As at 5 October 2026, the cheapest in-stock food for adult dogs that scores Good or better costs £1.24 per 1,000 kcal. That is about £1.19 a day for a 20 kg dog. It is a dry food, Nourish Pet Food 80/20 Grain Free Salmon with Herring, Haddock, Trout & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food.
The cheapest Good food in each type, per 1,000 kcal:
- Dry: £1.24
- Raw: £1.35
- Wet: £1.62
- Fresh: £4.13
- Air-dried and freeze-dried: £5.28
Dry food has the lowest typical price per calorie (£1.24), but only 8 of 867 dry foods (1%) reach Good. Wet food costs about 5.0 times as much per calorie as dry, yet 59% of wet foods reach Good.
This guide rests on 1,545 in-stock foods for adult dogs with a trusted price, from our data. Scores never read price or commission. How we are funded.
How much a Good dog food costs, by type
Good means a score of 60 or more on our one 0 to 100 scale. Each row holds the in-stock foods of one type. Prices are per 1,000 kcal (kilocalories, the energy figure on a food label), so wet, dry and raw compare fairly.
| Type | Foods counted | Good or better | Cheapest Good | Median Good | Median, all foods of the type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | 867 | 8 (1%) | £1.24 | £2.59 | £1.24 |
| Wet | 482 | 282 (59%) | £1.62 | £5.21 | £6.22 |
| Raw | 153 | 153 (100%) | £1.35 | £4.08 | £4.08 |
| Fresh | 20 | 20 (100%) | £4.13 | £5.31 | £5.31 |
| Air-dried and freeze-dried | 23 | 23 (100%) | £5.28 | £8.98 | £8.98 |
All prices are per 1,000 kcal, for the cheapest in-stock pack. Delivery is not included. A median is the middle price: half the foods cost less.
Where one type’s best price beats another’s typical price
Typical means the median of every in-stock food of that type. This table sets the cheapest Good food of each type against those typical prices.
| Type | Cheapest Good, per 1,000 kcal | Costs less than the typical price of |
|---|---|---|
| Dry | £1.24 | raw food (£4.08), fresh food (£5.31), wet food (£6.22) and air-dried and freeze-dried food (£8.98) |
| Raw | £1.35 | fresh food (£5.31), wet food (£6.22) and air-dried and freeze-dried food (£8.98) |
| Wet | £1.62 | raw food (£4.08), fresh food (£5.31) and air-dried and freeze-dried food (£8.98) |
| Fresh | £4.13 | wet food (£6.22) and air-dried and freeze-dried food (£8.98) |
| Air-dried and freeze-dried | £5.28 | fresh food (£5.31) and wet food (£6.22) |
None of the 486 Good foods costs less than the typical dry food (£1.24 per 1,000 kcal).
Calories for the cheapest Good raw, wet and air-dried and freeze-dried foods are calculated from the analysis. A small price gap there is less certain than a large one.
Cheapest Good dry foods
- 8 of 867 dry foods (1%) score Good or better.
- Per 1,000 kcal: cheapest Good £1.24, median Good £2.59 (2.1 times the typical price), all dry foods £1.24.
- Per kg: cheapest Good £5.03, median Good £8.68, all dry foods £4.47.
The three cheapest by price per 1,000 kcal:
| Food | Score | Price per 1,000 kcal | Price per kg | Shop and pack | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nourish Pet Food 80/20 Grain Free Salmon with Herring, Haddock, Trout & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food All life stages | 60 | £1.24 406 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £5.03 | Nourish Pet Food 13.5kg, £67.95 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Orijen Original Adult Dry Dog Food with Chicken Turkey & Fish Adult | 62 | £1.90 386 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £7.35 | Pets at Home 17kg, £124.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Orijen Senior Dry Dog Food with Chicken Turkey & Fish Senior | 61 | £2.15 388 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £8.36 | Pets at Home 11.4kg, £95.29 | 4 Oct 2026 |
Cheapest Good wet foods
- 282 of 482 wet foods (59%) score Good or better.
- Per 1,000 kcal: cheapest Good £1.62, median Good £5.21 (16% below the typical price), all wet foods £6.22.
- Per kg: cheapest Good £2.28, median Good £5.54, all wet foods £6.08.
The five cheapest by price per 1,000 kcal:
| Food | Score | Price per 1,000 kcal | Price per kg | Shop and pack | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wainwright's Grain Free Adult Wet Dog Food Turkey Adult | 61 | £1.62 140 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £2.28 | Pets at Home 1 x 395g, £0.90 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Wainwright's Grain Free Senior Wet Dog Food Turkey Senior | 61 | £1.62 140 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £2.28 | Pets at Home 1 x 395g, £0.90 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Rocco Classic - Beef With Chicken Adult | 67 | £2.16 123 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £2.65 | Zooplus UK 9.6 kg, £25.49 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Rocco Classic - Beef With Game Adult | 67 | £2.19 131 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £2.86 | Zooplus UK 9.6 kg, £27.49 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Harringtons Fresh Meaty Recipes with Potato & Veg Adult Complete Wet Dog Food - Tasty Chicken Adult | 61 | £2.24 120 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £2.69 | Pets at Home 16 x 400g, £17.19 | 4 Oct 2026 |
Cheapest Good raw foods
- All 153 raw foods counted score Good or better.
- Per 1,000 kcal: cheapest £1.35, median £4.08.
- Per kg: cheapest £2.72, median £5.95.
The five cheapest by price per 1,000 kcal:
| Food | Score | Price per 1,000 kcal | Price per kg | Shop and pack | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birmingham Raw Lamb Mince Complete Adult | 93 | £1.35 201 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £2.72 | Birmingham Raw 34 x 454g, £41.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Birmingham Raw Lamb & Veg Complete Adult | 89 | £1.35 201 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £2.72 | Birmingham Raw 34 x 454g, £41.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Oxford Pet Food Chicken Complete - 80/10/10 All life stages | 90 | £1.43 191 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £2.72 | Oxford Pet Food 27.2kg (60 x 454g), £73.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Durham 80/10/10 Complete Mince Duck & Tripe Adult | 86 | £1.67 164 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £2.75 | Raw Pet Food Pantry 14 x 454g, £17.50 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Durham Chicken & Lamb Dinner All life stages | 88 | £1.99 216 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £4.30 | The Dogs Dinner 500g, £2.15 | 4 Oct 2026 |
Cheapest Good fresh foods
- All 20 fresh foods counted score Good or better.
- Per 1,000 kcal: cheapest £4.13, median £5.31.
- Per kg: cheapest £5.85, median £9.73.
The five cheapest by price per 1,000 kcal:
| Food | Score | Price per 1,000 kcal | Price per kg | Shop and pack | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nika Pet Food Lamb Adult | 81 | £4.13 242 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £9.99 | Nika Pet Food 3 x 400g, £11.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Wilsons Pet Food Cheeky Chicken Fresh Dog Food All life stages | 72 | £4.31 226 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £9.73 | Wilsons Pet Food 32x 380g Pouches, £118.32 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Wilsons Pet Food Bougie Beef Fresh Dog Food All life stages | 64 | £4.34 224 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £9.73 | Wilsons Pet Food 32x 380g Pouches, £118.32 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Nutriment Fresh Cooked Medallions Dog Food - Beef Adult | 80 | £4.80 167 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £8.00 | Jollyes 800 g, £6.40 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Nika Pet Food Beef Adult | 74 | £4.87 205 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £9.99 | Nika Pet Food 3 x 400g, £11.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
Cheapest Good air-dried and freeze-dried foods
- All 23 air-dried and freeze-dried foods counted score Good or better.
- Per 1,000 kcal: cheapest £5.28, median £8.98.
- Per kg: cheapest £23.75, median £39.93.
The five cheapest by price per 1,000 kcal:
| Food | Score | Price per 1,000 kcal | Price per kg | Shop and pack | Price checked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Natures Menu 80% Lamb Freeze Dried Nuggets Adult | 74 | £5.28 450 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £23.75 | Jollyes 120 g, £2.85 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| ZIWI Steam & Dried Beef with Pumpkin Recipe for dogs (air-dried) Adult | 77 | £6.39 440 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £28.12 | ZIWI 3.2kg, £89.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| ZIWI Steam & Dried Lamb with Green Vegetables Recipe for dogs (air-dried) Adult | 76 | £6.39 440 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £28.12 | ZIWI 3.2kg, £89.99 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Natures Menu 80% Beef Freeze Dried Nuggets Adult | 74 | £7.00 450 kcal per 100 g, calculated | £31.51 | Zooplus UK Economy Pack: 2 x 625g, £39.39 | 4 Oct 2026 |
| Coya Pork Adult Dog Food (freeze-dried) Adult | 76 | £7.13 560 kcal per 100 g, on the label | £39.93 | Wooof 750g, £29.95 | 4 Oct 2026 |
Does paying more buy a higher score?
First, the cheapest food that reaches each level, whatever its type.
| Level | Cheapest in-stock food | Score | Price per 1,000 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fair or better (45+) | Purizon Original Chicken with Fish Adult - Grain-free | 57 | £1.03 |
| Good or better (60+) | Nourish Pet Food 80/20 Grain Free Salmon with Herring, Haddock, Trout & Sweet Potato Dry Dog Food | 60 | £1.24 |
| Excellent (75+) | Birmingham Raw Lamb Mince Complete | 93 | £1.35 |
Next, all 1,545 foods sorted into price bands per 1,000 kcal, with the median score of each band. The bands mix types, so this shows what shops charge today, not a rule.
| Price per 1,000 kcal | Foods | Most common type | Median score | Good or better | Extra cost per extra point |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under £1.00 | 229 | dry (100%) | 25 | 0% | Starting band |
| £1.00 to £1.99 | 557 | dry (97%) | 32 | 3% | 8p |
| £2.00 to £2.99 | 173 | wet (49%) | 57 | 47% | 4p |
| £3.00 to £4.99 | 218 | wet (45%) | 66 | 79% | 17p |
| £5.00 to £7.99 | 203 | wet (72%) | 62 | 64% | No rise |
| £8.00 and over | 165 | wet (90%) | 60 | 55% | No rise |
“Extra cost per extra point” is the rise in median price divided by the rise in median score, against the band above. It is shown only where both bands hold 20 foods or more.
- The median score peaks at 66 in the £3.00 to £4.99 band, where 79% of foods are Good or better.
- Dearer bands do not score higher: their medians are 62 and 60.
- The biggest step up in median score, 25 points, is between the £1.00 to £1.99 and £2.00 to £2.99 bands.
- The most common type changes there, from dry to wet.
Within one type, the comparison is simpler. We split each large type into thirds by price per 1,000 kcal and compared the cheapest third with the dearest.
| Type | Foods in each third | Cheapest third | Dearest third | Extra cost per extra point |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | 289 | £0.86, score 26 | £1.83, score 34 | 12p |
| Wet | 161 | £2.94, score 62 | £9.75, score 60 | No rise |
| Raw | 51 | £3.04, score 88 | £5.34, score 87 | No rise |
From the cheapest to the dearest third, the median score is:
- Dry food: up 8 points
- Wet food: down 2 points
- Raw food: down 1 point
These are patterns in the catalogue, not proof that price makes a food better.
Why price per 1,000 kcal and not per kg
Wet food holds much more water than kibble, which lowers the calories in each 100 grams.[2] In our data the typical wet food holds about 1,000 kcal per kg and the typical dry food about 3,570.
That is why price per kg flatters wet food. By weight, the typical wet food costs 1.4 times the typical dry food. By calories it costs 5.0 times. A 2022 Tufts University analysis of US foods for a 55 lb (25 kg) dog found a similar gap. Feeding only wet food cost about five times as much as feeding only dry.[1] For more, see our guide to wet and dry food cost.
Ranking by price per kg would also pick different foods. This table sets the cheapest Good food per kg against the cheapest per 1,000 kcal.
| Type | Cheapest per kg | Its price per 1,000 kcal | Cheapest per 1,000 kcal | Extra paid per 1,000 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raw | Birmingham Raw Chicken & Lamb Complete £2.72 per kg | £1.61 | Birmingham Raw Lamb Mince Complete £1.35 per 1,000 kcal | 19% |
| Fresh | Nutriment Gently Steamed Duck for Dogs £5.85 per kg | £5.15 | Nika Pet Food Lamb £4.13 per 1,000 kcal | 25% |
Of the five cheapest by each measure, raw food shares 2 and fresh food shares 1. In dry, wet and air-dried and freeze-dried food, the same food is cheapest either way.
What a Good food costs per day for a 20 kg dog
A typical adult dog of 20 kg needs about 960 kcal a day. We work that out as the site does everywhere. Resting energy is 70 × weight in kg to the power 0.75, about 662 kcal for this dog.[3] We multiply it by 1.45, our own figure for a typical adult.
| Type | Cheapest Good, a day | Median Good, a day | Median, all foods, a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry | £1.19 | £2.49 | £1.19 |
| Wet | £1.56 | £5.00 | £5.97 |
| Raw | £1.30 | £3.92 | £3.92 |
| Fresh | £3.96 | £5.10 | £5.10 |
| Air-dried and freeze-dried | £5.07 | £8.62 | £8.62 |
These are food-only costs for a dog eating one food. Delivery is not included. Real dogs differ with age, activity and whether they are neutered, so use them as a guide. Our guide to how much to feed explains the method. For budgets, read what dog food costs per day in the UK.
What the lists count
We count complete foods that have a score, are made for adult dogs, are in stock at a shop we track and have a trusted price. A complete food is, by its composition, enough for a daily ration.[4] Prescription diets are not scored, so they are not here.
- Of 2,733 foods in our catalogue, 2,120 are scored and ranked. The rest are prescription diets, complementary foods or foods we cannot yet score.
- 1,545 of the 2,120 scored foods are counted, and 575 are left out.
- 162 are not in stock at any shop we track. 9 are in stock but have no usable price per kg. 68 have a price per kg but no calorie figure, so they have no price per 1,000 kcal.
- 297 are puppy foods. The daily cost here is for an adult dog, so puppy foods are left out.
- 20 have calories outside the usual range for their type, and 19 are short-dated, clearance, introductory-offer or sample listings, or have a price that looks like a slip. Their price per 1,000 kcal would mislead, so they are left out.
- Where a label gives no calories we calculate them from its analysis, and the tables say which is which. The share calculated: dry 47%, wet 51%, raw 80%, fresh 30%, air-dried and freeze-dried 48%.
- The lists rank Good-or-better foods by price per 1,000 kcal, cheapest first. A tie goes to the higher score. One maker fills at most two places in a list, so a single range does not take all five.
- The price is the cheapest in-stock pack we found, so a large sack may be the cheapest. Delivery is not included. Each row names the shop, the pack and the day we read the price.
How the ranking stays fair
The lists on this page use two things only: a score of 60 or more, and price per 1,000 kcal. A score reads the label: how much meat, how much starch, how processed the food is, what kind of meat it names and the ingredients it lists. It never reads price, retailer or commission. Prices are ordered by value, never by what we might earn. How we are funded.
Dry food scores lower on average. The typical dry food in this guide declares 33% meat and 46.1% carbohydrate in the dry matter (the food with the water taken out). For wet food it is 60% and 15%. For raw food it is 89% and 2.8%. The score describes the recipe on the label. It is not a promise about any one dog’s health. How we score.
To explore the foods behind these figures, use the food list, the top picks or the full score report.
Sources
- Expensive eats? Comparing the costs of different types of dog food (21 March 2022), Petfoodology, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University
- Dry, Canned, or Semi-Moist: Food Choices for Dogs, VCA Animal Hospitals (article by LifeLearn Animal Health)
- Companion Animal Nutrition Support Service, Ohio State University Veterinary Medical Center
- Regulation (EC) No 767/2009, Article 3 (as retained in UK law), legislation.gov.uk
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Spotted an error? Tell us.