1. Resting energy (RER)
RER = 70 × (kg)^0.75The calories your dog burns at rest. A 50 lb (22.7 kg) dog has an RER of about 727 kcal a day.
Vet RER formula, cups, grams and cans
Dog Food Calculator
This dog food calculator tells you exactly how much to feed your dog each day in calories, cups, grams or cans. It uses the vet-standard resting energy formula, adjusts for age, activity and goals, and works for cats too.
How much to feed your dog
Formula
How Much to Feed Your Dog: The Vet Formula
Vets work out daily food needs in two steps: the energy your dog needs at rest, then a multiplier for life stage and activity. The calories are then turned into cups or grams using the numbers on your food bag.
2. Daily energy needs
Daily kcal = RER × life stage factorA spayed or neutered adult uses a factor of 1.6, so the same dog needs about 1,164 kcal a day.
3. Convert to food
Cups = daily kcal ÷ kcal per cupWith food at 350 kcal per cup, that is about 3 1/3 cups a day, or 3 cups if you keep 10% for treats.
Weigh, do not scoop. A scoop can vary by 20% or more. Weighing food in grams is the most accurate way to feed. Convert cups and grams with the cups to grams converter and weights with the kg to lbs converter.
Factors
Life Stage and Activity Multipliers
These are the standard factors vets use to estimate daily calories from resting energy. Every pet is different, so treat them as a starting point and adjust based on body condition.
| Life stage | Factor |
|---|---|
| Puppy, under 4 months | 3 × RER |
| Puppy, 4 to 12 months | 2 × RER |
| Adult, spayed or neutered | 1.6 × RER |
| Adult, intact | 1.8 × RER |
| Inactive or gains weight easily | 1.2 × RER |
| Senior, 7 years and older | 1.4 × RER |
| Working or very active | 3 × RER |
| Pregnant, last 3 weeks | 3 × RER |
| Nursing a litter | 4 × RER |
| Weight loss, fed for target weight | 1 × RER |
| Life stage | Factor |
|---|---|
| Kitten, under 12 months | 2.5 × RER |
| Adult, intact | 1.4 × RER |
| Adult, spayed or neutered | 1.2 × RER |
| Inactive or gains weight easily | 1 × RER |
| Pregnant | 2 × RER |
| Nursing a litter | 3 × RER |
| Weight loss, fed for target weight | 0.8 × RER |
Feeding chart
Dog Feeding Chart by Weight
Daily calories and cups for common weights, using dry food at 350 kcal per cup with no treat allowance. Check your bag for its exact calories per cup.
| Weight | Adult kcal | Adult cups | Puppy kcal | Puppy cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | 207 | 5/8 | 259 | 3/4 |
| 10 lb | 348 | 1 | 435 | 1 1/4 |
| 15 lb | 472 | 1 3/8 | 590 | 1 5/8 |
| 20 lb | 585 | 1 5/8 | 732 | 2 1/8 |
| 30 lb | 794 | 2 1/4 | 992 | 2 7/8 |
| 40 lb | 985 | 2 7/8 | 1,231 | 3 1/2 |
| 50 lb | 1,164 | 3 3/8 | 1,455 | 4 1/8 |
| 60 lb | 1,335 | 3 7/8 | 1,668 | 4 3/4 |
| 70 lb | 1,498 | 4 1/4 | 1,873 | 5 3/8 |
| 80 lb | 1,656 | 4 3/4 | 2,070 | 5 7/8 |
| 90 lb | 1,809 | 5 1/8 | 2,261 | 6 1/2 |
| 100 lb | 1,958 | 5 5/8 | 2,447 | 7 |
| Weight | Adult kcal | Adult cups | Kitten kcal |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | 155 | 3/8 | 323 |
| 6 lb | 178 | 1/2 | 371 |
| 8 lb | 221 | 1/2 | 460 |
| 10 lb | 261 | 5/8 | 544 |
| 12 lb | 299 | 3/4 | 624 |
| 14 lb | 336 | 7/8 | 700 |
| 16 lb | 371 | 7/8 | 774 |
Why ours
Why This Dog Food Calculator Is Better
Bag feeding guides are broad ranges that often overfeed. This calculator is built on the same formula vets use.
Vet-standard formula
Uses resting energy requirement and life stage factors, the method used in veterinary nutrition.
Cups, grams or cans
Enter the calories from your own bag or can and get exact amounts, split into meals.
Every life stage
From young puppies and kittens to seniors, working dogs, pregnant and nursing mothers.
Healthy weight loss
Weight loss mode feeds for the target weight, with guidance to keep loss gradual and safe.
Treats built in
Keep 10% of calories for treats and the main meals shrink automatically, so treats never tip the balance.
Bag planner
See how long a bag will last at the recommended amount, so you can budget and reorder on time.
Guide
How to Use the Dog Food Calculator
Have your pet’s weight and food bag handy. Results update as you type.
- Choose dog or cat
The right factors and defaults load for your pet.
- Enter weight and life stage
Use a recent weight and pick the stage and activity level that fits best. For weight loss, enter the target weight.
- Add your food details
Copy the calories per cup and per kg from the bag, or the calories per can for wet food.
- Set meals and treats
Choose how many meals a day and whether to leave 10% of calories for treats.
- Feed and adjust
Feed the amount shown for two to three weeks, weigh your pet, then use the fine-tune slider to adjust.
Benefits
Benefits of Feeding the Right Amount
Over half of pet dogs and cats are thought to be overweight. Accurate portions are one of the simplest ways to keep them healthy.
Longer, healthier life
Dogs kept lean throughout life have been shown to live longer and develop joint problems later than overweight dogs.
Healthy growth for puppies
Correct portions help puppies, especially large breeds, grow at a steady rate that protects developing joints.
Save money on food
Feeding what your pet actually needs stops waste and makes every bag last as long as possible.
Support every stage
Pregnant and nursing mothers need far more energy. Plan ahead with the dog pregnancy calculator and check life stage with the dog age calculator.
FAQ
Dog Food Calculator FAQ
How much should I feed my dog a day?
It depends on weight, age, activity and the calories in the food. A 50 lb spayed or neutered adult dog needs about 1,160 calories a day, which is roughly 3 1/3 cups of a dry food with 350 calories per cup. Use the calculator with the calories from your own bag for an exact amount.
How many calories does my dog need a day?
Multiply the resting energy requirement, 70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75, by a life stage factor. For example, a 20 lb (9.1 kg) spayed or neutered adult has a resting need of about 366 calories, multiplied by 1.6 to give about 585 calories a day.
How many cups of dog food should I feed per day?
Divide your dog’s daily calories by the calories per cup printed on the bag. Most dry dog foods contain between 300 and 450 calories per cup, so the same dog may need very different cup amounts on different foods.
How often should I feed my dog?
Puppies under about four to six months do best on three or four small meals a day. Older puppies and adult dogs usually eat two meals a day, about 8 to 12 hours apart, at consistent times.
How much should I feed a puppy?
Puppies need two to three times their resting energy because they are growing. A 20 lb puppy aged 4 to 12 months needs about 730 calories a day, or just over 2 cups of a 350 calorie per cup puppy food. Weigh puppies often and adjust as they grow.
How much should I feed my dog to lose weight?
Feed for the target weight, not the current weight, using about 1.0 times the resting energy at the target weight. Aim for a slow loss of 1% to 2% of body weight a week and check in with your vet before starting.
How many treats can my dog have?
Treats should make up no more than 10% of daily calories. A dog that needs 1,160 calories a day can have about 115 calories of treats, with the main meals reduced to make room for them.
How much should I feed my cat?
A 10 lb spayed or neutered adult cat needs about 260 calories a day. With a dry food of 400 calories per cup that is roughly two-thirds of a cup, split into two or more meals. Switch the calculator to Cat for an exact amount.
Why is the amount different from the feeding guide on the bag?
Bag feeding guides give broad ranges for average dogs and often assume an active, intact adult. Many pet dogs, especially spayed or neutered and less active ones, need less. Use the calculator as a starting point and adjust based on your dog’s weight and body shape.
Feed the Right Amount Every Day
Use the dog food calculator whenever your pet’s weight, age or food changes, then explore our other free pet tools.
Calculate food amountResults are estimates for healthy pets. Pets with medical conditions, and puppies of giant breeds, should have a feeding plan set by a vet.