Best suet feeders

Suet is the single cheapest way to add birds a seed feeder never brings: woodpeckers, nuthatches, chickadees and wrens all take it, and most ignore a sunflower tube. That is why it shows up as a pick on so many pages on this site. This page is the suet feeder itself, compared properly. If you are still deciding what feeder types to run together, the feeder-by-species guide maps which bird comes to which. Every figure below is the maker's own, read on the dates in the sources — we have not handled these feeders.

What we judged on

1. Which animal it keeps off. The deciding criterion, and the one listings rarely state plainly. A suet feeder is either built against squirrels, built against starlings, or built against neither. No feeder on this page defeats both, and the makers who say so earn trust.
2. A tail prop, if you want woodpeckers. Woodpeckers brace on their stiff tail feathers to feed. A feeder with a tail prop lets them do that naturally; a small cage makes them cling awkwardly, and larger species give up.
3. Material. Recycled poly lumber does not crack, split or fade. Cedar is cheaper and looks right but weathers. Powder-coated steel is cheapest and rusts where the coating chips. Each is a legitimate trade at its price.
4. Capacity. One cake or two. A double halves how often you refill, which matters in the cold months when suet goes fastest.
5. Whether it comes apart. Suet is greasy and goes rancid. A feeder you can open and clean easily is a feeder that stays in use.
6. What the maker admits. Brome publishes the list of animals its mechanism will not stop. More Birds prints "Squirrel Resistant: No" on its spec sheet. We treated that honesty as a point in their favor, not against them.

The picks

Ranked picks with what each is best for, our score out of ten, the budget band it falls in, and a link to check its current price on Amazon.

#	Pick	Best for	Score	Price
01	Kettle Moraine Cedar Suet Feeder with Tail Prop, Single (8315TP)Solid cedar, stainless screws, a tail prop and a sliding roof, made in the USA — the cheapest way on this page to give a woodpecker somewhere to brace.Under $25	A woodpecker feeder on a small budget	7.8out of 10	$24.50 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded
02	Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SNUD)The suet faces the ground, so clinging birds hang underneath to feed and starlings, which do not like to, mostly give up.Under $50	Suet that starlings keep emptying	7.9out of 10	$34.99 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded
03	Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106)The only suet feeder here that closes itself when a squirrel climbs on, and the only one whose maker prints the list of animals it will not stop.Under $250	Suet that squirrels have been stealing	7.6out of 10	$100.20 · View on Amazon $109.959% off #ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded
04	Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SNPS)A long recycled-plastic feeder with a 9.5 in tail prop — the one design here built around how a big woodpecker actually braces to feed.Under $50	Large woodpeckers, pileated included	8.4out of 10	$44.99 · View on Amazon #ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded
05	More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet with Weather Guard (model 38070)Two independent steel cages under a shingle roof for about the price of a single cake — and a maker honest enough to print that it is not squirrel-resistant.Under $25	The cheapest way to put out two cakes	7.5out of 10	$11.99 · View on Amazon $14.3917% off #ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded

Ranked for the most common situation — a yard that wants woodpeckers and has not yet been raided. If squirrels or starlings are already a problem, skip straight to the pick built for them.

Pick 01

A woodpecker feeder on a small budget

Kettle Moraine Cedar Suet Feeder with Tail Prop, Single (8315TP)

Solid cedar, stainless screws, a tail prop and a sliding roof, made in the USA — the cheapest way on this page to give a woodpecker somewhere to brace.

Score

7.8

Woodpecker fit

8.0

Durability

7.0

Starling defense

2.0

Value

9.5

Budget band

Under $25

$24.50 · View on Amazon

#ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded

Published specifications

Suet capacity

1 standard-sized suet cake (a double version also exists)Source: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Height

13 in without the cable; 18 in with itSource: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Width

6.5 inSource: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Material

Solid cedar with stainless steel screwsSource: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Mesh

1 in x 1/2 in heavy vinyl-coated meshSource: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Refilling

The roof slides up the stainless steel cable to open the cageSource: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Tail prop

Yes, for woodpecker perchingSource: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Made in

USASource: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

Depth and weight

Not published by the manufacturer in a form we could verify on the maker's product page

Maker's list price and stock

$21.00 for the single, add-to-cart on 2026-09-16Source: Kettle Moraine Woodworking, Cedar Suet Feeders with Tail Prop (model 8315TP) product page, kmwoodworking.com, read 2026-09-16

What it gets right

• A tail prop at the lowest price on this page — the feature that matters most to woodpeckers
• Solid cedar and stainless hardware at a budget price, which is unusual
• The sliding roof means refilling is one-handed with no tools
• Made in the USA

What it does not

• Cedar weathers and will eventually need replacing, unlike the recycled-plastic feeders
• Single cake only
• No defense against starlings or squirrels
• The maker does not publish depth or weight

Who it is for

Someone who wants to see woodpeckers and would rather spend the difference on suet. It is the obvious first suet feeder for most yards.

Skip this if

Starlings or squirrels are already a problem in your yard. This is a plain feeder with a tail prop, and it will be emptied like one.

Pick 02

Suet that starlings keep emptying

Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SNUD)

The suet faces the ground, so clinging birds hang underneath to feed and starlings, which do not like to, mostly give up.

Score

7.9

Starling defense

8.0

Durability

9.5

Capacity

5.0

Value

7.5

Budget band

Under $50

$34.99 · View on Amazon

#ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded

Published specifications

Suet capacity

1 suet cakeSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Outside dimensions

7.75 in L x 8.75 in W x 4.25 in HSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Interior dimensions

4.625 in L x 5 in W x 2 in HSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Design

Birds feed from below; the maker describes it as comfortable for woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees but difficult for starlingsSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Material

Recycled poly lumberSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Construction

Vinyl-coated grid; roof over the cakeSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Hanging

12 in cable includedSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Weight

2 lbSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Made in

USASource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Maker's list price and stock

$37.99, in stock and ready to ship on 2026-09-16Source: Birds Choice Suet Feeder Upside Down for Single Cake (SKU SNUD) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

What it gets right

• Upside-down feeding is the most effective design against starlings that does not involve moving parts
• Recycled poly lumber, the same no-crack material as the pileated feeder
• The roof keeps rain off the cake, and hanging it upside down keeps the suet out of direct sun
• Made in the USA with interior dimensions published, so you can check your cakes fit

What it does not

• One cake only — it empties faster than a double
• Resistant, not proof: the maker says difficult for starlings, and a determined one will still manage
• No defense against squirrels, which hang upside down perfectly well
• Birds take a few days to learn to feed from below; expect a slow start

Who it is for

Anyone in starling country who has watched a flock strip a suet cake before a single woodpecker got near it. It is the design answer to exactly that.

Skip this if

Squirrels, not starlings, are what empties your suet. They cling upside down with no trouble at all, and this feeder does nothing about them.

Pick 03

Suet that squirrels have been stealing

Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106)

The only suet feeder here that closes itself when a squirrel climbs on, and the only one whose maker prints the list of animals it will not stop.

Score

7.6

Squirrel defense

9.5

Starling defense

2.0

Cleaning

9.0

Value

5.5

Budget band

Under $250

$100.20 · View on Amazon

$109.959% off

#ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded

Published specifications

Suet capacity

2 suet cakesSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Crumb ports

Crumb ports where birds pick up fallen suet piecesSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Loading

Mess-free suet loading, which the maker describes as no more greasy fingersSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Squirrel mechanism

Weight-adjustable spring: the maker states a squirrel's weight forces the shroud down and closes accessSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Materials

Chew-proof on all exposed parts, UV-resistant componentsSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Clearance the maker recommends

18 in all around, so a squirrel has to climb onto the feeder rather than reach itSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

What the maker says it does NOT stop

Grackles, starlings, juvenile red, Douglas and flying squirrels, chipmunks, possums, bears, deer and raccoonsSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Cleaning

Detaches for tool-free cleaningSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Warranty

Brome Lifetime CareSource: Brome Squirrel Buster Suet (model 1106) product page, store.bromebirdcare.com, read 2026-09-16

Dimensions and weight

Not published by the manufacturer in a form we could verify on the maker's product page

What it gets right

• A weight-activated shroud is the only mechanism on this page that actually defeats adult squirrels
• Crumb ports catch the pieces that normally fall to the ground and feed rodents
• Tool-free disassembly — suet is greasy, and a feeder that will not come apart does not get cleaned
• Lifetime Care is the strongest warranty here

What it does not

• Several times the price of every other feeder on this page
• Brome's own published list says it will not stop starlings or grackles, both common suet raiders
• Needs 18 in of clearance to work as designed, which rules out many window and fence spots
• The maker's page does not publish dimensions or weight

Who it is for

Someone who has watched squirrels strip a suet cake in an afternoon. If that is the complaint, this is the one feeder here that answers it.

Skip this if

Your problem is starlings rather than squirrels. Brome lists starlings among the animals this feeder will not stop. Buy an upside-down feeder instead.

Pick 04

Large woodpeckers, pileated included

Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SNPS)

A long recycled-plastic feeder with a 9.5 in tail prop — the one design here built around how a big woodpecker actually braces to feed.

Score

8.4

Woodpecker fit

10.0

Durability

9.5

Starling defense

2.0

Value

8.0

Budget band

Under $50

$44.99 · View on Amazon

#ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded

Published specifications

Suet capacity

2 suet cakes (not included)Source: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Outside dimensions

8 in L x 3 in W x 22.5 in H; 29 in with the hanging cableSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Interior dimensions

4.5 in L x 1.75 in W x 9.25 in HSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Tail prop

9.5 in longSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Material

Recycled poly lumber, which the maker guarantees will never crack, split or fadeSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Construction

Vinyl-coated grid and stainless steel screwsSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Weight

2.5 lbSource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Made in

USASource: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

Maker's list price and stock

$48.99, in stock and ready to ship on 2026-09-16Source: Birds Choice Suet Feeder with Tail Prop for Two Cakes (SKU SNPS) product page, birdschoice.com, read 2026-09-16

What it gets right

• 9.5 in of tail prop, sized for the largest woodpeckers in North America
• Recycled poly lumber with a no-crack, no-split, no-fade guarantee — it outlasts cedar
• Two cakes, so it needs refilling half as often as a single cage
• Made in the USA, with a full dimension and weight table published

What it does not

• 22.5 in tall before the cable, which needs a real branch or a tall hook
• No squirrel or starling defense of any kind
• At 2.5 lb loaded with suet, it swings in wind on a thin branch
• Overkill for a yard that only sees downy woodpeckers, which feed happily from a plain cage

Who it is for

Someone who has seen a pileated woodpecker nearby, or who wants to give one a reason to visit. It is also the best-built feeder on the page for the money.

Skip this if

You only get small woodpeckers. The tail prop is the whole point of this feeder, and a downy woodpecker does not need 9.5 in of it.

Pick 05

The cheapest way to put out two cakes

More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet with Weather Guard (model 38070)

Two independent steel cages under a shingle roof for about the price of a single cake — and a maker honest enough to print that it is not squirrel-resistant.

Score

7.5

Capacity

8.5

Value

10.0

Woodpecker fit

5.0

Durability

6.5

Budget band

Under $25

$11.99 · View on Amazon

$14.3917% off

#ad Price as of September 17, 2026. How we are funded

Published specifications

Suet capacity

2 suet cakes, in 2 independent cagesSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Closure

Easy-open, double-locking closure systemSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Dimensions

7 in H x 5 in W x 6.75 in DSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Material and finish

Steel, weather-resistant brown powder coatSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Roof

Shingle-pattern roof that diverts rain and snowSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Grid

Spacing designed for clinging birdsSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Other uses the maker lists

Small seed cakes, nesting material in spring, oranges in summerSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Squirrel resistant?

No — stated as such by the makerSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

Made in

ChinaSource: More Birds Two Cake Suet Buffet Bird Feeder with Weather Guard (model 38070) product page, perkypet.com, read 2026-09-16

What it gets right

• Two cakes for the lowest price on this page by a wide margin
• Independent cages, so you can offer two different cakes or refill one at a time
• The roof keeps suet drier than an open cage
• Doubles as a nesting-material or orange holder out of season, which the maker lists

What it does not

• No tail prop, so large woodpeckers feed awkwardly
• Explicitly not squirrel-resistant, by the maker's own spec sheet
• Steel with powder coat will eventually rust where the coating chips
• The only feeder on this page not made in the USA

Who it is for

A first suet feeder bought on a whim, or a second feeder to double capacity cheaply. At this price it is the easiest way to find out what suet brings to your yard.

Skip this if

You want pileated or other large woodpeckers. Without a tail prop they struggle to brace, and the Birds Choice pileated feeder is built for exactly that.

Match the feeder to the problem

The published figures, side by side

Squirrels versus starlings: two different problems

This is the part most suet guides blur, and it decides the purchase. Squirrels and starlings raid suet in completely different ways, so the design that stops one does nothing about the other.

Squirrels climb onto a feeder, and that is what a weight-activated design is built around: Brome states that when a squirrel climbs on, its weight forces the shroud down and closes access. But squirrels cling and hang upside down with no trouble, so an upside-down feeder does not keep them off.

Starlings are the opposite case, and the makers are clear about it. Birds Choice builds its upside-down feeder so clinging birds such as woodpeckers, nuthatches and chickadees feed from below, and describes it as difficult for starlings. Brome, meanwhile, lists starlings among the animals its weight-activated suet feeder will not stop. So the squirrel-proof feeder is the wrong tool for starlings, and the upside-down feeder is the wrong tool for squirrels.

Suet through the seasons

• Winter is suet's season. High-fat food is exactly what small birds need in the cold, and it is when suet draws the most species.
• Summer heat softens rendered suet and can turn it rancid. Many makers sell no-melt cakes for warm months; alternatively, take the feeder down in high summer.
• Shade helps. An upside-down feeder keeps the cake out of direct sun by design, which is a genuine advantage in warmer climates.
• Clean between cakes. Suet residue goes rancid on the grid. A feeder that opens easily is the one that actually gets cleaned.
• Out of season, the cages stay useful. More Birds lists nesting material in spring and orange halves in summer for its double cage.

What not to buy

• An upside-down feeder to stop squirrels. They hang upside down perfectly well. It solves starlings, not squirrels.
• A squirrel-proof suet feeder to stop starlings. Brome says plainly its mechanism will not stop them. Match the design to the pest.
• A tiny cage for pileated woodpeckers. Without a tail prop, large woodpeckers cannot brace properly. Buy the long tail-prop feeder if you want them.
• Anything that will not open. Suet goes rancid on the grid. If you cannot get in to clean it, it will stop being used.