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Calculator · prices checked October 21, 2026

Dog calorie calculator: how many calories your dog needs a day

A 30 lb neutered adult dog with moderate activity needs about 744 kcal a day by this calculator’s estimate. The example range is 694–794 kcal. Formulas and food labels were checked on October 21, 2026.

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

Calories a day

744

RER 496 at rest · 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.

Four methods, one dog

Which calorie estimate should you use?

The four approaches use different assumptions: FEDIAF by activity, FEDIAF by age, AAHA and WSAVA. For the example dog, both FEDIAF estimates give 779 kcal a day; WSAVA gives a wider range.

The calculator starts with FEDIAF’s activity figure, using the AAHA midpoint if lower for a neutered dog. That makes 744 kcal the starting point for portions here. The calculation method explains the choice.

Use the marked figure to calculate portions, then weigh your dog monthly and adjust.

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

For the dog above

Your dog through the formulas

Both cards follow the dog you set in the calculator.

Four methods, one axis

Four methods, one axis: kcal a daywe use 744
FEDIAF 2025by activity, table VII-7 779
FEDIAF 2025by age 3–7 years, table VII-6 673–921
AAHA 2021RER 496 × 1.4–1.6 694–794
WSAVA 202095–130 × kg^0.75 (NRC 2006) 673–921
Calories a day by method
FEDIAF 2025, by activity, table VII-7779 kcal
FEDIAF 2025, by age 3–7 years, table VII-6673–921 kcal
AAHA 2021, RER 496 × 1.4–1.6694–794 kcal
WSAVA 2020, 95–130 × kg^0.75 (NRC 2006)673–921 kcal
We use744 kcal
Age of the dog (FEDIAF by age)

Sources: FEDIAF 2025 · AAHA 2021 · WSAVA 2020

The arithmetic, step by step

Metabolic weight
13.6 kg0.75 = 7.09
FEDIAF by activity
110 × 7.09 = 779 kcal
AAHA
RER 70 × 7.09 = 496; × 1.4–1.6 = 694–794 kcal
We use
744 kcal: the middle of AAHA, because neutering lowers the need and it is below FEDIAF
Grams
744 ÷ 1,411 kcal/kg × 1000 = 527 g of Viva Raw
Price
527 g × $18.19/kg = $9.59 a day; × 30.4 = $292 a month

By weight

How do weight and activity change calories?

Calorie needs rise with body weight to the power 0.75, not in a straight line. A dog twice as heavy does not automatically need twice as much food.

Activity also changes the estimate. FEDIAF’s table gives a 30 lb adult 673 kcal a day for under an hour of activity, compared with 886 kcal for an active dog exercising longer.

Choose the activity level that matches your dog’s usual day, not an occasional long walk.

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.

Neutered or not

Does neutering change the starting figure?

AAHA uses an RER multiplier of 1.4–1.6 for neutered adults and 1.6–1.8 for intact adults. Neutering therefore changes the AAHA estimate even when weight stays the same.

For this 30 lb example, the calculator uses 744 kcal for the neutered dog and 779 kcal for the intact dog. The intact starting figure remains the FEDIAF activity estimate, not the AAHA midpoint.

Neuter status changes the calculation, but the result still needs checking against weight changes.

30 lb adult

Neutered

AAHA
694–794 kcal
Used
744 kcal

Intact

AAHA
794–893 kcal
Used
779 kcal

In grams

How much food is that in grams?

The same 744 kcal means very different portions: an estimated 722 g of Maev Raw or 155 g of Smallbatch Pork Sliders Freeze-Dried Raw.

Maev lists 1,030 kcal ME per kg as fed; Smallbatch lists 4,793. The smaller freeze-dried portion reflects its higher calorie density, not a lower daily calorie target.

Use the specific recipe’s label calories to turn daily calories into grams.

The formula

How are calories, portions and cost 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

Convert pounds to kilograms, then calculate resting energy: 70 × 13.6 kg^0.75 gives 496 kcal. Apply the daily-energy method to reach 744 kcal. Divide by Viva Raw Beef for Dogs’ listed 1,411 kcal ME per kg as fed, then multiply by 1000: about 527 g.

At Viva Raw’s catalog price of $18.19/kg, listed on its store on October 21, 2026, that portion costs an estimated $9.59 a day. A month uses 30.4 days: about $292, excluding tax and shipping.

Daily cost depends on both the recipe’s calorie density and its price per pound.

Where it stops

When should you ask your vet?

This is a starting estimate, not a weight-loss or medical feeding plan. For illness, allergies or weight loss, ask your vet. Count treat calories toward the daily total too.

Puppies need a growth calculation based on expected adult weight, rather than the adult table. For large-breed puppies, ask your vet. FEDIAF says to adapt portions when a dog gains or loses weight.

Weigh your dog monthly and adjust portions; ask your vet when growth or health changes the calculation.

  • Starting point

    FEDIAF: adapt the amount when the dog gains or loses weight

  • Puppies

    By expected adult weight

  • Weight loss

    With your vet

  • Treats

    Count their calories too

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 many calories should my dog eat a day?

Weight, activity and neuter status affect the estimate. A 30 lb neutered adult with moderate activity starts at about 744 kcal a day here; a 10 lb neutered adult with low activity starts at about 295 kcal.

What does an RER calculator for dogs calculate?

RER means resting energy requirement. AAHA calculates it as 70 × body weight in kilograms^0.75. It is the resting figure, not the full daily feeding target.

What is the difference between RER and MER?

MER is maintenance energy requirement. AAHA calculates it by multiplying RER by a life-stage factor, including different factors for neutered and intact adults.

How does a dog food calorie calculator find portions?

It divides the daily calorie target by the recipe’s label kcal per kg, then multiplies by 1000 to get grams a day. Different recipes can require different portions for the same calorie target.

How accurate is a dog calorie calculator?

FEDIAF and WSAVA describe their recommendations as starting points or guidance. Use the estimate to begin, weigh your dog monthly and adjust the amount if weight changes.

Sources

  1. 1
    FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
  2. 2
    Viva Raw: Beef for Dogsvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  3. 3
    Maev: Raw Foodmeetmaev.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  4. 4
    Smallbatch: Freeze-Dried Pork Sliders for Dogssmallbatchpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
  5. 5
    WSAVA: Calorie Needs for Healthy Adult Dogs (2020)wsava.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
  6. 6
    AAHA 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelinesaaha.org · 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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