8 DIY Hamster Cages You Can Build Today

Last Updated: June 24, 2020

If your hamster’s cage is less than inspiring, then we’ve got good news for you! It’s pretty easy to create your own DIY hamster cages, 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 for them to hang out in at other times too.

We’ve done the hard work for you and found eight of the best DIY hamster cages — and the best part is that they’re all free!

From a super-stylish Palm Springs-inspired cage to one using an easily available Ikea bookshelf, pick your favorite and start building!

Each plan includes a list of the tools and materials you’ll need, as well as an approximate suggestion of the level of DIY skill you’ll need to successfully build each project.

For each plan, we’ve assumed that you already have all the vital accessories your hamster needs, such as bedding, wheel, 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 do mention that it’s best to get the biggest cage you can afford!

1. Palm Springs Hamster Cage by The Sorry Girls

Skill Level: Beginner

If your hamster would like a minimalist and stylish cage, then this tutorial by The Sorry Girls uses an old aquarium to provide an eye-catching new home for your hamster, including a wheel, elevated house, succulent plants, and even a super-cute swing. 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!

Materials

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

2. Ikea Billy Hamster Cage by Small Furry Friend

Skill Level: Beginner to Medium

This hamster cage by Small Furry Friend is clever because it uses an Ikea bookshelf frame and glass shelf to provide most of the cage structure. All you need to do is to create a mesh roof, and your hamster will have a large and stylish new home!

Materials

Ikea Billy Extension
Ikea Billy glass shelf
Wooden planks
Aquarium silicon
Wire mesh
Nails

Tools

Hammer

3. High-Life Hamster Mansion From Instructables

Skill Level: Beginner

If your hamster would like a bit of multi-level living in a cute mansion, then you can upcycle an old doll’s house using this tutorial from Instructables. Many of the materials needed can be found around the house, so besides being an easy project, this one is budget friendly too. Be sure to choose a doll’s house with enough floor space for your hamster.

Materials

Old doll’s house
Plastic netting
Hot glue
Spray paint
Paper clips
Small wooden planks

Tools

Staple gun
Hot glue gun
Knife or scissors

4. Victoria Raechel’s Large DIY Hamster Cage

Skill Level: Medium

This large hamster cage made by Victoria Raechel uses melamine back, sides, and base with a glass front to create a deep and airy hamster cage. If your hamster loves to burrow, then you can add a deep layer of bedding to this cage to give them plenty of room to dig to their heart’s content. The large floor space of this cage measures 1,152 square inches.

Materials

Melamine wood
Glass sheet
Four wheels
Wire mesh
Wood strips
Melamine tape
Aquarium silicon
Wood glue
Staples
Screws

Tools

Drill
Nail gun
Saw
Clamps
Staple gun
Tin snips

5. Dad V Girls DIY Hamster Cage

Skill Level: Medium

This video tutorial from Dad V Girls shows how to make a large wooden hamster cage with a clear plastic front. Using non-toxic animal-safe paint, you can paint this any color you like! There’s a raised platform, sand bath, hamster wheel, and plenty of places for your hamster to explore and burrow in their new home.

Materials

Wood
Clear plastic
Wood dowels
Wood glue

Tools

6. Budget Ikea Detolf Hamster Cage by Victoria Raechel

Skill Level: Beginner

This is another budget hack from Victoria Raechel: a long hamster cage using an Ikea Detolf glass display cabinet to create the main cage structure. While an equivalent-sized glass aquarium would cost around $900, this Ikea Detolf comes in at just $70! It is quite narrow but will provide your hamster with around 940 square inches of running room.

Materials

Ikea Detolf display cabinet
Wood planks
Wire mesh
Staples
Small handles

Tools

Drill

7. Acrylic Lookalike Aquarium Hamster Cage from Instructables

Skill Level: Beginner to Medium

This DIY hamster cage from Instructables uses four pre-cut panels of clear 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 follow the YouTube tutorial here.

Materials

Pre-cut clear acrylic panels
Wood screws
Acrylic glass glue

Tools

Craft knife
Screwdriver

8. Plastic Crate Cage from Hammy Happenings

Skill Level: Beginner

This plastic crate cage from Hammy Happenings can be put together in a couple of hours. There’s plenty of ventilation, thanks to the mesh top and sides. The design here 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.

Materials

Wire mesh
Cable ties
Plastic crates
Duct tape
Nuts and bolts

Tools

Metal ruler
Soldering iron
Knife

That’s a wrap!

We hope that you enjoyed our round-up of the eight 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.

Your hamster will be more than happy with their new home!