The Best Dog Collars We Tested For Comfort, Durability, And Adjustability

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We tested several dog collars before naming the Ruffwear Crag the best of the pack.

Liz Coleman; Amy Graves/Business Insider

A properly fitted, comfortable dog collar is an essential pet accessory. When you take your pup out into the world, they should wear a collar with their ID tags attached. The best dog collars for this purpose are easily adjustable, safe, and durable.

We tested 16 collars in various styles, including personalized, leather, reflective, and waterproof designs. Our top pick is the Ruffwear Crag Reflective Collar, which is easy to adjust, sturdy, and equipped with special features, including reflective stitching and a carabiner for attaching ID tags. If you're looking for an inexpensive collar, we recommend the simple, reliable Frisco Solid Nylon Collar that's under $10.

Keep in mind that the safest way to walk your dog is with a harness and leash. Walking a dog with a leash attached to a collar can injure a dog's larynx or trachea if pressure occurs from leash pulling, says Dr. Brian Collins, a veterinarian and senior lecturer in community practice service at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine.

Read more about how Insider Reviews tests and evaluates pet products.

Our top picks for the best dog collars

Best overall: Ruffwear Crag Reflective Dog Collar - See at Chewy

Best personalized: Orvis Personalized Side-Release Buckle Collar - See at Orvis

Best leather: Riparo Genuine Leather Padded Dog Collar - See at Amazon

Best for comfort: Chai's Choice 3M Reflective Collar - See at Chewy

Best reflective: L.L.Bean Personalized Pet Collar - See at L.L. Bean

Best budget: Frisco Solid Nylon Dog Collar - See at Chewy

Best waterproof: Stunt Puppy Go Dog Glo Dry Collar - See at Chewy

Best LED: Blazin LED Light-Up Collar - See at Chewy

Best overall

The Ruffwear Crag looks rugged, but it's made of flexible, lightweight nylon that's smooth and comfortable against a dog's neck. It also has all the must-have features found in the best dog collars: a secure attachment point for ID tags, a side-release buckle for easy placement and removal, and a good range of adjustability.

Reflective threads woven into the webbing enhance your dog's visibility at night, though not as much as you'd see with an LED collar. A round silicone tag silencer sits flat between tags, eliminating the clinking noise when your dog moves or shakes their head. There's also a separate silicone ring sewn into the outside of the collar, which holds a small carabiner for attaching your dog's tags. This attachment is on the thin side, but it held up just fine to a serious beating with a meat mallet during testing.

We found it easy to fit the Crag on our two tester pups: a miniature pinscher mix who straddles small and medium sizes, and a medium-sized Australian shepherd with a fluffy neck, who typically takes some trial and error to get the right fit. This ease of fitting is thanks to the smooth, pliable fabric, which glides effortlessly through the plastic size adjusters.

The Crag collar passed our durability tests with ease and looked good as new after washing.

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Although we don't recommend walking a dog with a leash to their collar, the Crag held up well in our tugging and pulling tests (no dogs involved) and emerged from our cleaning and soaking trials without rust or corrosion. The collar is labeled hand-wash only, but we put it through the washing machine, and it came out looking new. Unfortunately, it's not available in an extra small size. If your dog's neck circumference is less than 10 inches, consider a different collar, like our budget pick from Frisco.

Best personalized

The Orvis Personalized Side-Release Buckle Collar comes in many colors, along with several embroidery color options for your dog's name and your contract information. Its nylon webbing is durable but flexible and smooth on the inside, providing excellent comfort.

The collar looked so good on our dog that we didn't want to take it off. With so many color options for the collar material and stitching, it was fun to choose a custom combination. The personalized stitching accommodates 24 characters for small sizes and 28 characters for large and extra-large sizes. But the real beauty lies in the collar's soft, smooth texture and easy adjustability.

This personalized collar from Orvis looks sharp in any color combination.

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The collar's steel D-ring presented the only issue — it became discolored and developed tiny spots of corrosion after we soaked it in vinegar and ran it through the washing machine. That may be why Orvis only recommends gently wiping the collar clean with a wet cloth. But the corrosion didn't compromise the D-ring's performance, and the collar fabric, which is welded shut rather than stitched, held up well through in stress tests.

Best leather

The Riparo Collar is a beautiful piece of leatherwork, but it isn't just for dress-up days at the dog-friendly office. It's strong and sturdy, with a pebbled, full-grain leather surface that resists teeth marks, a stainless steel buckle closure, and a D-ring that won't corrode.

Although this collar is tough, it doesn't compromise on comfort. Sheepskin padding on the inside makes for a soft, comfortable fit around a dog's neck. The collar also has a small built-in tab for attaching tags, so we didn't have to fiddle with the D-ring.

The Riparo leather collar features high-quality materials and provides soft, padded comfort.

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Unlike the best dog collars made from synthetic materials, leather requires special care. It's best not to leave it wet or even damp after a walk in the rain. As for cleaning, saddle soap is recommended. But with good care, the collar should retain its shape and last you many years. The smallest neck circumference is 11 inches, but that size comes in a 3/4-inch width that should suit dogs on the smaller end of most medium-sized breeds. However, the 1-inch width of the medium collar looked a bit bulky on our Aussie tester.

Best for comfort

Dogs with short hair, sensitive skin, or an aversion to equipment can struggle with a collar. For those pups, we recommend the Chai's Choice 3M Reflective Collar. It features a combination of thick padding and breathable mesh, making it a good option for choosy dogs, like our 26-pound mini pinscher mix, who typically dislikes wearing gear. She took to this collar with no complaints. This came as little surprise, since Chai's Choice also makes a harness she tolerates well.

The collar doesn't have any scratchy stitching that can irritate the skin, and the buckle sits on top of the mesh layer, preventing contact with a dog's neck. Although it's a little heavier than other collars we've tested, it still feels lightweight. It's also soft and flexible.

With substantial padding and breathable mesh, the Chai's Choice Comfort Collar may be a good option for dogs that are reluctant to wear a collar.

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It can be awkward to put on and adjust the size. You have to pass the buckle through the metal O-ring, which can be tricky with a resistant dog. But if comfort is your priority, we don't consider this a dealbreaker. Just be sure to check the sizing closely since the collar can only be adjusted a couple of inches.

Best reflective

Not only was this personalizable L.L.Bean collar the most reflective of the best dog collars, but it was also durable and easy to adjust. The collar was visible in headlights from 150 feet away at night, so nighttime walks or predawn runs with your dog will feel much safer.

The only drawback is the rough texture of the stitching on the inside of the collar. Because it's scratchy, it's not a good choice for all-day wear on short-haired dogs.

LL.Bean makes the most reflective collar we tested, and as a bonus, you can add embroidery.

Amy Graves; L.L.Bean/Business Insider

As for personalization, the collar can fit up to 23 letters or numbers for the smallest size and up to 30 for the largest, stitched onto the material with black thread. Scotchlite, the collar's reflective material, is also used for safety, athletic, and casual garments. It is heat-bonded onto the fabric, and it didn't fade or deteriorate from soaking and machine-washing.

Best budget

The Frisco Nylon Collar is a great all-around budget choice. Both durable and pliable, it held up through all kinds of abuse tests, including a meat mallet, prolonged soaking, and strong pulling. The nylon collar allows for 7 inches of adjustability, which is hard to beat. The nickel-coated aluminum D-ring is tough and didn't discolor. The nylon is treated with UltraWeld, a silicone fabric sealant that is highly resistant to tearing and chew marks. As for ease of use, Frisco has you covered with an easy-to-manipulate side-release buckle and a D-ring that doesn't impede tag attachment.

The Frisco Nylon Dog Collar nails the basics, providing excellent value for under $10.

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There are just two downsides. You have limited color options, for one. And at 3/4 inches wide, the size medium collar isn't a good fit for every medium-sized dog. It's designed for necks from 14 to 20 inches in circumference, but it looked a bit skimpy on the neck of a standard poodle. It would be unsuitable for the larger neck and smaller head of a greyhound or Afghan hound, for instance. The next size up, for 18- to 26-inch neck circumferences, comes in a 1-inch width.

Best waterproof

Quick-drying and reflective, the Stunt Puppy Go Dog Glo Dry Collar is designed for nighttime walks, rainy days, and long stints outside. It's made of BioThane, a tough, water-resistant polyester/PVC material that completely resists odors and moisture, making it an ideal collar for dogs who enjoy rolling in the mud or romping on the beach.

The collar also features a band of reflective material that's visible in headlight beams from up to 150 feet, making it useful for predawn or evening outings with your dog. Because BioThane is stiffer than nylon and leather, the collar is more difficult to adjust. Using the rings to thread the collar to the right size takes some effort, but once in place, it lies flat on a dog's neck.

The durable blend of polyester and PVC is an excellent material for water-loving dogs.

Stunt Puppy; Amy Graves/Business Insider

Although it's one of the best dog collars we tested, its stiffness and thinness may be uncomfortable for all-day wear. It could dig into a dog's neck, so be sure to take it off when you come back inside.

Best LED

The Blazin LED Collar features three light-up modes (solid, blinking, and strobe) and keeps your dog visible during nighttime walks from a distance of at least 150 yards. In solid light mode, it stayed lit for just over four hours. It also proved durable, staying lit even when sprayed with water.

With a USB charging box built neatly into the end, the Blazin collar offered a seamless, comfy fit. The box has a secure closure that prevents water intrusion, and the light continued to work after we sprayed the collar with water to clean it up. Best of all, the collar lit up our Aussie like a Christmas tree with a light bright enough for us to see her and for her to see what was in front of her. The LED lights take two hours to charge fully.

The Blazin' LED collar shines bright, even on long-haired dogs.

Amy Graves; Business Insider

The side-release plastic buckle was easy to open and close, and the nylon collar was easy to adjust for size, even with the built-in strip of LED lights. Inside, the material is smooth. The collar is available in a range of colors, but we found one clear advantage to the neon green model we tested: It stood out clearly on our dog at 50 feet away in semi-darkness, even with the LED lights turned off.

What to look for in a dog collar

Seven of the sixteen collars we tested rose to the top, thanks to some key features.

Amy Graves/Insider

We consulted several veterinarians to determine which features are most important to focus on. Rather than choosing a collar based solely on aesthetics or style, consider the following factors to ensure your dog's comfort and safety.

Secure closure: Collars have two types of closures: plastic side-release tabs and metal belt-buckle types. For ease of use, the side-release tabs work best since they can be released with one hand, and all the models we tested held up securely in all our tests. Side-release tabs that open the collar quickly can help if your dog gets caught on something while wearing their collar, Collins says.

The metal buckles, common on leather collars, did not fail us either. But they have ease-of-use issues since they can only be secured at notches on the collar, making it harder to get the perfect fit on the dog's neck.

Hardware: A collar is for carrying your dog's ID tags, so it should have a solid D- or V-shaped ring made from a durable metal like stainless steel or aluminum for attaching the tags. However, there is such a thing as too solid: A collar with an extra-thick, bulky ring can be very difficult to work with. Anyone who has struggled to thread the wire loop that holds the tags to the D-ring knows firsthand that prying the wire apart to attach it to a thick ring is too much work, if not impossible. Some collars have two rings — one for ID tags and one for attaching one of the best dog leashes — but we do not recommend using any collar for leash walking.

Adjustability: Getting the right fit on your dog's neck is essential for collar comfort and safety. Even the proper size collar needs fine-tuning, and we found those that offer at least 4 inches of adjustability are the easiest to fit to a dog. On fabric collars, size adjustment means threading the collars through tabs that allow you to double it up, thus sizing the collar down. Stiffer, bulkier materials can be more difficult to adjust. On leather collars, all you have to work with is the belt notches.

Comfort: For overall comfort, look for a collar that is smooth on the inside where it touches the neck. Any stray stitches or material sticking out may irritate short-haired dogs. Pliability is also important since a stiff collar could dig into a dog's neck if caught on anything. As for overall collar weight, less is more. "The collar should not sag, which would suggest it's either too big or too heavy for the dog," says Dr. Brad Hinsperger, director of Kingsdale Animal Hospital in Kitchener, Ontario.

The collar's width is important, too. Hinsperger says dogs with long necks and small heads, like greyhounds, do best with a wider collar (1.5 to 2 inches), which minimizes friction on their delicate skin. For smaller dogs, like Shih Tzus and Yorkies, a narrower collar is ideal.

Materials: Woven nylon and BioThane collars are more durable and easier to clean than other materials, and most can go through the washing machine. Leather collars are not washing-machine-safe since prolonged wetness will waterlog them and eventually dry them out to brittle pretzels (which we know from once trying to wash a leather leash). Hand washing in warm, soapy water is your only option for leather. For dogs with sensitive skin or dermatitis, it helps to avoid rough or stiff materials. "I would recommend a good quality nylon collar in these cases," says Hinsperger.

How we tested the best dog collars

The best dog collars we tested were subjected to fabric and hardware durability tests.

Amy Graves/Insider

To find the best dog collars, we tested them on three different dogs: an Australian shepherd with long hair, a standard poodle, and a short-haired miniature pinscher mix. We pulled, pounded, and poked 16 collars, adjusted and readjusted their sizing, attached and removed ID tags, buried them in the dirt, soaked them in vinegar, and weighted them down with bricks to stress the fabric.

Hardware durability and performance: To make sure they were durable and long-lasting, we put the D-rings and closures through some tough testing. We attached the collars to leashes and closed them around a fixed, solid support beam. With the Chai's Choice collar, we had a partner hold the collar securely in place. Then, we yanked, pulled, and twisted them to find any weak points.

Fabric durability and performance: After soiling the collars with dirt and letting them sit overnight, we made cuts in them with scissors or a paring knife and tied them to 4-pound bricks to weigh them down for 24 hours. Then, we checked back in to see if the cuts grew larger. For some collars, including Chai's Choice, we instead pulled both ends of the collar after attempting to make cuts to see if the fabric would tear further. We also pounded each collar with a meat mallet to simulate dog chew marks and examined both the fabric and the hardware, looking for discoloration and signs of corrosion.

Pet comfort: Since dogs cannot always communicate their sartorial preferences, we put each of the collars around not only dogs' necks but also our own, looking for scratchy stitching and irritating material stiffness. With dogs wearing the collars, we looked for proper neck movement and whether the collar could lie flat on the neck. We deducted points for excessive shaking, scratching, or head wagging that might indicate irritation.

Ease of use: Adjusting a collar's size and getting tags in place easily saves time and effort, so we put all the collars to these tests and deducted points for anything bulky, such as too-thick rings that had us prying away to loop tags on or stubborn buckles and stiff collar fabrics that stuck when threading them. As for putting the collar on and taking it off, the side-release closures on all but the leather models should be easy to open one-handed; we took off points for those that took more effort.

Spray test: To simulate dog walks in the rain, we sprayed all the collars with the spray nozzle at our kitchen sink — even the LED models, which continued to function normally.

Cleaning test: We soaked all the collars in vinegar for 30 minutes to make them very stinky. Then, we tested smell retention by cleaning them to see if odors stuck around. Except for the LED collars, which we hand-washed in hot, soapy water, we used the regular cycle on our washing machine. While the collars that got this treatment all came out looking clean and no longer smelling of vinegar, a few showed corrosion and rust on the hardware.

Return policy and warranty: Collars with generous refund policies got high marks. Those available on Chewy are covered by the retailer's 365-day guarantee. Others offered full refunds for factory defects, which was less valuable in our evaluation.

Available colors: Since personal preferences and dog fur colors vary, we looked for collars that came in a range of options. Some of our top picks have limited color choices, but their other attributes won us over. We'd rather have a collar that's easy, safe to use, and stands the test of time, even if the color it came in wasn't our first choice.

Dog collars FAQs

What is the best collar for a dog to wear?

The type of collar depends on the specific dog to some extent. While all dogs do best with a collar that will lie flat on the neck, close securely, and provide a place to attach ID tags, thinner bands (½ to ¾ inches) are better for toy breeds and other small dogs, while thick collars (1 to 1 ½ inches) work for larger breeds. For dogs with larger necks and smaller heads, a martingale-style collar will be best, adds Dr. Amy L. Pike, a board-certified veterinary behaviorist and owner of Animal Behavior Wellness Center. This design keeps the collar from slipping over the dog's head when a leash is attached. Ultimately, the best dog collar for any pup is one that fits well and is comfortable enough to leave on for long stretches of time.

Do vets recommend collars?

Collars are recommended whenever a dog is outside so someone can easily identify the dog and in case you need to grab hold of it to separate your dog from another dog safely. Collins says a collar also serves as a backup if your dog's harness gives way. If you're looking for gear to safely and comfortably walk your dog, we recommend outfitting your pup with one of the best dog harnesses or best no-pull dog harnesses and attaching their leash directly to it.

What is the safest collar for dogs?

Collins says the safest collar should be adjustable to fit the dog's neck with room left over, be easy to remove, and carry a dog's identification tags securely. Also, consider the weight of the collar: You don't want to overburden a toy breed with hefty neckwear. "If a dog holds their head in a lower position with a collar on versus the collar off, then it's too heavy," Pike says. "They should be able to easily lift, lower, and turn their head with the collar on."

Is a martingale collar good for dogs?

Martingale collars are designed with an extra loop of fabric that tightens gently (but not too tightly) when pressure is applied. Hinsperger recommends them for most dogs. Martingale collars can be used for regular, everyday wear. When attached to a harness using a safety clip, martingale collars offer added security for dogs who tend to slip out of flat collars and harnesses. This is especially beneficial for breeds with long necks and small heads, such as greyhounds and Afghan hounds.

Is a prong collar bad for dogs?

It is recommended to avoid using prong collars and other aversive tools. Pike says that prong collars can cause serious injuries, such as puncture wounds, and may increase fear and anxiety in dogs by punishing them for pulling. This can damage the trust between a dog and their owner and may lead to behavioral problems down the road.

Should dogs wear collars at home?

Veterinarians agree that it is best to take collars off whenever dogs play with one another or are at home alone. "For ultimate safety, it's best never to have a collar on a dog at home, unless you are with them the whole time,'' Collins says. "The point is it can get caught on a piece of furniture, on another dog's collar, or a dog could get its teeth on the collar, or they could get their foot through it if it's too loose.'' Since so many things can go wrong, removing the collar makes sense.

How tightly should a collar be worn?

A misconception is that two fingers should fit between the dog's neck and collar when it should really be looser. "It should be loose enough so that it lies flat and the dog is not bothered by it,'' Collins says. As for positioning on the neck, aim lower than the dog's larynx, closer to the shoulders. Collins says this avoids a sensitive area of the neck that can be damaged with too much pressure. Finally, the thickness of a collar relative to the size of the neck is important. He says thinner collars are for small neck circumferences only. All of the collars we tested were either ¾- or 1-inch thick, which worked on our medium-sized dog, but most of them were available in ½-inch thickness in smaller sizes.