5 Best Dog Beds (2022): Indoor, Outdoor, Elevated

Your dog’s bed of choice may be whatever bed you’re in … but that may not be your bed of choice for your dog. Whether they steal the covers or just sprawl out everywhere, there never quite seems to be enough space for you and your pup each night. Fortunately for your furry companion (and you), there are plenty of quality dog mattresses—almost too many. I’ve been testing several over the course and the WIRED staff picked out the absolute favorites we’ve tried out so far. Big dogs, little dogs, adventurous dogs, and the like can all have a little something special for their snoozing snoots.

Be sure to check out our other buying guides, including the Best Dog Tech and Accessories, Best Pet Supplies for Newly Adopted Cats and Dogs, and Best Cat Toys and Supplies. 

Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-Year Subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com and our print magazine (if you’d like). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more. Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Photograph: Casper

Our Favorite Dog BedCasper Dog Bed

When my husband suggested a Casper mattress for our dog four years ago, I had serious reservations. Memory foam for a dog? It seemed extra at the time, but I was quick to change my mind once I saw my dog lounging in it immediately. The memory foam is sturdy, the cover is removable and washable, and the design is subtle enough to match most home decor. My pup Winston loved it for two years, but my other dog Parmesan peed on it more than we could keep up with in her puppy days. 

The Casper Dog Bed comes in three different sizes (small, medium, and large), in a few different colors, and is up to about seven inches thick at its thickest section. It’s pricey, but in our research, licensed veterinarians like Lisa Mausbach recommend using memory foam beds to protect joints and muscles and warned that beds too high could be problematic for a dog that’s arthritic or has other physical struggles. It’s a great safe option if you’re unsure on what to get. 

Photograph: Amazon

For Dogs Who BurrowFurHaven Faux Sheepskin Snuggery Dog Bed

You know how nice it is to burrow under a blanket after a long day? Some dogs like doing exactly that, which might be an ancestral trait of living in the security of a den, according to the American Kennel Club. The Furhaven Snuggery is great for this. My pups tried the memory foam version (there’s a Cooling Gel Foam and Orthopedic Foam model as well), and it’s supportive and covered by faux sheepskin. The top is convertible, with a removable tube that allows the cover to act as a blanket or sit upright and sturdy as an easier entryway. 

Furhaven has several sizes to choose from, and the product page has recommendations on what model to buy depending on your dog’s weight and breed. 

Photograph: Amazon

A Great Outdoor BedCoolaroo The Original Cooling Elevated Pet Bed

Dogs may originate from the great outdoors, but domesticity suits them better. If it’s super hot where you live, Jamie Richardson, head of Veterinary Medicine at Small Door Veterinary, suggests getting a bed that lifts your dog off the ground to circulate the air underneath them. The Coolaroo dog bed has helped keep my dogs cool and comfortable for more than two years. There are tons of colors and a few sizes to choose from. The only visible signs of wear after years in the sun, snow, and rain are some slight rusting at the metal joints.