PETMAKER Pet Gate 4-Panel Indoor Foldable Dog Fence for Stairs, Hallways, or Doorways 72x24-Inch Wood Freestanding (Black) Review (2026)

Who this gate suits

This is a freestanding, folding wood and plastic pet gate built from four connected panels, sized to cover openings the manufacturer recommends are between 45 and 60 inches wide when the gate is extended to its full 73 inch length. That range makes it a better match than a standard two panel gate for apartment layouts with wide hallway openings, open concept living rooms, or doorways that sit off to one side of a wall. Because it requires no drilling, screws or wall hardware, it also suits renters who need to avoid marking walls or door frames, and the black finish is meant to blend with darker or more modern apartment interiors rather than standing out as a bright white barrier.

Build, dimensions and material

According to the manufacturer, the gate measures about 73 inches long, three quarters of an inch thick and just under 24 inches tall when fully extended, and folds down to roughly 18 inches long by 3 inches thick for storage. It is built from a combination of MDF wood panels and plastic hinges rather than solid wood or metal, which keeps the gate lighter to move and fold but also means it is not as rigid as an all metal barrier. The four panel, accordion style design lets the gate bend into a zig-zag shape rather than sitting perfectly straight, which the manufacturer says helps it stand more steadily on its own without needing to be braced against a wall.

Living with it day to day

Setup is meant to be tool free: the panels unfold, the gate is angled into a stable zig-zag stance, and it is ready to use without any hardware installation. When it is not needed, the gate folds down to about 18 inches long and 3 inches thick, which the manufacturer says is compact enough to slide under a bed or store in a closet, though a 24 inch tall folded gate still takes up meaningful floor or closet space in a small apartment compared with a gate that mounts permanently in a doorway. Because there is no wall anchoring, the gate's stability comes entirely from its own folded shape and footprint, so it works best on flat, hard flooring rather than thick carpet or uneven surfaces.

How it compares with other pet gates

In this site's ranking of pet gates for apartments and renters, this model sits in the middle of the group, behind a pressure mounted metal gate with a built in walk through pet door and a similarly sized adjustable metal gate, but ahead of shorter or narrower rivals. Its main advantage over those higher ranked competitors is width, since 73 inches of coverage handles openings that most standard gates cannot reach without an extension kit. The trade-off is height and material: at just under 24 inches tall and built from MDF and plastic rather than metal, it offers less of a physical barrier for a larger or more determined dog than the metal framed gates ranked above it.

Bottom line

This is a solid choice for an apartment or rental home with a wide opening to cover, and the tool free, accordion style setup makes it easy to place and move without any wall damage. Owners of larger, more athletic dogs should be cautious about the roughly 24 inch height, since it is really only a dependable barrier for smaller or calmer dogs rather than a jumper. For narrower doorways or households with a bigger dog, a taller metal gate from higher in this site's ranking is likely a better fit.

Frequently asked questions