How much does it cost to feed a dog in the UK?
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The honest answer is: it depends far more on your dog's size and the food's calories than on the price on the bag. A 2 kg bag that looks cheap can cost more per day than a big bag of a richer food, because you feed less of the richer one.
Typical daily cost by dog size
Using the premium dry foods we currently track (Barking Heads and AATU), best-value bag sizes and a normally active adult dog:
| Dog weight | Food per day | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | 99–105 g | £0.39–£0.92 | £12–£28 | £143–£336 |
| 10 kg | 167–177 g | £0.66–£1.55 | £20–£47 | £240–£565 |
| 20 kg | 280–298 g | £1.11–£2.60 | £34–£79 | £404–£951 |
| 30 kg | 380–403 g | £1.50–£3.53 | £46–£107 | £547–£1289 |
| 40 kg | 471–500 g | £1.86–£4.38 | £57–£133 | £679–£1599 |
Prices checked 9 November 2026. Portions are estimated from each food's calories (energy need ≈ 70 × weight0.75 × 1.6). Budget supermarket foods will be cheaper; these are premium foods.
Why bigger dogs don't cost proportionally more
A dog's energy needs grow more slowly than its weight. A 40 kg dog weighs four times as much as a 10 kg dog but needs roughly 2.8 times the calories — so per kilo of dog, large breeds are cheaper to feed.
Four ways to cut the cost
- Buy the biggest bag you'll finish while it's fresh. Large bags are usually much cheaper per kilo; once opened, keep kibble sealed and use it within the time on the pack.
- Compare cost per day, not per bag. Higher-calorie food means smaller portions.
- Check subscriptions. Several brands offer subscribe-and-save discounts on repeat deliveries.
- Weigh portions. Scooping by eye easily adds 10–20% — which is both money and weight gain.
Not sure how much to put in the bowl? See how much to feed your dog. Food is only part of the bill, too: insurance, vet care, flea and worming treatment all add up — our puppy first-year cost guide breaks them down.