Dog food types
Why is wet dog food so much more expensive per calorie?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
Wet food costs more per calorie mainly because it is roughly 75 percent water, so you are paying to can, ship, and store a heavier, bulkier product for the same amount of actual nutrition. A 400 g can might provide fewer calories than a 100 g portion of kibble, despite costing noticeably more.
The water math behind the price
Because canned food is mostly water, a dog needing 800 kcal a day might need three or four typical 400 g cans, while the same calories come from around 250 to 300 g of a calorie-dense kibble, which weighs and costs much less to package.
Manufacturing and packaging costs
Canning requires sterilization through retort processing, sealed metal or foil packaging, and a shorter shelf life once opened, all of which add cost compared with kibble's simpler bagging and long dry shelf life.
Working out true cost per feeding
Compare cost per 100 kcal rather than cost per bag or can, since a cheaper looking can that is calorie-light can end up costing more per day than it first appears.
Key takeaways
- High water content means you pay more per unit of actual nutrition in wet food.
- Comparing cost per 100 kcal, not per package, gives an honest price comparison.
- Canning and shorter shelf life add real manufacturing cost on top of the water content.