Compare
Guinea pig cage types, side by side
Typical floor space, Australian price range, cleaning effort and our welfare rating for each type of housing. Prices are rough guides only.
Quick answer
For most Australian owners, a DIY C&C grid cage is the best-value guinea pig housing: about 0.76–1.9 m² of floor for roughly $100–$200, easy to clean and easy to extend. A typical pet-shop cage gives only about 0.5 m², about half of RSPCA Australia's guidance of about 1 m² for a pair. An outdoor hutch with a run can work, but only with full shade and a plan for hot days.
| Housing type | Typical floor | Typical price (AUD) | Cleaning | Where | Welfare rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C&C grid cage (DIY) | 0.76–1.9 m²+ | ≈ $100–$200 | Easy | Indoors | Excellent |
| C&C cage kit | ≈ 1.0 m²+ | ≈ $300–$500 | Easy | Indoors | Excellent |
| Playpen with floor | ≈ 1.0 m² | Varies | Easy | Indoors | Good |
| Large store-bought cage | ≈ 0.7 m² | ≈ $90–$200 | Moderate | Indoors | Minimum only |
| Typical pet-shop cage | ≈ 0.5 m² | ≈ $150–$250 | Awkward (small doors) | Indoors | Too small |
| Indoor furniture hutch | ≈ 0.5 m² | ≈ $200–$300 | Moderate | Indoors | Usually too small |
| Outdoor hutch + run | 1–2 m²+ plus run | ≈ $300–$900 | Moderate | Outdoors (shaded) | Good with heat plan |
The welfare rating reflects floor space against RSPCA Australia's guidance of about 1 m² for a pair, plus flooring and ease of care. Always check the specific product's internal dimensions.