Best hamster cages: what to buy and what to skip

How big should a hamster's cage be?

At least 100 × 50 cm (40 × 20 in) of unbroken floor, for one hamster of any species. PDSA takes that figure from the Veterinary Association for Animal Welfare and says bigger is always better. Woodgreen and the Bunny Jackpot Foundation rescue give the same floor size. Woodgreen adds a height of 50 cm (20 in) for Syrian and Chinese hamsters and at least 40 cm (16 in) for dwarfs.

A hamster is small but busy. The RSPCA notes wild hamsters can run up to five miles (8 km) a day, and they dig deep burrows. The cage has to hold deep bedding, a big wheel, a sand bath and several hides without crowding. Our guide to hamster cage size explains how to measure any cage before you buy.

What is the minimum hamster cage size in the UK?

No size is written into UK law, but UK charities and vets work to 100 × 50 cm (40 × 20 in). The law does require anyone caring for a hamster to meet its needs, as the RSPCA points out.

You will still see smaller numbers. Supreme Petfoods quotes older Blue Cross guidance of 80 × 50 × 50 cm for Syrians and 60 × 30 × 30 cm for dwarfs, PetMD gives 450 square inches (about 2,900 cm²), and the Hamster Society Singapore uses 90 × 50 cm for adoptions. We follow the 100 × 50 cm figure because it is the newest UK vet-led guidance and gives the most room to dig.

What to look for in a large hamster cage

A word like "large" or "XXL" on the box tells you nothing. Check these points on any cage, from any shop.

• Inside floor of 100 × 50 cm (40 × 20 in) or more, on one level
• A deep solid base, or solid sides, that hold 25 cm (10 in) of bedding
• Bars 1 cm (0.4 in) apart or less for Syrians, 7 mm (¼ in) for dwarfs
• A solid floor: the RSPCA warns wire mesh floors cause foot problems
• A secure lid and doors: PDSA calls hamsters escape artists
• Good airflow through mesh or bars, not a sealed box
• Headroom for a 30 cm (12 in) wheel on a platform, for a Syrian
• Doors or a lid big enough to reach in and clean

Glass hamster cages, wire cages and wooden enclosures compared

All three types can make a good home if the size is right. Here is what each does well.

Sources do not fully agree on bars. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation says every hamster should have a barless enclosure, while the RSPCA prefers stainless bars or mesh sides to solid ones for airflow. We would take either, as long as the bars are the right spacing and your hamster is not chewing them.

Hamster cages to skip

Some cages sold for hamsters are too small to live in, even if they look fun. Skip:

• Tube and pod cages. The National Hamster Council warns some plastic tunnels cause poor ventilation and that adult Syrians can be too big for narrow tubes. Small linked pods never add up to one floor big enough to dig.
• Tall, multi-level cages. PDSA prefers single-level cages because hamsters have poor eyesight and can fall. Shelves and levels do not count towards floor space, says PetMD.
• Starter kits. Most cages sold with a wheel, bottle and bowl in one box fall well short of 100 × 50 cm, and the Hamster Society Singapore says connecting small pet shop cages still does not give enough floor.
• Wire floors. The RSPCA says they can cause foot problems.

Best hamster cages: our picks

We don't make pieces for hamsters yet, so these are from other shops we'd look at. Each one reaches, or very nearly reaches, 100 × 50 cm of floor. Check the current listing for exact sizes before you buy.

The Bunny Jackpot Foundation also recommends the Bucatstate 2.0 and 3.0 barless enclosures and rectangular PawHut wooden enclosures. We could not view those shops' pages, so they are not in the list above, but the same checks apply.

Hamster cages at Pets at Home: what to check

Pets at Home sells cages that reach the minimum, like the Ferplast Domster and Savic Plaza 100, alongside smaller habitats sold for hamsters. Its Habitat 4 deep base cage, for example, is 78.5 × 57.5 cm, which is under 100 cm long. Compare the listed size with 100 × 50 cm, and ignore how many animals a listing says a cage holds. Woodgreen advises keeping every hamster species alone.

Best cage for a Syrian (golden) hamster

For a Syrian, also called a golden hamster, look for at least 100 × 50 cm, 50 cm (20 in) of height and bars no more than 1 cm apart. Woodgreen says female Syrians may need more room. The National Hamster Council says some rat cages, such as the Ferplast Mary, suit Syrians, as long as the floor is large and single-level. A dwarf needs the same floor but bars of 7 mm or less, or a tank. Our Syrian or dwarf hamster comparison sets out the differences.

What is the best house for a hamster?

Inside the cage, the best house is a multi-chamber hide with no floor, set into deep bedding, plus at least two more hides. The RSPCA suggests a nest box big enough for a larder, a sleeping area and room to move, with no floor so you can lift it to check on your hamster. The Bunny Jackpot Foundation suggests at least three hides, with entrances of 7 cm (2¾ in) for Syrians and 5 cm (2 in) for dwarfs. Our guide to the best hamster hides and houses has picks.

Setting up a new hamster cage

1. Choose the spot first. A quiet room at 18 to 21°C (64 to 70°F), away from sun, radiators and draughts, as PDSA advises.
2. Place heavy things. Wheel platform, sand bath and large hides go in before the bedding, so nothing sinks.
3. Fill with bedding. At least 25 cm (10 in) across much of the floor, gently pressed so tunnels hold. Our guide to safe hamster bedding covers what to use.
4. Add the wheel. 30 cm (12 in) for Syrians, 20 cm (8 in) or more for dwarfs, with a solid track. See our hamster wheel size guide.
5. Add water, food and scatter. A bottle and a shallow bowl, and part of the food scattered for foraging.

Our hamster cage setup guide has full layouts, and our complete hamster care guide covers everything else.