If your hamster’s cage is less than inspiring, we have good news! You can construct a DIY cage rather than buying an expensive, ready-made one. Hamsters need safe and secure places to sleep at night, so even if you let your hamster out for exercise during the day, you’ll need a cage to keep them safe.
We’ve eight of the best DIY hamster cages. From a super-stylish Palm Springs-inspired cage to one using a readily available Ikea bookshelf, pick your favorite and start building! Each plan includes a list of the tools and materials you’ll need and an approximate suggestion of the level of DIY skill you’ll need to build each project successfully.
For each plan, we’ve assumed that you already have all the vital accessories your hamster needs, such as bedding, a wheel, a water bottle, and a cozy house. It’s worth noting that there is a minimum recommended size for hamster cages, so make sure your new project gives your hamster enough space to move around comfortably.
The ASPCA recommends a minimum tank size of 10 gallons for Syrian hamsters, but they also mention that it’s best to get the biggest cage you can afford!
Glass aquarium, plywood, hot glue, wood glue, popsicle sticks, small nails, twine, hamster-safe plants and accessories, suction cups
Tools:
Hot glue gun, craft knife
If your hamster would like a minimalist and stylish cage, this tutorial by The Sorry Girls uses an old aquarium to provide an eye-catching new home for your hamster. Besides the written tutorial, you can find a YouTube video here. We’d recommend adding a wire mesh top to stop your tiny critter from making any escape attempts!
Old doll’s house, plastic netting, hot glue, spray paint, paper clips, small wooden planks
Tools:
Staple gun, hot glue gun, knife or scissors
If you want your hamster to live in a multi-level mansion, you can upcycle an old doll’s house using this tutorial from Instructables. Many of the materials can be found around the house, so this project is easy and budget-friendly. Be sure to choose a doll’s house with enough floor space for your hamster.
3. Acrylic Lookalike Aquarium Hamster Cage by Instructables
This DIY hamster cage from Instructables uses four pre-cut panels of acrylic glass for an aquarium-style hamster cage on a budget. You can also add a platform with a ladder for your hamster to explore, and the tank is deep enough for them to enjoy plenty of burrowing. You can learn how to build a hamster cage of this caliber in this YouTube tutorial here.
This plastic crate cage from Hammy Happenings can be assembled in a couple of hours. Thanks to the mesh top and sides, there’s plenty of ventilation. The design uses two levels to create space for your hamster to explore. You can use a plastic tunnel internally or externally to provide access between the levels.
A plastic bin might not seem like an ideal container to transform into a hamster cage, but it can be with the right preparation and a bit of work. You will need to cut out the lid and replace the plastic with a suitable mesh, ensuring good ventilation and security, and you should ensure that the wheel, bottle, and other items you buy use suction cups or some other viable method of attaching them to the side of the tub. Otherwise, this hamster bin cage is easy to make and costs very little.
This DIY hamster cage uses wood to create a frame and mesh to provide a barrier. The benefit of having mesh walls, rather than Perspex or plastic, is that you can fit water bottle wires and wheel attachments through the cage. The mesh also provides ventilation. However, you must ensure that the wire and the mesh do not poke through into the cage, or your Hammie could suffer serious injuries.
7. DIY Ikea Linnmon Hamster Cage by SmallFurry Friends
We love a good IKEA hack. IKEA’s furniture is inexpensive, and there’s a massive community of people who develop hacks for the furniture. This DIY IKEA Linnmon Hamster Cage tutorial is a YouTube video that lets you turn a simple tabletop and glass top into an attractive hamster cage. Some sawing is required, but it’s not too challenging a build.
The frame of this hamster cage is a box shape, but there are multiple layers inside the cage. Access to the upper layers is granted from cage decorations, such as log ramps and kitchen roll tubes. The tutorial includes instructions on how to build ladders and other elements, which means that you can make a feature-packed cage that will not only house but entertain your hamster. The process is relatively simple but there is some cutting involved.
Plexiglass cutter, power drill, screwdriver, hacksaw, hammer, wire cutter, circle cutter
Why give your hamster a cage when it can have a condo? This IKEA hack hamster condo uses the IKEA Expedit bookshelf and a plastic bin that is designed for use in the bookshelf. It creates a multi-level condo with several rooms and is sure to make your pet a happy little hammie. You will need a circle cutter or an appropriate bit for your drill to make the holes between the sections, but you can configure the layout pretty much how you want.
Rather than throw away your old hamster cage, you can salvage some of the parts and use them, in conjunction with plastic storage bins, to make an upgraded and improved multi-level hamster cage for your pet. This DIY 3-Story Gerbil House is also suitable for hamsters, and it provides plenty of space, utilizes the mesh from an old hamster cage, and only requires simple tools.
That’s a Wrap!
We hope that you enjoyed our round-up of the best DIY hamster cages that you can start building today. Whatever your level of DIY skill, one of these plans is bound to suit you. From a cute doll’s house cage to a roomy run made from an Ikea display unit, there’s something for everyone.
Nicole is the proud mom of 3 rescue fur babies, Baby, a Burmese cat; Rosa, a New Zealand Huntaway; and Mac, a Lab/Mastiff. A Canadian expat, Nicole now lives on a lush forest property with her Kiwi husband and new baby daughter in New Zealand. She has a strong love for all animals of all shapes and sizes (and particularly loves a good interspecies friendship) and wants to share her animal knowledge and other experts' knowledge with pet lovers across the globe.
