Skip to content
In The Kibble
My dogs
LINE VS LINE · MERRICK KIBBLE

Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Lil' Plates

Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Lil' Plates: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Merrick Grain Free against Merrick Lil' Plates, measured across 14 and 9 kibble recipes: 31.3% vs 30.7% protein and 33% vs 33% starch, as fed.

14 kibble recipes reviewed 9 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Protein and fat are close: Merrick Grain Free averages 31.3% protein and 15.1% fat as fed, while Merrick Lil' Plates averages 30.7% protein and 15.3% fat. Estimated starch matches at 33% average for both lines.
  • Merrick Grain Free averages 406 kcal per cup, while Merrick Lil' Plates averages 444 kcal per cup.
  • Merrick Grain Free is 100% grain-free; Merrick Lil' Plates is 89% grain-free.
  • Merrick Grain Free has 11 adult, 2 puppy and 1 senior recipes for all breeds, plus one large breed recipe. Merrick Lil' Plates has 6 adult, 1 senior, 1 puppy and 1 all life stages recipe, sized for small breeds.
  • Merrick Grain Free has 14 kibble recipes at an estimated price per pound of $3.32. Merrick Lil' Plates has 9 kibble recipes at an estimated price per pound of $3.50.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Merrick Grain Free Merrick Lil' Plates Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 14 9 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 31.3%28.0% to 38.0% 30.7%27.0% to 32.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 15.1%10.0% to 17.0% 15.3%12.0% to 18.0% 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% 33%31% to 38% 37%
Calories per cup 406352 to 462 444393 to 488 398
Grain-free recipes 100% 89%
Life stages Adult 11, Puppy 2, Senior 1 Adult 6, Senior 1, Puppy 1, All Life Stages 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 14, Large Breed 1 All Breeds 9, Small Breed 9
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 $3.50/lbEstimate, median of 7 of 9 recipesRecipes run $3.05 to $4.30Prices checked Sep 28, 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 Lil' Plates

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato with Raw Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 32.0% as fed Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato with Raw Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 32% Fat 15% Starch 33% 449 kcal/cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Puppy Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 31% Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Puppy Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 30% Fat 18% Starch 31% 488 kcal/cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 440 kcal per cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 32% Fat 16% Starch 32% 440 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Grain Free

  • Owners wanting a fully grain-free line, since Grain Free is 100% grain-free.
  • Owners of large breed adult dogs, covered by the line's one large breed recipe.
  • Owners wanting the Healthy Weight recipe, sold for weight management, at 352 kcal per cup.
A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Lil' Plates

  • Owners of small breed dogs, since every Lil' Plates recipe is sized for small breeds.
  • Owners wanting one recipe for every life stage, covered by the line's All Life Stages recipe.
  • Owners of puppies, served by the Puppy recipe at 18% fat and 488 kcal per cup.
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 Kitchen Comforts 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.

Keep In The Know,
Know What's In The Bowl

The In the Kibble newsletter. Useful emails for dog owners: what we find inside dog food, how to feed well, and a heads-up when a food is recalled.
DOUBLE OPT-IN // ONE CLICK TO STOP // NEVER SHARED