Your budget need not affect your dog's nutrition or enjoyment of their food as there are some superb products that serve well as the best cheap dog food available in the UK. You can get some great dog foods that are kind to both their stomach and your purse.
We're all looking for more affordable options as the cost of living rises. The good news is that the UK pet food industry maintains high standards of safety, hygiene and quality. The Food Standards Agency and UK Pet Food state that: "The manufacture of pet food in the UK is highly regulated - there are more than 50 pieces of legislation governing the manufacture of pet food". So do be assured that if you are buying dog food in the UK it will have been through rigorous checks to ensure it's safe for consumption - no matter the price.
Best Black Friday cheap dog food deals:
We interrupt the regularly scheduled content to let you know that while Black Friday is officially 29th November, the Black Friday deals have already begun, including deals on cheap dog food. Want to grab a bargain? These are the retailers that have the best cheap dog food deals right now, or keep scrolling to continue reading our buyer’s guide.
Shop Black Friday cheap dog food deals on: Pets at Home | VioVet
22% off: Butcher's Grain Free Traditional Recipes Adult Wet Dog Food 24x150g, WAS £15.39, NOW £12
Whether you have a pawsome puppy, or a pooch that needs dog food for a sensitive stomach or senior dog food, Take A Break Pets is here to guide you through din-dins that are cheap but not nasty. Where possible, we’ve worked out the cost per day or per meal for you so you can see the overall value you’re getting per pack.
While we humans have global cuisine at our fingertips, a dog’s options are much less varied. The main choice they have is the meat flavour and whether the meal is dry or wet dog food. Because our pooches are eating the same ingredients day in and day out, it’s important to get those ingredients right, but it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to keep your hound healthy and happy.
Best cheap dog food in the UK at a glance:
Best cheap dog food
Best overall cheap dog food
Harringtons/Amazon
A superb bulk buy option that is rich in vitamins, this 15kg bag of Harringtons Complete Dry Dog Food gives you 150 x 100g servings for around 25p per serving.
Healthy and nutritious, the kibble contains 26 per cent turkey to provide your pooch with much-needed protein for muscle strength and growth plus added Omega 6 and 3 oils for a glossy coat. Additionally, it'll keep your dog nice and regular with beet pulp to support stool quality and digestion transit and prebiotics to maintain healthy digestion.
With excellent ingredients at an affordable price, Harringtons is bursting with goodness and customers on Amazon agree, saying it's great value, quality food for their pooch. Some customers thought the kibble was slightly on the smaller side, so this may mean it might be a better option for small breeds rather than larger ones.
Pros
- 26 per cent turkey for much-needed protein
- Omega 6 and 3 oils for coat condition
Cons
- Some reviewers felt the kibble was on the smaller side, so may be best suited to smaller breeds rather than large ones
| Quantity: | 15kg |
| Item form: | Pellet |
| Flavour: | Turkey |
- Ingredients: Turkey and Meat Meals 26%, Maize, Barley, Rice (14%), Freshly Prepared Chicken (4%), Peas (4%), Poultry Fat, Beet Pulp, Linseed, Salmon Oil (1%), Minerals, Poultry Gravy (0.5%), Seaweed (0.1%), FOS (0.1%), Yucca Extract (0.01%)
Best cheap tinned dog food
Pets at Homewww.petsathome.com
If you feed a small dog one tin of Pets at Home's own-brand Adult Chunks Mixed Variety Dog Food Tins daily, the cost is just 57p per day. Double this for a large dog and it's still only just over £1.
Full of flavour, your dog will savour the meat and vegetables in jelly and gravy. With four flavours to choose from in both gravy and jelly form, in addition to a complete recipe that gives your dog essential nutrition, this budget option is complete and balanced while ensuring your pooch doesn't get too bored of what's in their bowl.
Each recipe contains vital vitamins and minerals your pooch needs for keeping them happy and healthy but it's slightly let down by the fact there's only eight per cent protein in each one.
Pros
- Choice of flavours to ensure your pooch doesn't get bored
- Contains vital vitamins and minerals your pooch needs for healthy growth
Cons
- Could have a higher overall level of protein in each tin
| Item form: | Tinned wet dog food |
| Quantity: | 400g x 24 pack |
| Flavour: | 6 x Chicken, Liver and Carrots in Gravy; 6 x Beef and Poultry in Gravy; 6 x Lamb, Turkey and Green Vegetables in Jelly; 6 x Chicken in Jelly |
- Ingredients:
- With Chicken, Liver and Carrots in Gravy: Meat and animal derivatives (47% including Chicken 4% and Liver 4%), cereals, minerals, vegetables (dried carrots 0.96%, equivalent to 4.8% carrots), various sugars, derivatives of Vegetable Origin
- With Beef and Poultry in Gravy: Meat and animal derivatives (47% including Beef 4% and Poultry 4%), cereals, minerals, various sugars, derivatives of Vegetable Origin
- With Lamb and Turkey in Jelly: Meat and animal derivatives (47% including Lamb 4% and Turkey 4%), cereals, minerals, derivatives of Vegetable Origin, various sugars
- With Chicken in Jelly: Meat and animal derivatives (47% including Chicken 4%), cereals, minerals, derivatives of Vegetable Origin, various sugars
On sale
Best cheap wet dog food for sensitive tummies
Butcher'swww.petsathome.com
Made with nourishing and all-natural ingredients, Butcher's Traditional Recipes Adult Wet Dog Food Trays are quality food that will help your dog maintain a healthy weight and muscle condition all for less than 65p per tray.
You benefit from each portion being foil-sealed in a tray for freshness. Additionally, Butcher's wet food is grain-free, which makes it a super option for dogs with sensitive digestion. Added vegetables and botanicals, such as chicory and parsley, provide cell-strengthening antioxidants.
Customers online have found the food keeps their pooch full and satisfied and they love how easy the packaging is to open. It's worth noting that the recipes are only suitable for dogs over one year old so you will want to consider another option if you're after a food that can be fed throughout puppyhood into adulthood.
Pros
- Grain-free so great for dogs with allergies, intolerances or sensitivities to grain
- Customers love how easy the packaging is to open
Cons
- Not suitable for dogs under one year old
| Item form: | Wet food |
| Quantity: | 150g x 24 trays |
| Flavour: | 8 x Lamb and Veg; 8 x Turkey and Veg; 8 x Beef and Veg |
- Made in England
- No artificial colours, flavours or preservatives
Best cheap complete dry dog food
HiLife/AmazonSoft, moist and meaty dry dog food - HiLife FEED ME! gives you superb value for money. If you feed an average-sized dog 250g of HiLife FEED ME! a day, it works out at 24 meals for 73p per day.
Tasty Beef Cheese and Vegetables is a complete food that contains essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin A to support eye health. Added calcium and vitamin D will support your dog's bones and there are essential fatty acids to give your pet a glossy coat.
It's kibble that has it all at a budget price and has received over 3,000 positive reviews on Amazon with a 4.7 out of 5 approval rate. It ranks highly for flavour, ingredient quality and value for money but gets top marks from reviews for the overall scent of the food, which should be more than enough to lure your pooch to their bowl. It's worth noting this food contains a high percentage of wheat, with wholegrain wheat and wheat bran listed as the main ingredients, which some dogs can be allergic to.
Pros
- Contains vitamin A for eye health support
- Essential fatty acids for coat condition
Cons
- Contains wheat which might not be suitable for all dogs
| Quantity: | 6kg |
| Item form: | Pellets |
| Flavour: | Beef, Cheese and Fresh Vegetables (also available: Lamb, Cheese and Fresh Vegetables and Turkey, Cheese and Fresh Vegetables) |
- Ingredients: Beef meal (24%), wholegrain wheat, wheat bran, sugar, vegetable glycerine, chicken (4%), poultry fat, meat stock, dried garden vegetables (1.1%), salt, minerals, cheese powder (0.1%), chicory extract (0.05%), yeast extract (0.05% )
Best cheap dry food for puppies
Bakers/AmazonBakers Complete Puppy contains everything for puppies to grow into active, healthy and happy dogs at just 15p per portion, based on feeding your puppy 55g meals every day.
With wholesome meaty bites mixed with crunchy and dried carrots and peas, Bakers is a delicious dry food that has bite-size kibble designed for smaller mouths. Additionally, the recipe is fortified with essential Omega-3 fatty acids and DHA for healthy vision development and brain functioning. Suitable for puppies between six weeks and 24 months of age with an adapted kibble size for smaller mouths, this is a great budget option to feed your pup at the start of their life.
Customers appreciate the quality of food they're getting for the overall value of it and state it lasts for ages. Reviewers are also fans of the strong, sturdy bag it comes in, but you'll want to make sure you've got some proper food storage to keep it all else it'll go stale before your pup has had a chance to reach the bottom of the bag. The main ingredient of this food is cereals, with 50 per cent of that being wholegrains, so we wish this food had a higher percentage of meat so it was the main ingredient.
Pros
- Can be fed from six weeks to 24 months so you can feed it to your pup throughout their puppyhood before transitioning to adult food
- Customers rate the strong and sturdy packaging that holds all 12.5kg of the food
Cons
- Higher percentage of cereals than meat in this food
| Quantity: | 12.5kg |
| Item form: | Dry pellet |
| Flavour: | Chicken and Country Vegetables |
- Ingredients: Cereals (wholegrains 50%), Meat and animal derivatives (15%1 in the chunk), Vegetable protein extracts, Oils and fats, Derivatives of vegetable origin, Glycerol, Minerals, Propylene glycol, Vegetables (heart and coloured disk: 0.6 % dried vegetables, equivalent to 4% vegetables). 1equivalent to 30% rehydrated meat and animal derivatives, with min. 4% beef
Best cheap tinned dog food for low-calorie diets
Chappiewww.viovet.co.uk
For dogs with sensitive digestion, Chappie Original does not contain any dairy, soya or red meat. The recipe is rich in white fish and low in calories so great for dogs who need to go on a bit of a weight-loss journey. It also contains added vitamins, fats, oils and minerals, so it is a complete food. Chappie Original has been developed with the nutritionists and veterinarians of Waltham, which is the world's leading authority on pet care and nutrition.
Whilst it's not the cheapest in this guide at £1.54 per tin, in comparison to premium brands like Lily's Kitchen, Chappie offers a budget option for sensitive and low-calorie diets. The feeding guide says that a small dog will need one tin per day, and naturally, this will increase to two tins for a large dog.
Reviews from pet owners mention this food has worked wonders for their hounds' sensitive tums and found that it was easily digestible for pups to chow down on. As the recipe is a fishy one, be prepared for it to smell when getting it out of the tin for your pooch - you may not love it, but your dog certainly will!
Pros
- Low in fat so great for hounds watching the pounds
- Ideal for allergies and sensitive digestion
Cons
- Fish recipe so may be a bit smelly when preparing it for your pooch
| Item form: | Tinned wet food |
| Quantity: | 12 x 412g |
| Flavour: | Fish |
- Ingredients: Cereals*, Fish and Fish Derivatives* (including Whitefish 14%), Meat and Animal Derivatives* (including Chicken 4%), Oils and Fats (including Sunflower Oil 0.3%), Minerals, Provence Herbs*, *Natural ingredients
Best cheap wet dog food for a treat
Cesar/AmazonCesar Garden Terrine Adult Wet Dog Food is a mixed selection of meat and vegetable meals in succulent loaf form that makes a lovely treat without breaking the budget. The cost per meal is around 99p and it competes with more premium brands that offer gourmet food for pets.
The terrines are high-quality recipes, such as Chicken, Carrots and Herbes de Provence, and made with natural ingredients. Your dog will love the mouthfeel and variety of flavours, as well as this complete food giving them everything they need for their vitality.
With over 5,000 reviews and an average rating of 4.6 stars out of 5, Cesar food is a popular choice with pooches and their owners. Many have commented that these trays are great for portion control and felt they offered a good-sized meal for smaller dogs. Reviewers are mixed on the smell, with some owners saying their dog loved it but others with fussy dogs found their pooches turned their nose up at this food.
Pros
- Gourmet recipe that competes with premium pet food brands
- Made with natural, high-quality ingredients to ensure your pooch has everything they need
Cons
- Some fussy dogs may not like the smell of this food
| Item form: | Wet food |
| Quantity: | Three packs of 8 x 150g trays |
| Flavour: | Beef and Garden Vegetables; Game, Chicken and Vegetables; Chicken, Carrots and Herbes de Provence; Lamb, Turkey and Green beans |
- Ingredients:
- Beef & Garden vegetables: meat and animal derivates (55%, of which 95% natural*, including beef 4%, including liver 4%), vegetables (including carrot and pea mix 4%), cereals, minerals, derivatives of vegetable origin, vegetable protein extracts
- Chicken, Carrots & Herbs de Provence: meat and animal derivates (55%, of which 95% natural*, including chicken liver 4%), vegetables (including carrots 4%), cereals, minerals, derivatives of vegetable origin, vegetable protein extracts, herbs (herbs de Provence 0.1%)
- Game, Chicken & Vegetables: meat and animal derivates (55%, of which 95% natural*, including chicken liver 4%, including turkey 4%), vegetables (including carrot and pea mix 4%), cereals, minerals, derivatives of vegetable origin, vegetable protein extracts
- Lamb, Turkey & Green beans: meat and animal derivates (55%, of which 95% natural*, including game 4%, including lamb 4%, turkey 4%, liver 4%), vegetables (including green beans 4%), cereals, minerals, derivatives of vegetable origin, vegetable protein extracts
Best cheap wet food for puppies
Pedigree/AmazonRrp: £25.34
Pedigree is a brand that's synonymous with dog food, and even though it is a cheaper option - at less than 50p per pouch - the recipes have been rigorously formulated to give your puppy the best start in life.
These pouches of easy-to-eat and digest chicken and rice have been developed with vets and nutritionists at Waltham Pet Nutrition Centre. Pedigree ensures this food is giving the optimum nutrition, including vitamin E and minerals to support their natural defences and natural fibres to aid digestion. Also, the added ingredients include zinc and sunflower oil for healthy skin and a glossy coat and calcium to support growing bones.
As the food is presented in pouch form, customers appreciate how easy it is to store. The food tends to be easier to come out of a pouch as it just slides straight out but you may occasionally get the odd meaty chunk stuck in the corners, which can be slightly tricky to get out. As the food is made with rice and contains cereals, this may not be the best option for pups who are showing signs of having grain or wheat allergies.
Pros
- Includes vitamin E and minerals to support your pup's natural defences as they grow
- Easy to store as it comes in pouch form that doesn't take up a lot of room
Cons
- Contains rice and cereals so may not be the best option if your puppy is showing signs of a grain/wheat allergy
| Quantity: | 12 x 100g pouches |
| Item form: | Wet food in pouches |
| Flavour: | Chicken x 3<br>Poultry x 3<br>Lamb and Liver x 3<br>Beef and Liver x 3 |
- Ingredients:
- With Chicken and Rice Meat and Animal Derivatives (48%, including 4% Chicken), Cereals (including 4% Cooked Rice), Oils and Fats (including 1% Sunflower Oil), Minerals, Derivatives of Vegetable Origin, Vegetable Protein
- Extracts With Lamb and Rice Meat and Animal Derivatives (48%, including 4% Lamb), Cereals (including 4% Cooked Rice), Oils and Fats (including 1% Sunflower Oil), Minerals, Derivatives of Vegetable Origin, Vegetable Protein
- Extracts With Beef and Rice Meat and Animal Derivatives (48%, including 4% Beef), Cereals (including 4% Cooked Rice), Oils and Fats (including 1% Sunflower Oil), Minerals, Derivatives of Vegetable Origin, Vegetable Protein Extracts
- Extracts With Poultry and Rice Meat and Animal Derivatives (48%, including 4% Poultry), Cereals (including 4% Cooked Rice), Oils and Fats (including 1% Sunflower Oil), Minerals, Derivatives of Vegetable Origin, Vegetable Protein
All costs per portion/meal for each product were correct at the time of writing.
How we chose the best cheap dog food in the UK
All of these cheap dog foods have been hand-selected by our team of Take A Break Pets shopping experts. We carefully considered value, quality and flavour in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching budget dog food to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
With pets big and small on our team, where possible we'll share the best products that have been tried and tested by our own furry friends who have given their paw of approval. And, with help from veterinary experts, we share their knowledge to ensure everything we choose is paw-fect for your pet.
Our verdict: Best cheap dog food in the UK
For budget chow that gets our paw of approval, we recommend Harringtons Complete Dry Dog Food. Harringtons contain wholesome, natural ingredients and botanicals to aid digestion, with no cheap fillers or nasties. At an average of 25p per serving, buying this dry dog food in bulk online is absolutely the cheapest way to feed your pet quality complete food. Additionally, most pet food websites offer a subscribe and save option for a further discount on a regular order.
FAQs
What to consider in dog food on a budget
Cost
There's a whole array of sachets, cans and packs in a variety of flavours for dogs of all ages. The best dog food should be budget-friendly, nutritionally balanced, and delicious for the enjoyment and wellbeing of your fur baby. If you're buying in bulk and baulking at the price, a little bit of maths will help you work out the cost per meal. You'll soon see that a 15kg bag of dry dog food at £35 gives you 150 servings for 25p per bowl.
Type
Dry dog food comes with the benefit that you can buy in bulk because it has a long shelf life. Also, kibble is great for maintaining your dog's oral hygiene. But, as it is dry, make sure fresh drinking water is available in a separate dog bowl. Pets at Home and Amazon offer great deals on large bags of kibble from trusted brands. Additionally, you can 'subscribe and save' by making the food a regular purchase.
This is also the case with wet dog food, with the caveat that you should give your dog a taster first; they might turn their nose up at food they don't like. So be prepared to take your pet's taste into account.
Is there a difference between cheap and expensive dog food?
Premium pet foods are more likely to name the type of meat or fish in the ingredients i.e. contains 30 per cent chicken. Meanwhile, cheaper pet foods may use the term 'meat or animal derivatives'. UK Pet Food advises: "Manufacturers can also choose to present different varieties for the pet – for example, with chicken or with duck. If they do this, they are drawing attention to the presence of the named ingredient in the product and are legally required to indicate how much is present in the recipe. The percentage stated is the minimum percentage content of the named ingredient that is guaranteed to be present. Other nutritious meat and animal derivatives can also be present, and the total percentage of meat and animal derivatives on the pack is very likely to be higher."
When buying dog food what should I look for?
Look for food that has no additives and a high protein content. Stick to brands that have received safety accreditations and are reputable.
The first ingredient will be what the majority of the food consists of. Ideally, ensure it's a quality meat-based protein. The ingredients list proceeds in the highest-to-lowest amount. The second ingredient should be a quality carbohydrate to give your dog energy. Food that contains essential vitamins and minerals will help keep your furry friend happy and healthy. Vitamin A, D and E, and Omega-6 fatty acids support healthy bones, immune system, cell function and keep skin and coat in tip-top condition. In addition, Zinc and Biotin will also maintain your pet's glossy coat. Antioxidants, which come from vegetables, support cellular renewal. Also, look for dog food with pre and probiotics to maintain good gut health.
When you are looking at dog food products, do take into account your pooch's size, age and health. For example, a young pup needs specific puppy food because the kibble or the chunks are smaller. Similarly, a dog that's aged 7+ may need senior dog food that contains Glucosamine to keep their joints supple.
When buying dog food what should I avoid?
When buying dog food, you should pay attention to the ingredients list. Avoid buying dog food that contains BHA, which has been proven to cause cancer, and if that's in your dog's limited diet, it poses a huge risk to their health.
Additionally, because there is little variety in a canine's diet, food containing artificial additives, preservatives and fillers is going to build up in their system. Steer clear of food containing pea fibre too, which has been linked to heart problems such as canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). There is comprehensive guidance on how to decipher pet food labels on UK Pet Food.
Natalie Knowles is a Homes & Garden Product Writer for Take A Break Pets, specialising in all things cats and dogs. In her other life, Natalie is a successful artist and illustrator.