Puppy Feeding Chart: How Much to Feed a Puppy by Weight and Age

A starting point, not a prescription. Puppies vary, so weigh yours weekly and ask your vet if it is growing too fast or too slowly. Last reviewed October 8, 2026.

Puppy feeding chart by weight

Daily calories for puppies at common weights. The cup columns use an example dry food with 400 kcal per cup; check your own bag, because foods vary a lot.

Weight	Under 4 mo, kcal	Cups*	4 mo+, kcal	Cups*
5 lb (2.3 kg)	390	1	260	⅔
10 lb (4.5 kg)	655	1⅔	435	1
15 lb (6.8 kg)	885	2¼	590	1½
20 lb (9.1 kg)	1,100	2¾	730	1¾
30 lb (13.6 kg)	1,490	3¾	990	2½
40 lb (18.1 kg)	1,845	4⅔	1,230	3
50 lb (22.7 kg)	2,180	5½	1,455	3⅔
60 lb (27.2 kg)	2,500	6¼	1,670	4¼

*Cups per day for an example food with 400 kcal per cup, rounded. Split the total into the number of meals below.

The numbers use the resting energy requirement (RER = 70 × body weight in kg^0.75) multiplied by 3 for puppies under 4 months and by 2 from 4 months until adult size, the factors in the Merck Veterinary Manual. The Pet Nutrition Alliance gives the same range of 2–3 × RER, and notes that individual animals can vary by as much as 50%.

How many times a day to feed a puppy

Age	Meals a day
6–12 weeks	4
3–6 months	3
6–12 months (up to 24 months in the largest breeds)	2
Adult	1–2

Schedule from the Merck Veterinary Manual. Small-breed puppies may need more than three meals a day. Feed measured meals at set times rather than leaving food out all day: free feeding makes it easier for a puppy to get fat, and harder to notice if it stops eating.

When to switch to adult food

Puppies should eat a complete and balanced growth diet until they reach skeletal maturity. The Merck Veterinary Manual suggests a less energy-dense diet once a puppy reaches about 90% of its expected adult weight.

Toy, small and medium breeds: usually around 1 year of age (AAHA). VCA says small and medium breeds mature at about 10–12 months.
Large and giant breeds: later. AAHA says some don't reach skeletal maturity until 15–16 months, and VCA says large and giant breeds may need puppy food for up to two years.

Large and giant breed puppies

Big puppies should grow slowly. Overfeeding speeds up growth, and in large and giant breeds extra calories and calcium are linked to skeletal problems and orthopedic disease. Merck notes that feeding growing puppies less doesn't reduce their adult size; it only reduces body fat.

Choose a food labeled for growth “including growth of large size dogs (70 lb or more as an adult)”, the AAFCO wording for large-breed puppies.
Don't add calcium, phosphorus or vitamin D to a complete puppy food. Puppies can't regulate how much calcium they absorb, and excess calcium can cause skeletal malformations.
Keep your puppy lean, and weigh it every week.

The feeding guide on the bag is only a starting point. The best check is your puppy's body condition: you should be able to feel its ribs under a thin layer of fat and see a waist from above. Keep treats to less than 10% of daily calories.

Puppy Feeding Chart: How Much to Feed a Puppy by Weight — Save this chart for later or share it with a friend.

Questions people ask

How much should I feed my puppy?

Start from calories: about 3 times the resting energy requirement for puppies under 4 months and about 2 times from 4 months on. A 10 lb puppy under 4 months needs about 655 kcal a day. Divide by the kcal per cup on your bag to get cups.

How many cups of food should a puppy eat?

It depends on the food's calories. With a food of 400 kcal per cup, a 20 lb puppy under 4 months needs about 2¾ cups a day and a 20 lb puppy over 4 months about 1¾ cups. Enter your food's kcal per cup above for an exact amount.

How many times a day should a puppy eat?

Four meals a day from 6 to 12 weeks, three from 3 to 6 months, and two from 6 months on, according to the Merck Veterinary Manual.

When should a puppy switch to adult food?

Around 1 year for most small and medium breeds. Large and giant breeds mature later and may need puppy food until 15–24 months, or up to two years. A common guide is to switch at about 90% of expected adult weight.

Should I leave food out for my puppy all day?

No. Measured meals at set times make it easier to keep your puppy lean and to notice quickly if it stops eating. This matters most for large-breed puppies, which should grow slowly.

Is my puppy eating too much?

Check body condition rather than the bowl. If you can't feel the ribs easily or there's no waist when you look from above, your puppy is probably getting too much. Weigh it weekly and compare with the puppy growth chart.

Puppy feeding chart