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Dog food calculator · prices checked October 21, 2026

Dog food calculator: how much to feed and what it costs per day

A 30 lb neutered adult with moderate activity needs an estimated 744 kcal a day. The calculator’s range is 694–794 kcal; compared foods cost $9.59–21.74 daily at listed catalog, subscription and shelf prices checked October 21, 2026.

Check price at JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab)All brandspartner link

Calories a day

744

kcal · methods 694–794

outlines: 10 lb and 100 lb dogs

Viva RawBeef for Dogs

527g

$9.59 a day · $292 a month

1 of 23

744 kcal a day for a 30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks. Viva Raw Beef for Dogs: 527 grams, $9.59 a day, $292 a month.

From 3 to 180 lb

Estimates for healthy dogs at ideal weight. Ask your vet; weigh monthly and adjust. How we calculate

Every bowl for this dog

30 lb adult, neutered, 1–3 hours calm walks · 744 kcal a day. Sorted by price a day; “Show” puts the bowl next to your dog.

  1. Viva Raw

    527 g a day · 18.6 oz

    $9.59a day · $292 a month

    Beef for Dogs · Raw · 1,411 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Check price at Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)
    partner link
  2. JustFoodForDogs

    477 g a day · 16.8 oz

    $12.16a day · $370 a month

    Beef & Russet Potato · Gently cooked · 1,559 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Check price at JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab)
    partner link
  3. Maev

    722 g a day · 25.5 oz

    $14.25a day · $433 a month

    Raw · 1,030 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Our review of Maev

    No partner link. Similar with an open price: Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $14.45 a day

  4. Smallbatch

    155 g a day · 5.5 oz

    $14.45a day · $439 a month

    Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 4,793 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Check price at Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab)
    partner link
  5. JustFoodForDogs

    807 g a day · 28.5 oz

    $15.42a day · $469 a month

    Fish & Sweet Potato · Gently cooked · 922 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Check price at JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab)
    partner link
  6. Nom Nom

    623 g a day · 22 oz

    $15.60a day · $474 a month

    Beef Mash · Gently cooked · 1,194 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Our review of Nom Nom

    No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day

  7. Smallbatch

    149 g a day · 5.3 oz

    $16.35a day · $497 a month

    Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw · Freeze-dried · 5,004 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    Check price at Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab)
    partner link
  8. A Pup Above

    538 g a day · 19 oz

    $16.56a day · $504 a month

    Gently cooked · 1,384 kcal/kg checked Oct 21

    No partner link. Similar with an open price: JustFoodForDogs (partner link, opens in a new tab) $15.42 a day · Smallbatch (partner link, opens in a new tab) $16.35 a day

By the brand’s own 2–3% rule No calories on the label: don’t compare these with the bowls above

“As a general rule, an adult pet should consume about 2-3% of their ideal body weight of Darwin’s raw food per day.”Darwin's, product page

Not enough open data yet

Some buttons are partner links: we may earn a commission if you buy. Rows are sorted by price a day, never by commission.

Where the calories come from

What does the calorie range mean?

FEDIAF, AAHA and WSAVA estimate energy needs differently. For the example dog, AAHA gives 694–794 kcal a day. The scale shows each method’s result, not a single fixed requirement.

The marked 744 kcal is the starting point used to calculate portions. Read the calculation method for how activity and neutering affect the selection. Weigh the dog monthly and adjust the amount.

Use the marked calorie figure for portions, then adjust it to the dog’s weight trend.

30 lb adult: calories a day by method
FEDIAF by activity
779
FEDIAF by age (3–7 years)
779
AAHA 2021
694–794
WSAVA
673–921

One axis, kcal a day. The marked figure is the starting point for grams; weigh the dog monthly and adjust.

30 lb adult: calories a day by method
FEDIAF by activity779 kcal
FEDIAF by age (3–7 years)779 kcal
AAHA 2021694–794 kcal
WSAVA673–921 kcal
used for portions744 kcal

Same calculator, four dogs

Four dogs, four bills

The dogs from our worked example, drawn to one scale. Calories grow slower than weight, so the daily bill does too. “Use this dog” puts it in the calculator above.

  1. 295kcal a day

    10 lb, neutered

    from $3.80 a day Viva Raw

  2. 744kcal a day

    30 lb, neutered

    from $9.59 a day Viva Raw

  3. 1,489kcal a day

    60 lb, intact

    from $19.20 a day Viva Raw

  4. 900kcal a day

    15 lb puppy, 4 months

    from $18.87 a day Nom Nom

Same dog, every brand

What does the same dog cost?

For the same calories, Viva Raw Beef for Dogs is lowest in this comparison at $9.59 a day; JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash is highest at $21.74. These estimates use catalog prices listed on the Viva Raw and JustFoodForDogs stores on October 21, 2026.

Calorie density changes the portion needed, so price per pound alone cannot explain the gap. The price comparison distinguishes catalog, one-time, subscription and store shelf prices. Tax and shipping are excluded unless included by the brand.

Compare the price of equal daily calories, not equal bag weights.

30 lb adult: price per day at listed prices, checked October 21, 2026

Calorie-based rows only; brands without an open price or calorie figure are listed apart.

30 lb adult: price per day at listed prices, checked October 21, 2026
Viva Raw Beef for Dogs$9.59
JustFoodForDogs Beef & Russet Potato$12.16
Maev Raw$14.25
Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw$14.45
JustFoodForDogs Fish & Sweet Potato$15.42
Nom Nom Beef Mash$15.60
Smallbatch Duck Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw$16.35
A Pup Above Gently Cooked$16.56
Smallbatch Lamb Small Bites Freeze-Dried Raw$17.25
JustFoodForDogs Venison & Squash$21.74

Calories or 2–3%

Should you use the 2–3% rule?

The 2–3% rule is what raw brands print, not a veterinary norm. It scales directly with body weight; calorie needs do not.

For the Raw Paws recipe shown, the 10 lb adult needs an estimated 152 g by calories, above the rule’s 91–136 g. Larger active dogs can fall above or below a percentage-based portion, depending on calorie needs and the food’s calorie density.

A body-weight percentage and a calorie-based portion are different calculations.

Calories versus the 2–3% rule: Raw Paws Pet Food Signature Blend Pet Food For Dogs & Cats – Beef & Vegetable Recipe, 1-Lb (1,936 kcal/kg)
DogBy caloriesBy 2–3% of body weight
10 lb adult152 g91–136 g
30 lb adult384 g272–408 g
60 lb active adult769 g544–816 g

The rule is what raw brands print; it is not a veterinary norm. Small dogs need more food per pound than the rule gives, large active dogs less or more depending on calories.

For the dog above

Rule of thumb or label calories

Both cards follow the dog you set in the calculator.

Two ways to fill a bowl

527 gby calories on the Viva Raw label
272–408 gby the 2–3% of body weight rule

For this dog the rule gives 23–48% fewer grams than Viva Raw’s label calories, so rule-based brands look cheaper than they are.

“As a general rule, an adult pet should consume about 2-3% of their ideal body weight of Darwin’s raw food per day.”Darwin's, product page
“Your pet’s calorie requirements are not linearly proportional to their size as the 2-3% rule represents.”Viva Raw, blog

Price after a quiz

The formula

How are portions and prices calculated?

  1. Resting energy

    496 kcal

    70 × 13.6 kg^0.75 (AAHA 2021)

  2. Daily calories

    744 kcal

    FEDIAF row for activity; AAHA middle if lower for a neutered dog

  3. Grams a day

    527 g

    744 ÷ 1,411 kcal/kg × 1000 (Viva Raw Beef for Dogs)

  4. Price a day

    $9.59

    527 g × $18.19/kg; a month is 30.4 days: $292

Start with weight to estimate resting energy: 496 kcal for the example dog. Activity and neutering then inform the daily target of 744 kcal.

Divide daily calories by the label’s kcal ME per kg as fed, then convert to grams. Viva Raw Beef for Dogs works out to 527 g (18.6 oz). At the catalog price above, that costs $9.59 daily, or about $292 for a 30.4-day month.

Weight sets the calorie estimate; label calories and price set the portion and daily cost.

Brands without an open price

What can you know before a quiz?

Label calories allow portion estimates before a quote: Ollie Fresh Chicken works out to 573 g a day for the example dog, while Sundays for Dogs Beef needs 137 g.

Ollie, Spot & Tango and Sundays show prices only after their quizzes. Their advertised starting figures are not quotes for this dog. Keep portion estimates separate from the eventual subscription price.

A known portion does not establish a price per day.

  • Ollie

    573 g a day

    Brand’s own words: “At Ollie, our fresh dog food starts at less than $4 per day for small dogs and averages…”

  • Spot & Tango

    431 g a day

    Brand’s own words: “Spot & Tango's fresh plans start around $2 per day”

  • Sundays for Dogs

    137 g a day

    Price only after the brand’s quiz.

  • The Farmer's Dog

    no calorie figure

    Brand’s own words: “Plans start at about $2/day, and delivery options mostly range from 1 week to 2 months of…”

  • Lone Wolf Ranch

    155 g a day

    No open price found.

  • Maev USDA Beef

    676 g a day

    No open price found.

By weight

How does feeding change with weight?

Choose both weight and activity in the feeding chart. FEDIAF’s activity table puts a 30 lb adult at 673 kcal with under an hour’s activity, versus 886 kcal with active exercise for 1–3 hours.

Resting energy is not the full daily feeding target. These rows are starting points for healthy adults, not feeding instructions for puppies or dogs needing weight loss; ask your vet for those.

Weight alone is not enough: activity changes the daily calorie target.

Calories a day for a healthy adult dog by weight and activity (FEDIAF 2025, table VII-7)
WeightResting (RER)Under 1 h a day1–3 h, calm1–3 h, active3–6 h, working
10 lb218295342389505
20 lb366497575653849
30 lb4966737798861,151
50 lb7279871,1431,2991,689
70 lb9361,2711,4711,6722,174
90 lb1,1311,5341,7772,0192,624

kcal a day; the 3–6 hour row uses the middle of 150–175.

Partner links

Where to check the price

Buttons open the brand’s store in a new tab. They are partner links: if you buy, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Order and prices on this page do not depend on it.

Questions

Short answers

How much should you feed your dog?

Start with estimated daily calories for the dog’s weight, activity and neuter status. Convert those calories to a portion using the recipe’s label, then weigh the dog monthly and adjust.

Can you use a dog feeding chart by weight?

Yes, as a starting point for a healthy adult. Choose the activity column too; the resting-energy column is not the full daily allowance.

How does a fresh dog food calculator work?

It divides daily calorie needs by the food’s calorie density to estimate grams. Different recipes can require different portions for the same dog.

How does a dog food cost calculator estimate monthly spending?

It multiplies the daily portion by the price per unit of weight, then uses 30.4 days for a month. First-box discounts are separate from ongoing prices.

Sources

  1. 1
    FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
  2. 2
    JustFoodForDogs: Beef Russet Potatojustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  3. 3
    Ollie: Ingredientsollie.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  4. 4
    Spot & Tango: Beef and Brown Ricespotandtango.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  5. 5
    Viva Raw: Beef for Dogsvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  6. 6
    Sundays for Dogs: Beefsundaysfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  7. 7
    JustFoodForDogs: Real Meat Venison Dog Food Recipejustfoodfordogs.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
Partner linksSome buttons are partner links: if you buy after clicking, this site may earn a commission at no cost to you. Rows are sorted by price per day, never by commission; brands without a program are listed the same way.
Not veterinary adviceCalories and grams are estimates for healthy adult dogs at ideal weight. Ask your vet, especially about puppies, weight loss or illness; weigh your dog monthly.
Not tested by usNo food is fed or tested here. Calories, prices and terms come from brands’ own pages, checked October 21, 2026; brand claims are quoted as their words.

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