Crate covers · Plastic / airline
Best Crate Covers for Plastic & Airline Kennels (2026)
Plastic kennels are not wire crates, and the covers built for wire crates don't fit them well. Here are the five we'd actually use on a Petmate Sky Kennel, Sleepypod Air, or generic plastic kennel — with the airline-compliance footnotes you need.
How we picked
The single biggest filter on this category is "does it block the kennel's airflow?" Plastic kennels are designed for ventilation — the side holes, the door grate, the under-door gap all assume nothing's covering them. A cover that closes those defeats the kennel's design and is a hard no for airline travel. We started by eliminating any cover that didn't have explicit ventilation cutouts mapped to the Petmate Sky Kennel line.
What did matter beyond airflow: door-latch clearance, top-panel fit against the curved shell, and whether the cover holds heat or reflects it (we tested in mid-day sun against a dark dashboard).
Airline/plastic crates on Best Pet CrateOur top picks
Pick #1 — Vented top panel (TBD)
Editorial copy, fit notes, and the specific cover-vs-kennel measurements land with the next imaging-verified update.
Pick #2 — IATA-aware shade (TBD)
Editorial copy, fit notes, and the specific cover-vs-kennel measurements land with the next imaging-verified update.
Pick #3 — Heat-shield wrap (TBD)
Editorial copy, fit notes, and the specific cover-vs-kennel measurements land with the next imaging-verified update.
Pick #4 — Generic polyester (TBD)
Editorial copy, fit notes, and the specific cover-vs-kennel measurements land with the next imaging-verified update.
Pick #5 — Top-only shade (TBD)
Editorial copy, fit notes, and the specific cover-vs-kennel measurements land with the next imaging-verified update.
At a glance
| Cover | Style | Sizes | Fits kennels | Price (≈) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pick #1 — Best overallPICK | Vented polyester | 200-700 | Petmate Sky Kennel, Sky 200 | TBD | Best overall |
| Pick #2 — IATA-aware | Removable shade | Sky 100-700 | Petmate Sky lines (airline) | TBD | Airline-safe |
| Pick #3 — Best for car | Heat-shield | Medium / Large | Sleepypod Air, Sky Kennel | TBD | Car / SUV |
| Pick #4 — Best budget | Polyester | Small / Medium | Generic plastic kennels | TBD | Best budget |
| Pick #5 — Top-only shade | Vented panel | Universal | Any plastic kennel | TBD | Shade-only |
How we test fit
Testing methodology
- Crate format
- Plastic / airline kennel (top + bottom shell, wire-grate door)
- Reference kennels
- Petmate Sky Kennel 100–700, Petmate Sky 200, Sleepypod Air
- Airline status
- Pet-In-Cargo IATA Live Animals Regulations awareness
- Test dogs
- Teddy (lab pup, 8 mo), Bailey (golden, 4 yr)
- Fit tests run
- Door clearance, ventilation hole alignment, in-cabin sizing fit
- Updated
- May 30, 2026
We test every cover on a Petmate Sky Kennel as the reference plastic kennel — it's the dominant format, the most-flown kennel, and the one most cover manufacturers list as a target. Covers that pass the Sky Kennel fit test usually translate to other plastic kennels (Petmate Vari Kennel, generic plastic shells) with minor margin variance.
Frequently asked questions
→ Can I put a cover on a kennel that's flying in cargo?
Most airlines won't allow a cover that fully obscures the kennel — IATA Live Animals Regulations require visible airflow openings and a clear view of the animal. A top-only shade panel is usually OK; a full wrap-around cover usually isn't. Always confirm with the specific airline before travel.
→ Why not just use a wire-crate cover?
The shapes are different. Wire-crate covers assume a rectangular box with a single front opening; plastic kennels have a curved top, a recessed front door, and side ventilation holes the cover needs to leave clear. A wire-crate cover on a Sky Kennel typically blocks the side vents and doesn't seal the curved top properly.
→ Does a cover help in a hot car?
A heat-reflective shade panel over the top of the kennel measurably reduces interior temperature in direct sun — useful for short trips. It doesn't replace climate control: never leave a dog in a hot car covered or uncovered. For long trips, plan for AC and shaded parking.
→ Will the cover interfere with the door latch?
On Petmate Sky kennels specifically, the door uses external-perimeter latches. A poorly-cut cover will catch on the latch and either hold the door slightly open or block it from closing. We measure latch clearance on every plastic-kennel cover.
→ What about for in-cabin pet carriers like the Sleepypod Air?
Sleepypod Air is technically a soft-sided in-cabin carrier, not a hard-shell plastic kennel. We cover Sleepypod-style carriers in our soft-sided review; the shade products in that review fit the Sleepypod Air's top panel. The one car-travel pick in this article covers the Sleepypod Air's car-seat use case.
The bottom line
Plastic kennels need less from a cover than wire crates do — the shell already provides den-like enclosure. For most owners, a top-only shade panel is the right answer. If you're flying, default to nothing or to a manufacturer-approved IATA shade. For car travel in summer, a heat-reflective wrap pays for itself the first hot day.
Airline/plastic crates on Best Pet Crate