Choosing the best cage or enclosure for your hamster is important for the hamster and making the right choice is also important for your pocket! Information below, including a list of recommended cages, further down the page:
Hamster Cage Size and enclosure size
The forum recommended cage sizes are approximately:
The Blue Cross, PDSA and Wood Green animal charity all recommend a hamster cage is 100cm x 50cm or larger
The exception may be in unusual or exceptional cases - for medical reasons (eg to use a smaller cage as a hospital cage) or temporarily as a rescue or holiday cage.
Safety
It's not just the amount of floorspace (square inches) that is important in a cage - it's also the depth (width) of a cage. A cage that is very long and narrow doesn't give the same benefits as one that's at least 38 to 40 cm deep (ideally 50cm or more).
Levels and shelves don't count towards floorspace, although levels and shelves do add enrichment. Hamsters are basically ground dwellers and diggers and need enough space at floor level, and plenty of substrate, to have normal behaviours. Levels and shelves give them somewhere else to go and something to do and are good, but they should be easily accessible and not be too high.
Cages that are particularly tall, like some rat cages, can be risky for hamsters, who will climb, but don't see well and aren't very good at getting down again, so tend to just "drop". They can injure themselves leading to suffering for the hamster and vet bills for you.
Deeper bedding can effectively reduce the height of a taller cage.
Types of Hamster cage or enclosure
There are pros and cons to both tank style and barred cages. Hamsters need very good ventilation and they also need good enrichment.
Barred cages have very good ventilation. Some have front access which can be good for taming and interaction with the hamster and this can be good for particularly nervous hamsters who don't like a hand coming from above, and also for owners who like front access! They offer a lot of scope for enrichment with attaching items to the bars and roof, for hanging items and overhead cover. The base of a barred cage has limited depth for bedding but there are options to increase this. With barred cages, deeper bedding can be achieved by putting cardboard, chill and chew mats, or perspex inside the bars so the substrate/bedding doesn't fall out of the bars.
Tank style cages
These can offer more scope for deeper bedding. They tend to be mainly top opening only, although some have front access. And while not being able to attach things to the roof and side so easily, they can offer a lot of scope for enrichment at floor level/landscaping and terrain building. They have less ventilation than barred cages, so the entire top lid needs to be meshed, at least.
BIn Cages
This is probably the cheapest option to make a diy hamster cage. However there aren't any bins big enough in the Uk (although there are in the US), and it might mean needing to join two bins together using hot glue, to create something large enough. Bin cages need plenty of ventilation adding - a meshed lid at least and ideally mesh at the front also.
Choosing a Hamster cage
Some of it may come down to personal preference of the owner, whether they prefer one style or the other. It may also come down to what you find easiest to use as well, what you're used to, your budget is, and what suits a particular hamster on occasion. Sometimes, if a hamster has been in a barred cage previously they may adapt to another barred cage better, and vice versa with tank style cages or bin cages. But there is no hard and fast rule.
Access is an important consideration - being able to get larger items in and out of the cage - but also access to the hamster for interaction. Large front opening doors are popular for that and can also make interaction and taming with the hamster easier and spot cleaning easier. Although most hamsters are best tamed out of the cage - their behaviour is different out of the cage than inside it. See the TAMING article for tips there. Large opening top roofs are also good for taking larger items in and out of the cage.
Here is a list of suitable cages available for hamsters in 2026.
The items below contain Amazon affiliate links and other affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a hamster cage from one of these links, it pays a commission to this site, at no extra cost to you, which helps fund the site running costs
Uk and Europe (US cages further down the page)
NOTE: There are many more cages available in Europe, not listed, that are not available in the Uk
BARRED CAGES 100cm or over
The Savic Plaza 100 -100cm x 50cm x 50cm tall - A good cage with plenty of room and suitable for all species of hamster and has a large front opening door which is good for interaction with the hamster and for spot cleaning. Perspex, cardboard or grass mats can be added for deeper bedding. Suitable for Syrians and dwarf hamsters but for dwarf hamsters there should be no more than 25cm drop between the roof and the top of the bedding, for safety. It has 9mm bar spacing officially but it's more like 8.5mm.
Available at Pets at Home for £80 to £100 and Amazon (usually costs more at Amazon) (affiliate links)
The Savic Plaza 120 £100 118cm x 64cm x 52cm tall
This is the much larger version of the Savic Plaza 100. It's probably the largest barred hamster cage with hamster sized bar spacing, apart from the Aura plexi (below) which is the same size but taller. It's virtually the same as the Plaza 100, but it has two large doors - one on top and one on the front, so access is very good. It has the same 9mm bar spacing (which measures at about 8.5mm) and suitable for Syrians and dwarf hamsters, but for dwarf hamsters there should be no more than 25cm between the roof and top of the bedding to avoid fall risks. Again bedding panels can be used for deeper bedding.
Available from: Scallywags pet shop and grooming parlour and Jollyes
Viking custom perspex panels for deep bedding - for Plaza cages and other barred cages
https://www.vikinglaser.co.uk/product/savic-plaza-deep-bedding-screens/
Savic Aura 120 Plexi - 118cm x 64cm x 62cm
This is similar to the Plaza 120 but the base is extended with 10cm of perspex, allowing for deeper bedding. The cage is also 10cm taller as a result at 62cm tall. It has the same large front and top door. The cage will easily hold about 25cm of bedding, but it could be deeper as bedding doesn't fall out of narrow 6.5mm bar spacing (depending on what bedding you use). This cage will be suitable for all species of hamsters, providing the bedding is deep enough to avoid fall risks from a height. This is available in the Uk and Europe (see above for Uk stockist).
Available from Scallywags pet shop for £135 plus delivery and eBay (ships from Germany but costs more - about £184)
Omlet cage 2024 88cm x 56 cm x 49cm tall
The Omlet cage holds up to 30cm of bedding and has a slightly larger internal floor area than the Savic Plaza 100. The floor area for substrate, measuring inside the perspex is 4773 square cm. The floor area between the bars internally in the Savic Plaza is 4704 square centimetres. Due to the fact the perspex goes right to the edge of the base as opposed to the bars of the Plaza being inset from the edges of the base. This is a good sized cage for all species of hamster although there are larger options. It comes with a 27cm silent wheel that fixes to the bars, two good sized cardboard multiroom houses, plus a food dish and water bottle. It has 10% off for a first order. It's not a cheap cage, but the fact it comes with a wheel and house means there are less items to buy. It has a a good sized front opening door.
Available from Omlet for £189 (affiliate link) - they sometimes have 20% off and discounts for new customers
Also from Amazon (affiliate link)
Skyline Barney cage 100cm x 56cm deep x 46cm tall - £74.39 from Zooplus
The Barney cage is now available for shipping to the Uk again, from Zooplus. This is a good sized 100cm cage with narrow 7mm bar spacing, suitable for dwarf hamsters, providing there is no more than 25cm between the roof and the top of the bedding, to avoid fall risks. The narrow bar spacing keeps the substrate in (depending on what substrate you use). It comes with a good house, shelf and ladder. It has a large door on the top and two smaller doors on the front. So access could be limited from the front, but good from above. May also be suitable for Syrian hamsters, but it would be difficult to fit enough bedding with an 11" or 12" wheel - although you could have a deep bedding end. Viking laser also sells deep bedding or full height perspex panels (to turn it into a tank), tailor made to fit this cage Viking laser Barney panels
Available from Zooplus for £74.39
Hammy Hamster Cage (right) 100cm x 56cm x 49cm tall - £89.99 from Pet Express
This is a 100cm cage with a front opening door and a good depth. Also sold by My Degu site for £99.99
The XL Grosvenor cage (left) 100cm x 54 cm x 39cm tall. Available from Little Pet Warehouse and Amazon. Top opening only but has a huge top lid. Again this has very good floorspace. It's lower in height than some 100cm cages so limits bedding depth again but the large floor area allows for a deeper bedding area at one end. This could be suitable for dwarf hamsters.
Available from Amazon for £72.99 (affiliate link) and Little Pet Warehouse for £69.99
Ferplast Criceti 120 cage 119cm x 58cm x 52cm tall
It's great to see Ferplast have made an even bigger Criceti! This one also has small front doors as well as the top opening roof and has narrow 7mm bar spacing as well.
Available from Ferplast for £159 (they sometimes have 15% off in winter or other sales)
https://www.ferplast.co.uk/products/criceti-120
Ferplast Criceti 100 cage 95cm x 57cm x 50cm tall £147 to £165 A very good sized barred cage, at almost 60cm deep and with a large floor area. It has a large top opening lid only. Pros - Size, and has some fairly good shelves with it. Cons - it's expensive and not that easy to find. For dwarf hamsters there should be no more than 25cm between the roof and the top of the substrate to avoid falls risks. NOTE: There are reports that the barred lid is a bit loose at the edge and some hamsters could push it up at the edges and escape. So it might need a book or similar on the edge.
Available from Amazon for £147 (affiliate link) and Ferplast for £147
Ferplast Karat 100 - 98.5cm x 50.5cm x 61.5cm
This has a nice deep glass base (base about 25cm high). It's a little on the tall side so does need deep bedding to avoid fall risks from a height. It has narrow bar spacing of about 8mm. However it only seems to be available from Amazon these days and the price can fluctuate. The only real complaints are that it sometimes arrives with the glass base broken. It has small doors on the front and a larger door on top. So not the easiest for access, but with the deep base, the top can be lifted off for access as well. Suitable for Syrian hamsters, but a bit tall for dwarf hamsters unless adapted.
Currently £259 from Amazon (affiliate link)
Ferplast Domster 100 -100cm x 50cm x 61cm high
A new cage from Ferplast. There is also a 120cm version but the 120cm version is a bit too tall for hamsters even with deep bedding unless adapted so not included here. The Domster 100 has a wood frame and perspex base with a barred top, has small doors at the front, the barred roof lifts off as well, plus the whole top comes off. It's a great sized cage for all species of hamster, providing there is enough bedding depth to avoid fall risks. However some Syrians might chew the wood frame. The perspex base part is 29cm deep on the 100cm cage.
Available from Pets at Home for £125 (affiliate link), Ferplast for £147 and Amazon for about £200 (affiliate link)
TANK STYLE CAGES 100cm approx or over
The Bucatstate 2 100 and Bucatstate 3 100
This is perspex style tank with a metal frame and a front opening door as well as a lift-off roof. It's 100cm x 50cm. The front opening door is a big bonus. There have been reports that, with very deep bedding, the perspex sides can bow, but it's been found to be fine between 25cm and 30cm deep bedding. It's available from Amazon. The earlier Bucatstate 2 model is also still available.
The Bucatstate 2 100cm is available from Amazon for £179.99 (affiliate link)
The Bucatstate 3 100cm is available from Amazon for £212 (affiliate link)
Bucatstate 3 120 - 120cm x 60cm x 62cm tall
The Bucatstate 3 120cm is available from Amazon for £259.99 (affiliate link) - prices can vary at times
Vevor metal and perspex 97cm x 47cm x 55cm
This is a very good value perspex tank style cage, similar to the Bucatstate, and tried and tested by a forum member. It has a front opening door and costs £111.99 from Vevor or from Amazon in Germany here (ships to uk) Vevor with door - Amazon.de for £110.59 plus £12.86 uk delivery. It is slightly under the 100cm by 50cm but a reasonable option for some hamsters. There is a very similar looking one by Pawhut on Amazon without a front door - that is quoted as being slightly over 100cm x 50cm. However the rear is slightly different with what look like very large ventilation slots - so the jury is out on that one until someone has measured the ventilation slots.
The Holzart 100 from Scallywags pet shop
Scallywags pet store sell this wood tank style cage, which has a front drop down door as well as a top opening meshed lid. Scallywags say it can be shipped flatpack by courier, or bought in store (either ready-assembled or flatpack). It measures 100cm x 50cm x 50cm. The shelves can be arranged differently or left out. They are also selling the 115cm version of this cage, but we don't have a price for that. The owner of Scallywags says this is sturdy and good solid wood.
The Holzart 100 is available from Scallywags pet shop for £160
Pawhut wood enclosures - various sizes - Pawhut make a number of wood and perspex/mesh enclosures. These can provide a lot of space, but they may need checking carefully for rough wood/splinters, and hinges and ladders from a safety aspect. There are also fall risks if the shelves are used. In other words they may need some slight adaptation internally (like leaving the shelves out to allow for bedding height) and some sanding paper handy. Most people also paint them with petsafe waterproofing paint so they don't get smelly and pee soaked. Note: There have been issues with hamsters chewing their way out of these so additional reinforcement may be needed eg tiling the base. Available from Amazon and various other places online.
Large 115cm Pawhut available from Amazon for £74.99 (affiliate link)
Angled 115cm Pawhut available from Wayfair for £86.99
Hamster-Homes Super Large Extra Tall 120cm x 60cm x 52cm tall £279.00
Made in the Uk by a small company. These come in various sizes and also come with a stand/legs as an option. They are very well made, sturdy, tank style cages. They also do one that is 42cm (38cm internally) which is £239.00.
https://www.hamster-homes.com/shop/super-large-extra-tall-hamster-cage-gerbils-mice-120x60x52cm/
Skyline Marrakesh 120 115cm x 50cm deep x 50cm tall
This is a wood and glass tank style cage with a hinged, lift up lid with gas pressure springs, with 7mm bar spacing on the lid. The wood is smooth and thick and there have been no reports of chewing the wood being an issue.
Available from Zooplus for £232.99
DIY Options
There are various DIY cages and Ikea Hacks that can be made, such as the Detolf, Linmonn, Komplement, Platsa and Pax cages - with tutorials on youtube.
Various Ikea hack cages on this thread here
DIY is not always the cheapest option. But it can make a larger cage. The cheapest option is probably a second hand barred cage, second hand fish tank or second hand detolf.
SECOND HAND CAGES AVAILABLE
This is usually the cheapest option of all and there are some excellent used cages on ebay and other sites. Some cages are no longer available new in the Uk, which includes the Alexander cage (100cm x 50cm x 50cm approx) (below). A used four foot fish tank can be used (needs a lid making). Also used Savic Plaza cages are available fairly regularly and sometimes used Barney cages can be found.
Zoozone Large 100cm x 51cm x 37cm The top bars need meshing for it to be suitable for a hamster. This is a perspex cage. The bar spacing is huge and very easy for a hamster to escape without meshing. Cons: It's quite low but could be possible to have a deep bedding end. Some people find the lid on this fiddly to open and close at first, but apparently you can get used to it/develop a knack. This may be suitable for a dwarf hamster with a deep bedding area, but something taller would be better, to fit more bedding.
US AND CANADA
For our US members and Canadian members. There are very few commercial cages big enough for hamsters and less barred cages available. Many owners use diy cages, 75 gallon glass tanks, or bin cages or detolfs. Glass tanks tend to be cheaper in the US. Some larger commercial enclosures are available though.
The Bucatstate 100 and 120 listed above are also available in the US (see above for details) - available on Amazon.com and from Bucatstate.
Niteangel Bigger world 47.2" x 19.7" - approx 120cm x 59cm
Amazon.com
Niteangel Vista 40.7" x 22.7" x 22.9" (approx 100cm x 57cm) $259.99
https://www.niteangelpet.com/produc...her-similar-sized-pets?variant=39815098138729
Exotic Nutrition Sahara (left) 40" x 20" x 21" tall (approx 100cm x 50cm)
This may need additional ventilation adding. We haven't seen one to test it.
Available from Exotic Nutrition for $129.99
The Omlet hamster cage is also available in the US (see above).
Omlet US
Note: Prices correct at the time of writing, but prices may vary
This list can also be found on the forum here
www.thehamsterforum.com
Also more information here
The cage shown on the article main photo, is the Savic Plaza 120 (the larger version of the Savic Plaza 100 cage), which was released in December 2022.
Hamster Cage Size and enclosure size
The forum recommended cage sizes are approximately:
- 100cm x 50cm or larger (775 square inches approx) for all species of hamster. Bar chewing is rare once a cage is 100cm or larger.
The Blue Cross, PDSA and Wood Green animal charity all recommend a hamster cage is 100cm x 50cm or larger
The exception may be in unusual or exceptional cases - for medical reasons (eg to use a smaller cage as a hospital cage) or temporarily as a rescue or holiday cage.
Safety
- A cage should be not too tall (some rat cages are very tall) and should be set up carefully to avoid fall risks from a height.
- For roborovski hamsters, and russian dwarf hamsters, height should not be more than about 25cm to 30cm above substrate level (in a barred cage) as these are tiny creatures who can be injured by falls. For Syrians 30cm to 35cm height above substrate level (in a barred cage). Hard or pointy items that could be sharp if landed on, should be placed under something (eg a shelf or roof hanging item).
- Bar spacing: Should be 1cm or less. For small roborovski's narrower bar spacing may be necessary.
- Tank style cages should have plenty of ventilation - a meshed roof at least. 1cm squared mesh or less.
- A cage should fasten securely or have a lock.
- Out of cage time in a safe environment such as a secure playpen or a sectioned off part of a room.
- Plenty of depth of substrate in the cage for burrowing and to cushion falls. Please see the SUBSTRATE article for further information.
- Plenty of enrichment in the cage. Please see the ENRICHMENT article for further information.
- An appropriate sized hamster wheel. Please see the WHEELS article for more information.
- Enough overhead cover. Hamsters often don't like a lot of open space above them, being prey animals. A shelf or platform is fairly essential so they have something to sit under. And roof hanging items like plastic sputnik hammocks, grass hammocks or egg box hammocks (no fabric) (in a barred cage), give overhead cover too, as well as added enrichment. A large house that's dark inside, deep enough substrate for burrowing down in, and plenty of large floor hides like cork tunnels, will help them feel secure.
It's not just the amount of floorspace (square inches) that is important in a cage - it's also the depth (width) of a cage. A cage that is very long and narrow doesn't give the same benefits as one that's at least 38 to 40 cm deep (ideally 50cm or more).
Levels and shelves don't count towards floorspace, although levels and shelves do add enrichment. Hamsters are basically ground dwellers and diggers and need enough space at floor level, and plenty of substrate, to have normal behaviours. Levels and shelves give them somewhere else to go and something to do and are good, but they should be easily accessible and not be too high.
Cages that are particularly tall, like some rat cages, can be risky for hamsters, who will climb, but don't see well and aren't very good at getting down again, so tend to just "drop". They can injure themselves leading to suffering for the hamster and vet bills for you.
Deeper bedding can effectively reduce the height of a taller cage.
Types of Hamster cage or enclosure
There are pros and cons to both tank style and barred cages. Hamsters need very good ventilation and they also need good enrichment.
Barred cages have very good ventilation. Some have front access which can be good for taming and interaction with the hamster and this can be good for particularly nervous hamsters who don't like a hand coming from above, and also for owners who like front access! They offer a lot of scope for enrichment with attaching items to the bars and roof, for hanging items and overhead cover. The base of a barred cage has limited depth for bedding but there are options to increase this. With barred cages, deeper bedding can be achieved by putting cardboard, chill and chew mats, or perspex inside the bars so the substrate/bedding doesn't fall out of the bars.
Tank style cages
These can offer more scope for deeper bedding. They tend to be mainly top opening only, although some have front access. And while not being able to attach things to the roof and side so easily, they can offer a lot of scope for enrichment at floor level/landscaping and terrain building. They have less ventilation than barred cages, so the entire top lid needs to be meshed, at least.
BIn Cages
This is probably the cheapest option to make a diy hamster cage. However there aren't any bins big enough in the Uk (although there are in the US), and it might mean needing to join two bins together using hot glue, to create something large enough. Bin cages need plenty of ventilation adding - a meshed lid at least and ideally mesh at the front also.
Choosing a Hamster cage
Some of it may come down to personal preference of the owner, whether they prefer one style or the other. It may also come down to what you find easiest to use as well, what you're used to, your budget is, and what suits a particular hamster on occasion. Sometimes, if a hamster has been in a barred cage previously they may adapt to another barred cage better, and vice versa with tank style cages or bin cages. But there is no hard and fast rule.
Access is an important consideration - being able to get larger items in and out of the cage - but also access to the hamster for interaction. Large front opening doors are popular for that and can also make interaction and taming with the hamster easier and spot cleaning easier. Although most hamsters are best tamed out of the cage - their behaviour is different out of the cage than inside it. See the TAMING article for tips there. Large opening top roofs are also good for taking larger items in and out of the cage.
Here is a list of suitable cages available for hamsters in 2026.
The items below contain Amazon affiliate links and other affiliate links. If you decide to purchase a hamster cage from one of these links, it pays a commission to this site, at no extra cost to you, which helps fund the site running costs
Uk and Europe (US cages further down the page)
NOTE: There are many more cages available in Europe, not listed, that are not available in the Uk
BARRED CAGES 100cm or over
The Savic Plaza 100 -100cm x 50cm x 50cm tall - A good cage with plenty of room and suitable for all species of hamster and has a large front opening door which is good for interaction with the hamster and for spot cleaning. Perspex, cardboard or grass mats can be added for deeper bedding. Suitable for Syrians and dwarf hamsters but for dwarf hamsters there should be no more than 25cm drop between the roof and the top of the bedding, for safety. It has 9mm bar spacing officially but it's more like 8.5mm.
Available at Pets at Home for £80 to £100 and Amazon (usually costs more at Amazon) (affiliate links)
The Savic Plaza 120 £100 118cm x 64cm x 52cm tall
This is the much larger version of the Savic Plaza 100. It's probably the largest barred hamster cage with hamster sized bar spacing, apart from the Aura plexi (below) which is the same size but taller. It's virtually the same as the Plaza 100, but it has two large doors - one on top and one on the front, so access is very good. It has the same 9mm bar spacing (which measures at about 8.5mm) and suitable for Syrians and dwarf hamsters, but for dwarf hamsters there should be no more than 25cm between the roof and top of the bedding to avoid fall risks. Again bedding panels can be used for deeper bedding.
Available from: Scallywags pet shop and grooming parlour and Jollyes
Viking custom perspex panels for deep bedding - for Plaza cages and other barred cages
https://www.vikinglaser.co.uk/product/savic-plaza-deep-bedding-screens/
Savic Aura 120 Plexi - 118cm x 64cm x 62cm
This is similar to the Plaza 120 but the base is extended with 10cm of perspex, allowing for deeper bedding. The cage is also 10cm taller as a result at 62cm tall. It has the same large front and top door. The cage will easily hold about 25cm of bedding, but it could be deeper as bedding doesn't fall out of narrow 6.5mm bar spacing (depending on what bedding you use). This cage will be suitable for all species of hamsters, providing the bedding is deep enough to avoid fall risks from a height. This is available in the Uk and Europe (see above for Uk stockist).
Available from Scallywags pet shop for £135 plus delivery and eBay (ships from Germany but costs more - about £184)
Omlet cage 2024 88cm x 56 cm x 49cm tall
The Omlet cage holds up to 30cm of bedding and has a slightly larger internal floor area than the Savic Plaza 100. The floor area for substrate, measuring inside the perspex is 4773 square cm. The floor area between the bars internally in the Savic Plaza is 4704 square centimetres. Due to the fact the perspex goes right to the edge of the base as opposed to the bars of the Plaza being inset from the edges of the base. This is a good sized cage for all species of hamster although there are larger options. It comes with a 27cm silent wheel that fixes to the bars, two good sized cardboard multiroom houses, plus a food dish and water bottle. It has 10% off for a first order. It's not a cheap cage, but the fact it comes with a wheel and house means there are less items to buy. It has a a good sized front opening door.
Available from Omlet for £189 (affiliate link) - they sometimes have 20% off and discounts for new customers
Also from Amazon (affiliate link)
Skyline Barney cage 100cm x 56cm deep x 46cm tall - £74.39 from Zooplus
The Barney cage is now available for shipping to the Uk again, from Zooplus. This is a good sized 100cm cage with narrow 7mm bar spacing, suitable for dwarf hamsters, providing there is no more than 25cm between the roof and the top of the bedding, to avoid fall risks. The narrow bar spacing keeps the substrate in (depending on what substrate you use). It comes with a good house, shelf and ladder. It has a large door on the top and two smaller doors on the front. So access could be limited from the front, but good from above. May also be suitable for Syrian hamsters, but it would be difficult to fit enough bedding with an 11" or 12" wheel - although you could have a deep bedding end. Viking laser also sells deep bedding or full height perspex panels (to turn it into a tank), tailor made to fit this cage Viking laser Barney panels
Available from Zooplus for £74.39
Hammy Hamster Cage (right) 100cm x 56cm x 49cm tall - £89.99 from Pet Express
This is a 100cm cage with a front opening door and a good depth. Also sold by My Degu site for £99.99
The XL Grosvenor cage (left) 100cm x 54 cm x 39cm tall. Available from Little Pet Warehouse and Amazon. Top opening only but has a huge top lid. Again this has very good floorspace. It's lower in height than some 100cm cages so limits bedding depth again but the large floor area allows for a deeper bedding area at one end. This could be suitable for dwarf hamsters.
Available from Amazon for £72.99 (affiliate link) and Little Pet Warehouse for £69.99
Ferplast Criceti 120 cage 119cm x 58cm x 52cm tall
It's great to see Ferplast have made an even bigger Criceti! This one also has small front doors as well as the top opening roof and has narrow 7mm bar spacing as well.
Available from Ferplast for £159 (they sometimes have 15% off in winter or other sales)
https://www.ferplast.co.uk/products/criceti-120
Ferplast Criceti 100 cage 95cm x 57cm x 50cm tall £147 to £165 A very good sized barred cage, at almost 60cm deep and with a large floor area. It has a large top opening lid only. Pros - Size, and has some fairly good shelves with it. Cons - it's expensive and not that easy to find. For dwarf hamsters there should be no more than 25cm between the roof and the top of the substrate to avoid falls risks. NOTE: There are reports that the barred lid is a bit loose at the edge and some hamsters could push it up at the edges and escape. So it might need a book or similar on the edge.
Available from Amazon for £147 (affiliate link) and Ferplast for £147
Ferplast Karat 100 - 98.5cm x 50.5cm x 61.5cm
This has a nice deep glass base (base about 25cm high). It's a little on the tall side so does need deep bedding to avoid fall risks from a height. It has narrow bar spacing of about 8mm. However it only seems to be available from Amazon these days and the price can fluctuate. The only real complaints are that it sometimes arrives with the glass base broken. It has small doors on the front and a larger door on top. So not the easiest for access, but with the deep base, the top can be lifted off for access as well. Suitable for Syrian hamsters, but a bit tall for dwarf hamsters unless adapted.
Currently £259 from Amazon (affiliate link)
Ferplast Domster 100 -100cm x 50cm x 61cm high
A new cage from Ferplast. There is also a 120cm version but the 120cm version is a bit too tall for hamsters even with deep bedding unless adapted so not included here. The Domster 100 has a wood frame and perspex base with a barred top, has small doors at the front, the barred roof lifts off as well, plus the whole top comes off. It's a great sized cage for all species of hamster, providing there is enough bedding depth to avoid fall risks. However some Syrians might chew the wood frame. The perspex base part is 29cm deep on the 100cm cage.
Available from Pets at Home for £125 (affiliate link), Ferplast for £147 and Amazon for about £200 (affiliate link)
TANK STYLE CAGES 100cm approx or over
The Bucatstate 2 100 and Bucatstate 3 100
This is perspex style tank with a metal frame and a front opening door as well as a lift-off roof. It's 100cm x 50cm. The front opening door is a big bonus. There have been reports that, with very deep bedding, the perspex sides can bow, but it's been found to be fine between 25cm and 30cm deep bedding. It's available from Amazon. The earlier Bucatstate 2 model is also still available.
The Bucatstate 2 100cm is available from Amazon for £179.99 (affiliate link)
The Bucatstate 3 100cm is available from Amazon for £212 (affiliate link)
Bucatstate 3 120 - 120cm x 60cm x 62cm tall
The Bucatstate 3 120cm is available from Amazon for £259.99 (affiliate link) - prices can vary at times
Vevor metal and perspex 97cm x 47cm x 55cm
This is a very good value perspex tank style cage, similar to the Bucatstate, and tried and tested by a forum member. It has a front opening door and costs £111.99 from Vevor or from Amazon in Germany here (ships to uk) Vevor with door - Amazon.de for £110.59 plus £12.86 uk delivery. It is slightly under the 100cm by 50cm but a reasonable option for some hamsters. There is a very similar looking one by Pawhut on Amazon without a front door - that is quoted as being slightly over 100cm x 50cm. However the rear is slightly different with what look like very large ventilation slots - so the jury is out on that one until someone has measured the ventilation slots.
The Holzart 100 from Scallywags pet shop
Scallywags pet store sell this wood tank style cage, which has a front drop down door as well as a top opening meshed lid. Scallywags say it can be shipped flatpack by courier, or bought in store (either ready-assembled or flatpack). It measures 100cm x 50cm x 50cm. The shelves can be arranged differently or left out. They are also selling the 115cm version of this cage, but we don't have a price for that. The owner of Scallywags says this is sturdy and good solid wood.
The Holzart 100 is available from Scallywags pet shop for £160
Pawhut wood enclosures - various sizes - Pawhut make a number of wood and perspex/mesh enclosures. These can provide a lot of space, but they may need checking carefully for rough wood/splinters, and hinges and ladders from a safety aspect. There are also fall risks if the shelves are used. In other words they may need some slight adaptation internally (like leaving the shelves out to allow for bedding height) and some sanding paper handy. Most people also paint them with petsafe waterproofing paint so they don't get smelly and pee soaked. Note: There have been issues with hamsters chewing their way out of these so additional reinforcement may be needed eg tiling the base. Available from Amazon and various other places online.
Large 115cm Pawhut available from Amazon for £74.99 (affiliate link)
Angled 115cm Pawhut available from Wayfair for £86.99
Hamster-Homes Super Large Extra Tall 120cm x 60cm x 52cm tall £279.00
Made in the Uk by a small company. These come in various sizes and also come with a stand/legs as an option. They are very well made, sturdy, tank style cages. They also do one that is 42cm (38cm internally) which is £239.00.
https://www.hamster-homes.com/shop/super-large-extra-tall-hamster-cage-gerbils-mice-120x60x52cm/
Skyline Marrakesh 120 115cm x 50cm deep x 50cm tall
This is a wood and glass tank style cage with a hinged, lift up lid with gas pressure springs, with 7mm bar spacing on the lid. The wood is smooth and thick and there have been no reports of chewing the wood being an issue.
Available from Zooplus for £232.99
DIY Options
There are various DIY cages and Ikea Hacks that can be made, such as the Detolf, Linmonn, Komplement, Platsa and Pax cages - with tutorials on youtube.
Various Ikea hack cages on this thread here
DIY is not always the cheapest option. But it can make a larger cage. The cheapest option is probably a second hand barred cage, second hand fish tank or second hand detolf.
SECOND HAND CAGES AVAILABLE
This is usually the cheapest option of all and there are some excellent used cages on ebay and other sites. Some cages are no longer available new in the Uk, which includes the Alexander cage (100cm x 50cm x 50cm approx) (below). A used four foot fish tank can be used (needs a lid making). Also used Savic Plaza cages are available fairly regularly and sometimes used Barney cages can be found.
Zoozone Large 100cm x 51cm x 37cm The top bars need meshing for it to be suitable for a hamster. This is a perspex cage. The bar spacing is huge and very easy for a hamster to escape without meshing. Cons: It's quite low but could be possible to have a deep bedding end. Some people find the lid on this fiddly to open and close at first, but apparently you can get used to it/develop a knack. This may be suitable for a dwarf hamster with a deep bedding area, but something taller would be better, to fit more bedding.
US AND CANADA
For our US members and Canadian members. There are very few commercial cages big enough for hamsters and less barred cages available. Many owners use diy cages, 75 gallon glass tanks, or bin cages or detolfs. Glass tanks tend to be cheaper in the US. Some larger commercial enclosures are available though.
The Bucatstate 100 and 120 listed above are also available in the US (see above for details) - available on Amazon.com and from Bucatstate.
Niteangel Bigger world 47.2" x 19.7" - approx 120cm x 59cm
Amazon.com
Niteangel Vista 40.7" x 22.7" x 22.9" (approx 100cm x 57cm) $259.99
https://www.niteangelpet.com/produc...her-similar-sized-pets?variant=39815098138729
Exotic Nutrition Sahara (left) 40" x 20" x 21" tall (approx 100cm x 50cm)
This may need additional ventilation adding. We haven't seen one to test it.
Available from Exotic Nutrition for $129.99
The Omlet hamster cage is also available in the US (see above).
Omlet US
Note: Prices correct at the time of writing, but prices may vary
This list can also be found on the forum here
Hamster Cages 2026
Here is a list of suitable cages available for hamsters in 2026. Whether you prefer tank style or barred cages, front access or top access, there is, thankfully, plenty of choice in the Uk and Europe. Choice in the US is mainly tanks and tank style or diy. Both tank style and barred cages...
www.thehamsterforum.com
Also more information here
The cage shown on the article main photo, is the Savic Plaza 120 (the larger version of the Savic Plaza 100 cage), which was released in December 2022.
