging. You will also find a list of important hamster care issues including bar spacing, hamster cage design, and ease of cleaning. There is useful information here for both first-time and experienced hamster owners.

  1. PREVUE PET PRODUCTS Deluxe Hamster Home
    • Very comfortable and spacious
    • Tight wire spacing
    • Deep base
    • Features two doors for easy access
    Check Chewy Check Amazon
  2. Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage
    • Cage comes with lots of accessories, including tunnels, a exercise wheel, two hidey huts, a penthouse, a water bottle, and more
    • It measures 31.5"L x 19.69"W x 19.69"H
    • It has two large handles so you can move it easily and a large door for easy access to your pet
    • It has a deep base so you can add lots of bedding for your hammy to burrow through.
    Check Amazon
  3. Aivituvin 3 Tier Hamster Cage
    • Includes 3 tiers, each for a specific purpose
    • Features play ramps, hidey holes, areas for sleeping, a bathroom area, and a leak-proof tray
    • Made of durable wood
    • Features a mesh top for ventilation
    • The acrylic front opens to make feeding and cleaning easy
    Check Amazon
  4. OIIBO Glass Hamster Cage with Big View, 40 Gallon
    • This cage is solid, chew-proof HD glass on the front and back to give you a clear view of your hamster.
    • The mesh top opens and the sides have bars to provide lots of ventilation.
    • The front door features a special locking mechanism to prevent escapes.
    • The frame and platform are made of waterproof, rust-resistant material.
    • The base is 5" deep so you can add lots of substrate for your hamster to burrow in.
    Check Amazon

A-Z-Animals’ Top Picks for Hamster Cages

1. Overall Best: Prevue Pet Products 528 Hamster Cage

In our review, the overall best hamster cage is the Prevue Pet Products 528 Hamster Cage which offers comfortable, and most importantly, spacious accommodation. It measures 19 inches x 32.5 inches and is a full 17.5 inches high. This makes it much bigger than most other hamster cages on the market giving your hammie plenty of room to move around.

Other important features are the tight wire spacing (3/8 inch) to prevent escape attempts and the deep base (6 inches) where you can put plenty of substrate for burrowing. Hamsters love to burrow and it greatly improves their well-being.

This hamster cage also scores highly in terms of ease of access to your little pet — there’s a door at the top and one on the side. The wire mesh lifts off the plastic base for easy cleaning and the whole structure is strong enough to withstand hamster nibbling. Inside the ramp and platform provide a convenient area for enrichment toys and food. It’s very easy to assemble when it arrives and is durable and strong making it suitable for all species of hamsters. It does not come with any sort of activities though, so you will need to purchase these separately.

The vast majority of reviews for this product were positive. But a few pet parents reported that their hamsters were able to escape through the doors.

Pros and Cons of the Prevue Pet Products 528 Hamster Cage

ProsCons
This spacious cage measures 19″ x 32.5″ and is 17.5″ high.It doesn’t include any toys or other supplies, so you’ll need to purchase them separately.
The bar spacing is 3/8″.A few pet parents reported that their hamsters were able to escape through the doors.
The base is deep (6″) so you can add lots of substrate for your hammy to burrow in.
There’s a door at the top and one on the side.
The wire mesh bottom lifts off the plastic base for easy cleaning.
It features a ramp and a platform that makes a convenient area for toys and food.
It’s easy to assemble.
Overall Best
PREVUE PET PRODUCTS Deluxe Hamster Home
  • Very comfortable and spacious
  • Tight wire spacing
  • Deep base
  • Features two doors for easy access
Check Chewy Check Amazon

2. Best with Accessories: Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage

If you want a cage that “has it all,” the Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage is for you! This spacious cage measures 31.5″L x 19.69″W x 19.69″H and includes everything but the hamster! It comes with tunnels, an exercise wheel, two houses, a penthouse, a water bottle, and more. And the base is deep enough for you to add plenty of bedding for your hammy to burrow through.

Additional tubes (tunnels) are sold separately.

This cage features two large handles so you can move it easily. And the large door provides easy access to your pet.

Most reviews for this product were positive, but a few hamster parents said that assembly was difficult.

Pros and Cons of the Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage

ProsCons
This large cage measures 31.5″L x 19.69″W x 19.69″H.A few hamster parents said that assembly was difficult.
It includes tunnels, an exercise wheel, two houses, a penthouse, a water bottle, and more.
The base is deep enough for you to add lots of substrate for your hamster to burrow through.
It features two large handles so you can move it easily.
A large door provides easy access to your hamster.
Best with Accessories
Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage
  • Cage comes with lots of accessories, including tunnels, a exercise wheel, two hidey huts, a penthouse, a water bottle, and more
  • It measures 31.5"L x 19.69"W x 19.69"H
  • It has two large handles so you can move it easily and a large door for easy access to your pet
  • It has a deep base so you can add lots of bedding for your hammy to burrow through.
Check Amazon

3. Most Luxurious: Aivituvin 3 Tier Hamster Cage

The Aivituvin 3 Tier Hamster Cage measures 38.98″L x 19.69″W x 24.02″H. It features three levels for your hamster to explore. And the clear acrylic front gives you front-row seats so you won’t miss a moment of the fun!

This habitat includes a feeding bowl, hideouts, seesaws, and ramps. It’s made of 100% non-toxic wood and acrylic and features wire mesh on portions of two sides and on the top for ventilation. The bottom is deep enough to accommodate lots of bedding so your hamster can burrow to its heart content. A large front door provides access for easy access to your pet and feeding.

Most reviews for this cage were positive, but a few hamster owners said that it was poorly constructed.

Pros and Cons of the Aivituvin 3 Tier Hamster Cage

ProsCons
This cage measures 38.98″L x 19.69″W x 24.02″H.A few hamster owners said that it was poorly constructed.
The front is clear acrylic.
It includes a feeding bowl, hideouts, seesaws, and ramps..
It’s made of 100% non-toxic wood and acrylic.
It features wire mesh on portions of two sides and on the top for ventilation.
The bottom is deep enough to accommodate lots of bedding for your hamster to burrow in.
The large front door gives you easy access to play with and feed your hamster.
Most Luxurious
Aivituvin 3 Tier Hamster Cage
  • Includes 3 tiers, each for a specific purpose
  • Features play ramps, hidey holes, areas for sleeping, a bathroom area, and a leak-proof tray
  • Made of durable wood
  • Features a mesh top for ventilation
  • The acrylic front opens to make feeding and cleaning easy
Check Amazon

4. Best Chew-Proof: OIIBO Glass Hamster Cage with Big View, 40 Gallon

The OIIBO Glass Hamster Cage with Big View, 40 Gallon looks like an aquarium, but it’s designed for hamsters. This is the priciest habitat in our review, but we think it’s worth every penny if it’s in your budget.

It’s made from solid, chew-proof HD glass on the front and back so you’ll have an unobstructed view of your hamster. The mesh top opens and the sides are glass with bars for lots of ventilation. The frame and platform are made of waterproof, rust-resistant material for easy cleaning. And the base is 5″ deep so you can add lots of bedding for your hamster to burrow in.

This product doesn’t have as many reviews as the others in this review, but we think that it’s an undiscovered gem. Most of the reviews were positive, while a couple said that the cage was difficult to assemble and/or the instructions were hard to follow. We noted, however, that the manufacturer included a step-by-step assembly video on their Amazon listing.

Pros and Cons of the OIIBO Glass Hamster Cage with Big View, 40 Gallon

ProsCons
This cage is made from solid, chew-proof HD glass on the front and back for a clear view of your hamster.This product doesn’t have as many customer reviews as others featured in this review.
The mesh top opens and the sides are glass with bars for ventilation.A couple of reviewers said the cage was difficult to assemble/and or that the instructions were hard to follow.
The frame and platform are constructed from waterproof, rust-resistant material for easy cleaning.
The base is 5″ deep so you can add lots of substrate for your pet to burrow through.
The manufacturer included an assembly video on their Amazon listing.
Best Chew Proof
OIIBO Glass Hamster Cage with Big View, 40 Gallon
  • This cage is solid, chew-proof HD glass on the front and back to give you a clear view of your hamster.
  • The mesh top opens and the sides have bars to provide lots of ventilation.
  • The front door features a special locking mechanism to prevent escapes.
  • The frame and platform are made of waterproof, rust-resistant material.
  • The base is 5" deep so you can add lots of substrate for your hamster to burrow in.
Check Amazon

Choosing the Best Hamster Cage: What to Look For

When choosing the best hamster cage it can be easy to get carried away with cute gimmicks. It’s important to remember that your little pet’s welfare is what should be foremost in your mind. There are five important features that you should look for in every cage you view. They are space, security, ease of cleaning, assembly and price. Let’s look at each of these in more detail.

Space

Hamsters of all kinds need plenty of space to keep them happy and healthy. Actual cage size recommendations vary widely from one humane society to another. The RSPCA, for example, used to stipulate that hamster cages should provide a minimum of 2.46 ft. x 1.31 ft. of continuous floor space. They dropped this recommendation due to a lack of evidence and now suggest that owners purchase the largest cage they can afford.

Because we wanted to err on the side of your pet’s health and happiness, we used the RSPCA’s previous recommendations as a baseline. In other words, every cage in our lineup measures at least 2.46 ft. x 1.31 ft. A lot of popular hamster cages didn’t make the cut because we believed that they were far too small.

Security

Hamsters are very good at escaping from cages! There are a few things that a cage needs to keep your little furry friend inside, because the outside world is a dangerous place for hamsters. The cage needs strong catches that are easy to fasten, a strong plastic base and strong metal wire (hamsters will chew it). Look carefully at the spacing of the wires, especially if you are getting one of the dwarf hamsters, since hamsters can squeeze through very small gaps.

Ease of Cleaning

Hamster cages need to be cleaned thoroughly once a week at least and need to be made of non-absorbent material that can be wiped down. Also, the design of the cage needs to allow you to access all areas. It is very useful if you can lift the frame off the base.

Assembly

Many hamster cages arrive ready to use and these are the best choice if you are not skilled at assembling things. Some others, including those that have a lot of tunnels, need to be slotted together and this can take some time.

Price

While there are lots of inexpensive hamster cages on the market, the lowest priced habitat in our review costs $103 and the most expensive one costs $249. The less expensive cages simply didn’t meet our size guidelines. While we understand that these prices may seem steep, we couldn’t compromise on this all-important criterion. Remember: It’s always best to get the largest cage that you can afford since larger cages are much better for hamsters’ welfare.

The Different Types of Hamster Cages: Pros and Cons Compared

Whether you are getting your very first hamster cage or looking to upgrade from your current model, you will have three basic types of cage to choose from which are wire-topped, glass and plastic. Here’s a handy table so that you can compare.

Wire-Top Hamster Cages

ProsCons
Great ventilationMany hamsters “kick” out the substrate and make a mess
Easy to reach your hamsterNot suitable for placing in draughts
Easy to cleanOpening doors can be noisy which scares timid hamsters
Hamsters cannot chew through wireSmall hamsters can get through bars
Hamsters can climb up the wires for fun

Glass Tanks

ProsCons
Easier to reach a dwarf hamsterHeavy to move around
No escape route through barsHeavy weight makes them harder to clean
A clear view of hamster at all timesOften more expensive
Allows for very deep substrate/bedding thicknessMore fragile if they’re dropped
Impossible to chew

Plastic Tanks

ProsCons
Can come with tubes, bottles, and water bowlsVentilation is not as great
Usually have deep basesThe intricate design makes them harder to clean
Come in cute designs that appeal to childrenNot easy to get a hamster out of a tube!
Hamsters can chew plastic

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The more you know about your furry little friend the better care you can provide.

About the Author

Dr Sharon Parry is a writer at A-Z animals where her primary focus is on dogs, animal behavior, and research. Sharon holds a PhD from Leeds University, UK which she earned in 1998 and has been working as a science writer for the last 15 years. A resident of Wales, UK, Sharon loves taking care of her spaniel named Dexter and hiking around coastlines and mountains.

The Best Hamster Cages: Reviewed and Ranked FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) 

What kind of cage is best for a hamster?

A large cage is always best for a hamster. They will be healthier and happier if they can run around and have a lot of room to explore. If you are planning on keeping more than one hamster together in a cage then you need an even larger one.

What is the best cage for a Syrian hamster?

Syrian hamsters like to live alone so you can only keep one in a cage. Also, they are one of the larger species of hamster so you need a bigger cage. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that you will get away with wide wire spacing though because they can squeeze through very narrow gaps! Syrian hamsters are also very big chewers so avoid cages with small plastic parts.

Do hamsters like multi-level cages?

Yes, multi-level cages are a good idea for hamsters because it makes the most of the space. You need non-slip ramps connecting all of the levels too so that your hamster can run around in safety.

It’s still vital that your cage provide at least 2.46 ft. x 1.31 ft. of continuous floor space. Dividing the same amount of space across multiple floors will be detrimental to your hamster’s well-being.

Is a tank or cage better for a hamster?

Overall, a wire cage is better for a hamster. It provides plenty of ventilation and is easy to clean out. However, the cage does need a deep base with plenty of substrate so that your hamster can burrow.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us? Contact the AZ Animals editorial team.