How much should I feed my dog?

Two numbers decide it: how many calories your dog needs, and how many calories are packed into each cup of your food. The first depends on weight, age and lifestyle. The second varies a lot between brands. One kibble might have 320 kcal per cup and another 480. Feed the same scoop of each and one dog gets 50% more food than the other.

That’s why this dog food calculator asks for the calories printed on your bag. It works out your dog’s daily calorie needs with the formula vets use, takes off room for treats if you want, then divides by your food’s calories to give an amount you can actually measure.

An example: Rosie is a 50 lb spayed Labrador mix who needs about 1,164 kcal a day. Her owner keeps 10% back for training treats, which leaves 1,048 kcal for meals. Her kibble has 380 kcal per cup, so she gets about 2 ¾ cups a day, or 1 ⅜ cups at each of two meals.

Where to find the calories on dog food

Most dog foods sold in the US and UK list their calorie content. Look for a line near the feeding guide or the guaranteed analysis that says something like “Calorie content (ME): 3,650 kcal/kg, 380 kcal/cup”. If you can find it per cup, use that, since it’s what you’ll measure with. Grams are even more accurate if you have a kitchen scale, so pick “kcal per kg” and the calculator will give grams.

For wet food, use the kcal per can. If you mix wet and dry, work out the wet portion’s calories first, subtract them from the daily total, then run the calculator again for the rest.

Dog feeding chart by weight

This chart assumes a dry food with 380 kcal per cup and no treats. If your food is different, use the calculator, because the amounts change quite a bit.

Adult weight	Inactive	Neutered adult	Not neutered
5 lb	½ cups	½ cups	⅝ cups
10 lb	¾ cups	⅞ cups	1 cups
15 lb	1 ⅛ cups	1 ¼ cups	1 ⅜ cups
20 lb	1 ⅜ cups	1 ½ cups	1 ¾ cups
30 lb	1 ⅞ cups	2 ⅛ cups	2 ⅜ cups
40 lb	2 ¼ cups	2 ⅝ cups	2 ⅞ cups
50 lb	2 ⅝ cups	3 ⅛ cups	3 ½ cups
60 lb	3 ⅛ cups	3 ½ cups	4 cups
70 lb	3 ½ cups	4 cups	4 ⅜ cups
80 lb	3 ⅞ cups	4 ⅜ cups	4 ⅞ cups
90 lb	4 ⅛ cups	4 ¾ cups	5 ⅜ cups
100 lb	4 ½ cups	5 ⅛ cups	5 ¾ cups

Puppy feeding chart: how much should my puppy eat?

Puppies need far more calories per pound than adults, about three times their resting needs under four months and twice after that. This chart uses a puppy food with 400 kcal per cup and your puppy’s current weight. Weigh your puppy every week or two and recalculate, because the amount climbs quickly.

Current weight	Under 4 months	4 months to adult
3 lb	⅝ cups	½ cups
5 lb	1 cups	⅝ cups
10 lb	1 ⅝ cups	1 ⅛ cups
15 lb	2 ¼ cups	1 ½ cups
20 lb	2 ¾ cups	1 ⅞ cups
30 lb	3 ¾ cups	2 ½ cups
40 lb	4 ⅝ cups	3 ⅛ cups
50 lb	5 ½ cups	3 ⅝ cups

Split a puppy’s daily amount into three or four meals until about six months old, then two. Large-breed puppies should eat a food made for large breeds, which controls calcium and helps them grow at a steady pace. Curious how big yours will get? Try the puppy weight calculator.

Is the feeding guide on the bag wrong?

Not wrong, just generic. Bag guides are written to cover a range of dogs, and they often assume a fairly active, intact adult. Many pet dogs are neutered and less active than that, so feeding by the bag can mean slow weight gain. If your dog is getting heavier on the bag’s amount, that’s a sign to calculate instead.

Checking you’ve got it right

No formula knows your dog as well as your hands do. Every two to four weeks, weigh your dog and feel along the ribs. You should feel them easily under a thin layer, and see a waist when you look down from above. Gaining? Cut the daily amount by about 10%. Losing when you don’t want to? Add 10%.

A sudden change in appetite, or weight loss you can’t explain, is worth a vet visit. Don’t just adjust the food.

Common questions

How many cups of food should a dog eat a day?

For a typical dry food with about 380 kcal per cup, a neutered 20 lb dog needs about 1 ½ cups, a 50 lb dog about 3 ⅛ cups and an 80 lb dog about 4 ⅜ cups a day. Your food’s calories can change this a lot.

Should I feed my dog once or twice a day?

Most adult dogs do well on two meals a day. Puppies need three or four. Some vets suggest smaller, more frequent meals for large deep-chested breeds.

Are cups or grams more accurate?

Grams. A “cup” scooped loosely or packed down can vary by 20% or more. A cheap kitchen scale removes the guesswork.

My dog seems hungry all the time. Should I feed more?

Not by default. Many dogs act hungry whatever they’re fed. Go by weight and body shape instead. Higher-fiber foods or splitting meals can help a dog feel fuller.

Does this work for raw or homemade diets?

The calorie target does. You’d need to know the calories per gram of the recipe, which a vet nutritionist can work out. Homemade diets also need balancing for vitamins and minerals.

How do I change my dog’s food?

Switch over about 7 to 10 days, mixing in more of the new food each day, to avoid an upset stomach. Recalculate portions for the new food’s calories.

Sources

Last reviewed November 4, 2026.