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Dog calorie calculator
Find out how many calories your dog needs a day, based on weight, age and how active they are.
Your dog's daily calories will show here.
An estimate to start from. Dogs with health conditions need a plan from their vet. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
Dog calorie chart by weight
Daily calories for adult dogs, rounded to the nearest 5 kcal. For weight loss, look up your dog's ideal weight, not its current weight.
| Weight | Resting (RER) | Spayed / neutered | Not spayed / neutered | Weight loss |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 130 | 205 | 235 | 130 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 220 | 350 | 390 | 220 |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 295 | 470 | 530 | 295 |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 365 | 585 | 660 | 365 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 495 | 795 | 895 | 495 |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 615 | 985 | 1,110 | 615 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 725 | 1,165 | 1,310 | 725 |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 835 | 1,335 | 1,500 | 835 |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 935 | 1,500 | 1,685 | 935 |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 1,035 | 1,655 | 1,865 | 1,035 |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 1,130 | 1,810 | 2,035 | 1,130 |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 1,225 | 1,960 | 2,200 | 1,225 |
How dog calories are calculated
Vets work out a dog's calories in two steps. The first is the resting energy requirement (RER), the energy the body uses at rest:
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75
The second step multiplies RER by a factor for life stage and activity. The result is the maintenance energy requirement (MER), the calories your dog needs in a normal day.
| Dog | Factor |
|---|---|
| Adult, spayed or neutered | 1.6 × RER |
| Adult, not spayed or neutered | 1.8 × RER |
| Inactive or prone to weight gain | 1.2–1.4 × RER |
| Weight loss (at ideal weight) | 1.0 × RER |
| Light work or very active | 1.6–2.0 × RER |
| Moderate work | 2.0–5.0 × RER |
| Puppy under 4 months | 3.0 × RER |
| Puppy 4 months to adult size | 2.0 × RER |
| Pregnant | 1.6–2.0 × RER |
The adult and pregnancy factors come from the Pet Nutrition Alliance calorie sheet. The puppy and work factors come from the 2021 AAHA Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines. AAHA gives slightly wider adult ranges: 1.4–1.6 for spayed or neutered dogs and 1.6–1.8 for intact dogs.
Example: a 40 lb (18.1 kg) neutered dog has an RER of about 615 kcal. Multiplied by 1.6, that's about 985 kcal a day.
From calories to food
Divide the daily calories by the kcal per cup or per can on your food label. If you'd like the full feeding plan with portions per meal, use the dog food calculator. To track how your puppy's weight changes, see the puppy weight calculator.
Every dog is different, and a formula can be noticeably off for an individual dog. Weigh your dog every 2–4 weeks and adjust food by about 10% if the weight moves in a direction you didn't plan. Count treats too: keep them to about 10% of the daily calories.
Questions people ask
How many calories does a dog need per day?
A spayed or neutered adult dog needs about 350 kcal a day at 10 lb, 585 kcal at 20 lb, 985 kcal at 40 lb and 1,335 kcal at 60 lb. Intact, active and working dogs need more; inactive dogs need less.
What is RER and MER for dogs?
RER (resting energy requirement) is the energy a dog uses at rest: 70 × body weight in kg to the power of 0.75. MER (maintenance energy requirement) is RER multiplied by a factor for life stage and activity, and it is the number you feed to.
How many calories should a puppy eat?
Puppies need about 3 times their RER until 4 months of age and about 2 times their RER from 4 months until they reach adult size, according to AAHA. Use the puppy's current weight and recalculate every couple of weeks as it grows.
How many calories should my dog eat to lose weight?
A common starting point is 1.0 times the RER for your dog's ideal weight, not its current weight. Ask your vet for the target weight, then recheck every 2–4 weeks.
Do treats count toward daily calories?
Yes. Vets usually suggest keeping treats to about 10% of the day's calories and reducing meals to make room for them.