Dog Food Calculator
Daily calories and cups for your dog's weight.
Reviewed by the Calculation Machine team · Updated 24 October 2026 · How we check our maths
Your values
ⓘ Live results
- Daily calories
- 1280 kcal
- Cups per day
- 3.37
- Per meal (twice daily)
- 1.68 cups
- Resting energy requirement
- 711 kcal
- Treat allowance (10% max)
- 128 kcal
Working
- 1RER = 70 × 22^0.75 = 711 kcal
Quick answer
A dog's daily calorie need starts from its resting energy requirement (RER) = 70 × body weight in kg^0.75, then is multiplied by a life-stage factor: about 1.6 for a neutered adult, 1.8 for an intact or active adult and 1.0 for weight loss. A 22 kg active adult needs about 711 × 1.8 = 1,280 kcal a day, or 3.4 cups of a 380 kcal-per-cup food.
What the Dog Food calculator does
Enter your dog's weight in kilograms, pick the life stage and activity level that fits best, and enter the calories per cup printed on the food bag or can. The calculator gives the daily calorie target, cups per day and per meal (for twice-daily feeding), the resting energy requirement and a 10% treat allowance.
Bag feeding charts are a reasonable start, but they are often written for young, active, intact dogs and can overfeed neutered, older or less active pets. Calculating from energy needs and then adjusting to body condition is how veterinary nutritionists approach it. Weigh in pounds? Divide by 2.205, or use the weight converter.
Every dog is different: two dogs of the same weight can need 20–30% different amounts. Treat the result as a starting point, weigh your dog every two to four weeks, and adjust. A vet should guide feeding for puppies of large breeds, dogs with medical conditions and any weight-loss plan.
The formula
RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75 Daily kcal = RER × life-stage factor Cups per day = daily kcal ÷ kcal per cup
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| weight | Body weight; use the ideal (target) weight for overweight dogs | kg |
| 0.75 | Metabolic body-weight exponent: energy use scales with weight to the ¾ power | — |
| factor | Puppy 2.5, neutered adult 1.6, active or intact adult 1.8, senior or inactive 1.4, weight loss 1.0 | — |
| kcal per cup | Metabolizable energy from the label, per 8 fl oz measuring cup | kcal |
The RER equation and life-stage multipliers are those used in the National Research Council's Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats and in WSAVA nutrition guidance. Published puppy factors are about 3.0 up to 4 months of age and 2.0 from 4 months to adulthood; the 2.5 used here sits between them, so adjust for very young or nearly grown puppies. Working, herding and sled dogs can need 2 to 5 times RER. This page also replaces the former dog food portion calculator.
Worked examples
Active 22 kg adult
An intact, active Labrador-mix-sized dog at 22 kg (about 49 lb) on a 380 kcal-per-cup kibble.
Inputs
- Dog's weight22 kg
- Life stage and activityActive adult (×1.8)
- Calories per cup of food380 kcal
Result
- Daily calories1280 kcal
- Cups per day3.37
- Per meal (twice daily)1.68 cups
- Resting energy requirement711 kcal
- Treat allowance (10% max)128 kcal
About 3.4 cups a day split into two meals of 1.7 cups. If the dog is neutered, the neutered setting drops this by roughly 11%, which is the kind of gap that causes gradual weight gain.
Small neutered dog
A 10 kg (22 lb) neutered terrier on a food with 350 kcal per cup.
Inputs
- Dog's weight10 kg
- Life stage and activityNeutered adult (×1.6)
- Calories per cup of food350 kcal
Result
- Daily calories630 kcal
- Cups per day1.8
- Per meal (twice daily)0.9 cups
- Resting energy requirement394 kcal
- Treat allowance (10% max)63 kcal
About 630 kcal, or 1.8 cups a day. Treats should stay under about 63 kcal, which is only a few small biscuits.
Weight-loss plan
A dog weighing 34 kg whose vet sets a target of 30 kg, fed a 400 kcal-per-cup diet.
Inputs
- Dog's weight30 kg
- Life stage and activityWeight loss (×1.0)
- Calories per cup of food400 kcal
Result
- Daily calories897 kcal
- Cups per day2.24
- Per meal (twice daily)1.12 cups
- Resting energy requirement897 kcal
- Treat allowance (10% max)90 kcal
Enter the target weight, not the current one: about 897 kcal or 2.24 cups a day. A safe rate of loss is roughly 1–2% of body weight a week; recheck with the vet monthly.
Daily calories by weight and life stage
Computed with the formula above. Use as a quick reference, then adjust for body condition.
| Weight | RER | Neutered adult (×1.6) | Active adult (×1.8) | Weight loss (×1.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 234 | 374 | 421 | 234 |
| 10 kg (22 lb) | 394 | 630 | 709 | 394 |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 662 | 1,059 | 1,192 | 662 |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 897 | 1,436 | 1,615 | 897 |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 1,113 | 1,781 | 2,004 | 1,113 |
Checking body condition instead of the scale
Vets use a 9-point body condition score, where 4–5 is ideal. At an ideal score:
- You can feel the ribs easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing hard.
- Looking from above, there is a visible waist behind the ribs.
- From the side, the belly tucks up between the ribcage and the hind legs.
If ribs are hard to find, cut daily food by about 10% and recheck in three to four weeks. If ribs, spine or hip bones are clearly visible, increase by about 10% and speak to a vet, as unexplained weight loss can signal illness.
Treats, toppers and mixed feeding
- Treats: keep them to 10% of daily calories at most, and reduce the main meals by the same amount on heavy-treat days.
- Wet and dry mixed: split the calorie target, not the cups. If half the calories come from a 400 kcal can, feed the other half as kibble.
- Calories per cup vary widely: dry foods commonly range from about 300 to over 500 kcal per cup, so switching brands without recalculating can change intake by a third.
- Measure properly: use an 8 fl oz measuring cup or, better, weigh the food; label calories are often also given per kg.
How to use the Dog Food Calculator
- 1Weigh your dog and enter the weight in kg (pounds ÷ 2.205). For an overweight dog, enter its target weight.
- 2Choose the life stage and activity level that best matches your dog.
- 3Enter the kcal per cup from the food label (look for "calorie content" or "metabolizable energy").
- 4Feed the cups per day shown, split into meals, then weigh again in two to four weeks and adjust by about 10% if needed.
Frequently asked questions
How many cups of food should my dog eat a day?
Divide your dog's daily calorie need by the food's kcal per cup. A 10 kg neutered dog needs about 630 kcal, which is 1.8 cups of a 350 kcal-per-cup food.
How many calories does a dog need per day?
Start with 70 × weight in kg to the power 0.75, then multiply by about 1.6 for a neutered adult. A 20 kg neutered dog needs roughly 1,060 kcal a day.
Should I feed my dog once or twice a day?
Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day, and puppies usually need three or four. Splitting meals can help reduce begging and may lower the risk of bloat in deep-chested breeds.
How much should I feed a puppy?
Puppies need roughly 2 to 3 times their RER depending on age, more when very young. Large and giant breed puppies should be fed a large-breed puppy food under vet guidance to avoid growing too fast.
Why is my dog gaining weight on the bag's feeding amount?
Feeding charts often assume an active, intact adult. Neutered, older or indoor dogs commonly need 20–30% less, so recalculate with the neutered or senior setting.
References
- Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats — National Research Council, National Academies Press
- Global Nutrition Guidelines — World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
- Body Condition Score chart (dogs) — World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA)
About this calculator
- Built and reviewed by the Calculation Machine team · How we build and test calculators
- Last reviewed: October 24, 2026
- Report an error