How many calories your dog needs per day, and how much food that means.
Daily Calorie & Food Calculator
How much should your dog eat per day? Based on resting energy needs (RER).
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How this dog calorie calculator works
Start with your dog’s current weight and choose the closest life stage. Weight in pounds is converted to kilograms. The calculator estimates resting energy requirement (RER) as 70 × body weight in kg raised to 0.75, then applies a life-stage factor. RER is energy at rest; daily feeding needs are different.
The starting factors used here are 1.6 for neutered adults, 1.8 for intact adults, 3 for puppies under four months and 2 for older puppies. The senior option starts at 1.6: age alone does not establish a dog’s energy needs. The activity choices apply 0.85, 1 or 1.25 to that starting factor. These are simplified estimates for pets, not a working-dog ration model.
Worked example: a 30 kg adult dog
A neutered adult at the default activity setting has an RER of approximately 897 kcal and an estimated daily total of 1,436 kcal. If the actual food label says 400 kcal per cup, that is approximately 3.59 cups before allowing for treats. At 350 kcal per cup, the same calorie total is about 4.10 cups. Food formulas vary, so a generic cup conversion must not be treated as a brand-specific serving.
Turn the estimate into a feeding routine
Read the calorie statement on the exact food bag. Enter kcal per cup only if that is the unit printed on the label; do not enter kcal per kilogram. For weighed portions, divide the calorie allowance by kcal per gram. Subtract calories from treats, chews and toppers before calculating the main meal. AAHA recommends that complete and balanced food supply at least 90% of calories, with treats and other extras making up no more than 10%.
Monitor body weight and body condition over time and ask your veterinarian to adjust the starting allowance. Use extra care with growing large-breed puppies. This tool does not diagnose obesity or calculate a therapeutic diet. Do not use a current-weight estimate as an unsupervised weight-loss prescription.
Sources and limitations
The energy equation and starting life-stage factors are based on published veterinary nutrition guidance. Our activity adjustments are a simplified interface, and individual needs can differ substantially. This calculator has not been individually reviewed for your dog.
- Merck Veterinary Manual: daily maintenance energy requirements
- AAHA: feeding plans and treat allowance
Method and explanation updated October 26, 2026. For related help, read our dog calorie guide.