Amazon Basics Foldable Octagonal Metal Exercise Dog Playpen Single Door Medium 8 Panels 24 x 36 (Black) Review (2026)

Who this pen fits

This is the Medium version of Amazon Basics' octagonal exercise pen line, built from 8 connected panels that each stand 36 inches tall, and it ships with a single door rather than the no-door variant. The line is sized in steps, from a 30 inch Small up through a 48 inch Extra Large, so this Medium sits in the middle and is aimed at dogs who are comfortable behind a 36 inch wall rather than large or highly athletic jumpers who would clear it. Because the 8 panels connect with thumb clips, the pen can be arranged as a round enclosure, a square, or a longer rectangle, which lets an apartment owner match the shape to a hallway, a corner, or an open living room floor.

Build and materials

Amazon Basics builds this pen from iron wire with a rustproof finish, connected panel to panel with thumb clips so the whole run folds flat when not in use. The single door panel uses a slide-bolt latch that locks, which keeps a curious dog from nosing the gate open, and each panel stands on non-skid feet designed to keep the pen in place and to protect flooring from scratching rather than scuffing it. Amazon Basics also includes ground anchors with the pen, a detail aimed at outdoor use where a determined dog might try to push a panel outward, though most apartment buyers will use the pen strictly indoors on a hard floor or rug.

Setting it up in a small space

Assembly does not call for tools: the panels unfold from their flat shipping shape and the thumb clips join adjacent panels in place, so a first setup typically takes only a few minutes. Because the octagon shape can be closed into different configurations, an apartment owner can push the pen into a tighter square against two walls to save floor space, then open it back into a wider rectangle later for more room. The tradeoff is that reshaping the run also moves where the single door panel ends up, so it is worth planning the layout before locking every clip so the door faces a walkway rather than a wall.

Living with it day to day

Because every panel folds flat along its hinges, the whole pen collapses down small enough to lean in a closet or slide under a bed, which matters more in an apartment than in a house with a garage or spare room. The 36 inch wall height works well as a daytime containment area for feeding, a crate-free confinement zone, or a safe space while guests are over, and the locking slide-bolt door means it can be left assembled without constant supervision. Buyers with a determined climber or a larger breed should compare their dog's height against the 36 inch panels before relying on this size as the only barrier.

Where it comes up short

The single door is the main limitation reported around this style of pen: once the octagon is reconfigured into a square or a long rectangle, the door panel does not always land on the most convenient side, so some owners rebuild the shape a second time to fix the opening. Dogs above the medium size range, or dogs known for jumping, are better served by the Large or Extra Large versions in the same line rather than this 36 inch height. It is also a wire pen rather than a solid-wall crate, so it will not block sightlines or drafts the way an enclosed playpen does.

Frequently asked questions