Compared on one dog · prices checked October 21, 2026

Fresh dog food delivery: how the boxes work and what they cost

Fresh dog food delivery estimates run from $9.59 to $21.74 a day for a 30 lb adult among calorie-based comparisons. Across 15 brands checked October 21, 2026, costs depend on the recipe, portion and price basis.

Calories a day

744

kcal · methods 694–794

outlines: 10 lb and 100 lb dogs

Viva RawBeef for Dogs

527g

$9.59 a day · $292 a month

1 of 23

744 kcal a day for a 30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks. Viva Raw Beef for Dogs: 527 grams, $9.59 a day, $292 a month.

From 3 to 180 lb

Estimates for healthy dogs at ideal weight. Ask your vet; weigh monthly and adjust. How we calculate

Every bowl for this dog

30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks · 744 kcal a day. Sorted by price a day; “Show” puts the bowl next to your dog.

  1. Viva Raw

    527 g a day · 18.6 oz

    $9.59a day · $292 a month

    Beef for Dogs · Raw · 1,411 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    partner link
  2. JustFoodForDogs

    477 g a day · 16.8 oz

    $12.16a day · $370 a month

    Beef & Russet Potato · Gently cooked · 1,559 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    partner link
  3. Maev

    722 g a day · 25.5 oz

    $14.25a day · $433 a month

    Raw · 1,030 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Our review of Maev

    No partner link. Similar with an open price: Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $14.45 a day

  4. Smallbatch

    155 g a day · 5.5 oz

    $14.45a day · $439 a month

    Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 4,793 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    partner link
  5. JustFoodForDogs

    807 g a day · 28.5 oz

    $15.42a day · $469 a month

    Fish & Sweet Potato · Gently cooked · 922 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    partner link
  6. Nom Nom

    623 g a day · 22 oz

    $15.60a day · $474 a month

    Beef Mash · Gently cooked · 1,194 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Our review of Nom Nom

    No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day

  7. Smallbatch

    149 g a day · 5.3 oz

    $16.35a day · $497 a month

    Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 5,004 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    partner link
  8. A Pup Above

    538 g a day · 19 oz

    $16.56a day · $504 a month

    Gently cooked · 1,384 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day

By the brand’s own 2–3% rule No calories on the label: don’t compare these with the bowls above

“As a general rule, an adult pet should consume about 2-3% of their ideal body weight of Darwin’s raw food per day.”Darwin's, product page

Not enough open data yet

Some buttons are partner links: we may earn a commission if you buy. Rows are sorted by price a day, never by commission.

Ranked on one dog

Which food costs less per day?

Viva Raw Beef for Dogs is the lowest calorie-based estimate; cooked JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash is the highest. Both supply the same estimated 744 kcal a day, not the same weight of food.

Prices throughout were listed on brand stores, or PetSmart where noted, on October 21, 2026. The table distinguishes catalog, one-time and subscription prices. Lower raw-food ranges use body weight rather than calories and are not directly comparable.

Compare the daily calorie allowance and price basis before comparing the dollar amounts.

30 lb adult (744 kcal a day): the same dog at each brand, prices checked October 21, 2026
Brand and recipeTypeGrams a dayPer dayPer monthPrice basis
We Feed Raw BeefRaw272–408 g*$5.33–8.00$162–243Lowest plan price: “Plans start at $8.89/pound”
Darwin's Natural Selections ChickenRaw272–408 g*$5.62–8.43$171–256Catalog price for 2 lb
Viva Raw Beef for DogsRaw527 g$9.59$292Catalog price for 2 lb
JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet PotatoCooked477 g$12.16$370One-time price; the first subscription box is $91.00
Maev RawRaw722 g$14.25$433Subscription price; one-time $206
Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried RawFreeze-dried155 g$14.45$439Catalog price on the brand store
JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet PotatoCooked807 g$15.42$469Catalog price on the brand store
Nom Nom Beef MashCooked623 g$15.60$474PetSmart shelf price, not the subscription
Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried RawFreeze-dried149 g$16.35$497Catalog price on the brand store
A Pup Above Gently CookedCooked538 g$16.56$504One-time price, plus shipping
Ollie Fresh ChickenCooked573 gAfter quiz—price after quiz
Ollie PorkCooked483 gAfter quiz—price after quiz

By the brand’s 2–3% of body weight rule: no calorie figure on the label, not comparable with the calorie-based rows.

Price per day

Why do daily portions differ?

Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw takes an estimated 5.5 oz a day; JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash takes 30.1 oz. Both portions provide the same calorie allowance because the freeze-dried recipe is more calorie-dense.

Price per pound alone misses this difference. The chart combines each recipe’s label calories with its listed price to estimate the cost of feeding the same dog.

A smaller daily portion does not necessarily mean a lower daily cost.

30 lb adult: price per day at listed prices, checked October 21, 2026

Calorie-based rows only; brands without an open price or calorie figure are listed apart.

30 lb adult: price per day at listed prices, checked October 21, 2026
Viva Raw Beef for Dogs$9.59
JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato$12.16
Maev Raw$14.25
Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw$14.45
JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato$15.42
Nom Nom Beef Mash$15.60
Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw$16.35
A Pup Above Gently Cooked$16.56
Smallbatch Lamb Small Bites Freeze-Dried Raw$17.25
JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash$21.74

No open price

What will the quiz price be?

Ollie, Spot & Tango and Sundays for Dogs show prices only after their quizzes. Label calories still allow portion estimates: Ollie Fresh Chicken comes to 20.2 oz a day for this dog.

Spot & Tango’s website says fresh plans start around $2 per day. That is the brand’s starting figure, not a quote for this 30 lb adult. Treat the advertised starting price separately from the plan offered after the quiz.

A brand’s starting figure cannot stand in for your dog’s subscription quote.

  • Lone Wolf Ranch

    155 g a day

    No open price found.

Calories or 2–3%

Can raw portions use body weight?

The 2–3% rule is what raw brands print, not a veterinary norm. For the 10 lb adult, the Raw Paws Beef & Vegetable recipe comes to an estimated 5.4 oz by calories, above the body-weight range in the table.

Darwin’s and We Feed Raw lack open calorie figures for these recipes. Their body-weight estimates therefore sit apart from the calorie-based ranking.

Body-weight percentages and calorie calculations are different ways of estimating portions, not interchangeable measures.

Calories versus the 2–3% rule: Raw Paws Pet Food Signature Blend Pet Food For Dogs & Cats – Beef & Vegetable Recipe, 1-Lb (1,936 kcal/kg)
DogBy caloriesBy 2–3% of body weight
10 lb adult152 g91–136 g
30 lb adult384 g272–408 g
60 lb active adult769 g544–816 g

The rule is what raw brands print; it is not a veterinary norm. Small dogs need more food per pound than the rule gives, large active dogs less or more depending on calories.

First-box offers

What happens after the first box?

Darwin’s advertises 70% off the first box; its Awin listing runs until December 30, 2026. JustFoodForDogs lists 50% off the first order, 20% off the second and 5% off future orders on its brand page.

Maev’s page lists 13% off with subscription. That is a subscription discount, not a first-box-only offer. These offers were checked October 21, 2026.

Keep introductory discounts separate from the price of later orders.

How the list is made

How are these estimates calculated?

  1. One dog

    30 lb adult, 744 kcal a day

  2. Label calories

    kcal per kg as printed by each brand

  3. Open prices

    listed prices with date, October 21, 2026

  4. Same order

    price per day, low to high

The calculation method uses FEDIAF, AAHA and WSAVA formulas, with a range between methods, then converts the 30 lb adult’s estimated 744 kcal into portions and costs using label calories and open prices.

Ask your vet about your dog’s needs; these are starting points, so weigh your dog monthly and adjust the amount.

The ranking holds the dog’s calorie allowance constant, not the size of the box.

Partner links

Brands on this page with a partner link

Buttons open the brand’s store in a new tab. They are partner links: if you buy, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Order and prices on this page do not depend on it.

Questions

Short answers

Does fresh dog food delivery require a subscription?

Not always. Viva Raw says subscriptions are optional and one-time boxes are available. JustFoodForDogs also lists a one-time purchase price separately from its subscription offer.

How often does a dog food subscription arrive?

The Farmer’s Dog says delivery options mostly range from 1 week to 2 months of food. Maev’s listed subscription is for 20 lb every 4 weeks; schedules are not uniform across brands.

Can I pause a fresh dog food subscription?

Maev says subscribers can pause, cancel or modify their subscription anytime. JustFoodForDogs describes options to skip a product or pause a subscription.

Does raw dog food delivery include shipping?

It depends on the brand and order. Darwin’s says shipping is free to most of the US on orders over 20 lbs. The daily estimates exclude tax and shipping unless the brand includes them.

Sources

  1. 1
    FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
  2. 2
    JustFoodForDogs: Beef Russet Potatojustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  3. 3
    Ollie: Ingredientsollie.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  4. 4
    Spot & Tango: Beef and Brown Ricespotandtango.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  5. 5
    Spot & Tango: How Much Does Fresh Dog Food Costspotandtango.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  6. 6
    Viva Raw: Beef for Dogsvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  7. 7
    Maev: Raw Foodmeetmaev.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  8. 8
    Sundays for Dogs: Beefsundaysfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  9. 9
    Darwin's: Natural Selections for Dogs Chickendarwinspet.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  10. 10
    We Feed Raw: Beefwefeedraw.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  11. 11
    The Farmer's Dog: Frequently Asked Questionsthefarmersdog.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  12. 12
    JustFoodForDogs: Real Meat Venison Dog Food Recipejustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  13. 13
    Smallbatch: Freeze-Dried Pork Sliders for Dogssmallbatchpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  14. 14
    JustFoodForDogs: Subscriptionsjustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
Partner linksSome buttons are partner links: if you buy after clicking, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Rows are sorted by price per day, never by commission; brands without a program are listed the same way.
Not veterinary adviceCalories and grams are estimates for healthy adult dogs at ideal weight. Ask your vet, especially about puppies, weight loss or illness; weigh your dog monthly.
Not tested by usNo food is fed or tested here. Calories, prices and terms come from brands’ own pages, checked October 21, 2026; brand claims are quoted as their words.

Cookies Analytics cookies. Accept lets Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity set cookies to see how the site is used. Reject: no analytics cookies and no Clarity; Google gets only cookieless visit signals. Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity set cookies only if you accept. Privacy policy