Dog Food Cost Calculator
Estimate how many calories your dog needs each day, and what that translates to in monthly food cost based on the type of food you feed. Want feeding notes for a specific breed? See ourdog breed guides.
Estimate only. Actual needs vary by breed, metabolism, and product — always follow your food's feeding guide and your vet's advice.
Fresh food subscriptions can cost more but may reduce feeding volume
Fresh and gently-cooked diets are more calorie-dense per pound in some formulations, which can offset the higher sticker price. Compare a fresh-food plan for your dog's exact numbers.
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Budgeting for food is easier when vet bills are predictable
Food is a recurring cost you can plan for — unexpected vet visits are not. Pairing a food budget with pet insurance protects the rest of your dog-care budget.
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How this calculator works
We estimate your dog's Resting Energy Requirement (RER) using the standard veterinary formula RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75, then multiply by an activity factor for their life stage to get Maintenance Energy Requirement (MER) in calories per day. We divide that by the typical caloric density of your chosen food type to estimate daily feeding amount, then multiply by your price per pound to estimate monthly cost.
Data sources
The RER/MER calorie formula and activity multipliers follow the WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines, the veterinary-endorsed standard for estimating canine energy needs. Breed weight auto-fill values reflect commonly published breed-standard weight ranges (AKC and veterinary breed references); your dog's actual weight — measured, not estimated — will always be more accurate than a breed average.