Dog food calculator
Enter your dog's weight, age and activity level. We estimate resting energy (RER) from body weight, multiply by a life-stage factor, then divide by your food's calorie density to get cups per day. For dogs under 12 months, use the puppy calculator.
How to use the calculator
- Weigh your dog and enter the weight in lb or kg.
- Pick the age group and activity level that fit best.
- Enter the "kcal per cup" value from your food's label.
- Read the daily calories and cups, then check body condition with your vet.
Questions? See the feeding FAQ, or read common feeding mistakes.
Estimated daily needs
794
kcal per day
≈ 2.27 cups
per day, split across meals
- Weight
- 13.6 kg
- Resting energy (RER)
- 496 kcal
- Multiplier
- ×1.6
These are estimates only — not veterinary advice.
Just want a ballpark? See the dog feeding-by-weight guide for estimated calorie ranges at common adult weights.
Last updated: November 3, 2026 · How this is calculated
How the formula works
First we estimate the Resting Energy Requirement (RER): the calories your dog burns at rest. RER = 70 × (weight in kg)0.75. Then we multiply by a life-stage factor to get the Daily Energy Requirement (DER), which accounts for activity and neuter status. Finally, DER ÷ kcal per cup gives cups per day.
Example: a 50 lb spayed/neutered adult dog
- Weight: 50 lb ÷ 2.20462 = 22.7 kg
- RER: 70 × 22.70.75 ≈ 727 kcal/day
- DER: 727 × 1.6 ≈ 1163 kcal/day
- Cups: 1163 ÷ 350 kcal/cup ≈ 3.32 cups/day
Example: a 20 lb senior dog with low activity
- Weight: 20 lb ÷ 2.20462 = 9.1 kg
- RER: 70 × 9.10.75 ≈ 366 kcal/day
- DER: 366 × 1.2 ≈ 439 kcal/day
- Cups: 439 ÷ 350 kcal/cup ≈ 1.25 cups/day
These examples are estimates only. Real needs can differ by 20–30% or more. See the methodology for details.