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Our top pick is the Frisco Steel Extra Wide Auto-Close Dog Gate which you can screw into the wall or attach with suction cups. It was easy to assemble and mount in about 10 minutes using a drill, screwdriver, and pencil. Once installed, it’s simple to open, even with one hand. The gate is durable and secure, it remained in place when tester dogs pushed it or jumped on it and even when we accidentally kicked it while walking through in the dark.

There are three panels and you can use one, two, or all of them in order to fit your doorway. It works in doorways ranging from 29 to 52 inches (specifically 29-32 inches, 36-40 inches, 41-46.5 inches, and 48-52 inches). You can also control how the door closes in case you need to push it open without latching or leave it open.

We used the gate with the enclosed sticky pads, which are supposed to protect walls from damage. However, when the pads were removed, they took some of the wall paint with them, so we recommend using them with caution. We wish it came with rubber stoppers instead.

_{Height: 30 inches | Materials: Steel, plastic, metal | Expandable: Yes; fits doorways 29-32 inches, 36-40 inches, 41-46.5 inches, and 48-52 inches}

The NMN Designs Logan Dog Gate is a handsome wood and metal gate that is a good upgrade option if you want to improve the quality and features of your current gate. It expands to fit doorways that measure from 29.5 to 51.5 inches. The gate felt very sturdy and resisted a cat that jumped on and off it. The gate automatically latches when you open it and walk through, but if you don’t want it to close, you can just leave it open until you need it shut again.

We loved this gate very much once it was assembled, but we found the directions unclear, nothing was labeled, and the diagrams were very hard to read. We ended up watching videos on YouTube to figure it out. It’s priced less than some gates that aren’t as sturdy and reliable and it looks very handsome with the wood and metal combination.

_{Height: 29.5inches | Materials: Wood, metal | Expandable: Yes, fits doors 29.5 to 51.5 inches}

The Cardinal Gates SS30OD is made of weather-resistant and rustproof aluminum and stainless steel, so it’s an option for deck entryways or other outdoor use when you’re concerned about the elements. It comes in either black or brown and fits openings from 27 to 42.5 inches wide. It’s durable, seems to be made of quality materials, and looks good.

We found the printed instructions difficult to understand but had better luck with an instructional video that was linked via QR code. You need a drill and a wrench to install it and there’s no option to pressure-mount it instead. The locking mechanism can be confusing and difficult to do with one hand and the bracket placement has to be precise in order for the gate to open and close correctly. We had to drill two sets of holes.

_{Height: 29.5 inches | Materials: Aluminum and stainless steel | Expandable: Yes, fits spaces from 27 to 42.5 inches wide}

Cats can be determined and agile, so it can be hard to keep one confined if they have other ideas. The FairyBaby Extra Tall Cat Gate is designed to corral cats. It comes in either 55-inch or 61-inch height with bar spacing of only about 1.3 inches, so a creative feline can’t escape through the bars.

The durable gate is easy to open and close with one hand and will stay open if you leave it open all the way. Our cats tried to squeeze through or knock the gate open but had no luck.

Although putting the gate together seems fairly straightforward, we found that there was a bit of trial and error. You can buy extender pieces if you change locations or it doesn’t fit your spot, but as is, it covers doorways from 30.1 to 65.4 inches.

_{Height: 55 or 61 inches | Materials: Steel | Expandable: Yes, fits spaces from 30.1 to 65.4 inches}

The Hakuna Pets Polyester Paw Proof Retractable gate is made of mesh and retracts into an unobtrusive case on the side of your doorway. It has a very low profile and is barely noticeable when it’s retracted. The gate comes in black, white, and gray and is made of stain-resistant polyester and nylon.

Installation took us about 30 minutes and required some tools including a drill, screwdriver, and a level. Once installed, it’s very easy to open and close with just one hand. The mesh is durable and the gate seems sturdy, but it’s only for dogs up to 40 pounds.

_{Height: 36.6 inches | Materials: Polyester, nylon | Expandable: Yes, expands to 71 inches}

The Hiddin Clearview Freestanding Pet Gate is a plexiglass wall that you can use to block off rooms, staircases, or doorways. It comes in five sizes—30, 32, 36, 42, and 48 inches wide—and the setup is very easy. You just put the gate into the base and put it in place.

We loved that it was see-through and clear, making it less distracting and clunky than a typical gate. It’s more aesthetically pleasing and lets you see what’s going on easily on the other side of the wall.

The gate doesn’t attach to a door frame and is meant to be moved around as needed. However, it is fairly heavy and we worried that it would scratch hardwood floors. A very rowdy or very heavy dog could likely nudge this around a bit or even push it over.

_{Height: 30 inches | Materials: Acrylic, plastic | Expandable: No}

With this accordion-style pet gate, you can arrange a playpen, section off a corner in a room, block a doorway, and just as easily fold it all up and stash it in a closet. The PrimeTime Petz 360 Configurable Gate is freestanding and composed of four panels, each with 360-degree hinges, so it can be arranged to fit a variety of spaces.

We noted that the gate was sturdy and didn’t move when our dog nudged against it. We placed the gate throughout our home but found it especially useful in front of a windowsill to keep our dog from jumping up to search for bunnies in the backyard.

It requires no assembly and has feet with rubber pads that help keep the gate in place and protect your floors. It’s available in two wooden finishes, white and walnut, and in three heights: 24, 30, or 36 inches. It also has a built-in pet door so you don’t have to move the entire gate to let your pet roam freely.

_{Height: 24, 30, or 36 inches | Material: Wood | Expandable: No, but the width can be reduced by folding}

This Richell convertible pet gate is sturdy and easy to move around. There’s no installation required, either. Simply open it up and put it across the doorway or area you want to section off for your pet. And since it is accordion-style, it can be used in other ways, including as a pen to keep your pet safely secured in one spot. The gate’s frame is made of durable rubberwood (a medium-density wood) and has tiny rubber legs that keep it from damaging floors. While this is a bit pricey, we found it to be a high-quality gate that worked flawlessly in a home setting. When a full-grown dog jumped up on it, the gate did not even budge.

The gate has an easy-to-open swinging door that has been opened and shut numerous times during our testing and continues to work beautifully. It is available in two heights (20.1 inches and 27.6 inches) and two sizes: a four-panel option and a six-panel option.

_{Height: 20.1 or 27.6 inches | Material: Wood | Expandable: No, but the width can be reduced by folding}

The Carlson Pet Products Extra Wide Walk-Thru Pet Gate is chew-resistant and offers flexibility at a reasonable price. The pressure-mounted gate features both a small pet door and a walk-through door for humans, which we found highly convenient.

Once installed, the gate remained firmly in place despite multiple instances of batting and jumping on the gate from our participating canine tester. However, this determined medium-sized dog was able to squeeze through the deceptively small 8 x 8-inch pet door, so we recommend keeping it shut when a secure barrier is needed.

No tools or drilling are needed for installation, but the gate comes with additional screws for reinforcement if that is preferred. We found the printed instructions provided in the box to be unsubstantial, an issue that came up frequently with products from Carlson Pet Products that we tested. Fortunately, there are instructional videos online for step-by-step guidance.

_{Height: 30 inches | Material: Steel | Expandable: Yes, from 29 to 36.5 inches}