Comparing This Year's Dog Food Prices

With so many dog food brands on the market, what is the best dog food the money can buy?

Comparing dog food prices is simple, but trying to figure out which pet food brand offers the best value for your money is much more difficult.

Unless you're loaded with money, the cost-to-value ratio is just as important to consider as the quality of ingredients in a pet food brand. Most of us pet owners are on a tight budget.

So, for this article, we've picked the 28 most popular dog food brands of high quality and compared these dog food prices using the cost-for-value factor.

Dog Food Prices infographics

Picking the Best Dog Food for the Price

When it comes to choosing the best dog food for the money, there will be several factors to consider, but the most important three things you should look at are:

  • Your dog's specific dietary needs
  • Dog food brand's quality, sourcing, price
  • Your personal budget

Among dog owners on a budget, cheap dog food brands are very popular, and we all want to select a good quality dog food the money can buy while also staying within a budget.

When comparing dog food prices, quantity isn't the only factor (or even the main one). It's more about the quality of nutrients and calories the dog will get from a specific brand.

This is where Dog Food Ratings come in and can be very useful to refer to.

When dogs are healthy, vetting dog food prices and picking the optimal price-for-value choice is easy.

If, however, your dog has special dietary needs, you will need to do a little more digging to see which pet food brand will fit best.

Of those foods that do meet your dog’s needs, you will have to choose the highest-rated food within your budget.

Note that among the popular dog food brands in the below comparison, each kibble bag size is as close to 30 lbs as possible.

This allows for a better comparison of pet food pricing to the value ratio of each brand in comparison to other foods in the same category.

MORE INFO: The Best Dog Food for the Money (17 Brands Worth Their Price)

2024's Dog Food Prices Compared

2020's Dog Food Prices Compared

10 Popular Premium Dog Food Brands

The below premium pet food brands land at the highest end of the dog food prices spectrum.

Premium dog foods are those that are rated four to five stars out of five stars on the Dog Food Rating scale.

These foods contain high-quality ingredients and few fillers and are generally only available from specialty dog food stores or online retailers.

The pet food prices of these types of products are higher than lower quality brands.

1. Acana Dog Food ACANA Highest Protein Dry Dog Food, Grasslands, Lamb and Duck Recipe, 25lb

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Grasslands
Price: $94.99
Bag: 25 lbs
$/lb: $3.80 per pound
Rating: 5-star

Acana Heritage dry dog food ranges from $60 – $100 for a 25-pound bag. It's one of the most popular dog foods out there, often ranked among the best puppy foods and adult dog foods with the highest quality ingredients. This is an average cost of $2.40 – $4 per pound.

It is a 5-star food with an above-average protein level, an above-average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.

2. Annamaet Salcha

Annamaet Grain-Free Salcha Poulet Formula Dry Dog Food, (Chicken & Duck), 25-lb Bag, Brown

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Salcha
Price: $85.99
Bag: 25 lbs
$/lb: $3.44 per pound
Rating: 5-star

Annamaet grain-free dry dog food ranges from $69 – $98 for a 30-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $2.30 – $3.55 per pound.

It is a 5-star food with an above-average protein level, an average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.

Canidae Pure Limited Ingredient Premium Adult Dry Dog Food, Real Bison, Lentil & Carrot Recipe, 21 lbs, Grain Free 3. Canidae PURE

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: PURE
Price: $74.99
Bag: 21 lbs
$/lb: $3.57 per pound
Rating: 5-star

Canidae grain-free dry dog food ranges from $54 – $72 for a 21-pound bag. This is an average cost of $2.25 – $3.60 per pound.

It is a 4-and-a-half-star food with an average protein level, average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.

Castor & Pollux ORGANIX Organic Dog Food, Chicken and Oatmeal Recipe Dry Dog Food - 18 lb. Bag 4. Castor and Pollux Organix

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken & Brown Rice
Price: $85.48
Bag: 18 lbs
$/lb: $4 – $5 per pound
Rating: 5-star

Castor and Pollux Organix dog food ranges from $40 to $50 for a 25-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $4.00 – $5.00 per pound.

Castor and Pollux Organix is a 4-and-a-half-star food with an average protein level, below-average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.

Earthborn Holistic Large Breed Grain-Free Dry Dog Food

5. Earthborn Holistic Dog Food

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Coastal Catch
Price: $77.99
Bag: 28 lbs
$/lb: $2.79 per pound
Rating: 5-star

Earthborn Holistic Grain-Free dog food averages around $78 for a 28-pound bag. This is an average cost of $2.79 per pound.

It is a 4-and-a-half-star food with an above-average protein level, average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.

CRAVE Grain Free High Protein Adult Dry Dog Food, Chicken, 30 lb. Bag 6. Crave Dog Food (EVO)

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken
Price: $83.99
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $2.80 per pound
Rating: 5-star

Crave dry dog food (used to be EVO dog food) averages around $75 to $80 for a 30-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $2.65 per pound.

It is a 5-star food with an above-average protein level, above-average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.

Farmina, Natural & Delicious Low-Grain Chicken Dog 26.4lb, Medium 7. Farmina N&D Dog Food

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken
Price: $79.95
Bag: 26.4 lbs
$/lb: $3.02 per pound
Rating: 5-star

Farmina N&D Grain-Free food averages around $70 – $82 for a 26.4-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $0.19 per ounce.

It is a 5-star food with an above-average protein level, above-average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.

GO! SOLUTIONS Skin + Coat Care - Dry Dog Food, 25 lb - Lamb Recipe with Grains for All Life Stages - Complete + Balanced Nutrition for Dogs 8. Petcurean Pet Food

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Lamb
Price: $76.99
Bag: 25 lbs
$/lb: $3.08 per pound
Rating: 4-star

Go! Daily Defence averages around $65 – $77 for a 25-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $2.60 – $3 per pound.

It is a 4-star food with an average protein level, average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.

Solid Gold Leaping Waters - Dry Dog Food for Sensitive Stomach - Grain & Gluten Free - with Salmon & Vegetables - Digestive Probiotics for Gut Health - Omega, Superfood & Antioxidant Support for Dogs 9. Solid Gold

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Salmon and Vegetables
Price: $72.99
Bag: 22 lbs
$/lb: $3.32 per pound
Rating: 4-star

Solid Gold dog food averages around $55 – $62 for a 24-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $2.29 – $2.58 per pound.

It is a 4-star food with an average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Wellness Complete Health Dry Dog Food with Grains, Made in USA with Real Meat & Natural Ingredients, All Breeds, Adult Dogs (Chicken & Oatmeal, 30-lb) – With Nutrients for Immune, Skin, & Coat Support 10. Wellness Complete Health

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken & Oatmeal
Price: $69.98
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $2.33 per pound
Rating: 4-star

Wellness Complete Health dog food averages around $47 – $67 for a 30-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $1.57 – $2.33 per pound.

It is a 4-star food with an average protein level, average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.

11 Popular Mid-range Dog Food Brands

There should be no surprise that midrange pet food brands fall into the middle of the spectrum of dog food prices.

These brands are those that are rated at around three stars out of five stars on the Dog Food Rating scale.

These foods have fewer high-quality ingredients than premium brands and may contain some filler ingredients.

Some of these foods can be purchased through chain pet stores, grocery stores, or mega-stores, but some may only be available from specialty dog food stores or online retailers.

In the range of dog food prices, these brands fall somewhere in the middle.

Authority Adult Dry Dog Food (Chicken and Rice) 6lbs and Especiales Cosas Mixing Spatula 11. Authority

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken and Rice
Price: $39.95
Bag: 6 lbs
Rating: 3-star

Authority dry dog food averages around $40 for a 6 lbs bag.

It is a 3-and-a-half-star food with an average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

AvoDerm Natural Dry Dog Food, For Skin & Coat, Chicken & Rice Formula, 30 pounds 12. Avoderm Natural Dog Food

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken and Rice
Price: $63.42
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $2.11  per pound
Rating: 3-star

Avoderm Natural Grain-Free dog food averages around $50- $64 for a 30-pound bag. This is an average cost of $1.92 – $2.13 per pound.

It is a 3-and-a-half-star food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet Grain Free Recipe with Real Lamb Natural Dry Dog Food, 20 lb. Bag 13. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Real Lamb
Price: $84.99
Bag: 20 lbs
$/lb: $4.24 per pound
Rating: 3-star

California Natural dog food averages around $62 – $85 for a 20-pound bag. This is an average cost of $2.07 – $4.25 per pound.

It is a 3-and-a-half-star food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Diamond Naturals Grain Free Real Meat Recipe Premium Dry Dog Food With Real Fish 28Lb 14. Diamond Naturals

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Whitefish and Sweet Potato
Price: $51.99
Bag: 28lbs
$/lb: $1.86 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Diamond Naturals Grain-Free dog food averages around $60 – $85 for a 28-pound bag.

This is an average cost of $2.14 – $3 per pound. It is a 3-and-a-half-star food with an average protein level, average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.

Eukanuba Adult Large Breed Dry Dog Food, 30 lb 15. Eukanuba

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken
Price: $77.99
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $2.60 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Eukanuba Excel dog food averages around $50 – $80 for a 33-pound bag. This is an average cost of $1.50 – $2.42 per pound.

It is a 3-star food with an average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Fromm Classic Adult Dog Food - Premium Dry Dog Food for Large, Medium, & Small Breeds - Chicken Recipe - 30 lb 16. Fromm Family Classics

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken Meal and Brown Rice
Price: $57.99
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $1.93 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Fromm Family Classics dog food averages around $45 – $58 for a 30-pound bag. This is an average cost of $1.50 – $2 per pound.

It is a 3-and-a-half-star food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Hill's Science Diet Pet Nutrition Science Diet Dry Dog Food, Adult, Chicken & Barley Recipe, 35 lb. Bag 17. Hill’s Science Diet

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Chicken & Barley Recipe
Price: $78.98
Bag: 35 lbs
$/lb: $2.28 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Hill’s Science Diet dog food averages around $80 for a 28.5-pound bag. This is an average cost of $2.30 per pound.

It is a 3-star food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

IAMS Adult Minichunks Small Kibble High Protein Dry Dog Food with Real Chicken, 30 lb. Bag,(Packaging may vary) 18. Iams Naturals

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Adult Chicken and Barley
Price: $46.98
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $1.57 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Iams Naturals dog food averages around $47- $50 for a 23.2-pound bag. This is an average cost of $1.57 – $1.67 per pound.

It is a 3-star food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Natural Balance Limited Ingredient Adult Grain-Free Dry Dog Food, Reserve Duck & Potato Recipe, 22 Pound (Pack of 1) 19. Natural Balance Limited Ingredients

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Duck & Potato Recipe
Price: $74.99
Bag: 22 lbs
$/lb: $3.40 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Natural Balance Limited Ingredients dry dog food averages around $80 for a 22-pound bag. This is an average cost of $3.45 per pound.

It is a 3-star dog food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Nature’s Recipe Original Dry Dog Food for Adult Dogs, Lamb & Rice Recipe, 24 lb Bag 20. Nature’s Recipe

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Adult Lamb & Rice Recipe
Price: $35.48
Bag: 24 lbs
$/lb: $1.48 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Nature’s Recipe dog food averages around $30 – $40 for a 24-pound bag. This is an average cost of $1.25 – $1.67 per pound.

It is a 3-star dog food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

NUTRO NATURAL CHOICE Large Breed Adult Dry Dog Food, Lamb & Brown Rice Recipe Dog Kibble, 40 lb. Bag 21. Nutro

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Lamb & Brown Rice
Price: $103.99
Bag: 40 lbs
$/lb: $2.59 per pound
Rating: 3-star

Nutro dog food averages around $103.99 for a 40-pound bag. This is about $2.59 per pound.

It is a 3-and-a-half-star dog food with an average protein level, average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.

7 Popular Cheap Dog Food Brands

The brands that fall at the bottom of the dog food prices spectrum are referred to as less than premium.

Less than premium dog food brands are those that are rated one to two stars out of five stars on the Dog Food Rating scale.

These pet foods have poor(er) quality ingredients and high(er) filler ingredient content and can usually be purchased from chain pet stores, grocery stores, or megastores.

Prices of these brands are usually cheap(er).

Purina Beneful Healthy Weight Dry Dog Food, Healthy Weight With Farm-Raised Chicken - 31.1 lb. Bag 22. Beneful

Find it on Amazon
Formula: Real Chicken
Price: $73
Bag: 31.1 lbs
$/lb: $2.34 per pound
Rating: 2-star

Beneful dog food averages from $93 for a 31.1-pound bag or about $2.99 per pound.

It is a 2-star dog food with an average protein level, below-average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.

Kibbles 'N Bits Original Savory Beef & Chicken Flavors Dry Dog Food, 45 Pound Bag 23. Kibbles ‘n Bits

Find it on Amazon
Formula
: Beef & Chicken
Price: $29.98
Bag: 45 lbs
$/lb: $0.66 per pound
Rating: 1-star

Kibbles ‘n Bits dog food averages from $50.97 for a 45-pound bag or from $1.13 per pound.

It is a 1-star dog food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Ol' Roy Complete Nutrition T-Bone & Bacon Flavor Dry Dog Food, 46 lb 24. Ol’ Roy

Find it on Amazon
Formula: T-Bone & Bacon
Price: $49.96
Bag: 46 lbs
$/lb: $1.08 per pound
Rating: 1-star

Ol’ Roy dog food averages from $45 for a 46-pound bag. This is an average cost of $0.97 per pound.

It is a 1-star dog food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Pedigree Complete Nutrition Adult Dry Dog Food Roasted Chicken, Rice & Vegetable Flavor Dog Kibble, 18 lb. Bag 25. Pedigree Dry Dog Food

Find it on Amazon
Formula: Roasted Chicken, Rice, and Vegetables
Price: $16.98
Bag: 18 lbs
$/lb: $0.94 per pound
Rating: 2-star

Pedigree dog food averages around $17 for an 18-pound bag or about $1 per pound.

It is a 2-star dog food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Purina Dog Chow Little Bites for Small Breed Dog Food Dry Recipe, With Real Chicken and Beef - (4) 4 lb. Bags 26. Purina Dog Chow

Find it on Amazon
Formula: Chicken and Beef
Price: $25.12
Bag: 4.4 lbs
$/lb: $6.28 per pound
Rating: 1-star

Purina Dog Chow averages around $25 – $35 for a 4.4-pound bag. This is an average cost of $5.68 – $7.95 per pound.

It is a 1-star dog food with an average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.

Purina ONE Dry Dog Food Lamb and Rice Formula - 31.1 lb. Bag 27. Purina One Smartblend

Find it on Amazon
Formula: Lamb & Rice
Price: $49.98
Bag: 31.1 lbs
$/lb: $1.60 per pound
Rating: 2-star

Purina One Smartblend averages around $30 – $50 for a 31.1-pound bag. This is an average cost of $0.96 – $1.60 per pound.

It is a 2-star dog food with an average protein level, average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.

Purina Pro Plan High Protein, Digestive Health Large Breed Dry Dog Food, Chicken and Rice Formula - 34 lb. Bag28. Purina Pro Plan Focus

Find it on Amazon
Formula: Chicken & Rice
Price$71.98
Bag: 34 lbs
$/lb: $2.11 per pound
Rating: 2-star

Purina Pro Plan Focus averages around $68 for a 34-pound bag. This is an average cost of $2 per pound.

It is a 2-and-a-half-star dog food with an above-average protein level, above-average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.

READ NEXT: 10 Vet-Recommended Dog Food Brands That Are Inexpensive


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2020 Dog Food Prices Compared

Diana currently lives and works in London, UK and she's been an animal lover and dog owner since she was a child. After graduating high school, she focused on getting her degree in English to become a writer with a focus on animals, pets and dogs.