Whether you've got, or you're looking to get, a Syrian, Golden, Chinese or Roborovski dwarf, hamsters make great pets for animal lovers old and young. These cuddly little rodents quickly become one of the family, so they must be treated like it too, with a comfortable abode that they can call home.
But, finding the perfect haven for your hamster can be difficult. Different breeds of hamsters need different sized cages as well as levels. To help you out, we've created a buying guide and ranked the 10 best cages, from cheap picks for the budget-conscious to large glass models for big hammies. Plus, they're all available to order from Amazon, eBay and Argos.
Quick List - Top Hamster Cages
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When thinking about the size of the cage, you have to consider the breed of hamster you have. For instance, larger breeds such as Syrian or Golden are going to require more floor space than smaller hamsters.
The specific measurements recommended can vary from company to company, however, the UK National Hamster Council states that large hamsters should have no less than 1000 square cm and a height of 19 cm.
Smaller dwarf breeds, on the other hand, should have no less than 750 square cm with a height of 18 cm. However, generally speaking, the bigger the better and providing them with as much space as possible is the way to go. After all, we want the little fellas to be happy!
Wired cages are great as they offer superior ventilation for your hamster, as well as making their entire home into a playground; check for a deep tray too so you can add plenty of bedding for burrowing. Another benefit is that due to the material, they can’t be chewed and destroyed easily, no matter how much they try!
Nonetheless, there are some slight pitfalls to consider. Mainly, be prepared to clean around the cage often, as hamsters tend to kick their bedding out of the sides. Also, the design can leave your hammy exposed to any other pets in your home, which could be quite traumatising.
Covered cages can come in many forms, but they’re usually plastic, glass or wood. They're generally easier to clean and provide greater visibility for viewing your little pal and keeps your ham safer from other pets. Some even come with the option of extending or expanding them, making the housing possibilities endless.
However, covered cages are often poorly ventilated so they could become smelly if not cleaned out frequently. They can also limit your ham’s ability to climb for exercise, but you can combat this by buying extra accessories, such as a wheel. At least having no bars means less chewing, making them a lot quieter.
You shouldn't undervalue the importance of levels or balconies in your hamster cage. They add variety and adventure to their daily activities. There are many cages out there with varying amounts of levels, some even boasting up to five (hamster hotel, anyone?).
However, multiple levels can often mean a compromise on floor space, so they’re not necessarily always the best option. In our research, we found that up to three levels are ample. Just be careful your little ham doesn't fall off of them.
There is a huge number of accessories that one can get to entertain their hamster, which can be a big part of the fun! Below we’ll touch on those that we think would be most helpful:
Take a look at some of our favourite hamster foods and treats too!
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Little Friends Savoy Gerbilarium Cage | ![]() | Large Hamster Cage With Three Levels and Burrow Box | |
2 | Rosewood Pico Hamster Cage | ![]() | Bargain Cage With Plenty of Entertainment | |
3 | Little Friends Langham Tall Cage | ![]() | Contemporary Design With Two Hamster Wheels | |
4 | Rosewood Adobe Dwarf Hamster Home | ![]() | An Extra-Deep Base for Burrowing | |
5 | Ferplast Favola Hamster Cage | ![]() | A Spacious 2-Tiered Cage With a Large Burrowing Area | |
6 | Savic Hamster Heaven | ![]() | A 4000 cm² Home for Larger Breeds | |
7 | PawHut Hamster Cage | ![]() | A Huge Wooden Enclosure for Hamsters | |
8 | Ferplast Combi 1 | ![]() | Hamster Cage With Tunnels for Play and Exploration | |
9 | Habitrail OVO Habitat Cage | ![]() | Innovative Tube Design for Dwarf Hamsters | |
10 | Ferplast Criceti 9 Hamster Cage | ![]() | A Basic Starter Cage With Accessories |
This wonder zone is like the Sandals holidays of small-sized pet cages. It comes with a glass-built deep bottom that ensures your little friend will never escape while maintaining plenty of room for them to burrow. This sits beneath a wired top for full exploration and ventilation.
Moreover, it has most of the essential accessories included. It's truly a haven for any hamster, and one we're sure your fuzzy fellow will appreciate the moment he moves in there. For these reasons, this cage takes our number 1 spot!
If you're on a budget, then you'd be hard-pressed to find a better cage, especially with all the trimmings to get you started. It comes with slides, platforms, a wheel, a food bowl and a water bottle, so you can rest assured that your hamster will be having a great time.
One factor we particularly liked about this cage was the ease of cleaning. This is because all the accessories are fixed to the wired cage – meaning that when you lift it, the components come with it, saving you from having to disassemble, and then reassemble when you're finished. Very clever.
This two-tier hamster cage is ideal for those looking for something to fit in with a contemporary-styled home, due to its simple, elegant and sleek all-black design. It comes with two of each accessory too - although it's best hamsters aren't housed together.
Furthermore, it's completely collapsible so it can be easily stored or transported. It's also effortlessly assembled, easy to clean thanks to the detachable base and has narrow bar spacings of 1cm.
This is the top-selling covered cage on Amazon, and the manufacturer, Rosewood, claims that it's completely escape-proof. It has a contemporary and modern design, as well as an integrated wired roof to provide sound ventilation.
The solid base here should provide plenty of depth for an extra-thick layer of bedding, which your pal will love burrowing in. But, thanks to the covered cage, you're not going to be expecting to clear up any mess in the morning!
This wired 2-tier cage from Ferplast offers a wide living space with a decent depth for playful burrowing. The cage features sturdy wire mesh and a large transparent plastic base allowing you to keep an eye on your little friend.
With this cage, you can even attach other hamster habitats thanks to a special connection cap. By creating new paths and widening play areas, your hamster is bound to never get bored! It also comes fully equipped with the necessary accessories.
The second-largest cage on our list, this beast has ample space to home your new pet, which is probably why they called it 'heaven'. The brightly-coloured design comes with plenty of accessories, including two food bowls, should you have a greedy little guy.
The large size makes it perfect for both Syrian and Golden hamsters. The only flip side of the capacity being so substantial is that you're going to need to be able to fit it in your house, so consider where you'd place it before purchasing.
If you have space, we're certain your furry little friend would love you for picking up this hut. It has organic glass windows on all levels that allow you to fully view them while they're playing, as well as a built-in drawer for easy cleaning.
There are a few factors to ponder, though. Firstly, this is going to need some construction on arrival, although it shouldn't be too complicated. Secondly, this is a large cage, so great for larger hammies.
While many covered cages can struggle with ventilation, Ferplast has intelligently tackled this by constructing this cage's roof with wired bars. This also makes it an easier and quicker entry point if you want to get inside when you're not cleaning.
Speaking of cleaning, this should be nice and straightforward thanks to the easily detachable main parts. Nonetheless, without purchasing the additional parts to extend this cage, it could be considered a little small.
This innovative, futuristic-looking home from Habitrail OVO has been designed especially to meet the needs of dwarf breeds. Surprisingly, the habitat is simple to assemble and therefore easy to clean. We also like that you can expand and grow the cage, keeping it interesting for your pet.
It also comes with the essential extras to get you started. However, the tubes and tunnels will be too small for larger breeds, so you'll want to look elsewhere unless you do have a dwarf hamster – you have been warned!
Finally, this simple hamster cage. Though it looks straight out of a year six classroom in the mid-90s, it's a classic for a reason. It has a robust wire structure and deep plastic bottom which can be detached to clean. Additionally, it comes with a home, a wheel, a water bottle, and a feeding bowl.
However, we're not completely happy with the fact it only has a single floor, so it may be better as a temporary cage only. Plus, while it's wired so hammy can get some exercise, we think it may be better to plump for something a bit more interesting.
Feeling creative and looking to save a few pounds? Not all of us have the time (or, let's face it, the skills) to get crafty, but if you fancy making your very own hamster home from a simple plastic storage box and a few tools, stay tuned! This YouTube video reveals everything you need to know.
To build the bin cage without any power tools you'll need:
Skip to the end of the video to learn how to make a bin cage, or watch the whole thing to learn the pros and cons of using a bin cage for your hammy.
No. 1: Little Friends|Savoy Gerbilarium Cage
No. 2: Rosewood|Pico Hamster Cage
No. 3: Little Friends|Langham Tall Cage
No. 4: Rosewood|Adobe Dwarf Hamster Home
No. 5: Ferplast |Favola Hamster Cage
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