Dog feeding chart by weight in lbs: how much to feed a dog in cups and ounces
A neutered or ordinary adult dog eats about 3/4 cup a day at 10 lb, 1 1/4 cups at 20 lb, 1 3/4 at 30 lb, 3 3/8 at 70 lb and 4 3/8 at 100 lb of a 380 kcal per cup kibble. A 50 lb (22.7 kg) neutered or ordinary adult dog needs about 987 kcal a day, which is 2.6 cups of a 380 kcal per cup kibble or 2.1 cups of a 460 kcal one: the cups depend on the calories in your bag's cup, which is why this chart has four cup columns instead of one. Rows run from 5 to 120 lb, calories come from the NRC 2006 adult equations behind the WSAVA charts, and there is a table for wet food in ounces and 13 oz cans. The main tables are for adults: puppies have a short table in pounds below and their own puppy feeding chart.
Quick chart: how much to feed a dog by weight in lbs
Cups a day in eighths of a cup, the way bag charts print them. Each range runs from a dense kibble (460 kcal per cup) to a light one (340 kcal per cup); the kcal per cup on your bag puts your dog at one point of it, and the full columns further down give that point. The calories are worked out by the same code as the dog food calculator, so the calculator gives the same cups for the same weight and kcal per cup.
| Dog weight | Calories a day (neutered) | Cups a day, neutered or ordinary | Cups a day, active |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 176 | 3/8 to 1/2 | 1/2 to 3/4 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 295 | 5/8 to 7/8 | 7/8 to 1 1/4 |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 400 | 7/8 to 1 1/8 | 1 1/4 to 1 5/8 |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 497 | 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 | 1 1/2 to 2 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 673 | 1 1/2 to 2 | 2 to 2 3/4 |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 835 | 1 7/8 to 2 1/2 | 2 1/2 to 3 3/8 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 987 | 2 1/8 to 2 7/8 | 2 7/8 to 4 |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 1,132 | 2 1/2 to 3 3/8 | 3 3/8 to 4 1/2 |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 1,271 | 2 3/4 to 3 3/4 | 3 3/4 to 5 1/8 |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 1,405 | 3 to 4 1/8 | 4 1/8 to 5 5/8 |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 1,534 | 3 3/8 to 4 1/2 | 4 5/8 to 6 1/8 |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 1,660 | 3 5/8 to 4 7/8 | 5 to 6 5/8 |
| 120 lb (54.4 kg) | 1,904 | 4 1/8 to 5 5/8 | 5 5/8 to 7 5/8 |
Calories a day by weight in pounds
NRC 2006 adult equations at the weight in kilograms: inactive or neutered 95 x kg^0.75, active 130 x kg^0.75. The last column is the range printed on the WSAVA chart for that weight. The daily calorie guide explains the equations; this page turns them into cups and ounces.
| Dog weight | Inactive / neutered | Active | WSAVA chart range |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 176 | 240 | 155-194 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 295 | 404 | 261-326 |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 400 | 548 | 354-442 |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 497 | 680 | 439-549 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 673 | 921 | 595-744 |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 835 | 1,143 | 738-923 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 987 | 1,351 | 873-1,091 |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 1,132 | 1,549 | 1,001-1,251 |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 1,271 | 1,739 | 1,124-1,404 |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 1,405 | 1,922 | 1,242-1,552 |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 1,534 | 2,100 | 1,357-1,696 |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 1,660 | 2,272 | 1,468-1,835 |
| 120 lb (54.4 kg) | 1,904 | 2,605 | 1,683-2,104 |
Cups a day: neutered or ordinary adult
Cups depend on the kcal per cup printed on your bag, not on the weight of the dog alone, so the chart has a column for each of four common values. Find yours on the bag (US bags print it near the calorie statement) and read that column; if the bag gives only kcal per kg, the cups per day guide shows how to convert.
| Dog weight | 340 kcal/cup | 380 kcal/cup | 420 kcal/cup | 460 kcal/cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.4 | 0.4 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.6 |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.2 | 1.1 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2 | 1.8 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 2.9 | 2.6 | 2.4 | 2.1 |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 3.3 | 3 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3 | 2.8 |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.1 |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 4.5 | 4 | 3.7 | 3.3 |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 4.9 | 4.4 | 4 | 3.6 |
| 120 lb (54.4 kg) | 5.6 | 5 | 4.5 | 4.1 |
Cups a day: active adult
For a dog that gets an hour or more of real exercise a day, working dogs and sporting dogs in season. Most pets are not on this table, however keen they are on their walk.
| Dog weight | 340 kcal/cup | 380 kcal/cup | 420 kcal/cup | 460 kcal/cup |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 0.7 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.5 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1 | 0.9 |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 1.2 |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 2 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.5 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 2 |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 3.4 | 3 | 2.7 | 2.5 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 4 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.9 |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 4.6 | 4.1 | 3.7 | 3.4 |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 5.1 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 3.8 |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 5.7 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 4.2 |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 6.2 | 5.5 | 5 | 4.6 |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 6.7 | 6 | 5.4 | 4.9 |
| 120 lb (54.4 kg) | 7.7 | 6.9 | 6.2 | 5.7 |
Wet food: ounces and cans a day
For a 13 oz can labelled 400 kcal, on the inactive line. The last column feeds half the calories as wet food and half as a 380 kcal per cup kibble. See how much wet food to feed a dog for pouches and other can sizes.
| Dog weight | Wet only (oz) | Cans (13 oz) | Half wet + kibble |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 5.7 | 0.4 | 2.9 oz + 0.2 cups |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 9.6 | 0.7 | 4.8 oz + 0.4 cups |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 13 | 1 | 6.5 oz + 0.5 cups |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 16.1 | 1.2 | 8.1 oz + 0.7 cups |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 21.9 | 1.7 | 10.9 oz + 0.9 cups |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 27.1 | 2.1 | 13.6 oz + 1.1 cups |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 32.1 | 2.5 | 16 oz + 1.3 cups |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 36.8 | 2.8 | 18.4 oz + 1.5 cups |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 41.3 | 3.2 | 20.6 oz + 1.7 cups |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 45.6 | 3.5 | 22.8 oz + 1.8 cups |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 49.9 | 3.8 | 24.9 oz + 2 cups |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 54 | 4.2 | 27 oz + 2.2 cups |
| 120 lb (54.4 kg) | 61.9 | 4.8 | 30.9 oz + 2.5 cups |
Per meal
| Dog weight | Cups a day | Per meal (2 meals) | Per meal (3 meals) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5 lb (2.3 kg) | 0.5 | 0.23 | 0.15 |
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 0.8 | 0.39 | 0.26 |
| 15 lb (6.8 kg) | 1.1 | 0.53 | 0.35 |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 1.3 | 0.65 | 0.44 |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 1.8 | 0.89 | 0.59 |
| 40 lb (18.1 kg) | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.73 |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 2.6 | 1.3 | 0.87 |
| 60 lb (27.2 kg) | 3 | 1.49 | 0.99 |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 3.3 | 1.67 | 1.11 |
| 80 lb (36.3 kg) | 3.7 | 1.85 | 1.23 |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 4 | 2.02 | 1.35 |
| 100 lb (45.4 kg) | 4.4 | 2.18 | 1.46 |
| 120 lb (54.4 kg) | 5 | 2.5 | 1.67 |
By weight and age: puppies and senior dogs
Age changes the amount through growth, not through the calendar: a puppy is fed for the weight it is heading for and for how far along it is (the NRC 2006 growth equation, the puppy setting of the calculator). A puppy that will weigh 50 lb needs about 1,407 kcal a day at 25 lb, against 987 kcal for a 50 lb neutered adult. The expected adult weight is the parents' weight or the breed standard in how much to feed a dog by breed.
| Adult weight | At a quarter | At half | At three quarters |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 0.8 cups at 2.5 lb (322 kcal) | 1.1 cups at 5 lb (421 kcal) | 1.1 cups at 7.5 lb (438 kcal) |
| 20 lb (9.1 kg) | 1.4 cups at 5 lb (542 kcal) | 1.8 cups at 10 lb (708 kcal) | 1.8 cups at 15 lb (737 kcal) |
| 30 lb (13.6 kg) | 1.8 cups at 7.5 lb (734 kcal) | 2.4 cups at 15 lb (959 kcal) | 2.5 cups at 22.5 lb (999 kcal) |
| 50 lb (22.7 kg) | 2.7 cups at 12.5 lb (1,077 kcal) | 3.5 cups at 25 lb (1,407 kcal) | 3.7 cups at 37.5 lb (1,466 kcal) |
| 70 lb (31.8 kg) | 3.5 cups at 17.5 lb (1,386 kcal) | 4.5 cups at 35 lb (1,811 kcal) | 4.7 cups at 52.5 lb (1,887 kcal) |
| 90 lb (40.8 kg) | 4.2 cups at 22.5 lb (1,674 kcal) | 5.5 cups at 45 lb (2,186 kcal) | 5.7 cups at 67.5 lb (2,278 kcal) |
Senior dogs read the neutered or ordinary column: age by itself is not in the equation, activity and body condition are. A senior that has slowed down and put on weight is fed for the weight it should be; how much to feed a senior dog has the calories on the inactive and weight-loss lines, and the puppy feeding chart has cups for three puppy foods and meals a day.
Kilograms and grams
The same chart in kilograms, with grams instead of cups for four calorie densities, is how much should I feed my dog; grams on a kitchen scale are more accurate than any cup. The dog food calculator takes pounds or kilograms and the kcal per cup from your own bag and gives cups and grams per meal.
Frequently asked questions
- How many cups of food should a 50 lb dog eat a day?
- 2.1 to 2.9 cups for a neutered or ordinary adult, depending on whether the bag says 460 or 340 kcal per cup, and 2.9 to 4 for a dog that runs or works an hour a day. That is 987 kcal a day on the inactive line; find your kcal per cup on the bag and read that column.
- Is 2 cups of food a day enough for a dog?
- Two cups of a 380 kcal per cup food is 760 kcal, the inactive-adult need of a dog of about 35 lb (16 kg). It is plenty for a 30 lb dog and too little for a 60 lb one, which needs 3 cups of the same food. Cups of a 460 kcal food go further than cups of a 340 kcal one.
- How do I use a dog feeding chart?
- Weigh the dog (or use the weight it should be, if it is overweight). Pick the inactive column for a neutered pet that walks, the active one for an hour or more of real exercise a day. Read the kcal per cup on your bag, take the cups from that column, split them into meals, and check body condition after four weeks: ribs easy to feel, a waist from above.
- How much should I feed a 70 lb dog?
- About 1,271 kcal a day for an ordinary adult: 3.3 cups of a 380 kcal per cup kibble, or 41 oz of wet food a day if the can is 400 kcal per 13 oz. Split into two meals of 1.7 cups.
- How many ounces of wet food should a dog eat per day?
- For a 50 lb dog on wet food alone, about 32 oz a day, 2.5 cans of 13 oz at 400 kcal per can. Cans vary from about 300 to 500 kcal, so read the kcal per can and divide the daily calories by it; the table gives ounces and cans for every weight.
- Why does the feeding chart on the bag say more than this?
- Bag charts are written for the food's own cup and usually for an intact, active dog at the top of each weight band, while most pets are neutered and walk rather than run. The inactive line is 27% below the active one, and a band such as 51-75 lb hides a big difference between its ends. Start from this chart and let the dog's waist correct it.
- How do I know if I am feeding my dog enough?
- Body condition, not the bowl: ribs you can feel under a thin layer of fat without pressing, a visible waist from above, a belly that tucks up from the side. Weigh monthly. Individual dogs need up to 30% more or less than any equation (Merck Veterinary Manual), so the chart is the starting point and the dog is the answer.
- Should the daily amount be split into two meals?
- Yes for adults: two meals about 12 hours apart, three for small dogs or dogs that vomit bile on an empty stomach. The last table divides the cups; a 50 lb dog on a 380 kcal food gets 1.3 cups a meal twice a day.
- How much should I feed my dog by weight in pounds?
- Work out the calories from the weight, then divide by the kcal per cup on your bag. A 30 lb (13.6 kg) neutered or ordinary adult needs about 673 kcal a day (NRC 2006: 95 x kg^0.75): 1.8 cups of a 380 kcal per cup kibble, 2.0 of a 340 kcal one, 1.5 of a 460 kcal one. The quick chart does the same for every weight from 5 to 120 lb.
- How many cups of food should a 20 lb dog eat a day?
- About 1 1/8 to 1 1/2 cups for a neutered or ordinary adult (497 kcal a day), 1.3 cups of a 380 kcal per cup food, and 1.8 cups of the same food if it runs or works an hour a day (680 kcal). A 10 lb dog needs 5/8 to 7/8 cup (295 kcal).
- How much should a 100 lb dog eat a day?
- About 1,660 kcal for a neutered or ordinary adult: 3 5/8 to 4 7/8 cups a day depending on the bag, 4.4 cups of a 380 kcal per cup kibble, or two meals of 2.2 cups. A working 100 lb dog on the active line needs 2,272 kcal, 6.0 cups of the same food.
- Is there a dog feeding chart by weight and age?
- Yes: by growth stage for puppies, by weight for adults and seniors. A puppy is fed for the weight it is heading for: one that will weigh 50 lb needs about 1,407 kcal a day at 25 lb, 3.5 cups of a 400 kcal per cup puppy food, more than the 987 kcal of a 50 lb neutered adult. Once growth stops the adult rows apply; a senior dog stays on the neutered column and is fed for its ideal weight if it gains.
- How many cups are in a pound of dog food?
- Divide the kcal per cup on the bag by its kcal per kg and multiply by 1,000 to get the grams in a level cup. A food labelled 3,600 kcal/kg and 380 kcal per cup holds 106 g a cup, so a pound (454 g) is 4.3 cups and a 30 lb bag about 129 cups: 50 days for a 50 lb neutered dog at 2.6 cups a day. A kibble with fewer grams in a cup gives more cups per pound.
More guides
- How many cups of dog food per day?
Cups of kibble a day by dog weight from the calories on your bag: tables for 300 to 450 kcal per cup, inactive and active adults, and meals.
- How much should I feed my dog? Grams and cups by weight
Daily calories and grams of dry food for dogs from 2 to 50 kg, inactive and active, on foods from 3,400 to 4,000 kcal/kg, with the WSAVA chart range.
- How many calories does a dog need per day?
Calories a day by weight and life stage from the NRC 2006 equations behind the WSAVA charts: adults 2 to 60 kg, puppies by adult size, weight loss.
- Puppy feeding chart: calories and cups by adult weight
Calories and cups a day for puppies at a quarter, half and three quarters of adult weight, for adult sizes 5 to 40 kg, with meals per day by age.
Sources
- NRC 2006, Nutrient Requirements of Dogs and Cats — adult, puppy and kitten energy equations
- WSAVA, Calorie Needs for Healthy Adult Dogs (July 2020) — chart range for dogs
- WSAVA, Calorie Needs for Healthy Adult Cats (July 2020) — chart range for cats
- AAHA 2021 Nutrition and Weight Management Guidelines — weight loss at the resting requirement of the target weight
Published 2026-09-17, last updated 2026-10-13. Figures are starting points from the published equations: individual animals vary by up to 30%, so adjust by body condition and ask your vet for puppies under 8 weeks, pregnancy, lactation or any illness.