Calculator · prices checked October 21, 2026
Raw dog food calculator: how much raw food to feed a day
A 30 lb adult needs an estimated 744 kcal a day; the raw food amount depends on the recipe’s calories. The example’s estimated range is 694–794 kcal, with prices checked October 21, 2026.
Calories a day
744
kcal · methods 694–794
Viva RawBeef for Dogs
527g
$9.59 a day · $292 a month
1 of 4744 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.
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.
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VRViva 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
partner link -
MMaev
722 g a day · 25.5 oz
$14.25a day · $433 a month
Raw · 1,030 kcal/kg checked Oct 21
No partner link. Similar with an open price: Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day
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RPRaw Paws Pet Food
384 g a day · 13.5 oz
after quizno open price
Signature Blend Pet Food For Dogs & Cats – Beef & Vegetable Recipe, 1-Lb · Raw · 1,936 kcal/kg
partner link -
MMaev
676 g a day · 23.8 oz
after quizno open price
USDA Beef · Raw · 1,100 kcal/kg
No partner link. Similar with an open price: Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab) $9.59 a day
By the brand’s own 2–3% rule No calories on the label: don’t compare these with the bowls above
- WFWe Feed RawBeef272–408 g$5.33–8.00 a day$162–243 a monthCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)
- DWDarwin'sNatural Selections Chicken272–408 g$5.62–8.43 a day$171–256 a monthCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)
“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
Some buttons are partner links: we may earn a commission if you buy. Rows are sorted by price a day, never by commission.
Calories or 2–3%
Use calories or body weight?
The 2–3% rule is a raw-brand feeding guide, not a veterinary norm. Calorie needs do not rise in direct proportion to body weight, so small dogs generally need more food per pound.
For the Raw Paws recipe shown, the 10 lb adult needs an estimated 152 g (5.4 oz), above the rule’s 91–136 g. For larger, active dogs, the calorie result can fall within or outside the percentage range, depending on the recipe.
Use the recipe’s calories to check a body-weight portion, especially for a small dog.
| Dog | By calories | By 2–3% of body weight |
|---|---|---|
| 10 lb adult | 152 g | 91–136 g |
| 30 lb adult | 384 g | 272–408 g |
| 60 lb active adult | 769 g | 544–816 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
Calories or 2–3% for your dog
Both cards follow the dog you set in the calculator.
Two ways to fill a bowl
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
Raw feeding chart by weight
| Weight | kcal a day | Grams a day | Price a day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb | 194 | 137 g · 4.8 oz | $2.50 |
| 10 lb | 327 | 232 g · 8.2 oz | $4.22 |
| 20 lb | 549 | 389 g · 13.7 oz | $7.08 |
| 30 lb | 744 | 527 g · 18.6 oz | $9.59 |
| 40 lb | 924 | 655 g · 23.1 oz | $11.91 |
| 50 lb | 1,091 | 773 g · 27.3 oz | $14.06 |
| 60 lb | 1,252 | 887 g · 31.3 oz | $16.14 |
| 70 lb | 1,405 | 996 g · 35.1 oz | $18.11 |
| 80 lb | 1,553 | 1,101 g · 38.8 oz | $20.02 |
| 100 lb | 1,836 | 1,301 g · 45.9 oz | $23.67 |
Where the calories come from
Which calorie figure sets the portion?
The calculator uses 744 kcal to set portions for this example dog. FEDIAF, AAHA and WSAVA estimates use different activity and life-stage assumptions; they do not all give the same answer.
The scale shows individual methods, including WSAVA’s wider 673–921 kcal range. These are starting points, not exact requirements. Follow the calculation method, weigh the dog monthly and adjust the amount as needed.
Use the marked calorie figure for grams, then adjust to the dog’s weight trend.
One axis, kcal a day. The marked figure is the starting point for grams; weigh the dog monthly and adjust.
| FEDIAF by activity | 779 kcal |
|---|---|
| FEDIAF by age (3–7 years) | 779 kcal |
| AAHA 2021 | 694–794 kcal |
| WSAVA | 673–921 kcal |
| used for portions | 744 kcal |
Raw brands, same dog
What does the same dog cost?
For this dog, Viva Raw Beef for Dogs costs an estimated $9.59 a day at Viva Raw’s catalog price. Maev Raw costs $14.25 at Maev’s subscription price. Both were listed on the brands’ own stores on October 21, 2026. Maev’s lower calorie density means a larger portion.
The lower figures for Darwin’s and We Feed Raw use their 2–3% feeding rules because their open recipe pages lack calorie figures. They are not like-for-like calorie comparisons. We Feed Raw’s price basis is its advertised starting plan price.
Compare calorie-based portions separately from body-weight estimates, and keep subscription prices distinct from catalog prices.
| Brand and recipe | Type | Grams a day | Per day | Per month | Price basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| We Feed Raw Beef | Raw | 272–408 g* | $5.33–8.00 | $162–243 | Lowest plan price: “Plans start at $8.89/pound” |
| Darwin's Natural Selections Chicken | Raw | 272–408 g* | $5.62–8.43 | $171–256 | Catalog price for 2 lb |
| Viva Raw Beef for Dogs | Raw | 527 g | $9.59 | $292 | Catalog price for 2 lb |
| Maev Raw | Raw | 722 g | $14.25 | $433 | Subscription price; one-time $206 |
| Maev USDA Beef | Raw | 676 g | — | — | no open price |
| Raw Paws Pet Food Signature Blend Pet Food For Dogs & Cats – Beef & Vegetable Recipe, 1-Lb | Raw | 384 g | — | — | no open price |
By the brand’s 2–3% of body weight rule: no calorie figure on the label, not comparable with the calorie-based rows.
The formula
How are grams and cost calculated?
Resting energy
496 kcal70 × 13.6 kg^0.75 (AAHA 2021)
Daily calories
744 kcalFEDIAF row for activity; AAHA middle if lower for a neutered dog
Grams a day
527 g744 ÷ 1,411 kcal/kg × 1000 (Viva Raw Beef for Dogs)
Price a day
$9.59527 g × $18.19/kg; a month is 30.4 days: $292
Start with weight and estimated daily energy needs, not the resting figure alone. This dog’s resting estimate is 496 kcal; its portion calculation uses 744 kcal.
Viva Raw lists 1,411 kcal ME per kg as fed for Beef for Dogs. Dividing daily calories by that label figure gives 527 g (18.6 oz). Multiply the portion by the listed unit price for daily cost; monthly estimates use 30.4 days.
Weight sets the calorie estimate; label calories set grams; the unit price sets cost.
By weight
How do weight and activity change calories?
Read across the row for your dog’s weight, then choose the activity column. Under FEDIAF’s adult guidance, a 30 lb dog goes from 673 kcal with under an hour’s activity to 886 kcal with active exercise for 1–3 hours.
The resting column is not the daily feeding target. These figures are for healthy adults; puppies need a growth calculation.
Choose activity as well as weight before converting calories into a raw food portion.
| Weight | Resting (RER) | Under 1 h a day | 1–3 h, calm | 1–3 h, active | 3–6 h, working |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | 218 | 295 | 342 | 389 | 505 |
| 20 lb | 366 | 497 | 575 | 653 | 849 |
| 30 lb | 496 | 673 | 779 | 886 | 1,151 |
| 50 lb | 727 | 987 | 1,143 | 1,299 | 1,689 |
| 70 lb | 936 | 1,271 | 1,471 | 1,672 | 2,174 |
| 90 lb | 1,131 | 1,534 | 1,777 | 2,019 | 2,624 |
kcal a day; the 3–6 hour row uses the middle of 150–175.
Brands without an open price
What if there is no open price?
Maev USDA Beef and the Raw Paws recipe shown have calculated portions, but no open price was found on brand pages or in stores checked on October 21, 2026.
Their portions are 676 g (23.9 oz) and 384 g (13.6 oz), respectively. Maev USDA Beef is separate from the Maev Raw subscription listed above; that subscription price should not be transferred to it.
A known calorie label can establish a portion without establishing its daily cost.
Maev USDA Beef
676 g a dayNo open price found.
Raw Paws Pet Food
384 g a dayNo open price found.
Partner links
Where to check the price
- We Feed RawRawCheck price at We Feed Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Viva RawRawCheck price at Viva Raw (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
- Darwin'sRawCheck price at Darwin's (partner link, opens in a new tab)partner link
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 raw food should a dog eat?
It depends on daily calorie needs and the recipe’s calorie density. The example 10 lb adult needs about 295 kcal, equivalent to 209 g (7.4 oz) of Viva Raw Beef for Dogs.
How does a raw feeding calculator work?
It estimates daily calories from weight, activity and life stage, then divides by the food’s label calories to calculate grams. Price per day comes from that portion and the listed unit price.
Is 2–3% of body weight enough raw food?
Not necessarily. It is a brand feeding rule rather than a veterinary norm, and it can fall short for small dogs. Check the portion against the recipe’s calories.
Can the raw dog food calculator calculate puppy portions?
Puppies need a growth calculation using expected adult weight; ask your vet, especially for large-breed puppies. The example 4-month puppy weighing 15 lb has an estimated range of 590–900 kcal a day. Viva Raw labels Beef for Dogs for adult maintenance, not growing puppies.
Sources
- 1FEDIAF Nutritional Guidelines 2025europeanpetfood.org · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 2Viva Raw: Beef for Dogsvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 3Maev: Raw Foodmeetmaev.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 4Darwin's: Natural Selections for Dogs Chickendarwinspet.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 5We Feed Raw: Beefwefeedraw.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 6Raw Paws Pet Food: Signature Blend Pet Food Dogs Cats Beef Vegetable Recipe 1 Lbrawpawspetfood.com · checked Oct 21, 2026
- 7Viva Raw: How Much to Feedvivarawpets.com · checked Oct 21, 2026