Updated November 2026 · 4 min read
Pet food comes in so many sizes that the sticker price alone can be misleading. A $30 bag isn't cheaper than a $55 bag if it holds half as much food. The fix is to compare the price per pound: what you pay for each pound of food.
The calculation
That's it. The lower the price per pound, the more food you get for your money.
Example: dry food
| Option | Price | Weight | Price per pound |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small bag | $24.99 | 12 lb | $2.08 |
| Large bag | $54.99 | 30 lb | $1.83 |
The large bag costs more up front but about 25 cents less per pound. If your dog eats 30 pounds a month, that's about $7.50 a month, or around $90 a year, saved by buying the bigger bag. (These are example prices for illustration.)
Wet food: convert ounces to pounds
Wet food is usually sold in cans or trays measured in ounces. There are 16 ounces in a pound, so:
| Option | Price | Size | Total weight | Price per pound |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 24 small cans | $22.99 | 24 × 3 oz | 4.5 lb | $5.11 |
| 12 large cans | $29.99 | 12 × 5.5 oz | 4.1 lb | $7.27 |
Here the pack of small cans is the better deal by a wide margin, even though the cans are smaller. (Example prices.)
Things price per pound doesn't tell you
- How much your pet needs to eat. Foods with more calories per cup can mean smaller portions, so a pricier food per pound isn't always pricier per day. The feeding guide on the bag tells you roughly how much to serve.
- Whether the food suits your pet. Only compare foods your pet can eat. Price per pound is best for choosing between sizes of the same food, or between stores.
- Freshness. A huge bag that goes stale before it's finished isn't a bargain.
Let us do the math
Every listing on our price comparison shows the price per pound for the cheapest store, so you can compare sizes and stores at a glance.