For a new rabbit or any for that matter, getting them the best rabbit hutch is a must. These carrot-loving, cotton-tailed friends hopping into your life make for wonderful pets. They're sociable, inquisitive, and require lots of love that ‘any-bunny’ would be glad to give. Kitting your rabbit out with their own hutch is essential for bunnies that live outside to give them the space and security to be happy, snug, and safe away from predators and the elements.
If you want to keep your bunny happy and healthy, you need to get them a hutch that’s large enough for them to run about and explore. As a rule of thumb, the hutch should be four times larger than your rabbit and they should be able to take three hops from one end to another. But remember, this is just a space for them to sleep in and stay protected from the elements.
Best rabbit hutch at a glance:
• Best rabbit hutch overall: Pets at Home Bluebell Hideaway Guinea Pig and Rabbit Hutch 6ft X Large - view on Pets at Home
• Best for luxury: Pets at Home Small Animal Castle Hutch Grey and White 6ft -view on Pets at Home
• Best rabbit hutch for one: BUNNY BUSINESS The Grove Grey Double Decker Rabbit/Guinea Pig Hutch and Run - view on Amazon UK
During the day, they should be provided with a good space to run around in, whether that’s your garden, an enclosure, or a run attached to their hutch. According to the PDSA, the total area available to them should be a minimum of 10 x 6 x 3ft (3 x 2 x 1m), made up of a hutch at least 6 x 2ft (2 x 1m). Fortunately, many rabbit hutches come with two floors which double their available space.
But it’s not just a box to shelter in at night; we’ve shared everything you need to know about buying a hutch for your little fluff down below in our FAQs section. But for now, here are the best hutches you can buy, selected by the Take A Break Pets Experts.
Best rabbit hutch
Best rabbit hutch overall
www.petsathome.com
Description
We would consider the Pets at Home Bluebell Hideaway to be the best hutch for your rabbit as it has everything they could possibly need. It's extra-large, sturdy and secure, and it's raised off the ground - perfect for preventing the wood from getting waterlogged and your bunnies from burrowing out. This hutch also has four doors and a separate bedding area where your rabbit can feel safe and snug.
Why we love: It’s the full package!
Customer review: "A much better and bigger size, perfect for my single bunny, we are going to invest in the 8ft run to attach to it as well, so hes got enough room to binky and bounce around, would definitely recommend, just wouldn't go much smaller than this without a run attached, bunnys need room!"
Pros
- Raised off the ground
- Two floors for extra hop room
- Sturdy, weatherproof design
Cons
- Can be a bit awkward to clean
Recommended
www.petsathome.com
Description
This Pets at Home Bluebell Hideway hutch is the same in design as the option earlier on our list, just with a foot less room making it a hutch better suited to one rabbit instead of two. It's available in stylish grey and white and natural wood and customers found it relatively easy to assemble too.
Why we love: It’s sturdy, stylish, and secure – a luxe choice.
Customer review: "Good sized rabbit hutch, rabbits love it. Added my own padlocks so my children can't open the doors."
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Weatherproof design
- Spacious for single bunny
Cons
- Some found the build to feel a little more flimsy
Best rabbit hutch for one
Description
This smart rabbit hutch from Bunny Business has a two-part design; a hutch with an additional run area that's raised slightly off the ground. It's ideal for one bunny, giving them space to run around in the mornings before they're let out or for getting in a few extra hops in the evenings when the nights draw in. And with the added height, they might even be able to squeeze in a bink or two. It's also weather-resistant and has pull-out floor trays for easy cleaning at every level.
Why we love: Gives your bunny a little space to run around before they go out/ into their run.
Customer review: "Soft wood. Clear simple instructions. Quick to assemble. Took half an hour from taking delivery to filling it with the bedding."
Pros
- Easy to assemble
- Wipe-clean trays
- Available in grey or red and with the option to add a cover
Cons
- Even though it's described as a hutch and run, your bunny should get additional run/ exercise space
Best hutch and run in one
www.rabbit-hutches.co.uk
Description
Rabbit Hutches is home to some of the most popular hutches, including the Balmoral Rabbit Hutch. Premium quality with plenty of protection from the elements, your bunny can enjoy having its home and run connected in one. A large and spacious hutch, it offers your small fluff 17.5 square feet of space, and even a small child could fit inside to play safely with their pet. Other features include a waterproof window cover, pull-out tray, fully opening doors, and a door to the 'house' so they can be safely off ground at night.
Why we love: Your bunny can enjoy having a proper run around
Customer review: "This is an amazing option when compared to hutches that can be bought from pet stores, and absolutely worth the price considering the quality."
Pros
- High-quality build
- Excellent weather protection
- Easy access and cleaning
Cons
- You should close your rabbit into the 'house' at night to prevent a midnight dig out!
Best luxurious rabbit hutch
www.petsathome.com
Description
This is the hutch to treat your rabbit like royalty. This 6ft Small Animal Castle hutch is painted in a stylish grey with castle crenellations no less, provides two-storey living space for your bunny with two areas for them to hideaway or use as a toilet area. It has four doors for easy access, strong mesh wire for safety, and is weatherproof - a must for facing the turbulent British weather.
Why we love: It’s stylish, spacious, and a fun design fit for a bunny king or queen!
Customer review: "I bought the castle hutch and the thermal cover and the bunnies love it! The £90 cover fits but I just took the wooden castle bits off. I also added some mesh to the bottom (from a diy store) to stop them from digging under and for extra protection too we tied it with cable ties and once we put the hutch onto the grass it buried into the the grass so they still have access to the grass and it's safe for their little bunny feet!"
Pros
- Fun and playful design
- Easy to access
- Sturdy, weatherproof design
Cons
- Paintwork can scratch easily so expect some wear and tear over time
How we chose the best rabbit hutches
All of these rabbit hutches have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered size, material and overall design in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching rabbit hutches to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.
What to look for in a rabbit hutch
Security
Your rabbit’s hutch needs to be secure to not only stop your adventurous bunny from escaping – they love to burrow after all - but to also keep them safe from predators, such as cats and foxes at night. It should be secured properly around the edges, with no gaps (especially from wear and tear over time) and it’s recommended to choose a hutch raised off the ground to help create a greater distance between your bunny and passing wild animals and prevent them from burrowing out.
Weatherproof
Choosing a sturdy, raised hutch will also prevent it from getting waterlogged and help keep your rabbit’s home as dry as possible, free from any leaks. It’s important to make sure their hutch environment is well ventilated and dry to keep them healthy and comfortable, and it's worth considering introducing extra measures with the changing seasons. For example, in cold and wet weather, you may want to use a hutch cover to keep their home sheltered, or in hot, sunny weather, provide extra cover to prevent direct sunlight from making them too warm.
Our resident vet, Dr Michael Lazaris, said, "Rabbits usually do quite well in cold weather, as long as they have somewhere cosy and dry to take shelter. Provide a small nesting area in the hutch which you can fill with lots of hay, and line the bottom with newspaper for added insulation. In very cold weather you can also cover part of the hutch with blankets and tarpaulin to keep them extra snug (making sure there is adequate ventilation) or you could move them into a shed or unused garage - but they must always have access to an exercise area."
Material
The best material for a rabbit hutch is untreated wood as it’s sturdy, safe, natural, gnaw-proof, and non-toxic. Rabbit hutches will also include wire mesh doors and windows for ventilation, security, and so you can keep an eye on your adorable furry friend.
Another thing you should be mindful of is the material used as the floor of your bunny’s cage. Often when people build their own hutch, they use the wire mesh used on the doors as the flooring too. Whilst this seems like a good idea for ventilation and easy cleaning, it is uncomfortable on your bunny’s feet and can cause sore hocks. For outdoor hutches, having a wooden floor is much more comfortable for your rabbit, though it may be a little harder to clean.
Rabbit hutch FAQs
Does an indoor rabbit need a hutch?
Even if your rabbit lives indoors, it’s still recommended to house them in a large hutch where they can feel safe and secure, or at the very least provide them with a hidey-hole space for them to sleep in. However, unlike outdoor hutches, you won’t need to worry about making their hutch weather or predator-proof.
What should I include in their hutch?
Bedding: Keep your bunny comfy and cosy by providing them with plenty of dry bedding such as newspaper, dust-free straw, and bedding hay. We recommend Burgess Excel Meadow Feeding Hay.
Litter tray and filling: Many rabbit hutches come with a separate compartment ideal for use as a toilet which you can fill with newspaper, straw, or hay to absorb their pee and odour. You might also want to consider putting in a litter tray for easy cleaning, reduced absorbency from the hutch itself, and to use as a designated spot if they don’t have a separate compartment. We recommend the Pets at Home Small Animal Corner Litter Tray.
Food bowl: As well as all the grass they’ll be eating (it’s like having a pet and lawn mower in one!) you need to provide your rabbit with a food bowl for specially formulated nuggets or pellets. Our favourite is the Mason Cash Lettered Rabbit Bowl.
Water bottle: You need to provide your rabbit with a constant supply of water, so a water bottle is a must. The most popular type of water bottle is one that ties onto the wire mesh of their hutch, easy for you to top up with fresh water. We've been using the Classic Crystal Deluxe 'Midi' Drinking Bottle for years.
Winter hutch cover: In the colder seasons, you might want to protect your bunny from the elements with a hutch cover to help keep them warm and dry.
Toys: You may want to pop a couple of toys into their hutch to keep them stimulated, but this is more of a recommendation for their run or the garden when they’re out getting their daily exercise. This could include tunnels, gnaw sticks, and balls.
How to clean a rabbit hutch
Rabbits are clean animals; they’re constantly washing their paws and faces, something that’s so cute it’s sure to get an ‘aww’ out of even the most reluctant of pet owners. So, if you want to keep them happy and healthy, you need to keep their hutch clean and tidy too.
Here's a handy guide to cleaning your rabbit's hutch from Katie'sPetLife:
Eleanor Weaver is the Deputy Homes & Garden Product Editor for Take A Break Pets, specialising in small pets. Having been a pet-parent to bunnies and hamsters, she knows just how to care for these little fluffs as well as making sure pets of all sizes are happy and healthy.