Dog Food Calculator

How many calories does a dog need per day?

A neutered adult dog at a healthy weight typically needs about 1.6 times its resting energy requirement, and individual dogs land roughly 10% either side of that: about 300–400 kcal a day at 10 lb and 1,600–2,000 kcal at 90 lb. Calorie needs don't rise in a straight line with weight: a 90 lb dog needs about five times the calories of a 10 lb dog, not nine times.

Dog's weight	Typical daily calories (neutered adult, normal activity)
10 lb (4.5 kg)	300–400 kcal
30 lb (14 kg)	700–900 kcal
50 lb (23 kg)	1,000–1,300 kcal
70 lb (32 kg)	1,300–1,700 kcal
90 lb (41 kg)	1,600–2,000 kcal

These are starting points, not prescriptions. Two dogs of the same weight can differ by 20% or more, which is why the real test is your dog's body condition two to three weeks later, not the number on the screen. Our guide to how much to feed your dog covers the rib-and-waist check in detail.

How this calculator works

The calculator uses the standard veterinary energy formula in two steps: it works out your dog's resting energy requirement (RER), then multiplies it by a factor for life stage and activity to get the daily maintenance energy requirement.

Step 1, resting energy: RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75. This is the energy a dog burns at rest, and it's the same formula veterinarians use in clinics.

Step 2, daily energy: RER × a factor from this table.

Your dog	Factor used
Puppy under 4 months	3.0 × RER
Puppy 4 to 12 months	2.0 × RER
Neutered adult, normal activity	1.6 × RER
Intact adult, normal activity	1.8 × RER
Neutered adult, low activity	1.2 × RER
Very active adult (long runs, dog sports)	2.0 × RER
Working dog (herding, sledding)	3.0 × RER
Neutered senior, normal activity	1.4 × RER

Working dogs vary the most: veterinary guidelines put moderate work at 2 to 5 times resting energy and hard work higher still, so treat the working-dog result as a starting point to adjust with your vet.

Step 3, portions: the daily calories divided by your food's calorie density. US bags list it as kcal per cup; European bags usually list it per 100 g or per kg. The calculator accepts either.

How do I convert calories into cups or grams?

Divide the daily calories by the calories in one cup (or in 100 g) of your food. A 30 lb dog needing 790 kcal, eating a kibble with 380 kcal per cup, gets about 2.1 cups a day: just over a cup per meal on two meals.

Calorie density varies a lot between foods, from about 300 to more than 500 kcal per cup for dry food, so a cup count only applies to one specific bag. Change foods and the portion changes with it. If your label only gives energy in kilojoules (kJ), divide by 4.184 to get kilocalories (kcal). Our guide to choosing a dog food shows where the calorie statement sits on a label.

Treats count too. Keep them under about 10% of the daily calories and take them out of the food, not on top of it.

When should you not rely on a calculator?

Use the result as a maintenance estimate for a healthy dog, and ask your vet instead when your dog needs to lose or gain weight, is pregnant or nursing, is a large or giant breed puppy, or has a medical condition. Weight loss in particular is usually planned from the dog's ideal weight, not its current weight, with regular weigh-ins, which is why this calculator does not offer a weight-loss mode.

Unexplained weight loss, a sudden change in appetite, or a dog that stays hungry on a correct portion are reasons to see a vet, not to change the bowl. See signs your dog needs a vet for what's urgent. For life-stage feeding, our puppy food guide and senior dog food guide go deeper.

Veterinary disclaimer: This calculator gives a general estimate for healthy dogs, not a feeding prescription. Weight-loss plans, underweight dogs, pregnant or nursing dogs, and dogs with medical conditions need portions set with a licensed veterinarian.

Frequently asked questions