When it comes to the many different dog supplies you'll need to care for a pup, you're probably thinking that the choice of dog bowls will be a no-brainer. Actually, there are many different types of dog food bowls to choose from and tons of different styles as well. The best cheap dog food bowls will not only serve their purpose, but they'll be safe for your pet too.
The first thing you're asking yourself is, how can a dog food bowl be unsafe?
It starts with the materials used to manufacture the dog food bowl. We'll discuss this as well as how to pick your next best cheap dog food bowl later in the article.
We're also covering these five of the best cheap dog food bowls as great options for anybody looking for affordable yet safe food, and talking about their pros and cons:
| Cheap dog food bowl brands | Price | Quality | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| URPOWER Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with No Spill | $$$ | A+ | 4.6/5 |
| Gpet Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with Rubber Base | $ | A | 4.3/5 |
| Outward Hound Interactive Bloat Stop Dog Bowl | $$ | B+ | 4.6/5 |
| GPET Stainless Steel Dog Bowl with Rubber Base | $$$ | B- | 4.2/5 |
| Bergan Easy Diner Pet Feeder | $ | C | 4.4/5 |
* Click on the best cheap dog food bowl brand for more information and prices, or scroll below for more details.
How to pick the best cheap dog food bowl for your pooch?
Let's start with the safety of materials. The most unsafe bowls are made out of plastic.
So what about the plastic bowls?
Not necessarily as a rule, but oftentimes plastic dog food bowls are made with toxic chemicals that can leech into your dog's food and water. Over time, your dog may ingest enough chemicals to make him sick or cause a serious disease like cancer.
Some plastic dog bowls will also get scratched over time, and these scratches become the perfect home for bacteria. The bacteria is usually not completely removed during cleaning, so it immediately begins to grow again. This bacteria will also cause illness over time and can be hard to pinpoint when searching for a cause of the sickness.
Some very cheap dog food bowls made in China with no safety testing may contain other harmful toxins for dogs, including the infamous Bisphenol A (BPA).
Even though some plastic bowls are made with better materials (like the one mentioned below in this list), most of them aren't. On the bright side, there's plenty of options to choose from of cheap dog food bowls that are made of glass, ceramic, stainless steel or stoneware. These bowls are not only more sturdy than plastic bowls, they are safer too.
Why steel, glass or ceramic bowls are safer?
First, all the cons of plastic bowls mentioned above do not apply to these materials.
Dog food bowls made out of steel, ceramic or glass are also dishwasher safe. If the bowl is glazed, which is most common with ceramic bowls, the glaze is food grade and lead free.
If you purchase dog bowls made of glass, ceramic or stoneware, you'll need to replace them if they get chipped or your dog risks getting cut.
Many of the best cheap dog food bowls are made of stainless steel. This material is durable, easy to clean and safe for holding dog food or water. When washed regularly, stainless steel bowls for dogs will not contaminate food or water, and bacteria will not grow on them.
Always keep an eye on the manufacturer's details and read reviews.
Whichever type of cheap dog food bowl you choose, just make sure that it is made with safe, quality ingredients. If you're on a budget, you may want to stick with stainless steel bowls – they won't need to be replaced for many years, and majority of them are actually the cheapest options available on the market. The downside? They're not very attractive.
The bright side is that if you don't care about the looks of your doggy bowls, then you'll probably be able to use these stainless steel bowls with your dog(s) for decades.
Of course, if you want to buy bowls that will last for a long time, you need to think of your dog's growth too. You don't want to buy a small bowl for a large breed puppy. He'll outgrow it within a few months. You also don't want to buy a large bowl for a small breed or he may end up taking a swim when you're not looking. So take it into consideration.
TOP 5: Best Cheap Dog Food Bowls
Safe for your dog's food and water
1URPOWER Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with No Spill Non-Skid Silicone Mat
Spilled water, kibbles strewn all over the floor – does this remind you of the kitchen scene you just left this morning? Then this full pet feeding set from URPOWER could be just what you need.
It includes two stainless steel bowls and a silicone tray with a fixed bowl holder. Each rust-resistant bowl has a diameter of 5.5 inches and a capacity of 12 ounces. The tray has raised edges to contain spilled liquid and food. The bowl holder is molded into the tray, and this keeps the bowls in place and slightly elevates them from the floor level.
- Cheap dog food bowl reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
The BPA-free tray measures 17.2”x9” and has a silicone bottom to keep it stable. Pet owners found this to be just the perfect size and height for small breed dogs, cats and other small pets. The bowl holds just the right amount of food, and it’s neither too deep nor too shallow for the pets.
The bowl holder is so stable it doesn’t get displaced or knocked over with the usual excitement during meal times. The upturned perimeter makes for a mess-free and much neater feeding area. The bowls are removable and easy to wash or wipe clean. The same can be said about the silicone tray. The URPOWER Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with No Spill Non-Skid Silcone Mat is dishwasher safe, too, for those who prefer cleaning it that way.
Some buyers were not pleased with the stability of the mat. Puppies and larger dogs were able to push it or drag the mat across the floor, making a horrible mess. If you have a chewer, this may not be one of the best cheap dog food bowls for you either. Owners of chewers noted that this mat is squishy and easy to shred. It became more of a fun chew toy than a dog dish holder.
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Most helpful dog owner's review (read the full Amazon review): “The stainless steel bowls and rubber stand are fantastic, light weight, and hold the perfect amount of food and water for my full grown Sheltie puppy and my older and larger…”
2GPET 32-Ounce Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with Rubber Base
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
Bigger dogs need bigger bowls for their ample portions. These two 32-oz stainless steel bowls from GPET have just the right capacity for their food and water.
The rubber ring at the bottom of each bowl prevents sliding or tipping over which often causes wasteful and messy spillage.
- Cheap dog food bowl reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
Once settled on the floor – whether wooden, tile, or concrete – the bowl grips the surface securely. This rubber material also protects floors from abrasions. Since these bowls are not fixed together by a mat but are separate bowls instead, they can be placed at the desired distance from each other depending on the dog’s size or shoulder breadth and eating style.
These are sizeable bowls for adult medium- or large-size breeds of dogs, so don’t buy these for your small dogs or puppies. The bowls are not very thick, but pet owners haven’t had issues with denting. This makes for light and portable bowls that can be easily brought along during trips or camping. GPET 32-Ounce Stainless Steel Dog Bowls with Rubber Base are safe to wash on the top rack of the dishwasher, although they’re really quite a breeze to wash manually.
Pet owners were disappointed with how thin the bowls are, saying they felt very cheap. Complaints were also made about the bone shapes on the front of the bowl. Reviewers say they aren't attached well and will slide around or fall off after a few washings. Puppies and chewers have been known to chew the rubber ring around the bottom of the bowl, and once broken in one spot the entire ring falls off.
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3Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slow Feed Interactive Bloat Stop Dog Bowl
Like humans, dogs need to enjoy their food and not excitedly gobble it up as if in a race. Dogs that wolf down their food run the risk of indigestion, bloating, choking, and becoming obese, among the many negative effects of fast eating.
That’s where the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slow Feed Interactive Bloat Stop Dog Bowl comes in.
- Cheap dog food bowl reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
This is one of the best cheap dog food bowls as it was designed to encourage dogs to eat slower, and become healthier for it. Made of premium plastic, this bowl has ridges and mazes that urge dogs to explore and find their food. In effect, this design lengthens meal time allowing food to be digested properly. The bowls are available in small (2 cups) and large sizes (4 cups) and in three exciting colors and designs. It works similarly to some of the best interactive dog toys that stimulate the dog's brain.
For slow-feed type bowls, you can’t beat the price tag of the Outward Hound Fun Feeder Slow Feed Interactive Bloat Stop Dog Bowl. Dog owners are happy to note that while this bowl is made of plastic, it is free from BPA, PVC and phthalates often associated with plastics. The non-slip base keeps it in place and reduces spillage and wastage of food.
Clever dogs have been able to figure out the maze of this bowl very quickly, and therefore can still eat their food faster than they should. A few Amazon reviewers have noted that they believe they received a knock-off product that was not the same quality as the real Outward Hound version, so be careful if you order online.
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4GPET 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Dog Bowl with Rubber Base
One set of these GPET bowls consists of two 16-oz rust-resistant stainless steel bowls designed for feeding smaller dogs.
Each bowl has a rubber base to keep it steady and non-slip. They’re easy to wash and maintain, and these best cheap dog food bowls are even dishwasher-safe.
- Cheap dog food bowl reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
These bowls are very reasonably priced, and what makes them more irresistible is that each purchase is covered by a 5-year free replacement guarantee. Dog owners who bought this set strongly suggest that before buying, you have to take note of the size of the bowl and compare it with your pet’s requirements. This bowl can hold up to 2 cups of water and that’s perfect for small dogs. Unfortunately, they're not suitable for medium to large dogs.
Aside from concerns on the size, everything about GPET 16-Ounce Stainless Steel Dog Bowl with Rubber Base was well-appreciated by pet owners. The stainless material is easy to clean and visually appealing. By the bowl’s design alone – which features a base wider in diameter than that of the opening – it becomes physically impossible for a pet to tip the bowl over. The added rubber ring on the bottom completes the job of keeping a firm grip to the floor.
A few reviewers noted that the sticker label on these best cheap dog food bowls is placed on the bottom of the inside of the bowl. The sticker is hard to remove and leaves a lot of glue behind, thus contaminating the food or water. While some owners thought the bowls were too small for large breeds, other complained that they were too large for extra small and teacup breeds.
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5Bergan Easy Diner Pet Feeder
THIS PRODUCT IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE
The Bergan Easy Diner Pet Feeder contains a stable base that measures 16”x7”x13” and holds in place two plastic bowls for food and water of small pets.
Each dog food bowl is removable and has a capacity of around 2 ½ cups. The bowls are BPA-free and top rack dishwasher-safe.
- Cheap dog food bowl reviews: Read reviews of other pet owners
There’s a handy tab on the bowls that make lifting them up or scooping food a breeze. The same tab fits snugly into an indentation on the base to keep the bowls from moving. This blue-and-white set looks sleek and clean, and is easy on the eyes. These best cheap dog food bowls can be pushed to a corner when not in use and don't take up too much space. The set is made in the USA and is extremely affordable.
Some pet owners have used the Bergan Easy Diner Pet Feeder for their small dogs and other pets for more than 5 years, and they’re still counting the unit’s useful years ahead. It only shows how sturdy and durably made this product is. The compact design is just perfect, especially for homes with limited space. The cups are easy to clean and refill since they’re removable. This is an item that has proven very practical yet very cheap and easy to use.
Don’t use these best cheap dog food bowls to feed big pets since this will be inadequate for their needs, or for pets known to react adversely to plastic. Plastic bowls can also cause acne to develop on your dog's chin or around his face, which some unsatisfied reviewers say happened to their pets because of these bowls.
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