Ellie-Bo slanted dog crate review: will it fit your boot?

We have not tested this crate. This page is built from the Amazon.co.uk listing and the Highway Code; the sources are listed at the bottom.

Key specs

The listing does not give the length along the top of the crate, the folded size or a warranty period. The 76 cm length is the figure to plan around: treat it as the longest point. The same listing also offers a smaller 60 x 46 x 51 cm size and a standard (non-deluxe) style, so check which option is selected before you order.

Why the slant matters

Most hatchback tailgates, and many SUV ones, lean in towards the cabin as they close. The boot is longest at floor level and shorter at the height where a crate's top edge sits. A rectangular crate with the right floor length can still stop the tailgate closing. The sloped end of the Ellie-Bo, placed towards the tailgate, cuts that top corner back so it clears the glass. Estates with an upright tailgate lose little length with height, so there a slanted crate gives up interior space for no gain.

How to measure your boot for it

1. Remove the parcel shelf if you plan to travel without it, and set the boot floor to the position you will use.
2. Measure floor length from the back of the rear seats to the inside of the closed tailgate, at floor level. You need at least 76 cm.
3. Measure length again at 54 cm above the floor. This is where the tailgate's lean bites. The slanted rear helps here, but the listing does not say by how much, so leave a margin.
4. Measure width between the wheel arches, the narrowest point. You need at least 54 cm.
5. Measure the height of the boot opening, from the load lip to the top of the opening. You need more than 54 cm to slide the crate in upright.

Our boot measuring guide for dog cratescovers each step in more detail. The same method is used inhow to measure your boot for a cargo organiser.

Who it suits

• Owners of medium dogs, such as the breeds the seller names, with a hatchback or SUV whose tailgate slopes in.
• Anyone who needs to fold the crate away between trips: it folds flat.
• Puppies and dogs that chew bedding trays: the tray is steel.

Who should skip it

• Estate owners with an upright tailgate: a rectangular crate of the same footprint gives more room.
• Large breeds: the 54 cm height will be too low for a dog that needs to stand up comfortably.
• Anyone who needs to lift the crate in and out alone often: it weighs 8.84 kg before the dog.
• Small hatchbacks where the boot floor is shorter than 76 cm: check before you buy.

What owners report

We could not read the Amazon.co.uk review text for this listing, only the star rating, so we are not summarising owner opinion. The most useful searches when you read the reviews yourself:

• Your car's make and model, to find owners with the same boot.
• "Tailgate" and "parcel shelf", for fit problems the measurements above would have caught.
• "Rattle" and "noise", since a wire crate in a boot can vibrate against trim.
• "Door" and "latch", to check how the single door and its latch work with the crate in the boot.

To stop the crate sliding, strap it to the boot's lashing eyes, and put a rubber boot mat underneath. For keeping the rest of the boot in order around it, see ourcargo organiser buying guideand best cargo organisers.

How it compares

The main choice is shape, not brand. A slanted crate trades some interior room at the top corners for a better chance of clearing a sloping tailgate. If your boot measures well above 76 cm at 54 cm height, a rectangular crate of the same footprint is roomier. If it falls short, the slanted shape or a smaller size is the way to go. More boot-friendly reviews are on our reviews hub.

Frequently asked questions

Will the Ellie-Bo slanted crate fit a hatchback boot?

Only if your boot clears 54 cm of height, 54 cm of width and 76 cm of length where the crate will sit. The seller says it fits most hatchbacks, but the listing also tells you to measure first. In many small hatchbacks the height under the parcel shelf and the floor length to the closed tailgate are the tight figures, so measure both.

Does the parcel shelf have to come out?

Measure from the boot floor to the underside of the parcel shelf. If that is less than 54 cm, the shelf has to come out. Measure at the front and the rear of the boot, because the shelf and the tailgate both slope.

Is a 30-inch crate the right size for my dog?

The seller names breeds such as Beagles, Dachshunds, Whippets and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, and says your dog should be able to lie down, turn around and stand up inside. Measure your dog standing, from nose to the base of the tail and from floor to the top of the head, and compare it with 76 cm long and 54 cm high, remembering the sloped ends reduce room at the top corners.

Do I have to restrain my dog in the car in the UK?

Highway Code Rule 57 says to make sure dogs and other animals are suitably restrained so they cannot distract you or injure you or themselves if you stop quickly. It lists a seat belt harness, pet carrier, dog cage or dog guard as ways to do it. A crate in the boot is one of the listed options.