Owners who consider raw feeding often ask first about cost, and the honest answer is that it varies more than almost any other way of feeding. A raw diet can be built from butcher’s cuts, bought as frozen complete meals or made from a mix, and the price per kilogram ranges widely. What does not vary is the arithmetic: a daily amount, a price per kilogram and thirty days. This guide shows the sum using the common practice guideline of 2 to 3% of ideal body weight a day, gives a table for 10, 20 and 30 kg dogs at three prices, checks the result against the dog’s calorie needs and lists the costs people forget. It does not say whether raw feeding is right for your dog; that is a decision for you and your vet. For the feeding side, see how much raw food to feed a dog.
The practice guideline
Raw feeding practice commonly suggests feeding 2 to 3% of the dog’s ideal adult body weight per day, with 2.5% as a middle figure. This is a practice guideline, not an NRC formula, and calories and balance need checking separately. The Raw Dog Food Calculator uses it, and splits the total by a ratio such as 80/10/10 (see the 80/10/10 ratio explained).
daily grams = ideal weight in kg × 1,000 × percentage monthly cost = daily grams × 30.4 ÷ 1,000 × price per kg
For a 20 kg dog at 2.5%: 20 × 1,000 × 0.025 = 500 g a day. At 7.00 per kg: 500 × 30.4 ÷ 1,000 × 7.00 = 106.40 a month.
A table of daily amounts and costs
| Ideal weight | Daily grams (2% / 2.5% / 3%) | Monthly cost at 5 per kg | At 7 per kg | At 9 per kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kg | 200 / 250 / 300 | 38.0 | 53.2 | 68.4 |
| 20 kg | 400 / 500 / 600 | 76.0 | 106.4 | 136.8 |
| 30 kg | 600 / 750 / 900 | 114.0 | 159.6 | 205.2 |
The monthly cost columns use the middle figure of 2.5%. For the range, a 20 kg dog at 7 per kg costs about 85 a month at 2% (400 g) and about 128 a month at 3% (600 g). The 50% difference between the ends of the range is as large as the difference between prices, so choose the percentage with your vet’s help, based on the dog’s weight and condition.
Check the calories
The guideline does not say how many calories are in a kilogram of the mixture, which depends on the cuts and their fat content. Check the result against the dog’s daily energy. For a neutered 20 kg adult, daily energy is 1.6 × 70 × 20 ^ 0.75 = 1,059 kcal.
| Raw mixture energy | kcal in 500 g | Against 1,059 kcal needed |
|---|---|---|
| 1,500 kcal/kg (lean) | 750 | 71% (too little) |
| 2,000 kcal/kg | 1,000 | 94% |
| 2,500 kcal/kg (fatty) | 1,250 | 118% (too much) |
(Illustrative energy values.) The same 500 g can be too little or too much, depending on the mixture. This is why the daily grams from the guideline are a starting point, and weight and body condition are the check. Use the Dog Calorie Calculator for the target, and weigh the dog monthly.
Compare with kibble on cost per 1,000 kcal
The fair comparison is cost per 1,000 kcal, as in price per 1,000 kcal.
| Food | Price per kg | kcal per kg | Cost per 1,000 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kibble | 3.60 | 3,600 | 1.00 |
| Raw mixture, lean | 7.00 | 1,500 | 4.67 |
| Raw mixture, fatty | 7.00 | 2,500 | 2.80 |
| Frozen complete raw | 9.00 | 2,000 | 4.50 |
(Example prices and energy.) Raw food is usually dearer per calorie than kibble, because of the water in it and the price of fresh meat. Your own prices will differ; some owners buy in bulk or use cheaper cuts to lower the cost, though the diet still needs to be balanced.
Mixed cuts: pricing the 80/10/10
An 80/10/10 split has different prices for each part. For a 500 g daily ration:
| Part | Share | Grams | Example price per kg | Cost per day |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Muscle meat | 80% | 400 | 6.00 | 2.40 |
| Raw meaty bone | 10% | 50 | 4.00 | 0.20 |
| Organ | 10% | 50 | 8.00 | 0.40 |
| Total | 500 | 6.00 average | 3.00 |
That is 3.00 a day, about 91 a month. Price each part, add them and compare with the single price per kg. If you use variety across the week, average the prices.
The costs people forget
- Freezer space and electricity. A chest freezer has a purchase price and running cost.
- Storage and handling supplies. Containers, scales, cleaning products and gloves.
- Waste. Trimmings and spoilage.
- Supplements, if your vet or nutritionist advises them.
- Veterinary or nutritionist advice, to check that the diet is complete and balanced.
- Delivery fees for frozen products.
- Travel and boarding. Frozen food needs to be kept cold; see how much pet food to pack for a trip.
If a veterinary nutritionist consultation costs 150 once, add it to the first year’s cost.
Safety and handling
Raw meat can carry bacteria, so food safety matters for the dog and the household. Practices include keeping food frozen or refrigerated, thawing in the fridge, washing hands and surfaces and not leaving food out. Take extra care in households with young children, older adults or anyone with a weakened immune system. Your vet can advise. Our guide to raw feeding for puppies covers the extra caution needed in growth.
Puppies and special cases
The guideline for puppies uses expected adult weight, and growth makes balance critical; ask your vet. Dogs with health conditions, pregnant or nursing dogs and seniors may need a different approach. The cost sums are the same, but the amounts and the food are for your vet.
A worked month
Leo’s dog has an ideal weight of 20 kg, and Leo feeds at 2.5%. He buys cuts in bulk at an average of 6.20 per kg and uses a chest freezer that costs about 4 a month to run. He also paid 150 for a nutritionist’s review.
| Item | Working | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Daily raw food | 20 × 1,000 × 0.025 | 500 g |
| Food per month | 500 × 30.4 ÷ 1,000 | 15.2 kg |
| Food cost per month | 15.2 × 6.20 | 94.2 |
| Freezer running cost | 4 | |
| Nutritionist review (spread over 12 months) | 150 ÷ 12 | 12.5 |
| First-year monthly equivalent | 110.7 | |
| Later years | 94.2 + 4 | 98.2 |
Compared with kibble at 1.00 per 1,000 kcal, which would cost about 32 a month for this dog, Leo’s raw diet costs about three times as much. Leo has decided that the difference is acceptable. The calculation gave him the number before he committed.
What moves the bill most
Two inputs drive the cost, and they act differently. The price per kg moves the bill in proportion. The percentage moves it in steps of grams.
| Change | Effect on a 20 kg dog at 500 g a day |
|---|---|
| Price up by 1.00 per kg | 0.5 × 30.4 × 1.00 = 15.20 more a month |
| Percentage up by 0.5 points (2.5% to 3%) | 100 g more a day, 21.28 more a month at 7 per kg |
| Percentage down by 0.5 points (2.5% to 2%) | 100 g less a day, 21.28 less a month |
So a small shift in percentage can matter as much as a visible price rise. The percentage should come from the dog’s weight and body condition, not from a budget. If the weight is stable and the dog looks right, stay where you are, and look for savings in the price per kg or the mix of cuts. Do not cut the amount to save money if the dog is losing weight.
Common mistakes
- Treating 2 to 3% as a standard rather than a practice guideline.
- Forgetting to check calories.
- Using the current weight instead of the ideal weight.
- Not pricing each part of the mix.
- Leaving out freezer and handling costs.
- Skipping advice on balance.
- Comparing price per kg instead of per 1,000 kcal.
Quick summary
- Practice guideline: 2 to 3% of ideal body weight a day; a 20 kg dog eats 400 to 600 g, 500 g at 2.5%.
- Monthly cost = daily grams × 30.4 ÷ 1,000 × price per kg; 500 g at 7 per kg is about 106 a month.
- Check the daily calories against the dog’s needs (about 1,059 kcal for a neutered 20 kg dog).
- Raw food is usually dearer per 1,000 kcal than kibble; compare on that basis.
- Budget for freezer space, handling, supplements and professional advice.
- Use the Raw Dog Food Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How much does raw feeding cost a month?
Daily grams × 30.4 ÷ 1,000 × price per kg. A 20 kg dog on 500 g a day at 7 per kg costs about 106 a month.
How many grams of raw food a day?
A raw-feeding practice guideline is 2 to 3% of ideal adult body weight a day. It is not an NRC formula, so check calories and balance.
Is raw feeding cheaper than kibble?
It depends on the ingredients and prices. Compare cost per 1,000 kcal; raw food is often more expensive per calorie.
What else should I budget for?
Freezer space, safe handling supplies, supplements if your vet advises and veterinary advice on balance.
Does the 80/10/10 ratio change the cost?
It changes the mix of cuts and so the price per kg. Price each part.
How do I check the calories?
Compare the daily grams times kcal per kg with the dog's daily energy, for example about 1,059 kcal for a neutered 20 kg dog.
Sources
- Raw feeding practice guideline: 2 to 3% of ideal adult body weight per day (not an NRC formula)
- NRC (2006) Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats, National Academies Press
- WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines
Related calculators
- Raw Dog Food CalculatorEstimate how much raw food to feed each day and how to split it into muscle meat, bone and organ.
- Dog Calorie CalculatorSee how many calories your dog needs a day: its resting energy requirement (RER) and daily maintenance energy (MER) for its life stage.
- Pet Food Price per 1,000 kcal CalculatorCompare two foods fairly by price per 1,000 calories instead of price per bag.
Keep reading
- How Much Raw Food Should a Dog Eat?How much raw food to feed a dog: the 2 to 3% of ideal body weight guideline, a grams chart by weight, adjusting by body condition and why balance matters.
- The 80/10/10 Raw Feeding Ratio ExplainedThe 80/10/10 raw feeding ratio explained: 80% muscle meat, 10% raw meaty bone, 10% organ. See gram splits by daily amount, its limits and why balance needs a vet.
- Raw Feeding for Puppies: Portions and CautionsRaw feeding for puppies: how the amount is estimated from adult weight, a table by weight, why balance matters in growth and when to see a veterinary nutritionist.