Calculate the right amount of food for your dog
Find out the optimal daily food portion for your dog based on weight, activity level, and age.
Based on your dog's weight, age, activity level, and metabolic needs, a dog food calculator figures out the best daily food amounts for them. It helps keep your dog from getting too much or too little food, which keeps them at a healthy weight and gives them the right nutrients.
Our Dog Food Calculator uses established veterinary nutritional guidelines to determine food portions:
This calculates Resting Energy Requirement (RER)
RER × 1.2
Mostly indoor, minimal walks
RER × 1.6
Daily walks, regular play
RER × 2.0
Very active, working dogs
RER = 70 × (10)^0.75 = 70 × 5.62 = 393 calories
Daily needs = 393 × 1.6 = 629 calories
Cups = 629 ÷ 350 = 1.8 cups
Grams = 1.8 × 120 = 216 grams
Result: A 22 lb moderately active dog needs ≈ 1.8 cups (216g) of food daily
Split into 2-3 meals daily. This aids digestion, prevents bloat (especially in large breeds), maintains steady energy levels, and reduces begging behavior.
Look at the food label to see how many calories are in a cup of food. The calculator thinks that each cup has 350 calories. Change the portions if your food has a lot more or a lot fewer calories.
Keep an eye on your dog's health. You should be able to feel your ribs easily, but they shouldn't stand out. Change the amount of food you eat by 10 to 15 percent depending on how you feel and how much energy you have.
Yes! Treats should be no more than 10% of daily calories. Reduce meal portions accordingly. Use small, low-calorie treats for training to avoid overfeeding.
Wet food usually has fewer calories per cup (250–300) than dry food (350–450). Look at the label to see how many calories are in each serving and change the size of the servings as needed. Wet food can help you stay hydrated, but you might need to eat more of it.