Keeping a bunny inside your home with one of the best indoor rabbit hutches, cages or enclosures, rather than outside, has grown in popularity in recent times.
Keeping your rabbit inside makes it easier to spend time with them, keep them warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and protect them from predators and parasites. Plus, if you follow our tips on how to litter box train a rabbit and use one of the best rabbit litter boxes, it will make cleaning quicker and easier, too.
When choosing which setup is best for your rabbit, your priority should be to make sure that it’s big enough. Many hutches on the market are far too small and rabbits need lots of space. A hutch should be at least three times the length of your rabbit (when he’s laid out), twice the width and tall enough for him to stand up. For the average rabbit, this is around 4ft x 2ft x 2ft – but you can always go bigger! And don’t forget, they should have more space available to them throughout the day.
One of the best kinds of indoor rabbit setup is actually similar to some of the best puppy playpens. This type of enclosure (sometimes referred to as an X-pen) gives your rabbit more space, is cheaper, and keeps your rabbit out of trouble. While they might need some adjustments or additional flooring, you can almost always make these changes.
The quick list
Best X-pen used as indoor rabbit hutch
There are lots of X-pens that are very similar, but this one just pips the others to the post. X-pens are cheap and versatile, plus they have loads of options to extend if you need to. This particular one has a door, which is ideal if your bunnies are allowed to free roam in the daytime.
Best indoor rabbit cage
If you have to opt for a rabbit cage rather than a pen, this one (in size XL or XXL) is the best choice. The XL is close to the recommended size for an average rabbit, so would work well if you have a smaller breed who has space to roam in the daytime.
Best wooden indoor rabbit hutch
There are so many wooden hutches to choose from, but this one ticks the boxes for size and handy features. Along with pull-out plastic trays for easy cleaning on the base and under the central hideaway, this hutch has wheels for easy moving, too.
Best X-pen with floor
This 24-panel playpen can be set up in a wide range of different ways to suit your space and rabbit needs. It comes with a PVC-lined waterproof mat as standard, too, which means you can use it straight away without worrying about any damage to the floor.
Best playpen for rabbits
This Amazon Basics playpen is available in a range of sizes to suit your space – and your rabbit’s jumping height. It takes seconds to set up and can be adjusted in shape to fit nicely in your area. It’s not the most pleasing to look at, but it’s a great chew-proof option.
Best plastic playpen
If you’re not keen on a metal playpen, this plastic one is a great option. It has a door for easy daytime roaming access, plus you can add more panels if you feel you need more space.
Best rabbit house hideaway
While this hideaway hut obviously isn’t suitable for full-time living, it gives a free-roaming rabbit (or one with a large pen) somewhere to feel safe. It’s ideal if your bunnies live in a colder part of the house as it lifts them off the ground.
Best plastic X-pen
This X-pen comes with enough panels that you can either use them as a floor (under something soft like carpet or a rug) or use them to make the sides taller. You can make it into all sorts of configurations – the only downside is that it doesn’t have a door, but if you make it large enough your bunny won’t need to roam elsewhere.
Best wire X-pen
This basic wire X-pen made the list because it’s available in a range of different sizes and number of panels, so you can buy exactly what you need for your space.
The best indoor rabbit hutches 2024
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Best X-pen
This X-pen is really versatile in the sense that you can make it any shape you like – and if you’ve got a rabbit who likes to escape, you can easily increase the height. The door is an excellent addition (not all X-pens come with a door panel) as it means you don’t have to lift your bunnies in and out for free roaming.
The wire panels prevent chewing, while the translucent panels give your rabbits the feeling of protection.
Built as the image shows gives you 4ft x 2ft floor space, with a covered area that you could put the litter tray and hay in for a feeling of security, so in order to give your bunnies enough space (if this is their only space) you’ll need to order two packs. It’s easy to build – you just join the panels together using connectors and then secure with cable ties.
This is one of my favourite setups – it doesn’t include a base, but there’s really no need for one. I have mine set up on an old rug.
Best indoor cage
Cages do not allow your bunny as much freedom as a playpen, but in some cases they are still the best option – especially if you’ve got a chewer.
I wouldn’t suggest selecting any smaller than the XL or XXL as your bunny simply won’t have enough room. This particular cage also includes a hay feeder, water bottle, feeding bowl and elevated feeding area, which your rabbit can hide under, so it’s got everything you need to get started straightaway.
While I no longer use this cage regularly, I’ve found it’s really handy to have when my rabbit stays with friends while I’m on vacation. It’s easier to transport than some playpen setups, and it makes it easy for them to shut my rabbits away at night. I also used to use it with a rabbit I had called Miffy, who was a real nightmare for getting into places that she shouldn’t and chewing everything.
It’s easy to set up and the raised sides of the base mean very little mess escapes – and it’s really easy to keep clean.
Best wooden indoor rabbit hutch
If you’re going to get a wooden hutch then it needs to be large – and bear in mind that additional storeys do not count towards the minimum space requirements. Wooden-style hutches look smart and are often used outdoors. This particular one is designed for indoor use, but could be wheeled outside in good weather.
This hutch is great as it gives your rabbit somewhere to hide in the upstairs section, allowing more space for stretching downstairs. The wheels make it easy to move around for cleaning around it and relocation, while the plastic base trays can be pulled out for easy cleaning of the hutch itself, too.
Best X-pen with floor
This X-pen comes with 24 panels that can be set up in a wide range of different ways to fit your space. It comes with a PVC-lined waterproof mat as standard, too, but bear in mind that this will only cover this whole base if you set it up as displayed.
This pack includes a selection of wire and plastic panels so that you can make a second level – if you don’t want to do this or your rabbit isn’t keen, you can use the plastic panels to extend the size of your pen instead.
Best metal playpen
This Amazon Basics playpen is very quick and easy to set up and can be adjusted in shape to fit nicely in your area.
There are a selection of sizes and some include a doorway, which allows your bunny to easily roam a larger space when you’re supervising. It’s not the most pleasing to look at, but it’s a great chew-proof option. Plus, if you want to take your rabbits outside in the good weather, you can use this in the garden with a board on top to keep out the sun and predators.
I’ve used this playpen when bonding new rabbits together – it is a great barrier to keep them separate at first, but can also be used as a small "dating pen" when getting to know each other.
Best plastic playpen
This plastic puppy playpen is great for smaller animals, too. It has a door for easy daytime roaming access, plus you can add more panels if you want to expand and give your bunny more space.
The pen is available in black or white, so you can match your decor to a point, and it has rubber feet that protect flooring.
Best hideaway for indoor rabbit hutch
This hideaway is a great place to hide a litter tray and contain the hay as well as giving your bunnies somewhere to hide in peace.
The roof opens for easy cleaning access, while the waterproof rubber feet keep it protected and level if you need to take it outside. The elevated design promotes air circulation and protects your pet from ground chills, which is ideal if they live in your garage or on tiled flooring.
I use one of these if my bunnies are roaming in the garden during the day – it gives them somewhere to hide away if they get scared and it blends in nicely without the need for an enormous outdoor hutch.
Best plastic X-pen
This X-pen is available in three slightly different panel sizes. You can make it into all sorts of configurations to suit your bunny’s needs – the only downside is that it doesn’t have a door for easy roaming access, but if you make it large enough your bunny won’t need to roam elsewhere.
Most users won’t need to use the square panels as a base, although it can give your floor added protection under a rug or carpet cut off. The square panels can, instead, be used to give more height if you need it.
Best wire X-pen
This basic wire X-pen allows your bunny a better view than the fully plastic ones. With the varying panel and pack sizes available for this X-pen, the world is your oyster when it comes to designing your rabbit setup – you can easily make it as large as you like!
It’s designed with narrow rectangular holes to ensure your pet doesn’t get stuck and is super-easy to put together – simply slot the panels into the connectors and secure with cable ties for increased stability.
How we chose the best indoor rabbit hutches
To compile our list of the best indoor rabbit hutches, I primarily considered space and safety. I’ve been keeping rabbits indoors for almost a decade and have tried every kind of setup, including most in the list above.
I understand that everyone will have different setup and space available, so have included a range from cages, and hutches to X-pens and playpens. Over the years, I’ve also found that some rabbits do better in different setups – and some can be trusted to free roam a lot more than others.
All of the setups in this guide either meet the minimum space requirements as they are or have the ability to be expanded and adapted so that they do.
How to choose an indoor rabbit hutch
Bunnies have made a comeback as a pet over the last few years, and more people than ever are opting to keep them indoors instead of in an outdoor hutch. Before grabbing that indoor hutch you have saved in your cart, there are a few things to consider.
Size
It’s really important for your rabbit’s quality of life that they have enough space to be comfortable. You’ll find that most indoor rabbit hutches available are generally smaller than the best outdoor rabbit hutches, but unless they meet the size requirements they’re not suitable. Some do allow you to purchase extensions, while others need to be used in conjunction with one of the best rabbit runs if your rabbit will not be able to roam indoors.
Vet Joanna Woodnutt says that as a bare minimum, an indoor rabbit hutch should be large enough to allow your rabbit to stand and stretch, and your rabbit should be able to hop three paces without having to turn.
"But this is assuming that your rabbit will spend most of the day out of their hutch roaming around, only returning for night hours. If your bunny doesn’t have access to roam, the RWAF recommends 10ft x 6ft of ground space, with 3ft of height, if your rabbit will be confined for any daylight hours."
Even if you have a small rabbit, they grow fast, so it’s better to invest in a larger hutch that will still be able to accommodate them even when they grow older.
Materials
Common materials are plastic, wood and metal. Keep in mind the practicality – although a wooden design may be more attractive, it can attract chewing from your bunny and can absorb toilet smells if they’re not trained to use a litter tray. Plastic or metal cages are often more affordable and are easier to clean.
Flooring material is also key. Avoid wire flooring or cover it with a better supportive material to make it more comfortable. Hutches that feature trays or have a fully enclosed base help to keep it clean, while if you have a baseless pen, your rabbit will appreciate something soft (like carpet) to help them get around.
Extras
Dr Woodnutt says the features of your indoor rabbit hutch will depend on how often you intend to let your bunnies out. She also points out that rabbits should live in pairs, so whichever hutch you decide on should ideally be large enough for two.
Of course, you'll also want to make sure you have space for any enriching upgrades to your bunnies space, such as matting, bedding, litter trays, toys and hiding areas, too.
How often should you clean an indoor hutch?
According to Dr Woodnutt, "Traditional indoor rabbit hutches will need cleaning at least weekly, and more often if your rabbits are not neutered or toilet trained. They’ll also need cleaning more often if your rabbit is confined to a smaller area – a dedicated room is often easier to keep clean than a small cage!".
If you litter train your rabbit, emptying the litter tray regularly in addition to a quick weekly area clean will go a long way to reducing smell – and it will reduce the cleaning time, too. Opting for one of the best rabbit litters will also make more difference than you might think – especially when it comes to odor – and there’s a lot of variation when it comes to how absorbent they are. For more tips, here’s some advice on how to clean a rabbit cage.
Where is best to put an indoor rabbit hutch?
Dr Woodnutt says your hutch will need to be put somewhere with an even temperature – not too warm or cold. Avoid areas that heat up in summer and get very cold in winter, as these extremes of temperature can be dangerous for rabbits. Consider the flooring and how easy it will be to let your rabbits out for exercise. You should also make sure it’s out of reach of hazards, such as electric cables.
Georgia has been testing products for pets and their owners for the best part of a decade and has been keeping indoor rabbits for almost as long. She’s tried every kind of indoor setup (from cages to playpens and X-pens) so she knows what’s important when it comes to keeping bunnies happy at home.
Dr Joanna Woodnutt is an experienced vet who qualified at the University of Nottingham and practiced companion animal medicine in the Midlands, UK. She enjoys the consulting side of things, and helping clients with medical problems and understanding their pets better.
