How much should I feed my dog a day?

Start from calories, not cups. A dog's resting energy requirement is 70 times its weight in kilograms to the power of 0.75; multiply by a factor for life stage and activity (1.6 for a typical neutered adult, 2 to 3 for puppies, 1.2 to 1.4 for couch dogs) to get daily calories. Divide by the kcal-per-cup printed on your bag to turn that into cups. This calculator does exactly that.

Why is my dog's bag feeding chart different?

Bag charts are built for the average dog on that food, usually leaning generous, and they don't know whether your dog is neutered, a couch potato or a trail runner. Use the chart as a sanity check and your dog's waistline as the final judge: you should feel ribs easily and see a waist from above.

How many times a day should a dog eat?

Two meals a day suits most adults. Puppies under four months do better on three or four small meals. Dogs prone to bloat (deep-chested large breeds) should also eat two or more smaller meals rather than one big one.

Do treats and chews count toward the daily amount?

Yes. The common rule is that treats, chews and lick mat toppings together stay under 10% of daily calories, and the meals make up the other 90%. If you give a bully stick, take the equivalent calories out of the bowl.

How many grams are in a cup of dog food?

It varies by kibble size and density, roughly 90 to 120 grams per US cup. This calculator assumes 100 grams. A kitchen scale beats a measuring cup for consistency.

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Dog Food Calculator

How much to feed your dog a day, in calories and in cups of your actual food. Built on the same energy formula vets use, with the treat budget already carved out.

Your dog

Weight

Use the weight your dog should be, not the weight they are, if those differ.

Life stage & activity

Your food

Calories per cup

kcal / cup

It's on the bag, usually near the feeding chart, written as "kcal/cup" or "kcal ME/cup". Dry food runs 300–450. Leave the default if you can't find it.

Meals a day

A day's food

2.8cups a day

About 1.4 cups per meal, 2 meals.

Meals: 90%Treats & chews: 10% max

Daily calories: 1076 kcal
Per meal: 1.4 cups
In grams: 300 g / day
Treat budget: 108 kcal / day

Treats and chews come out of this number, not on top of it. Check what a bully stick costs in calories.

Bully stick calculator Which foods are safe?

Resting energy

RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75. A 20 kg dog rests at about 660 kcal a day. This part is the same for every dog.

Life-stage multiplier

Neutered adults need about 1.6× RER, intact adults 1.8×, inactive dogs 1.2–1.4×, puppies 2–3×, working dogs 2–5×. The multiplier is where most feeding mistakes come from.

Minus the treat budget

We hold back 10% for treats, chews and lick mat toppings and convert the other 90% into cups. If you give no treats at all, add about 10% back.

Formulas follow WSAVA and the National Research Council nutrient guidelines as used in veterinary practice. Not veterinary advice: dogs with kidney, liver, pancreatic or thyroid conditions need a vet-set number.

WSAVA nutrition toolkit

Good questions. Simple answers.

What people ask when the bowl doesn't match the bag.

My dog is gaining weight on this amount. Why?

The formula gives an average; individual dogs vary by 20% either way. Cut 10%, wait two weeks, weigh, repeat. Also check that "one cup" really is a measuring cup and not a mug; most are 1.5 cups.

Should I feed by the bag chart or by this?

Use both. Bag charts are set for the specific food and lean generous. If the two disagree, start in between and let the dog's waistline decide. Ribs easy to feel, visible waist from above.

How much should a puppy eat?

Two to three times an adult's calories per pound, split into three or four meals. Puppies change weekly, so re-run the calculator every two weeks until they're grown. Large-breed puppies should eat a large-breed growth food so they don't grow too fast.

Does wet food change the math?

Only the conversion. Wet food is 80% water, so a 13 oz can is typically 350–450 kcal. Use the calories-per-can on the label in place of calories-per-cup.