Recommended Hamster Cages (Including Small and Large Hamster Cages and DIY Hamster Cages)Includes both dwarf hamster cages and syrian hamster cage
When considering the best hamster cages, you need to note that a hamster requires space to roam and play/exercise. Limited space will make it unhappy or snappy and it can bite.
Best Hamster Cage Minimum cage dimensions for a Syrian Hamster and dwarf hamsters:
Different sources have given different dimensions. However, the minimum floor L x W should be 450sq inches.
- (30” L by 16” W by 16”H) that is (76cm L by 40cm W by 40cm H)
- (40” L by 16” W by 16”H) that is (100cm L by 40cm W by 40cm H)
Bigger is always better!!!
Are You On A Tight Budget?
If you are working on a tight budget, the cheapest and best hamster cages can be made of a plastic bottom and a wire canopy. An advantage of these kind of cages is that they are easy to keep clean and have a variety of sizes.
Important to note
- Some cages come with accessories and some don’t.
- DO NOT get round cages, hamsters love corners.
- Make sure the cage floor is solid NOT wired.
Here are the best hamster cages based on owners and experts (Including Small and Big Hamster Cages and DIY Hamster Cages).
Choose one that works for you budget-wise, space-wise, appearance-wise etc.
OPTION #1
IKEA DETOLF
tip this on its side and take out the shelves. You will need to get a lid that must be meshed to prevent chances of hamster escape or some predator getting into the cage. The mesh also allows for proper ventilation.
See setting up videos. (You will get to see how this cage looks like in your home setting)
Assembling IKEA Detolf Hamster Cage
IKEA Detolf Hamster Cage View
Where Can You Get The IKEA Detolf Cage?
US: From IKEA
US: IKEA Glass-Door Cabinet, Black-Brown
UK: Ikea Detolf Glass Curio Display Cabinet White
OPTION #2
40+ gallons LONG fish tanks (consider the length more than height)
You will need to get a lid that must be meshed. You can either make one yourself or buy the Zilla Fresh Air Screen Cover. It is totally up to you. You can also place gift wrap on the back outside of the tank to get colorful cage backgrounds. The same case applies to the Detolf IKEA. See image. Image credits go to Melodie from the hamster hideout forum.
Gift wrap on the back outside of the tank
You can have a look at this cleaning clip, to see the aquarium in action.
Hamster Tank Cleaning (40 gallon Breeder Tank)
Where Do You Get This Aquarium?
US 1. Aqueon 40 Gallon Black Breeder Tank (361816) SD-3 {L-b}158017
Where Do You Get The Zilla Fresh Air Screen Cover?
U.S. Zilla Reptile Terrarium Covers Fresh Air Screen, 36×18-inch
UK: ZILLA Reptile Terrarium Covers Fresh Air Screen, 36×18-inch
OPTION #3
Alexander Hamster Cage/ Alexander Small Pet Cage
Watch a review of the Alexander cage
Alexander Hamster Cage Review
Where Do You Get The Alexander Cage?
OPTION #4
Savic Hamster Plaza Hamster House 100 x 50 x 50 cm
Savic Hamster Sky Navy Blue Hamster Cage 80 X 50 X 50 Cm
Where Do You Get These Cages?
Remember to check on the size (the plaza hamster cage is bigger)
US:1.Savic Hamster Plaza Hamster Cage, Silver
US:3.Savic Hamster Heaven Metro Cage
UK: 1. Savic Hamster Plaza Hamster House 100 x 50 x 50 cm
UK: 2.
UK: 3. Savic Hamster Sky Navy Blue Hamster Cage 80 X 50 X 50 Cm
UK: 4. Savic Hamster Heaven Navy Blue Hamster Cage, 80 x 50 x 50 cm
OPTION #5
Living World Green Moving Home Eco Habitat, Medium or the Large one (whichever you want)
Since this cage has a wooden base make sure to line it with good solid plastic or glass to avoid it being ruined.
Watch this clip on setting it up.
Setting up the Living World Green Eco Habitat HAmster Cage
Where Can You Get This Cage?
OPTION #6
Joining 2 IKEA BILLY CAGES side by side.
See video on how to do this. In this video, only a hole has been made at the joining sides. It is recommended to pull down those walls completely instead of having a hole so as to have a continuous cage flow where your hamster can run continuously.
DIY Hamster Cage Double Billy Cage
DIY Hamster Cage Ikea Billy Cage
Where Do You Get The Billy Cages?
UK: Ikea BILLY – Height extension unit, white – 80x28x35 cm
UK: IKEA BILLY height extension unit 80x28x35 cm white
U.S. IKEA ASIA Billy Height Extension Unit, White
U.S. IKEA Billy Height Extension Unit, White
Where Do You Get The Glass?
BILLY Extra shelf, glass or Get glass at a LOCAL GLASS SHOP (note the measurements)
OPTION #7
Alaska Hamster Cage
This cage just meets the minimum requirements but has room for your dwarf hamster.
See the Alaska hamster cage in use
A Review of the Alaska cage
Where Do You Get This Cage?
OPTION #8
DIY Ikea Linnmon Hamster Cage
This is another option that meets the dimensions for your hamster (877 sq. ins)
See detailed videos of setting it up and making a lid.
DIY Ikea Linnmon Hamster Cage Without Lid
Hamster Linnmon DIY Cage Lid
Where Do You Get The White Side and Bottom Boards (THREE IKEA Table Top LINNMON)?
Ensure You Confirm the size!!!
From IKEA: IKEA Table Tops LINNMON
US:IKEA Linnmon Desk Table Top 47 Inch with Feltectors (White)
US:IKEA Linnmon Tabletop White 602.511.37 Size 47 1/4×23 5/8″
UK: Ikea LINNMON – Table top, white – 100×60 cm
UK: Ikea LINNMON – Table top, white – 120×60 cm
UK: IKEA LINNMON table top white (75×150 cm)
Where Do You Get The Glass?
ONE IKEA Hemnes Glass Top
Length: 108cm
Height: 50cm
Thickness: 0.5cm
(This might not be available, if it is not, just get glass from your local glass place)
OPTION #9
DIY Hamster Cage or Homemade Hamster Cage
Best DIY Hamster Cages require your creativity. Make sure you abide by the best hamster cage dimensions, bigger is always better. If you have to use wood anywhere, poplar or kiln-dried pine is recommended. To get ideas, you can Google images of homemade hamster cages. Before deciding to go this way, read through to see what else your pet hamster needs and see what size to build so as to fit all the required accessories.
See video of an example of a DIY cage.
Building A New DIY Hamster Cage
OPTION #10
Skyline Small Pet Terrarium Marrakesh
Setting up the Marrakesh Terrarium
Organizing the Marrakesh Terrarium
You may come across two sizes
Try and get the larger size; you can even purchase two small or large ones and join them to create more room for your hamsters (if you do this you will have to modify the joining walls/sides)
| Size | Total size | Internal size | Lid flap | Ventilated mesh |
| 80=29 gallons | 77 x 47 x 38 cm (L x W x H) | 73.5 x 44 x 35 cm (L x W x H) | 74 x 47 cm (L x W) | Diameter 3mm |
| 100=37 gallons | 96 x 47 x 38 cm (L x W x H) | 92.5 x 44 x 35 cm (L x W x H) | 93 x 47 cm (L x W) | Diameter 3mm |
Where Do I Get This Hamster Cage?
OPTION #11
Bin Cages
Hamster Bin Cages
Most people do not recommend these claiming poor ventilation and the likelihood of your hamster chewing a hole and escaping. Some people also say that your hamster will not be visible through the plastic compared to glass. That being said, it is up to you.
If you go the Bin Cage way, make sure the bin cage is at least 30” length by 20” width by 16” height. This really matters for fitting accessories and offering enough space for your hamster. We know getting a large bin can be tasking. We found this one that is slightly lower than 450 sq. inches. It is 432 sq. inches and can work.
- 110 LITRE EXTRA LARGE PLASTIC STORAGE BOXES! USEFUL FOR EVERYTHING TOYS HOMEWARE (link below)
For ventilation, there are different options you can go with, which are, removing the lid and placing a tight-mesh wire shelving like the image above or making a mesh wire top and mesh wire window. Sometimes the window is not recommended. Also, see video below.
How to make a Bin Cage For Your Hamster
Where Do You Get A Good Bin Cage?
UK 1. EXTRA LARGE CLEAR PLASTIC STORAGE BOX WITH LID 133 LITRE
UK 2. Crystal 133L Box and Lid Clear
UK 3. 133 Litre Extra Large Clear Plastic Storage Box with Clear Lid – Pack of 3
UK 4. VSL 133 Litre Extra Large Clear Plastic Storage Box with Clear Lid
OPTION #12
Little Friends Grosvenor Rat and Hamster Cage with Wooden Shelf and Ladder, Large, 77 x 47 x 36 cm, Silver/ Black
I would like to very kindly point out that the tank should be a 40 gallon breeder as it has more floorspace than a 40 gallon long. The 40 gallon long is actually just below minimum floor space. 🙂
Not true. 40L is about 576 square inches
Actually, a 40 gallon breeder does have more space – 643 square inches.
I would like to point out that the IKEA detolf is equivalent to a 90 gallon and is only 60$ in the US so it is actually more convenient than the 40 gallon breeder.Also my female short haired Syrian was in a 40 gallon breeder, and when I upgraded her she really enjoyed it.
Actually, are more energetic than Syrians and thus need the same size cage
Syrian hamsters are more energetic than what???? Please retype the answer. Thank you . 🙂 “/_\”