Dog Beds, Crates & Home
Best Puppy Pads for Potty Training
For most puppies, the Amazon Basics Leak-Proof Puppy Pee Pads are a good everyday pad: 22 by 22 inches, five layers, with a plastic border on all four sides, per the listing. If smell is the concern, Honey Care All-Absorb Training Pads list a built-in odor neutralizer. For big-breed puppies, the Powools XL Puppy Pads measure 34 by 28 inches.
Pads are a tool, not the goal. The AKC says they can help very young puppies, apartment dwellers and puppies waiting to finish vaccinations, but aren't necessary for every puppy [1]. Humane World for Animals cautions that indoor potty training can make outdoor housebreaking take longer [2]. If you use pads, plan from day one how you will move the spot outside.
Our 3 picks at a glance
- Best OverallAmazon Basics Leak-Proof Puppy Pee Pads, Regular 22 x 22 in, 50 count5-layer, 22 x 22 in pad with a plastic border on all four sidesCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best Odor ControlHoney Care All-Absorb Training Pads, Small 17.5 x 23.5 in, 120 countPad with an odor neutralizer and attractant; 120 per packCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
- Best for Large DogsPowools Puppy Pads, XL 34 x 28 in, 6-Layer, 50 packExtra-large 34 x 28 in, 6-layer pad for big-breed puppiesCheck price on Amazon (opens Amazon in a new tab)
How we picked
We searched Amazon for puppy pads, set aside sponsored results, and read the listings of the pads that came up most often. We chose an everyday 22-inch pad, a pad built around odor control, and an extra-large pad for big puppies. Pads work best alongside a crate sized to your puppy; see our dog crate picks and our dog gate guide for a safe puppy area. Accidents off the pad need an enzyme cleaner, which we cover in our pet stain remover guide.
Every product detail comes from the Amazon listing on the date we checked it; absorbency figures and words like tear-resistant are the makers' own. Potty-training advice comes from the AKC, Humane World for Animals and the ASPCA [1][2][3]. We read listings and sources; we did not use these pads ourselves.
What the AKC and Humane World say about potty training
Pads have a place, and a cost. The AKC says pee pads can help very young puppies that need frequent breaks, people in apartments, and puppies that can't go outside until their vaccinations are done, and that they aren't necessary for every puppy [1]. Humane World for Animals says indoor options such as pee pads, newspaper or a sod box are for times when no one can take the puppy out, and warns that indoor potty training can make outdoor housebreaking take longer [2].
How long can a puppy hold it? The AKC's rule of thumb is about the puppy's age in months plus one, in hours, so a 4-month-old can hold it about five hours, and many puppies can't reliably control the bladder until about 16 weeks [1]. Humane World uses about one hour per month of age [2]. Very young puppies may need to go as often as every 15 minutes while awake, the AKC says, and after waking, eating, playing and napping [1]; Humane World says at least every two hours [2].
Moving the pad toward the door. The AKC says to move the pad toward the door in small steps, then outside to the spot you want your dog to use, making it smaller over time. It says a gradual move is easiest and not to move the spot while your puppy is still learning, because confusion leads to more accidents [1].
Accidents and the crate. The AKC says to clean accidents with an odor-destroying cleaner because dogs are drawn to the smell of previous elimination [1]. Humane World suggests putting a soiled towel in the right spot to build the scent connection [2]. Never punish accidents: Humane World and the ASPCA say scolding or rubbing a puppy's nose in it only teaches fear [2][3]. The AKC adds that most dogs avoid soiling where they sleep, so a crate sized for lying down and turning around helps [1].
Amazon Basics Leak-Proof Puppy Pee Pads, Regular 22 x 22 in, 50 count
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
This is the straightforward pad for most puppies. The listing describes five layers: a quick-dry surface, an absorbent core that turns liquid to gel, and a plastic lining with a plastic border on all four sides to help keep urine off the floor. It is 22 by 22 inches overall, with a 19 by 19 inch center pad and a 1.65-inch border.
It has a built-in attractant, per the listing, meant to draw your puppy to the pad. The listing also names senior dogs and car trips, and says the pads are FSC-certified. If you plan to move the pad toward the door as the AKC suggests [1], a regular-size pad is easy to shift and later trim down to a smaller spot.
Good to know
- Plastic border on all four sides
- 5 layers with a gel core
- Built-in attractant
Keep in mind
- The usable center is 19 x 19 in, smaller than the 22 in outer size
- Likely too small for large-breed puppies; see the Powools
- Attractants are the brand's feature; the AKC and Humane World sources we read do not mention them
Honey Care All-Absorb Training Pads, Small 17.5 x 23.5 in, 120 count
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
If your puppy's area is in a small apartment or near the living room, smell matters. Honey Care lists an odor neutralizer in this pad, along with a built-in attractant and a polymer core that turns liquid to gel over a polyethylene backing. The brand says it absorbs up to five cups of liquid.
The small size is 17.5 by 23.5 inches and comes 120 to a pack. Beyond puppy training, the listing names floors, crate and travel liners, senior pets and post-surgery use. An odor-neutralizing pad helps with the pad itself; accidents on the floor still need an odor-destroying cleaner, as the AKC says [1].
Good to know
- Odor neutralizer, per the listing
- Gel-forming polymer core
- 120 pads in a pack
Keep in mind
- Layer count conflicts: the title and spec say 5 layers, but a bullet says "6-layer leak-proof protection"
- "Up to 5 cups" is the brand's claim
- The small size is narrower than a 22-inch pad
Powools Puppy Pads, XL 34 x 28 in, 6-Layer, 50 pack
Sold by Powools-YSL, ships from Amazon.
Big puppies miss small pads. At 34 by 28 inches, the Powools XL gives a large-breed puppy room to circle and still land on the pad; the listing names Labradors and Golden Retrievers. It has six layers with a super-absorbent polymer that turns liquid to gel and a PE film bottom.
The listing describes wider edges and calls the pad thick and tear-resistant; those are the brand's words, and a puppy that shreds pads should be supervised on any of them. The pads fold for storage. Measure the floor space in your puppy's pen or gated area before you buy, since a pad this size needs room.
Good to know
- 34 x 28 in, for large breeds
- 6 layers with a gel core
- PE film bottom and wider edges
Keep in mind
- "Thick and tear-resistant" is the brand's claim
- Too large for most crates; measure first
- No attractant or odor neutralizer is listed
Side by side
| Pad | Size (listing) | Layers (listing) | Pack | Listed extras |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon Basics Leak-Proof | 22 x 22 in (19 x 19 in center) | 5 | 50 | Plastic border on 4 sides; attractant |
| Honey Care All-Absorb (Small) | 17.5 x 23.5 in | 5 (one bullet says 6) | 120 | Odor neutralizer; attractant |
| Powools XL | 34 x 28 in | 6 | 50 | PE film bottom; wider edges |
Specs as stated on each Amazon listing, checked October 2026.
What to look for
Size for your puppy
Your puppy should be able to turn around on the pad. Large-breed puppies need an XL pad like the Powools.
A leak barrier
Look for a plastic backing or border. The Amazon Basics pad lists a plastic border on all four sides.
A plan to go outside
The AKC suggests moving the pad toward the door in small steps, then outside [1]. Humane World says indoor training can slow outdoor training [2].
An enzyme cleaner on hand
The AKC says to clean accidents with an odor-destroying cleaner [1]. See our stain remover picks.
The bottom line
- Best Overall: Amazon Basics Leak-Proof Pads: 22 x 22 in, five layers and a plastic border on all four sides.
- Best Odor Control: Honey Care All-Absorb: an odor neutralizer and attractant, 120 to a pack.
- Best for Large Dogs: Powools XL: 34 x 28 in with six layers for big-breed puppies.
Questions pet parents ask
Are puppy pads a good idea?
How do I move my puppy from pads to going outside?
The AKC says to move the pad toward the door in small steps, then outside to the final spot, making it smaller over time, and not to change the spot while the puppy is still learning [1].
How long can a puppy hold its bladder?
How often should I take my puppy to the pad?
Can I put a puppy pad in the crate?
Honey Care lists its pad as a crate liner. The AKC notes most dogs avoid soiling where they sleep and suggests a crate just big enough to lie down and turn around in [1]. The sources we read do not say whether a pad belongs in the crate, so ask your vet or trainer. See our dog crate guide.
What should I do when my puppy has an accident?
Don't punish it; Humane World and the ASPCA say scolding or rubbing its nose in it causes fear [2][3]. Clean the spot with an odor-destroying cleaner, as the AKC advises [1]; our enzyme cleaner picks and carpet guide can help.
Sources
- American Kennel Club. The Ins and Outs of Potty Pad Training. akc.org
- Humane World for Animals. How to Potty Train a Puppy: Housebreaking Tips for Success. humaneworld.org
- ASPCA. House Training Your Dog or Puppy. aspca.org