Best guinea pig cages: what to buy and what to skip

What is the best cage for guinea pigs?

The best cage is the one with the most solid, single-level floor you can fit in your home. Guinea pigs run, graze and do sudden happy jumps, but they do not climb, so floor area is what makes a good cage. A C&C cage wins indoors for most people because it gives more floor for the money than anything else, it clips together without tools, and you can add grids when a third guinea pig arrives. A large hutch fixed to a run is the outdoor equivalent.

The Humane World for Animals puts it bluntly: most cages sold for guinea pigs are too small, and many are barely bigger than hamster housing. Measure the floor before you buy, and ignore words like "large" or "XXL" on the box.

What size cage do 2 guinea pigs need?

Two guinea pigs need at least 10.5 sq ft (about 1 m²), for example 76 × 127 cm (30 × 50 in). That is the Humane World for Animals' preferred size for a pair, and it is close to Woodgreen's 153 × 61 cm (5 × 2 ft) for two sows. Two boars need more: Woodgreen asks for 182 × 61 cm (6 × 2 ft), because males squabble more when space is tight. Our guide to guinea pig cage size works through every combination.

Minimums and preferred sizes are from the Humane World for Animals and Woodgreen. Grid sizes assume grids of roughly 35 cm (14 in); check the maker's own measurements before you order.

What is a C&C cage, and is it worth it?

A C&C cage is built from cubes and coroplast: wire storage-cube grids for the walls and a folded corrugated plastic tray for the floor. The Humane World for Animals notes that many guinea pig rescues recommend them. A 2 × 4 grid cage gives about 70 × 140 cm (27 × 56 in) inside, and a 2 × 5 about 70 × 175 cm (27 × 69 in), which comfortably clears the preferred size for a pair.

The pros are space, airflow and the option to grow. The downsides: the open top means cats, dogs and small children need keeping out, and the low sides suit a floor-level spot better than a table. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide adds that a lid is only needed when other pets can reach in. You can buy a ready-cut kit or build your own from storage grids and a sheet of coroplast.

Indoor cage or outdoor hutch?

Both work, and Woodgreen says indoor and outdoor guinea pigs live just as long when their needs are met. Indoors, it is easier to hold the 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F) the RSPCA recommends and to notice early signs of illness. Outdoors, guinea pigs get more room and grazing, but need protection from foxes, damp, sun and cold. The RSPCA says outdoor guinea pigs should come in below 15°C (59°F); our guinea pig temperature guide covers both ends of the scale.

An outdoor hutch should be weatherproof, raised off the ground, single-storey and fixed to a run. PDSA asks for a hutch of at least 1.5 × 1 m (59 × 39 in) and an attached run of at least 2 × 1 m (79 × 39 in). Woodgreen gives 182 × 122 × 46 cm (6 × 4 ft × 18 in) as the minimum run for a pair, built with a wooden frame and mesh of 16 gauge or thicker.

What to look for when buying a guinea pig cage

• Floor area that meets the preferred size for your group, measured inside.
• One main level; any loft is a bonus, not part of the size.
• A solid floor: UF's vet school warns wire floors cause foot and limb problems.
• Sides at least 30 cm (12 in) high; Purdue and UF suggest 46 cm (18 in) for enclosed cages.
• A deep base or tray so bedding stays in.
• A big door or a removable top, so you can reach every corner and lift a guinea pig out from above.
• Good airflow: wire sides, or a mesh top if the sides are solid.
• Room for a hide per guinea pig, a hay rack and open running space.
• A way to extend it, or join a playpen, later.

Which guinea pig cages should you avoid?

Skip anything with less than 7.5 sq ft (0.7 m²) of floor for a pair. A common 120 × 60 cm (47 × 24 in) cage only just reaches that, which is why it needs a run or playpen added every day. Also avoid:

• Glass tanks and plastic tubs. The Humane World for Animals says neither is acceptable housing for guinea pigs.
• Wire floors and wire ramps. They hurt delicate feet and can lead to sore hocks (bumblefoot).
• Two-storey hutches. Woodgreen does not recommend them; steep ramps risk falls and the top floor rarely gets used.
• Tall cages with high platforms. Purdue says levels should be close together to prevent falls.
• Rabbit cages with a high wire base. Chewy's vet-reviewed guide warns many are unsuitable for guinea pigs.

Best guinea pig cages and hutches

How to set up a guinea pig cage

1. Pick the spot. A quiet room at 17 to 20°C (63 to 68°F), against an inside wall, away from radiators, sunny windows and draughts.
2. Line the floor. Lay fleece liners or 5 to 8 cm (2 to 3 in) of paper-based bedding over the whole base.
3. Add a hide for each guinea pig. The RSPCA says there should be enough hiding places for all of them to hide at once. Open-ended hides with two doors stop squabbles.
4. Put hay at both ends. A big pile or rack of hay near each hide means nobody guards the food.
5. Add water and a small bowl. Fix a bottle at their head height and add a heavy bowl for pellets.
6. Leave open floor. Keep the middle clear for running and jumping, then add a tunnel or two along the walls.

For layouts and ideas, see our guinea pig cage setup guide. Our guinea pig bedding guide compares fleece and paper in detail, and how to clean a guinea pig cage gives a daily and weekly routine. However big the cage, guinea pigs still enjoy floor time and playpen time, and our complete guinea pig care guide covers everything else.