Dog Calorie Calculator
Estimate your dog's daily calorie needs from weight and lifestyle — the same RER formula veterinarians use.
Daily Calories for Your Dog
How Dog Calorie Needs Are Calculated
Veterinarians start with the Resting Energy Requirement (RER) — the calories a dog burns at complete rest — using the formula RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75. Daily needs (Maintenance Energy Requirement) are then found by multiplying RER by a factor that reflects life stage and activity: 1.6 for a typical neutered adult, 1.8 for intact adults, up to 2.0–3.0 for puppies and working dogs, and 1.0 for medically supervised weight loss.
| Dog weight | Neutered adult (kcal/day) | Active dog (kcal/day) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | ~345 | ~540 |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | ~580 | ~905 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | ~785 | ~1,225 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | ~1,150 | ~1,800 |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | ~1,655 | ~2,590 |
Wondering how old your dog is in human terms? Try the dog age calculator, or estimate a puppy's adult size with the puppy weight estimator.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories does a dog need per day?
A typical neutered 30 lb adult needs roughly 700–800 kcal daily. Requirements scale with weight to the 0.75 power, so a dog twice as heavy needs less than twice the calories.
How many cups of kibble is that?
Most dry foods provide 300–400 kcal per cup — the exact number is printed on your bag. Enter it above and the calculator converts daily calories to cups.
Should treats count toward the total?
Yes — vets recommend treats make up no more than 10% of daily calories to keep the diet balanced.