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.
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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 30 most popular dog food brands of high quality and compared these dog food prices using the cost-for-value factor.
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)
2023'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 which 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
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Formula: Grasslands
Price: $94.99
Bag: 25 lbs
$/lb: $2.40 – $4 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
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Formula: Salcha
Price: $88.99
Bag: 25 lbs
$/lb: $2.30 – $3.55 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.
3. Canidae PURE
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Formula: PURE
Price: $74.99
Bag: 21 lbs
$/lb: $2.25 – $3.60 per pound
Rating: 5-star
Canidae grain-free dry dog food ranges from $54 – $70 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.
4. Castor and Pollux Organix
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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 – $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.
5. Earthborn Holistic Dog Food
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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.
6. Crave Dog Food (EVO)
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Formula: Chicken
Price: $61.98
Bag: 22 lbs
$/lb: $2.82 per pound
Rating: 5-star
Crave dry dog food (used to be EVO dog food) averages around $65 – $75 for a 28.6-pound bag.
This is an average cost of $2.82 per pound.
It is a 5-star food with an above-average protein level, above-average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.
7. Farmina N&D Dog Food
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Formula: Chicken
Price: $79.95
Bag: 26.4 lbs
$/lb: $0.19 per ounce
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.
8. Petcurean Pet Food
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Formula: Lamb
Price: $71.27
Bag: 25 lbs
$/lb: $2.85 per pound
Rating: 4-star
Go! Daily Defence averages around $65 – $72 for a 25-pound bag.
This is an average cost of $2.60 – $2.88 per pound.
It is a 4-star food with an average protein level, average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.
9. Solid Gold
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Formula: Lamb, Sweet Potato & Pea
Price: $65.99
Bag: 24 lbs
$/lb: $2.29 – $2.75 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.
10. Wellness Complete Health
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Formula: Chicken & Oatmeal
Price: $69.98
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $1.57 – $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.
12 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 which 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.
11. Authority
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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.
12. Avoderm Natural Dog Food
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Formula: Chicken and Rice
Price: $63.99
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $1.92 – $2.13 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.
13. Instinct Limited Ingredient Diet
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Formula: Real Lamb
Price: $79.99
Bag: 20lbs
$/lb: $4 per pound
Rating: 3-star
California Natural dog food averages around $62 – $80 for a 20-pound bag. This is an average cost of $2.07 – $4 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.
14. Diamond Naturals
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Formula: Whitefish and Sweet Potato
Price: $84.99
Bag: 28lbs
$/lb: $3 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.
15. Eukanuba
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Formula: Chicken
Price: $79.99
Bag: 33 lbs
$/lb: $2.42 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.
16. Fromm Family Classics
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Formula: Chicken Meal and Brown Rice
Price: $55.51
Bag: 30 lbs
$/lb: $0.12 per ounce
Rating: 3-star
Fromm Family Classics dog food averages around $45 – $55.51 for a 30-pound bag. This is an average cost of $1.50 – $1.85 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.
17. Hill’s Science Diet
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Formula: Chicken Recipe
Price: $79.99
Bag: 28.5 lbs
$/lb: $2.81 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 $2.81 per pound.
It is a 3-star food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.
18. Iams Naturals
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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.
19. Natural Balance Limited Ingredients
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Formula: Duck & Potato Recipe
Price: $75.98
Bag: 22 lbs
$/lb: $3.45 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.
20. Nature’s Recipe
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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.
21. Nutro
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Formula: Lamb & Brown Rice
Price: $98.78
Bag: 40 lbs
$/lb: $2.46 per pound
Rating: 3-star
Nutro dog food averages around $98 for a 40-pound bag. This is about $2.46 per pound.
It is a 3-and-a-half-star dog food with an average protein level, average fat content, and average carbohydrate content.
22. Purina Beyond Grain Free
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Formula: Chicken & Egg
Price: $23.99
Bag: 3 lbs
$/lb: $8 per pound
Rating: 3-star
Purina Beyond dog food averages around $24 for a 3-pound bag. This is an average cost of $8 per pound.
It is a 3-and-a-half-star dog food with an above-average protein level, above-average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.
8 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 which are rated one to two stars out of five stars on the Dog Food Rating scale.
These pet foods have poor(er) quality ingredients, 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).
23. Alpo
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Formula: Come N Get It
Price: $20
Bag: 4 lbs
$/lb: $5 per pound
Rating: 1-star
Alpo dry dog food averages around $20 for a 4-pound bag. This is an average cost of $5 per pound.
It is a 1-star dog food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.
24. Beneful
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Formula: Real Chicken
Price: $93
Bag: 31.1 lbs
$/lb: $2.99 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.
25. Kibbles ‘n Bits
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Formula: Beef & Chicken
Price: $50.97
Bag: 45 lbs
$/lb: $1.13 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.
26. Ol’ Roy
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Formula: T-Bone & Bacon
Price: $45
Bag: 46 lbs
$/lb: $0.97 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
27. Pedigree Dry Dog Food
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Formula: Chicken
Price: $81.54
Bag: 33 lbs
$/lb: $2.47 per pound
Rating: 2-star
Pedigree dog food averages around $82 for a 33-pound bag, or about $2.47 per pound.
It is a 2-star dog food with a below-average protein level, below-average fat content, and above-average carbohydrate content.
28. Purina Dog Chow
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Formula: Chicken Flavor
Price: $35
Bag: 4.4 lbs
$/lb: $7.95 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.
29. Purina One Smartblend
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Formula: Lamb & Rice
Price: $46.53
Bag: 31.1 lbs
$/lb: $1.49 per pound
Rating: 2-star
Purina One Smartblend averages around $30 – $46.53 for a 31.1-pound bag. This is an average cost of $0.96 – $1.49 per pound.
It is a 2-star dog food with an average protein level, average fat content, and below-average carbohydrate content.
30. Purina Pro Plan Focus
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Formula: Chicken & Rice
Price: $67.99
Bag: 34 lbs
$/lb: $1.99 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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