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Scarlet and blue-and-gold macaws on perches in an aviary
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Best Bird Cages for Macaws (2026): 48 x 36 x 66 and the Cages That Get There

By Bird Cage ReviewPublished 8 min readHow we research

Affiliate disclosure: product links on this page go to Amazon, or to the maker's own store for brands that sell only direct. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you; a link to a maker's store earns us nothing. No retailer or brand sees our picks before they are published or has any say in them. How we choose.

A large macaw needs the biggest cage sold and, by the veterinary tables, usually a bigger one than that: the Merck Veterinary Manual gives 48 by 36 by 66 inches with 1.5-inch bars for macaws and large cockatoos; VCA Animal Hospitals gives 4 by 5 by 5 feet for blue-and-gold, scarlet, green-winged and hyacinth macaws and 3 by 3 by 4 feet for severe, yellow-collared and Hahn's. The A&E walk-in aviary (86 by 62 by 79 inches, 5 mm bars) clears both. The Prevue Empire (45 3/8 by 35 3/8 by 63 inside, 1 3/8-inch spacing, 9 gauge) is the closest conventional cage from a maker that states every figure, and its Silverado twin is the same cage in another finish. The Seny double cage (64 by 32 by 73) is long enough and 4 inches too shallow; the Flyline corner is tall and wide with 3/4-inch bars; the Mcage XX-Large is a small-macaw cage by VCA's row.

A macaw's beak decides the rest: Dr. Patricia Latas (PetMD) says the bars must be strong enough that the bird cannot bend them, and Prevue builds its macaw cages in 9-gauge wire with flathead hex bolts a beak cannot undo. Every pick shows its interior against both minimums.

Our top picks at a glance

  1. 1. Best overall (meets both minimums)

    A&E Walk-In Aviary WI8662 (86 x 62 x 79 in, 1 in spacing, 5 mm bars)

    Interior: 86 x 62 x 79 in (per the Amazon listing) · Bar spacing and gauge: 1 in; 5 mm bars (per the Amazon listing) · Against the minimums: Clears Merck (48 x 36 x 66) and VCA (48 x 60 x 60); 1 in spacing is narrower than Merck's 1.5

    Amazon

  2. 2. Best conventional macaw cage

    Prevue Empire Bird Cage 3157 (45 3/8 x 35 3/8 x 63 in interior, 1 3/8 in spacing, 9 gauge)

    Interior: 45 3/8 x 35 3/8 x 63 in; about 10 in more height with the grille out (Prevue) · Bar spacing and gauge: 1 3/8 in; 9 gauge (Prevue) · Against the minimums: 2 5/8 in short of Merck's length, 5/8 of its depth, 3 of its height; short of VCA's 60 in depth and height for large macaws; clears VCA's small-macaw 36 x 36 x 48

    Prevue Pet Products

  3. 3. Same cage, silver

    Prevue Silverado Macaw Dometop Cage 3155S (46 x 36 x 78 1/4 in, 1 3/8 in spacing, 9 gauge)

    Interior: Same cage as the Empire: 46 x 36 x 78 1/4 in overall (Prevue FAQ) · Bar spacing and gauge: 1 3/8 in; 9 gauge (Prevue FAQ) · Against the minimums: As the Empire: within 3 in of Merck's row, under VCA's large-macaw row

    Prevue Pet Products

  4. 4. Best long cage under $900

    Seny Double Wrought Iron Bird Cage with Divider (64 x 32 x 73 in, 1 in spacing)

    Interior: 64 x 32 x 73 in without seed skirt (per the Amazon listing) · Bar spacing and gauge: 1 in; gauge not stated (per the Amazon listing) · Against the minimums: Length and height clear Merck; depth 4 in short; VCA large-macaw depth 28 in short

    Amazon

  5. 5. Best corner cage

    Flyline Corner Bird Cage, extra large (51.2 x 51.2 x 73 in, 3/4 in spacing)

    Interior: Not stated; 51.2 x 51.2 x 73 in overall with seed skirt (per the Amazon listing) · Bar spacing and gauge: 3/4 in; 1/8 in bars (per the Amazon listing) · Against the minimums: Height clears both; wall sides clear Merck's 48 by the overall figure; triangular floor and no interior figure

    Amazon

  6. 6. Best tall cage

    Flyline XXL Flight Cage (35.5 x 35.5 x 80 in, 1 in spacing)

    Interior: Not stated; 35.5 x 35.5 x 80 in overall (per the Amazon listing) · Bar spacing and gauge: 1 in; gauge not stated (per the Amazon listing) · Against the minimums: Height clears both; 12.5 in short of Merck's length; clears VCA's small-macaw 36 x 36 x 48 within a half inch

    Amazon

  7. 7. Best for small macaws under $600

    Mcage XXL Play Top Wrought Iron Parrot Cage (36 x 28 x 52 in interior, 1 in spacing)

    Interior: 36 x 28 x 52 in (per the Amazon listing) · Bar spacing and gauge: 1 in; gauge not stated (per the Amazon listing) · Against the minimums: Clears Merck's mini-macaw row (36 x 24 x 48); 8 in short of VCA's 36 in depth; not a large-macaw cage

    Amazon
1

Best overall (meets both minimums)

A&E Walk-In Aviary WI8662 (86 x 62 x 79 in, 1 in spacing, 5 mm bars)

A&E's 86 by 62 by 79 inch walk-in aviary with 5 mm bars at 1-inch spacing: the only cage here that clears Merck's macaw row and VCA's 4 by 5 by 5 feet.

Interior
86 x 62 x 79 in (per the Amazon listing)
Bar spacing and gauge
1 in; 5 mm bars (per the Amazon listing)
Against the minimums
Clears Merck (48 x 36 x 66) and VCA (48 x 60 x 60); 1 in spacing is narrower than Merck's 1.5
Overall
86 x 62 x 79 in; 340 lb; door 69 x 25 in (per the Amazon listing)

Pros

  • A macaw can open its wings and fly a few beats
  • Key-locked walk-in door
  • Three swing-out feeders with stainless bowls

Cons

  • $2,740, 340 lb, a room of its own
  • Indoor use only per retailers
  • 1-inch spacing is narrower than needed; a macaw's beak on 5 mm bars is the question

A&E's WI8662 is listed at 86 by 62 by 79 inches, 1-inch spacing, 5 mm bars, a 69 by 25 inch key-locked door, three stainless feeder bowls on swing-out doors, powder-coated, 340 pounds. Retailer listings for A&E's walk-ins name umbrella cockatoos, greys, Amazons and Pionus; for a large macaw it is the one cage in this guide where the tables are met rather than approached. The indoor aviary guide covers the base and setup.

Check price on Amazon
2

Best conventional macaw cage

Prevue Empire Bird Cage 3157 (45 3/8 x 35 3/8 x 63 in interior, 1 3/8 in spacing, 9 gauge)

45 3/8 by 35 3/8 by 63 inside, 1 3/8-inch spacing in 9-gauge wire, hex bolts a beak cannot undo, and a 20 by 43 inch door: within 3 inches of the Merck row.

Interior
45 3/8 x 35 3/8 x 63 in; about 10 in more height with the grille out (Prevue)
Bar spacing and gauge
1 3/8 in; 9 gauge (Prevue)
Against the minimums
2 5/8 in short of Merck's length, 5/8 of its depth, 3 of its height; short of VCA's 60 in depth and height for large macaws; clears VCA's small-macaw 36 x 36 x 48
Overall
46 x 36 x 78 1/4 in; 54 1/4 x 44 3/8 in with seed guard (Prevue)

Pros

  • Prevue states interior, spacing and gauge
  • Flathead hex bolts and slip-in panels
  • Three stainless non-tip cups, 1 1/8 in hardwood perch, pull-out grille and tray

Cons

  • Under the Merck row by inches
  • Prevue's page gives the finish as both black and silver hammertone
  • Sold direct and through dealers; about $900 to $1,200

Prevue lists the Empire (3157) at 46 by 36 by 78 1/4 inches overall and 45 3/8 by 35 3/8 by 63 inside, with about 10 inches more living height if the floor grille is removed, 1 3/8-inch spacing, 9-gauge wire, a 20 by 43 inch double-locking door, three stainless cups, a 1 1/8-inch hardwood perch, a seed guard set and a caster stand, and calls it a macaw cage. Prevue's FAQ gives the same 46 by 36 by 78 1/4 and 9 gauge for the Empire and the Silverado. For a scarlet or blue-and-gold it is the best cage that fits through a door, and it is still short of both tables.

See it at Prevue Pet Products
3

Same cage, silver

Prevue Silverado Macaw Dometop Cage 3155S (46 x 36 x 78 1/4 in, 1 3/8 in spacing, 9 gauge)

Prevue's Silverado Macaw Bird Cage: the Empire's 46 by 36 by 78 1/4 inches, 1 3/8-inch spacing and 9-gauge wire in the silver hammertone finish.

Interior
Same cage as the Empire: 46 x 36 x 78 1/4 in overall (Prevue FAQ)
Bar spacing and gauge
1 3/8 in; 9 gauge (Prevue FAQ)
Against the minimums
As the Empire: within 3 in of Merck's row, under VCA's large-macaw row
Overall
46 x 36 x 78 1/4 in (Prevue FAQ)

Pros

  • Prevue's macaw build in a lighter colour
  • Three stainless non-tip bowls (Prevue FAQ)
  • Dealer network for parts

Cons

  • Same shortfall as the Empire
  • Sold direct and through dealers
  • Silver finish shows dust

Prevue's FAQ lists the Silverado (3155S) and the Empire (3157) together: each 46 by 36 by 78 1/4 inches, 1 3/8-inch spacing, 9-gauge wire, three large stainless non-tip bowls, for the largest birds. Choose by colour; the supplier comparison covers what Prevue, A&E and King's each publish about their big cages.

See it at Prevue Pet Products
4

Best long cage under $900

Seny Double Wrought Iron Bird Cage with Divider (64 x 32 x 73 in, 1 in spacing)

64 by 32 by 73 inches with the divider out: 16 inches longer than the Merck row, 4 inches shallower, at 1-inch spacing.

Interior
64 x 32 x 73 in without seed skirt (per the Amazon listing)
Bar spacing and gauge
1 in; gauge not stated (per the Amazon listing)
Against the minimums
Length and height clear Merck; depth 4 in short; VCA large-macaw depth 28 in short
Overall
64 x 32 x 73 in; 198 lb (per the Amazon listing)

Pros

  • 64 inches of flight length
  • Divider for two birds
  • Removable trays and grates

Cons

  • Gauge not stated; a macaw will find out
  • 32 in deep: a large macaw's wingspan is wider
  • Unbranded

Seny's double cage is listed at 64 by 32 by 73 inches, 1-inch spacing, with a slide-out divider. Length is what it offers a macaw; depth is what it lacks, and the listing says nothing about wire thickness, which for a macaw is the question. For a small macaw it is generous; for a large one it is a long cage that is too narrow for a wing stretch.

Check price on Amazon
5

Best corner cage

Flyline Corner Bird Cage, extra large (51.2 x 51.2 x 73 in, 3/4 in spacing)

73 inches tall and 51 along each wall with the skirt, 1/8-inch bars at 3/4-inch spacing: over Merck's height, with a triangular floor.

Interior
Not stated; 51.2 x 51.2 x 73 in overall with seed skirt (per the Amazon listing)
Bar spacing and gauge
3/4 in; 1/8 in bars (per the Amazon listing)
Against the minimums
Height clears both; wall sides clear Merck's 48 by the overall figure; triangular floor and no interior figure
Overall
51.2 x 51.2 x 73 in; 150 lb (per the Amazon listing)

Pros

  • 1/8-inch bars stated
  • Corner footprint
  • Opening top

Cons

  • 3/4 in spacing is narrower than needed; it is the bar count a macaw tests
  • Interior not stated
  • Triangle floor

Flyline's Parrot Escape Jumbo Corner (X-Large) is listed at 73 inches tall, 51.2 inches on each wall side with the skirt, 3/4-inch spacing, 1/8-inch bars, two wood perches and four swing feeder gates. For a macaw the corner shape gives height and wall length; what a macaw cannot do in it is open both wings across the hypotenuse, which the listing does not measure.

Check price on Amazon
6

Best tall cage

Flyline XXL Flight Cage (35.5 x 35.5 x 80 in, 1 in spacing)

80 inches tall on a 35.5 by 35.5 inch footprint at 1-inch spacing, a 17 by 37 inch door: a small-macaw cage with headroom.

Interior
Not stated; 35.5 x 35.5 x 80 in overall (per the Amazon listing)
Bar spacing and gauge
1 in; gauge not stated (per the Amazon listing)
Against the minimums
Height clears both; 12.5 in short of Merck's length; clears VCA's small-macaw 36 x 36 x 48 within a half inch
Overall
35.5 x 35.5 x 80 in (per the Amazon listing)

Pros

  • 80 inches of height
  • Big door
  • Four swing-out feeder cups

Cons

  • Footprint is a small-macaw footprint
  • Gauge not stated
  • 14 left when read

Flyline's XXL flight cage is listed at 80 by 35.5 by 35.5 inches with 1-inch spacing, a 17 by 37 inch door and four feeder cups on swing-out doors. VCA's small-macaw row (3 by 3 by 4 feet) is what it matches; for a Hahn's or a severe it is a tall home, for a blue-and-gold it is 12 inches too short in length.

Check price on Amazon
7

Best for small macaws under $600

Mcage XXL Play Top Wrought Iron Parrot Cage (36 x 28 x 52 in interior, 1 in spacing)

36 by 28 by 52 inside at 1-inch spacing with stainless cups and a play top: VCA's small-macaw row met in length and height, 8 inches short in depth.

Interior
36 x 28 x 52 in (per the Amazon listing)
Bar spacing and gauge
1 in; gauge not stated (per the Amazon listing)
Against the minimums
Clears Merck's mini-macaw row (36 x 24 x 48); 8 in short of VCA's 36 in depth; not a large-macaw cage
Overall
43.5 x 35.5 x 68 in with stand, seed guards and play top (per the Amazon listing)

Pros

  • Interior stated
  • Four stainless cups on swivel doors, metal lock
  • Open play top

Cons

  • One left when read
  • Not for large macaws
  • Gauge not stated

Mcage's XX-Large is listed at 36 by 28 by 52 inches inside, 1-inch spacing, a 10 by 34 inch door with a metal lock, four stainless cups on swivel doors and a play top. By Merck's table it clears the mini-macaw row (36 by 24 by 48 at 0.75; the 1-inch spacing is over that row's figure); by VCA's it is 8 inches shy of the small-macaw depth. A Hahn's macaw is the bird for it.

Check price on Amazon

How we chose

Interior size and bar spacing, with wire gauge where stated, against the Merck Veterinary Manual's 48 by 36 by 66 inches at 1.5-inch spacing and VCA's 4 by 5 by 5 feet for large macaws and 3 by 3 by 4 feet for small ones, ranked by how close each comes with bars a macaw cannot bend. Prices are from October 9, 2026.

The minimums

SourceBirdMinimumBar spacing
Merck Veterinary ManualMacaw, large cockatoo48 x 36 x 66 in1.5 in
Merck Veterinary ManualMiniature macaw (with conures)36 x 24 x 48 in0.75 in
VCA Animal HospitalsLarge macaw (blue-and-gold, scarlet, green-winged, hyacinth)4 x 5 x 5 ft (48 x 60 x 60 in)Head and legs cannot pass
VCA Animal HospitalsSmall macaw (severe, yellow-collared, Hahn's)3 x 3 x 4 ft (36 x 36 x 48 in)
Retail chart (Exotic Wings; not veterinary)Large macaws1 to 1.5 in

Every pick against the table

CageInterior (in)BarsMerck 48 x 36 x 66VCA large 48 x 60 x 60Price
A&E walk-in WI866286 x 62 x 791, 5 mmYesYes$2,740
Prevue Empire / Silverado45 3/8 x 35 3/8 x 631 3/8, 9 gaNo: L 2 5/8, D 5/8, H 3No: D, H$900 to $1,200
Seny double, divider out64 x 32 x 731No: D 4No: D$830
Flyline corner X-Large51.2 x 51.2 x 73 overall3/4, 1/8 inOverall yes; triangle floorOverall yes; triangle floor$760
Flyline XXL flight35.5 x 35.5 x 801No: L 12.5No: L, D$661
Mcage XX-Large36 x 28 x 521No (small macaw cage)No$550

Buying guide

Wire

Dr. Latas: bars strong enough that the bird cannot bend them, and never converging. Prevue states 9 gauge on its macaw cages, A&E's listing states 5 mm bars, Flyline states 1/8 inch; the Seny, Flyline XXL and Mcage listings state nothing. Nine gauge is about 3.8 mm; 5 mm is heavier. A macaw cage with no stated gauge is a guess.

Fasteners and locks

Prevue uses flathead hex bolts on the Empire so the bird cannot unscrew the panels; A&E uses a key lock; the Mcage a metal safety lock. Wing nuts and spring clips are toys to a macaw.

Spacing

Merck's 1.5 and the retail 1 to 1.5 are about what a macaw's head and toes do between bars; narrower spacing is not a hazard in itself, but a cage with narrower spacing has more bars, and more bars of thin wire is more to bend. Prevue's 1 3/8 in 9 gauge is the designed answer.

Dishes and perches

Stainless non-tip bowls in holders (VCA: stainless for large birds that destroy other materials); a 1 1/8-inch or thicker hardwood perch (Prevue ships one) and natural branches of mixed diameter (VCA), replaced as they are chewed.

Out of the cage

No cage here except the walk-in gives a large macaw the room the tables ask for. A play stand (the play stand guide) and hours out of the cage are the rest of the housing; RSPCA Australia says most cages are too small for flight and birds need regular flight opportunities.

What to skip

Skip any cage with no stated gauge for a large macaw. Skip domed tops. Skip plastic cups and wing-nut fasteners. And skip trusting a title: three of the cages above name macaws and are small-macaw cages by VCA's row.

Frequently asked questions

What size cage does a macaw need?

Merck's table: 48 by 36 by 66 inches with 1.5-inch bars for macaws and large cockatoos. VCA: 4 by 5 by 5 feet for large macaws and 3 by 3 by 4 feet for small macaws. Only A&E's walk-in aviary clears both here; Prevue's Empire is within 3 inches of Merck's row.

What bar spacing does a macaw need?

Merck gives 1.5 inch; retail charts give 1 to 1.5. Prevue's macaw cages are 1 3/8 inch in 9-gauge wire; the wire thickness matters as much as the gap, because a macaw bends thin bars.

What wire gauge should a macaw cage have?

Prevue builds its macaw cages in 9 gauge (about 3.8 mm); A&E's walk-in has 5 mm bars; Flyline states 1/8 inch. PetMD's Dr. Latas says the bars must be strong enough that the bird cannot bend them; a listing with no gauge has not answered that.

Is the Prevue Empire big enough for a blue-and-gold macaw?

It is 45 3/8 by 35 3/8 by 63 inches inside, 2 5/8, 5/8 and 3 inches short of Merck's row and well short of VCA's 60-inch depth and height. It is the closest conventional cage we found; the bird needs daily time out of it.

What cage suits a Hahn's or severe macaw?

VCA's small-macaw row is 3 by 3 by 4 feet and Merck's mini-macaw row is 36 by 24 by 48 at 0.75-inch bars. The Flyline XXL flight cage (35.5 by 35.5 by 80) and the Mcage XX-Large (36 by 28 by 52) are the cages here that fit that row.

Do macaw cages fit through a door?

The Prevue Empire ships in two boxes and assembles in the room; A&E's walk-in aviary ships in several boxes and needs a room of its own. Measure the doorway against the assembled width (36 inches for the Empire) before buying.

Sources

  1. Minimum and Bar Spacing Recommendations (table), Merck Veterinary Manual
  2. Housing Large Birds, VCA Animal Hospitals
  3. How to Set Up the Perfect Bird Cage, PetMD (Dr. Patricia Latas, DVM)
  4. How to help your pet bird have a good life, RSPCA Australia
  5. Empire Large Bird Cage 3157, Prevue Pet Products
  6. FAQs: Bird Cages (Silverado and Empire), Prevue Pet Products
  7. Which Bar Spacing Is Right For My Bird? (retail chart), Exotic Wings and Pet Things (retailer)

Cover photo: Scarlet Macaw Parrots Sitting Branch, CC0 1.0, via rawpixel. Cropped.

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