Dog food costs have climbed steadily over the past few years. Vets, social media, and that one friend who feeds their Labrador raw organic venison all tell you to spend more. But here’s the thing: spending more doesn’t automatically mean feeding better. Some of the most expensive dog foods on UK shelves are packed with filler and clever marketing. And some of the cheapest are genuinely decent.
The UK has proper pet food regulations. Unlike some countries where anything goes, dog food sold here has to meet minimum nutritional standards. That baseline matters. It means even the cheapest bag of kibble at your local Tesco has to contain enough protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals to keep a dog alive and reasonably healthy.
I’ve spent weeks going through ingredient lists, checking prices per kilogram, and comparing nutritional profiles across dozens of budget dog food brands. This guide covers the ones actually worth your money. No filler recommendations. No brands I wouldn’t feed my own dog.
What “cheap” actually means in dog food
Let’s get specific about numbers, because “cheap” means different things depending on who you ask.
For dry dog food, anything under £1 per kilogram is genuinely cheap. Between £1 and £2 per kg is budget-friendly but respectable. Above £2 per kg, you’re edging into mid-range territory.
For wet dog food, under £1 per tin (400g) or per tray of similar size is cheap. Most supermarket own-brand wet foods sit around 50-80p per tin. Branded options like Butcher’s and Forthglade typically cost 80p to £1.20 each.
These prices matter because they translate into real monthly costs. A medium dog (roughly 15-25kg) eating 200g of dry food per day will get through about 6kg per month. At £0.80/kg, that’s roughly £4.80 a month. At £2/kg, it’s £12. The difference feels small on paper but adds up over a year, especially if you’ve got two or three dogs.
For a more detailed breakdown of what you can get at specific price points, I’ve covered the best dry dog food under £10 and the best wet dog food under £10 in separate guides. This article is about the absolute cheapest options that still do the job properly.
UK pet food regulations: the safety net you might not know about
The UK has one of the better regulatory frameworks for pet food in the world. It’s worth understanding what this means in practice, because it directly affects what ends up in your dog’s bowl, even at the budget end of the market.
FEDIAF nutritional guidelines
FEDIAF (the European Pet Food Industry Federation) sets the nutritional standards that most European countries, including the UK, follow. These guidelines specify minimum and maximum levels for protein, fat, fibre, vitamins, and minerals. They also cover amino acid profiles and essential fatty acids.
Any commercially produced dog food sold in the UK has to meet these standards. That’s the law. So when you pick up a bag of Wagg or a tin of Chappie, you know it’s been formulated to provide complete and balanced nutrition for a dog. That doesn’t mean it’s the best food available. But it does mean it won’t cause deficiencies.
UK Pet Food Manufacturing Association
The Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association (PFMA) is the UK’s main industry body. Most reputable dog food brands operating in the UK are PFMA members, and membership requires adherence to strict labelling rules and manufacturing standards.
PFMA members have to list ingredients in descending order by weight. They have to clearly state whether a food is “complete” (nutritionally adequate on its own) or “complementary” (needs to be fed alongside other foods). The ingredient listing has to be honest about what’s actually in there.
This is genuinely useful for bargain hunters. It means you can pick up the cheapest bag on the shelf, read the back, and know the manufacturer isn’t hiding anything dangerous behind vague wording.
What the regulations don’t cover
Here’s where the floor matters more than the ceiling. The regulations set minimum standards. They don’t distinguish between “good” protein and “okay” protein. Chicken meal is legal. So is poultry meal. So is “meat and animal derivatives,” which is a broad category that could include almost any part of almost any animal.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) and the PDSA both point out that while all legal dog food meets basic needs, quality varies enormously. A food with 20% chicken as the first ingredient is different from one with 20% “meat and animal derivatives” as the first ingredient, even if both pass the same regulatory tests.
Red flags to watch for in cheap dog food
Meeting minimum standards doesn’t make a food good. There are some specific ingredients and practices that should make you put the bag back on the shelf, even if the price looks right.
Added sugar
Sugar has no place in dog food. None. Dogs don’t need it, don’t benefit from it, and it contributes to tooth decay, weight gain, and metabolic problems. Yet some budget brands (most notably Bakers) include added sugar or sugar derivatives like caramel. If you see sugar, glucose syrup, or caramel on an ingredient list, walk away. There are plenty of cheaper alternatives that don’t include it.
Artificial colours
Dogs don’t care what colour their food is. Artificial colours like Sunset Yellow, Tartrazine, and Brilliant Blue are sometimes added to make food look more appealing to the human buying it. These additives have been linked to behavioural issues and allergic reactions in some dogs. They’re unnecessary and potentially harmful.
Unnamed meat derivatives
“Meat and animal derivatives” is a legal ingredient description in the UK, and it covers a wide range of animal tissues. On its own, it’s not automatically bad. The issue is transparency. When a brand uses this phrase instead of naming specific proteins (chicken, beef, lamb), you have no way of knowing what your dog is eating or whether the protein source changes between batches.
Some budget brands use this because it lets them source whatever meat is cheapest that week. That flexibility keeps costs down but makes consistency impossible. If your dog has any sensitivity to specific proteins, these foods are a bad idea.
For a deeper look at what separates decent budget food from genuinely poor quality, check out my cheap vs premium dog food comparison.
Excessive grain content
Grain isn’t inherently bad for dogs. Despite what some marketing would have you believe, most dogs digest grains perfectly well. The issue is proportion. When a food lists cereals (wheat, maize, rice) as the first two or three ingredients and meat sits further down the list, you’re essentially paying for cereal with some dog food mixed in.
A reasonable dry dog food should have a named meat protein as the first ingredient. Cereals in the top three are fine as long as there’s also decent meat content. Cereals as the first, second, and third ingredients with meat fourth? That’s a red flag at any price point.
Top cheap dry dog food brands
Here are the budget dry foods I’d actually recommend. Every one of these meets FEDIAF standards, has reasonable ingredient quality for the price, and is widely available across the UK.
Harringtons: best overall budget dry food
Harringtons is probably the single best value dry dog food brand in the UK right now. Their standard adult complete food typically costs around £0.85 to £1.00 per kilogram when you buy larger bags, which puts it firmly in the budget category.
What sets Harringtons apart from similarly priced competitors is ingredient transparency. The adult chicken recipe lists chicken as the first ingredient (26% minimum), followed by whole grains (maize, wheat, rice), and then specific named additions like peas and lucerne. No generic “meat derivatives.” No added sugar. No artificial colours.
Harringtons is a family-owned British company based in Yorkshire. They’ve been making dog food since the 1920s and are a PFMA member. The food is produced in the UK, which matters if you care about supply chain transparency.
Available from: most supermarkets, pet shops, Amazon, and direct from Harringtons’ website. For a detailed head-to-head, I’ve compared Harringtons against its closest budget rival in my Harringtons vs Wagg comparison.
Typical price: £18-22 for a 12kg bag (£1.50-1.83/kg) or £28-32 for a 15kg bag (£1.87-2.13/kg) from supermarkets. Online prices frequently drop below £1/kg on subscription.
Best for: most adult dogs. Good all-rounder for households watching their budget.
Skinners Field & Trial: best for active dogs
Skinners occupies an interesting position. It’s priced similarly to mainstream budget brands but the ingredient quality is noticeably better. Their Field & Trial range starts at around £1.00-1.20 per kilogram, and the protein content is consistently higher than Harringtons or Wagg.
The Field & Trial Chicken & Rice formula, for example, contains a minimum of 25% protein. Meat meal (chicken) is the first ingredient. The recipe includes rice as the main carbohydrate source, which is generally easier to digest than wheat or maize. There’s also added linseed for omega-3 fatty acids, which supports coat and skin health.
Skinners has been making dog food in Suffolk since the 1970s. They originally started with working dog food, and that heritage shows in the formulation. These foods are designed to keep energetic dogs going, so they’re slightly higher in protein and fat than typical domestic dog food.
They also offer hypoallergenic options (duck and rice, salmon and rice) that are genuinely useful if your dog has mild sensitivities. I’ve covered this in more detail in my guide to the best budget dog food for sensitive stomachs.
Typical price: £25-30 for a 15kg bag (£1.67-2.00/kg).
Best for: active dogs, working breeds, and dogs that need higher protein without the premium price tag.
Wagg: the cheapest decent option
Wagg is about as cheap as dry dog food gets while still being genuinely acceptable. Their Complete Dry Dog Food regularly comes in at £0.60-0.80 per kilogram, which is hard to beat. A 12kg bag often costs under £10 on Amazon UK.
The ingredient list is less impressive than Harringtons or Skinners. Meat and animal derivatives appear first, which means you don’t know exactly what protein source you’re getting. Cereals (wheat and maize) make up a significant portion. But there’s no added sugar, no artificial colours, and the food meets FEDIAF complete nutrition standards.
Wagg is PFMA member and manufactures in the UK. Their food is widely available in supermarkets, pet shops, and online. If your budget is tight and your dog has no specific health issues or sensitivities, Wagg does the job. It won’t win any awards for ingredient quality, but your dog will be fed.
I’d rank it behind Harringtons and Skinners in terms of quality. But if you’re choosing between Wagg and the supermarket’s cheapest own-brand, Wagg wins every time.
Typical price: £8-12 for a 12kg bag (£0.67-1.00/kg).
Best for: owners on the tightest budgets whose dogs are healthy with no dietary sensitivities.
Purina BETA: good for puppies on a budget
BETA sits at a slightly higher price point than Wagg (around £1.00-1.30/kg) but offers a few advantages. Their puppy formula is widely available and reasonably well-regarded by vets for a budget option. It contains 28% protein (chicken is the first ingredient), which is appropriate for growing puppies.
The BETA range includes tailored recipes for different life stages: puppy, adult, and senior. This matters because puppies genuinely do need different nutrient profiles than adult dogs, particularly higher protein and specific calcium levels. Having a life-stage-specific food at this price point is useful.
BETA’s dual-shaped kibble is worth a mention. The larger and smaller kibble pieces are designed to encourage chewing, which aids digestion. It’s a small detail but a thoughtful one.
Typical price: £18-22 for a 14kg bag (£1.29-1.57/kg).
Best for: puppies and owners who want life-stage-specific food without paying premium prices.
Gusto (Aldi’s own brand): surprisingly decent supermarket food
I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect much from Aldi’s dog food. Supermarket own-brands are usually a mixed bag. But Gusto, which is Aldi’s in-house dog food range, is genuinely decent for the price.
Gusto Adult Complete Dog Food typically costs around £0.55-0.70 per kilogram, making it one of the cheapest options on the UK market. The ingredient list puts chicken (14%) ahead of cereals, includes peas and beet pulp for fibre, and has no added sugar or artificial colours. It’s also free from soya and dairy, which are common allergens for some dogs.
Is it going to rival Skinners or Harringtons for ingredient quality? No. But it’s better than some branded options that cost twice as much. If you’re already shopping at Aldi, picking up a bag of Gusto is a sensible move.
I’ve reviewed all the main supermarket dog foods in my best supermarket dog food UK guide. Aldi and Lidl both come out well, with Gusto being a particular standout.
Typical price: £5.29-7.99 for a 12kg bag depending on current promotions (£0.44-0.67/kg).
Best for: Aldi shoppers wanting convenience without compromising too much on quality.
Chappie: best for sensitive stomachs on a budget
Chappie is a bit unusual in the budget market. It’s been around for decades and has built a loyal following among dog owners whose pets have sensitive digestion. Purina (who manufacture Chappie) positions it as a “sensitive” food, and vets often recommend it as an affordable option for dogs with upset stomachs.
The ingredient list is deliberately simple. Chicken (4%) and fish (4%) provide protein, while rice and maize serve as the main carbohydrates. The low fat content (around 6%) makes it easy to digest, and there’s no wheat, beef, or dairy, which are common triggers for food sensitivities.
The protein percentage is lower than most other budget foods at around 19%. That’s still within FEDIAF’s minimum requirements for adult dogs, but it means Chappie isn’t ideal for highly active dogs, puppies, or underweight dogs who need higher calorie intake.
Chappie also has added fibre from wholegrain cereals, which helps regulate digestion. Many owners report that their dogs with chronic loose stools improve noticeably within a week or two of switching to Chappie.
Typical price: £12-16 for a 12.2kg bag (£0.98-1.31/kg). Wet food tins (380g) around 60-80p each.
Best for: dogs with sensitive stomachs or chronic digestive issues. Check my full guide on budget-sensitive stomach options for alternatives.
Top cheap wet dog food brands
Wet food is inherently more expensive per calorie than dry food because you’re paying for water content. But there are still budget options that offer decent nutrition without the premium price tag. Here are the ones I’d pick.
Butcher’s: the budget wet food champion
Butcher’s is probably the best-known budget wet dog food brand in the UK, and for good reason. Their tins and trays typically cost 50-80p each, and the ingredient quality is reasonable for the money.
The Butcher’s “Just 6” range is worth seeking out. As the name suggests, each recipe contains only six ingredients, all of which are clearly named on the front of the pack. The chicken recipe, for example, contains chicken, chicken broth, vegetables (peas and carrots), vitamins, and minerals. No derivatives, no filler, no mystery ingredients.
Standard Butcher’s recipes contain a minimum of 45% meat, which is solid for the price point. The tripe recipe is particularly popular with dog owners because dogs seem to love the taste and it’s relatively easy to digest.
Butcher’s is made in the UK, PFMA registered, and available in virtually every supermarket and pet shop in the country. For wet food on a budget, it’s hard to argue against.
Typical price: 50-80p per 400g tin or tray.
Forthglade: best quality budget wet food
Forthglade sits at the upper end of the “budget” wet food category, but the quality justifies the slight premium. Their trays typically cost 80p to £1.10 each, depending on where you buy them.
What makes Forthglade stand out is their ingredient philosophy. All recipes are grain-free, use single-source proteins (so you know exactly what meat your dog is eating), and contain no artificial additives, colours, or preservatives. The meat content is a minimum of 65% in most recipes, which is higher than most competitors at any price point.
Forthglade is made in Devon and has been producing dog food since 1971. They’re PFMA members and their food is widely available. The natural soft texture also makes them a good choice for older dogs or dogs with dental issues who struggle with harder foods.
If your dog has skin issues, the salmon recipes are worth trying. The omega-3 fatty acids in salmon can help with coat condition and inflammation. I’ve covered this in more detail in my guide to the best cheap dog food for itchy skin.
Typical price: 80p-£1.10 per 395g tray. Multipacks often bring the per-tray cost down to around 70-80p.
Winalot: traditional budget option
Winalot is one of the oldest dog food brands in the UK. Like Butcher’s, it’s available everywhere and costs roughly the same per tin. The chunk-style food in gravy is what most people think of when they picture traditional dog food.
Ingredient quality is adequate but unremarkable. The standard recipes contain a minimum of 4% named meat (with meat and animal derivatives making up the rest of the protein), cereals, and various additives. It meets FEDIAF standards and is a complete food.
I’d rank Winalot behind Butcher’s for overall value. The lower named meat content and use of generic derivatives means you’re getting less transparency for roughly the same price. But dogs generally enjoy the taste, and it’s widely available in every supermarket and corner shop in the country.
Typical price: 50-70p per 400g tin.
Chappie wet food: sensitive stomach option in a tin
Chappie’s wet food deserves a separate mention because it serves a specific purpose. If your dog has a sensitive stomach and you prefer wet food, Chappie tins are one of the few genuinely affordable options designed for digestive sensitivity.
The recipe is similar to the dry version: low fat, rice-based, with chicken and fish as the protein sources. It’s gentle on the digestive system and free from common allergens. At 60-80p per tin, it’s competitive with other budget wet foods while offering a formulation that’s actually designed for dogs with tummy troubles.
How to feed your dog well on a tight budget
Picking the right brand is only part of the equation. How you buy, store, and feed your dog’s food makes a real difference to both their health and your wallet. Here are practical strategies that actually work.
Buy bigger bags
This is the single most effective way to cut your dog food bill. A 2kg bag of Harringtons might cost £4.00 per kilogram. The same recipe in a 15kg bag might cost £1.50 per kilogram. Same food, less than half the price per kilo.
If storage space is an issue, invest in an airtight container. A decent plastic or metal bin with a tight-fitting lid will keep dry food fresh for 6-8 weeks after opening. That’s more than enough time to get through even a large bag with a single dog.
Use subscriptions
Most online retailers (Amazon, Zooplus, PetPlanet, direct from brand websites) offer subscription discounts. These typically save you 5-15% compared to one-off purchases. If you know your dog eats the same food consistently, setting up a recurring order is basically free money.
Amazon’s “Subscribe and Save” on brands like Harringtons and Wagg often brings prices below what you’d pay at the supermarket, even with supermarket promotions factored in.
Don’t overfeed
This sounds obvious but it’s worth stating. Overfeeding costs you money twice: once when you buy the food, and again when your vet bills are higher because your dog is overweight. The PDSA estimates that roughly 40% of UK dogs are overweight. That’s a lot of wasted food money and a lot of avoidable health problems.
Follow the feeding guidelines on the bag, adjusted for your dog’s actual activity level. If your dog spends most of the day asleep on the sofa, they need less than the “active dog” guideline suggests. Weigh your dog regularly and adjust portions accordingly.
Mix dry and wet
Wet food is more expensive per calorie than dry food. But dogs love it, and it adds moisture to their diet. A practical compromise is to feed mostly dry food with a smaller amount of wet food mixed in. The wet food makes the dry food more palatable (useful for picky eaters) and adds some variety, while the dry food keeps the overall cost down.
A ratio of 75% dry to 25% wet is a good starting point. This cuts your wet food bill by three-quarters while still giving your dog the taste and texture benefits of wet food.
Supplement wisely
If you’re feeding a budget food, there are a few cheap supplements that can fill in nutritional gaps. A tin of sardines in spring water (not oil, not brine) added to your dog’s meal once or twice a week provides omega-3 fatty acids, which support skin, coat, and joint health. At around 40p a tin, it’s one of the cheapest supplements available.
A plain boiled egg a few times a week is another cheap protein boost. Cooked sweet potato, plain pumpkin puree, and grated carrot are all inexpensive additions that provide fibre and vitamins.
Compare prices before you buy
All About Dog Food is an independent UK website that rates dog foods based on their ingredients and nutritional content. It’s free to use and incredibly useful for comparing budget options side by side. You can search by price per kilogram and see at a glance how different brands stack up on ingredient quality.
Don’t assume the supermarket is always cheapest. Online prices, especially with subscription discounts, frequently beat in-store prices by a significant margin. I’ve seen Harringtons 15kg bags at £32 in Tesco and £22 on Amazon in the same week.
Comparison table: cheap dog food at a glance
| Brand | Type | Price per kg | Protein % | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harringtons | Dry | £0.85-1.50 | 24% | Best overall budget |
| Skinners Field & Trial | Dry | £1.00-1.70 | 25% | Active/working dogs |
| Wagg | Dry | £0.60-1.00 | 20% | Tightest budgets |
| BETA | Dry | £1.00-1.50 | 25-28% | Puppies |
| Gusto (Aldi) | Dry | £0.44-0.70 | 20% | Convenience shoppers |
| Chappie | Dry/Wet | £0.98-1.31 | 19% | Sensitive stomachs |
| Butcher’s | Wet | £1.25-2.00 | 45%+ meat | Best budget wet |
| Forthglade | Wet | £2.00-2.80 | 65%+ meat | Quality wet on budget |
| Winalot | Wet | £1.25-1.75 | 4%+ named meat | Traditional option |
Prices are approximate and vary by retailer, bag size, and current promotions. Check multiple retailers before buying.
Frequently asked questions
Is cheap dog food bad for my dog?
No, not necessarily. All commercially sold dog food in the UK has to meet FEDIAF nutritional standards, which means even the cheapest options provide adequate protein, fat, vitamins, and minerals. The difference between cheap and expensive dog food is usually ingredient quality and transparency, not basic nutritional adequacy. A dog fed on Harringtons or Skinners will be perfectly healthy. The main things to avoid at any price point are added sugar, artificial colours, and foods where unnamed derivatives dominate the ingredient list.
What’s the cheapest dog food that’s actually good?
In my opinion, Harringtons represents the best combination of low price and decent quality. At under £1 per kilogram on larger bags (especially on subscription), it’s genuinely cheap and uses named meat as the first ingredient with no added sugar or artificial colours. If your budget is even tighter, Gusto from Aldi at under 70p per kilogram is a reasonable alternative, though the ingredient quality isn’t quite as strong.
Can I mix cheap dry food with cheap wet food?
Yes, mixing dry and wet food is fine and actually quite common. The key is to adjust the total amount you feed so your dog isn’t overeating. If you normally feed 200g of dry food per day and you add half a tin of wet food (roughly 100g), reduce the dry food by about 50-60g. Most dog food packaging includes mixing guidelines. Mixed feeding can actually be beneficial because wet food adds moisture and palatability while dry food helps with dental health through the mechanical action of chewing kibble. If you want to explore this further, I’ve got a full breakdown of the best dog food options in the UK for 2026.
Should I buy supermarket own-brand dog food?
Some supermarket own-brands are fine and some aren’t. Aldi’s Gusto and Lidl’s Milbona are both reasonable options for the price. Tesco and Sainsbury’s own-brands are acceptable but nothing special. The main risk with supermarket own-brands is inconsistent quality and the tendency to use generic “meat and animal derivatives” as the primary protein source. If you do go for a supermarket brand, read the ingredient list and check for added sugar and artificial colours. My supermarket dog food comparison goes through each major retailer’s options in detail.
My dog has a sensitive stomach. What’s the cheapest food that won’t upset it?
Chappie is the most affordable widely-available food specifically designed for dogs with sensitive digestion. Its low-fat, rice-based formula is gentle on the stomach and free from common allergens like wheat and beef. Skinners also offer hypoallergenic options (duck and rice, or salmon and rice) that work well for mild sensitivities. If the sensitivity is more severe, Forthglade’s grain-free wet food trays with single-source proteins are worth a try. For a full breakdown, see my guide to the best budget dog food for sensitive stomachs.
The bottom line
You don’t need to spend a fortune to feed your dog well. The UK’s regulatory framework ensures that even the cheapest commercially available dog food meets basic nutritional standards. But within that framework, some brands clearly do a better job than others.
Harringtons and Skinners are my top picks for dry food. They offer named meat ingredients, no added sugar, no artificial colours, and reasonable prices. For wet food, Butcher’s is the clear budget winner, with Forthglade as the quality option if you can stretch a little further.
Wagg and Gusto cover the ultra-budget end of the market. They’re not perfect, but they’re honest foods that meet minimum standards. And Chappie fills an important niche as the cheapest sensitive-stomach option that actually works.
Whatever you choose, buy bigger bags, use subscriptions, and don’t overfeed. Those three habits alone will save you more money than agonising over which brand to pick.
