The Best Dog Beds of 2024

You can’t go wrong with a basic bolster like the Frisco Sherpa Bolster Rectangular Dog Bed, which offers comfort, security, and full-body support. And while it lacks the bells and whistles of K and H’s dog beds, Frisco’s classic sherpa-covered cuddler is still a quality choice. Granted, it’s not padded with memory foam. But small to medium-sized dogs with minimal orthopedic issues can log some serious smush-time against the downy polyester fiber filling and rest their heads against the surrounding bolster (one lowered side provides entry) padded with a chenille jacquard cover.

Being lightweight and all of one piece, it’s also no-muss no-fuss when it comes to moving, storing and cleaning—just hoist it up and put the whole thing in the wash.

Casper isn’t the only premium mattress company that’s gotten into the dog bed game. Sealy has also entered the scene with their own memory foam contender, which conforms to the pup’s shape for added comfort. The Sealy has bolsters on three sides for snuggling up against or resting one’s furry head. And it has the added benefit of being lined with cooling energy gel, so the fabric stays breathable and cozy, even during the dog days of summer.

The reasons it ranked a bit further down on our list is that even though it was very heavy, the materials felt a bit less durable than the Casper. It’s also less attractive, and at this price, you might as well spring for a stylish option.

Dogs are natural burrowers, as most owners have doubtlessly observed when their dog is anxious or afraid, sick, or just plain sleepy, and eager to be tightly ensconced. Snoozer’s clever Cozy Cave directly addresses this instinct, with a tent-like top that pups can hide and nestle under, lined with nubby Sherpa that retains heat in the winter and keeps cool in the summer. Cedar poly filling plumps out the cushy base, and a poly-cotton cover can be removed, and machine washed.

The bed is reasonably light, so it can be transported with ease, although the domed top can make it more difficult to store. Its structure is maintained with a thin plastic rod, which can potentially bend over time, calling into question its long-term durability.

One of the leaders on the cot-style pet bed market, the Coolaroo Elevated Pet Bed is definitely great to have on hand during warmer months, being elevated off the ground (which allows for airflow) and made from UV-treated material that doesn’t hold heat. It’s also a good choice for dogs with joint issues, since it releases pressure on the knees, hips, elbows, and shoulders, and enables them to get on and off the bed with ease.

Owners of chewers should consider the Coolaroo as well since it’s composed of a steel frame lined with sturdy polyethylene fabric, which is also designed to withstand all weather conditions and is resistant to mold, mildew, mites, and fleas. That said, dogs that like to nest may straight up reject the bed, and the canvas-esque fabric isn’t quite as conducive to extended nap sessions. Although you can certainly bring it inside, it’s definitely ideal as an outside option, and unlike K and H’s Bolster Cot, can’t be put together or taken apart without tools.

A frequent “best in show” among beds specifically designed with older dogs and long breeds in mind, the Big Barker Pillow Top Orthopedic Dog Bed aims to address and prevent orthopedic issues. Available in large, extra-large, and giant (coming in at a whopping 60x48x7)—which are great for bigger dogs—they’re crafted by master furniture makers, not mass-produced in factories, and are constructed from the highest quality American orthopedic foam.

The Big Barkers come with a 10-year warranty, along with the promise that the 100 percent microfiber covers can be washed 1,000 times, without shrinking by more than fractions of a millimeter, and that the foam will retain 90 percent of its original shape, even after a decade of use. But while we’d never put a price on our dog’s health and happiness, the price tag is enough to give anyone pause—think around $240 for the large, and up to $400 for the giant.

We can’t say our dog did much sleeping in this bed. The lightweight, egg crate foam-like material and L-shaped, flimsy build had him chomping at the bit to pick it up and drag it around. Even for non-chewers, we question the Furhaven’s long-term durability, as it already began to look a bit collapsed and smushed after minimal use. We did like the addition of cooling gel foam, however, we imagine the plush, faux fur lining could begin to feel oppressive in hotter weather.

While a bit too flat to qualify as a true bolster, the Midwest Plush Bolster is definitely a cut-above just a mat. Slightly raised edges provide a small lip for head-resting, and the extra thick and silky plush material is cozier than your average nubby fleece.

While you probably wouldn’t want to use it as a standalone bed, the generous range of dimensions (from 18 to 54 inches), and extreme portability and storability makes it ideal for lining crates, taking on car trips or vacations, or even using it as an extra layer for your dog’s existing bed.

Our dog loved nibbling at the fleece of the Frisco Quilted Fleece, but that was about it. That said, mats are mostly meant for lining crates, and their portability and affordability heighten the appeal for people rather than pets. So we hardly expected our dogs to favor it over more luxurious options.

The Frisco does come in a good range of sizes, though, from 18 to 54 inches, and even has a little loop—so after machine washing, you can allow it to drip dry (although it’s also dryer safe). The factors that really pushed it down on our list, however, are that it only comes in white—not a preferred shade with long term dog use—and if you’re going to go the mat route, there are considerably cuddlier options.

While our own dog happily sleeps on mattress-style bed(s), he turned his little nose up at the Furhaven Deluxe Mattress. As did our other four-legged volunteer testers—only stepping on it begrudgingly, with treats and prodding, and then quickly running off again, in search of other nests. As we said, dogs are true individuals and are absolutely subject to moods and specific likes and dislikes, so we'd hate to reject this bed out of hand.

From a human perspective, it’s affordable (we’ve spent over $200 on mattress-style options, while the Furhaven averages $39.99), and comes in a wide range of colors and sizes, from small to jumbo. It can be ordered padded with either orthopedic or memory foam, the basic, step-on design is good for older or disabled pets, and the cover is removable and machine washable.

Why isn’t this a top scorer then? We did find it less generously padded than the mattress beds we have at home. But more importantly, our large assembly of testers has spoken, and we must respect their bark.

The Majestic Pillow is an amorphous mattress that proved to be a headache for our collection of test people (it’s unwieldy to drag around, hard to find an unobtrusive space for, and exceedingly tricky to clean fur off of with a brush) as well as their pets. It didn’t conform to their shape in a satisfactory way, and dogs with mobility and orthopedic issues would find it difficult (and potentially unsafe) to maneuver on and off it.

Pluses for this dog bed are that it’s made from environmentally friendly and hypoallergenic materials, you can run the whole thing in the wash, and it comes in lots of patterns and colors—although only two sizes; the larger of which is 46 inches. And it’s not even a tremendous value, being the fifth most expensive out of the 12 dog beds we found.