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LINE VS LINE · MERRICK KIBBLE

Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts

Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Merrick Grain Free against Merrick Kitchen Comforts, measured across 14 and 10 kibble recipes: 31.3% vs 26.3% protein and 33% vs 30% starch, as fed.

14 kibble recipes reviewed 10 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Merrick Grain Free recipes average 31.3% protein as fed (28 to 38%), while Merrick Kitchen Comforts recipes average 26.3% protein as fed (25 to 28%), a gap of about 5 points.
  • Fat is close between the lines: Grain Free averages 15.1% fat as fed, Kitchen Comforts averages 15% fat as fed. Estimated starch differs more, averaging 33% for Grain Free versus 30% for Kitchen Comforts.
  • Calories per cup are close: Grain Free averages 406 kcal per cup, Kitchen Comforts averages 414 kcal per cup.
  • Grain-free share differs completely: Merrick Grain Free is 100% grain-free, while Merrick Kitchen Comforts is 0% grain-free.
  • Grain Free offers 14 kibble recipes across Adult, Puppy and Senior, including 1 Large Breed recipe, at an estimated price per pound $3.32; Kitchen Comforts offers 10 recipes with 2 Small Breed recipes, at an estimated price per pound $2.92.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Merrick Grain Free Merrick Kitchen Comforts Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 14 10 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 31.3%28.0% to 38.0% 26.3%25.0% to 28.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 15.1%10.0% to 17.0% 15.0%9.0% to 16.0% 14.3%
Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. 33%25% to 38% 30%25% to 39% 37%
Calories per cup 406352 to 462 414381 to 467 398
Grain-free recipes 100% 0%
Life stages Adult 11, Puppy 2, Senior 1 Adult 8, Senior 1, Puppy 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 14, Large Breed 1 All Breeds 9, Small Breed 2
Price per pound, estimate $3.32/lbEstimate, median of 11 of 14 recipesRecipes run $2.40 to $3.54Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 $2.92/lbEstimate, median of 10 of 10 recipesRecipes run $2.41 to $3.75Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026
FDA recalls, last 5 years None None

Line figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that line, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Wet food, toppers and prescription diets are left out so the numbers compare like with like. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead. Why we use as fed. The price per pound is an estimate: the median of each recipe's lowest price per pound across the bag sizes and US retailers our price checks found, so a single bag can cost more or less. Shelf prices change often.

WHERE TO START

Top Recipes in Each Line

Merrick Grain Free

Merrick Grain-Free Real Duck + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 34.0% as fed Merrick Grain-Free Real Duck + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 34% Fat 17% Starch 29% 389 kcal/cup Merrick Grain-Free Real Lamb + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 32% Merrick Grain-Free Real Lamb + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 30% Fat 17% Starch 32% 393 kcal/cup Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 352 kcal per cup Merrick Grain-Free Healthy Weight Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 30% Fat 10% Starch 38% 352 kcal/cup

Merrick Kitchen Comforts

Merrick Kitchen Comforts Small Breed Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 27.0% as fed Merrick Kitchen Comforts Small Breed Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 27% Fat 16% Starch 25% 467 kcal/cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Beef & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 25% Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Beef & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 16% Starch 25% 386 kcal/cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 420 kcal per cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 15% Starch 27% 420 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Grain Free

  • Owners wanting a grain-free kibble, since Grain Free is 100% grain-free versus 0% for Kitchen Comforts.
  • Large breed dog owners, since Grain Free's Large Breed recipe has 462 kcal per cup.
  • Owners wanting higher protein recipes, since Grain Free averages 31.3% protein versus 26.3% for Kitchen Comforts.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Kitchen Comforts

  • Small breed dog owners, since Kitchen Comforts has 2 Small Breed recipes.
  • Owners wanting grain-inclusive recipes, since Kitchen Comforts is 0% grain-free.
  • Owners seeking a lower price, since Kitchen Comforts' estimated price per pound is $2.92 versus $3.32.
THE WHOLE RANGE

Every Merrick Line

Line Kibble recipes Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup Grain-free Price / lb, est.
Grain Free 14 31.3% 15.1% 33% 406 100% $3.32
Backcountry 13 33.8% 16.5% 29% 433 77% $4.25
Kitchen Comforts 10 26.3% 15.0% 30% 414 0% $2.92
Lil' Plates 9 30.7% 15.3% 33% 444 89% $3.50
Full Source 6 31.7% 16.3% 32% 386 33% $3.64
Limited Ingredient Diet 5 23.8% 14.0% 41% 427 60% $3.45
Backcountry Raw Infused 1 32.0% 16.0% 32% 395 100% $4.25

Averages over each line's kibble we review, as fed. Lines with only a few recipes swing more on one bag. Price per pound is the same estimate as above.

KEEP COMPARING

More Merrick Line Comparisons

Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Grain Free Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Lil' Plates vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts

The Merrick Lines

All Merrick food Merrick Grain Free Merrick Backcountry Merrick Kitchen Comforts Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Full Source Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused

Merrick Against Other Brands

Merrick vs Blue Buffalo Merrick vs Wellness Merrick vs Taste of the Wild Canidae vs Merrick Merrick vs Fromm

How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brand's own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. The written comparison is drafted from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.

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