Dog Food Calculator — Daily Feeding Amount
Find out how many cups of food your dog needs daily. Enter the dog's weight, life stage, activity level, and the calorie density of your food (printed on the bag) — the calculator applies the veterinary RER formula and converts to cups and grams.
kg
Weight unit
Life stage
Activity level
kcal/cup
≈ 302 g/day • 2 meals of 1.4 cups each
- 1
Weight in kg
15 - 2
Metabolic weight (kg^0.75)
15^0.75 = 7.622The 0.75 exponent reflects that larger dogs burn fewer calories per kg than smaller ones. - 3
Resting energy (RER)
70 × 7.622 = 534 - 4
Daily energy need (DER)
534 × 1.8 = 960 - 5
Daily food (cups)
960 ÷ 350 = 2.7
How does this calculator work?
Daily food (cups) = 70 × (kg)^0.75 × activity_factor ÷ kcal_per_cup. Activity factors range from 1.6 (sedentary adult) to 3.0 (working dog or puppy). Always check the calorie density on the food bag and adjust based on your dog's body condition score.
Formula
How this is calculated
The Resting Energy Requirement (RER) is the gold-standard veterinary formula for estimating how many calories a dog needs at rest: 70 × (body weight in kg)^0.75 kcal/day. The exponent 0.75 (metabolic body weight) accounts for the fact that larger animals have a proportionally lower metabolic rate per kilogram. The Daily Energy Requirement (DER) then multiplies the RER by a life-stage and activity factor — 1.6 for a sedentary neutered adult, up to 3.0 for a working dog or growing puppy.
To convert calories into a practical cup measurement the calculator divides DER by the kcal-per-cup figure printed on your food bag. Always use the figure from your specific food — it varies from roughly 270 kcal/cup for light formulas to over 500 kcal/cup for energy-dense performance kibble. The gram estimate assumes one cup of dry kibble weighs about 110 g, which is a common average; weigh the actual food for precision.
This calculator is a starting-point estimate, not veterinary advice. Body-condition score (whether you can feel but not see the ribs) is the best real-world check — if the dog is gaining weight, reduce by 10%; if losing weight, increase by 10%. Dogs with medical conditions, pregnancy, or lactation have different needs that a vet should assess directly.
Frequently asked questions
Look for a "caloric content" or "metabolisable energy" statement, usually near the guaranteed analysis panel. It is typically expressed as kcal/kg and kcal/cup (or kcal/8 oz). If it is only listed per kg, divide by 9 to approximate cups (since 1 kg ≈ 9 cups for most kibble).
Yes — treats should not exceed 10% of total daily calories. If you give several treats, subtract their calories from the daily food allowance and reduce the cup amount accordingly.
Bag guides are usually conservative estimates based on average dogs. This calculator uses a more precise metabolic-weight formula. Both are starting points — monitor body condition and adjust. When in doubt, ask your vet.
Also known as
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. (2026). Dog Food Calculator — Daily Feeding Amount [Online calculator]. TG we-Calculate. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dog-food-calculator
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team. "Dog Food Calculator — Daily Feeding Amount." TG we-Calculate. 2026. https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dog-food-calculator.
TG we-Calculate Editorial Team, "Dog Food Calculator — Daily Feeding Amount," TG we-Calculate, 2026. [Online]. Available: https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dog-food-calculator
@misc{wecalculate_dog_food_calculator, title = {Dog Food Calculator — Daily Feeding Amount}, author = {{TG we-Calculate Editorial Team}}, howpublished = {\url{https://we-calculate.com/calculator/dog-food-calculator}}, year = {2026}, note = {TG we-Calculate} }
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