Many varieties of coordination cages exist. 
In general, coordination cages are either homoleptic or heteroleptic. That is, they assembled either from a single type of ligand or multiple types. Generic coordination cages are often classified just as coordination complexes, with a MxLy formula. Heteroleptic complexes typically form more complex geometries, as illustrated with the following cages: [M(L)] and [M(μ-L)(μ-L)](BF). The former cage is assembled from a 2:3 ratio of metal (M) and ligand (L), where the metal can be copper, zinc, or cadmium. This cage is homoleptic and assembles into a hexadecanuclear framework. The second cage is assembled from a 4:1:4 ratio of MBF, the ligand L and the ligand L. This cage is heteroleptic and assembles into a dodecanuclear cuboctohedral framework. Four of the triangular faces of this shape are occupied by L, which acts as a triply bridging ligand. The twelve remaining edges are spanned with the edge ligands, L. Ligands are the building blocks of coordination cages, and the choice and ratio of ligands determine the final structure. Due to their highly symmetrical nature, coordination cages are also often referred to by their geometry. The geometry of high-symmetry cages is often that of Platonic or Archimedean solids; sometimes cages are casually referred to by their geometries.
Of the named categories of coordination cages, cavitand cages and metalloprisms are some of the more common.