Who has best pet food prices

Where to find the cheapest prices on dog and cat food

Ever stop to figure out how much you spend on pet food each year? Any pet parent knows that kibble and chow can really add up. According to petfinder.com, the annual cost of feeding a dog or a cat ranges from about $120 to $500.

If you want to save money on pet food, it pays to shop around. A recent survey by Checkbook.org published by the Center for the Study of Services, an independent, nonprofit consumer organization found quite a price spread.

Checkbook shoppers compared prices for 11 popular dog and cat foods at a sample of pet stores, big-box discounters, grocery stores and warehouse clubs in seven metro areas: Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Washington, D.C. They also visited several national online retailers. Because stores often carry different-size packages, Checkbook shopped for the lowest prices on a per-pound or per-ounce basis for each product.

The stores we shopped that offered the best prices charged about 40 percent less than the most expensive places, said Kevin Brasler, Checkbooks executive editor.

A table in the Checkbook report shows the prices found, along with their price comparison scores how that retailers prices compared to the average prices for all companies surveyed.

"Among stores with local outlets, the lowest prices were consistently offered by the places that you'd expect: Walmartand membership warehouse clubs, Sams Club and BJs, Brasler told NBC News BETTER. We also found that Costco offers really low prices for pet food. Because it, for the most part, carries only its own Kirkland brand, we could not compare its prices to the others.

So who has the lowest prices?

• Sams Clubs prices were 22 percent lower than the all-store average.
• BJs Wholesale Club was 18 percent lower.
• Walmart was 12 percent lower.
• PetSmart was about 2 percent lower.

Prices at Petco, Checkbook found, were about the same as the average.

ONLINE ISNT ALWAYS THE CHEAPEST

Checkbook found that shopping online doesnt always result in the lowest prices. All the websites in the report were more expensive than the price leaders: Sams Club, BJs and Walmart. But having that 50-pound bag of dog food delivered to your door is mighty convenient.

Checkbook found that:

• Chewy.com was the least expensive online option, with prices about 11 percent lower than the all-store average.
• Amazons prices for the products surveyed were 5 percent higher than average; more expensive than several other online retailers prices and about 18 percent higher than Chewys.

If you shop online, make sure you buy enough to get free shipping. Or order online and pick up at the store. With Petco, the discount for in-store pick-up is 10 percent; PetSmart is 5 percent.

Another money-saving option: Some online stores give a discount, typically 5 percent, if you sign up for their auto-ship program. Dont worry, its easy to cancel, modify or suspend auto-ship orders.

Checkbook found that Chewys 5 percent auto-ship discount makes its prices competitive with the lowest-cost local outlets. Unfortunately, online retailers often exclude many products from their auto-ship discounts, Checkbook noted.

WHAT I FOUND WHEN I WENT PRICE-SHOPPING

I wanted to see first-hand, just how much prices varied from store to store where I live. I visited Costco, Fred Meyer (a Kroeger-owned store in Seattle), Petco, Safeway, Target and Walmart. I also went shopping for those same items online at Amazon, Chewy, Costco, Sams Club, Target and Walmart.

I found a few products that all the stores sold and a few that most sold. Whenever I had a choice, I selected the largest size. Then, I calculated the unit price, similar to what Checkbook did.

Heres what I learned:

• Prices are all over the place. For example, the price for Pedigree Complete adult dog food varied from 52 cents to $1.40 a pound.
• In most cases, buying the bigger size will save money. If youre in a store that only has small sizes, you may need to buy that item to tide you over for a few days, but for the long-term, this is not the way to go.
• Dont assume online prices are always lower than physical stores. They were for most items, but not all. And in doing my analysis, I assumed that I bought enough to get free shipping. If youre paying for shipping, you may lose that price advantage.
• Most retailers charged the same price for the same product both in-store and online, but not always. Also, in some cases, the sizes available online were different from what was available at the store.

The key takeaway I learned from this experience: Comparison shopping isnt easy because the sizes available often vary from store to store.

When looking for the variety pack of Fancy Feast cat food, I found packages of 24, 30 and 60 cans. Most of the variety packs had 3-ounce cans, but one store had 5.5-ounce cans. The packages of Greenies (largest available at that store) were in 6, 8, 12, 27 and 36-ounce sizes.

The only way to know which store is selling the specific product you want for the lowest price is to use a unit price calculator. Just put in the price, the number of items and the weight, and youll get the per-ounce or per-pound price.

A FEW MORE MONEY-SAVING TIPS

There arent a lot of coupons for pet food, but it doesnt take long to check the manufacturers or retailers websites, or visit a coupon website, such as RetailMeNot.

While pet food is something you need to buy year-round, be prepared to stock-up when you see coupons or spot a sale. The deepest discounts on dog and cat food are found around Memorial Day, at 19 percent off, according RetailMeNots data. Other peak times to buy are the end of September and during Cyber Week after Thanksgiving.

MORE FROM BETTER

Want more tips like these? NBC News BETTER is obsessed with finding easier, healthier and smarter ways to live. Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Find Cheap Pet Food

15 of the Best Pet Water Fountains

This is a must-read if you are thinking about buying a drinking fountain for your pet cat or dog. We have reviewed the 15 most popular fountains, so you can decide which one is best for your pet.[more>>]

15 of The Best Automatic Pet Feeders

If you want to make sure your pet cat or dog has access to the right portions of food at regular intervals when you are not around, then an automatic pet food dispenser is ideal.[more>>]

5 of the Hottest Smart Pet Products

These days, it seems you can do almost anything via an app on your smartphone. We take a look at the hottest apps and smart tech pet products that are certain to make your pet's life even easier![more>>]

Are you fed up with spending too much money buying pet food for your cat or dog? Just a few moments here using our pet food price comparison website could save you money! Every day, we compare the prices of hundreds of different cat and dog foods at the leading online pet stores to find you the best pet food deals. Now, thanks to PetMoneySaver.co.uk, finding cheap cat food, or cheap dog food is easily done in just a few seconds. In addition, we list a number of pet shop discount codes and special offers, so you can be sure you're getting the best deals on pet products online! We also have an in-depth Pet Insurance section, where you can find out about the different types of pet insurance policy available, and also compare pet insurance policies from different pet insurance providers to see which ones best suit your needs.

Our blog also includes a number of interesting pet-related articles; including reviews of pet products such as water fountains, and articles on subjects ranging from pet health to interesting facts about pets. If you enjoy what you read on this website, then you can join us on our Facebook page, or check out our Instagram page using the links at the top of the page.

Dog Food

Your four-legged friend rewards you in many ways. Whether it's accompanying you on a brisk jog to help you stay in shape, or giving you a cuddle when you need it most, there's no denying how rewarding a pup can be. Show your appreciation and reward your furry friend with the foods and dog treats they crave.

Chewy carries a wide range of premium dog food and tasty dog treats for your precious pup. When it comes to choosing a dog food, you may find all the options overwhelming. Let us help you find the best one with dog food reviews, ingredient information, and personal one-on-one attention when you give us a call at 1-800-672-4399. At Chewy we understand the important role dog food plays. Most of the nutrients your dog needs to stay strong and healthy comes from the food they eat. Chewy carries healthy dog food brands like Blue Buffalo dog food, Royal Canin dog food, Taste of the Wild dog food and Hill's Prescription Diet dog food. We even carry grain-free dog food, limited ingredient dog food for pups with food allergies or sensitivities and diet dog food.

Raw dog food can give your dog a shinier coat, healthier skin, cleaner teeth and more energy. Dry dog food is great for the pup parent who is away all day. Dry dog kibble can be left out for your canine companion to snack on throughout the day without spoiling. Dry dog kibble can also be good for your dog's teeth -crunchy kibble helps pups get rid of pesky plaque and tartar. Wet dog food often contains flavors and ingredients canines love. Freeze-dried dog food is another option, the limited ingredients in freeze-dried dog food varieties makes it a great dog food for sensitive stomachs or food allergies. And you may also consider feeding your pup dehydrated dog food. Dehydrated dog food is created by taking the whole foods found in a raw doggie diet, and slowly heating them until they're dehydrated. An added bonus: Dehydrated dog food is easy to transport for pup parents who are on the go. And, frozen dog food is another great option. These doggie meals offer your pet the nutrition he was meant to consume in the wild and are rich in protein and typically contain less additives. Whether it's dry kibble your dog desires or a grain-free wet food your canine craves, you can find this and more at Chewy's online pet store where you find the best dog supplies including beds for dogs, dog houses and more. Check out our official Chewy promo codes & coupons page for additional dog food deals and savings!

Related Searches: Blue Buffalo Dog Food, Cesar Dog Food, Gentle Giants Dog Food, Merrick Dog Food, Nutro Dog Food, Grain Free Dog Food, Raw Dog Food, Canned Dog Food, High Protein Dog Food, Senior Dog Food

Related Categories: Human-Grade Dog Food and Treats, Dog Food Toppers & Gravy, Premium Dog Food

How do I set up Autoship on my dog food?

Set up Autoship on your dog food order by clicking the Autoship option at checkout. You can set the frequency of your shipments here, too, and change the quantities and timing of your orders at any time. You can also cancel Autoship at any time if your needs should change. Never run out of dog food again with Chewys convenient set it and forget it Autoship service!

How much food do you feed dogs?

Feed dogs only as much as they need to maintain a healthy weight and good activity levels for their size, age and lifestyle. Amounts will vary widely from dog to dog, but feeding charts on the food youre feeding should help you determine the right amounts. When in doubt, always consult with your vet about quantities and types of foods to feed, and remember to always feed treats in moderation.

What is the best dog food?

The best dog food will vary from canine to canine, and will differ depending on factors like life stage, breed and individual nutritional and health needs. Chewy offers premium dog food for the best high-quality taste and nutritional value. Consult with your vet to find the best food option for your best friend.