How much should I feed my dog? Portions by weight

By Alex Baer · Updated July 2026

1,018 kcal
what a typical 50 lb neutered adult dog needs per day — which is anywhere from 2.1 to 4.2 cups, depending on which bag you pour it from

In the latest survey by the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, 59% of US dogs were overweight or obese. That is not because owners do not care. It is mostly because the standard way we decide portions, reading the chart on the side of the bag, systematically overshoots.

Feeding charts are built for the hungriest plausible dog: young, intact, highly active. If your dog is neutered and spends most of the day on the couch, the same chart can overfeed by 20-30%. And nobody selling food has a strong incentive to round those numbers down.

There is a better way, and it is the same one veterinarians use: start from calories, not cups.

Calories first, cups second

Two numbers decide your dog's portion:

How many calories your dog needs per day. This depends on weight, age, activity, and whether the dog is neutered.
How many calories are in the food you feed. This is printed by the manufacturer as kcal per cup, and it varies a lot: two dry foods can easily differ by 25% per cup.

The veterinary math starts with the resting energy requirement, RER = 70 × (weight in kg)^0.75, then multiplies it by a factor for life stage and activity. We walk through the exact multipliers on our methodology page.

A real example. A 50 lb neutered adult Labrador with moderate activity needs about 1,018 kcal per day. With Diamond Naturals Beef Meal & Rice that is 2.6 cups per day. With Wellness Complete Health Chicken & Oatmeal it is 2.4 cups. Same dog, same calories, different cups: the bag matters.

Rule of thumb. Start from calories, not cups — and remember that calories per pound of dog fall as the dog gets bigger. A 15 lb dog needs about 28 kcal per pound of body weight, a 50 lb dog about 20, a 100 lb dog about 17. Twice the dog is not twice the bowl.

Dog size	Calories per day	Typical dry food portion
Small, around 15 lb	about 413 kcal	0.9-1.1 cups (0.8-1.4 across all foods)
Medium, around 35 lb	about 779 kcal	1.7-2.1 cups (1.6-2.6 across all foods)
Large, around 65 lb	about 1,240 kcal	2.7-3.5 cups (2.5-5.1 across all foods)
Giant, around 100 lb	about 1,713 kcal	3.7-4.8 cups (3.5-7.0 across all foods)

Assumes a neutered adult with moderate activity. Cup ranges reflect the actual kcal-per-cup spread across the nearly 200 foods in our database, July 2026.

Worked example: 50 lb neutered Labrador, moderate activity. RER = 70 × (22.7 kg)^0.75 ≈ 728 kcal. Neutered adult at moderate activity multiplies that by 1.4, so about 1,018 kcal a day. At 397 kcal per cup (the median dry food in our database) that is 2.6 cups. On a 243 kcal per cup food it would be 4.2 cups; on a 490 kcal per cup food, 2.1.

What moves the number

The table above is a midpoint, not a verdict. The main adjustments:

Age. Puppies need two to three times more energy per pound than adults. Seniors need about 15% less than a moderate adult.
Neutering. Neutered dogs burn noticeably less energy. If your dog is intact, the target goes up.
Activity. A dog that hikes with you daily can need a third more calories than one that mostly patrols the sofa.
Body condition. If your dog is already overweight, portions should be computed to a lower target so weight comes down slowly.

Every one of these is a specific multiplier in the math, listed on the methodology page.

Get the number for your dog, not for an average dog

Our calculator does this calculation for your dog's breed, weight, age, and activity in two clicks, and then shows the exact cups per day for real foods along with what each would cost. See what that costs for your dog's breed and weight before the next bag, whether you feed Purina Pro Plan, Orijen, or anything in between.

Check the dog, not just the math

Numbers get you close; your hands confirm it. Run them over your dog's ribs: you should feel them easily under a thin layer of fat, without pressing. Seen from above, there should be a visible waist behind the ribs. If the ribs are hard to find, the daily target is too high for this dog, whatever the math says — recheck the activity level you assumed, and adjust in small steps of about 10 percent rather than in whole cups.

Watch out. The cups number belongs to the bag, not to the dog. Adult dry foods in our database run from 243 to 490 kcal per cup, so the same dog needs twice as many cups of one food as of another. Carrying your old scoop habit over to a new bag is the most common way owners overfeed without noticing.

Frequently asked questions

How many times a day should I feed my dog?

Most adult dogs do well with two meals a day: split the daily portion in half. Puppies under six months usually need three or four smaller meals. What matters for weight is the daily total, not the number of meals.

Should I measure dog food in cups or grams?

Grams are more precise, and cups are more convenient. A "cup" only means something for the specific food, since kibble density varies. If you use a cup, use a real measuring cup, level it, and stick to the same food. A kitchen scale removes the guesswork entirely, which is why our calculator shows both.

Do puppies need more food than adult dogs?

More, relative to body weight. A puppy under four months needs roughly three times its resting energy requirement, and two times up to about 12 months. Large and giant breeds stay on puppy portions longer, up to about 24 months. Use a puppy-specific calculation rather than scaling down an adult one.

How do I know if I am overfeeding my dog?

Run your hands over the ribs: you should feel them easily under a thin layer, without pressing. Looking from above, there should be a visible waist. If ribs are hard to find or the waist is gone, reduce the daily portion by about 10% and re-check in three or four weeks. Your vet can confirm with a body condition score.

Key takeaways

Portions start with calories per day, not with cups. RER = 70 × (kg)^0.75, multiplied by a life-stage and activity factor.
A typical 50 lb neutered adult needs about 1,018 kcal a day. Calories per pound drop as dogs get bigger, from roughly 28 at 15 lb to 17 at 100 lb.
Cups only mean something once you know the food: adult dry foods run 243 to 490 kcal per cup, a 2x spread.
The feeding chart on the bag is built for the hungriest plausible dog. A neutered, couch-first dog usually needs 20 to 30 percent less.
Check the result against your dog's body condition, and adjust in 10 percent steps.

More guides: Fresh vs kibble: what dog food actually costs · How to switch dog food safely

Get the number for your dog, not for an average dog. The calculator does this math for your dog's breed, weight, age, activity and neuter status, then shows the exact cups per day for real foods and what each one costs per month.

Calculate for your dog

PetPortions provides portion and cost estimates, not veterinary advice. Estimates are based on breed averages. Consult your vet for medical conditions or unusual diets.