How much does it cost to feed a dog per month?
A 20 kg (44 lb) neutered or not very active dog eats about 250 g a day of a 3,600 kcal/kg dry food. At 5 per kilogram of food (a 12 kg bag for 60) that is 38 a month; at 12 per kilogram, 91. A 10 kg dog on the same 5/kg food costs 23 a month, a 40 kg dog 64. The tables work in any currency: use the price per kilogram of the food you buy.
Open the pet food cost calculator
Small, medium and large dogs: food and cost per month
AKC size bands: small (20 lb or less), medium (21-50 lb), large (51-100 lb). Each row is a dog from the middle of its band, inactive or neutered, on a 3,600 kcal/kg dry food. The kilograms a month are fixed by the dog; the cost columns are that food at four prices per kilogram, in any currency.
| Dog size | Food / day | Food / month | 3 / kg | 5 / kg | 8 / kg | 12 / kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small dog, 10 lb (4.5 kg) | 82 g | 2.5 kg | 7 | 12 | 20 | 30 |
| Medium dog, 35 lb (15.9 kg) | 210 g | 6.4 kg | 19 | 32 | 51 | 77 |
| Large dog, 75 lb (34 kg) | 372 g | 11.3 kg | 34 | 57 | 91 | 136 |
Monthly dry food cost, inactive or neutered adult
Grams a day from the NRC 2006 inactive equation on a 3,600 kcal/kg food, times the price per kilogram, times 30.44 days.
| Dog weight | Food / day | 3 / kg | 5 / kg | 8 / kg | 12 / kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 88 g | 8 | 13 | 21 | 32 |
| 10 kg (22 lb) | 148 g | 14 | 23 | 36 | 54 |
| 15 kg (33 lb) | 201 g | 18 | 31 | 49 | 73 |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 250 g | 23 | 38 | 61 | 91 |
| 25 kg (55 lb) | 295 g | 27 | 45 | 72 | 108 |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 338 g | 31 | 51 | 82 | 124 |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 420 g | 38 | 64 | 102 | 153 |
Active adult
The active equation (130 x kg^0.75), same food and prices.
| Dog weight | Food / day | 3 / kg | 5 / kg | 8 / kg | 12 / kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 121 g | 11 | 18 | 29 | 44 |
| 10 kg (22 lb) | 203 g | 19 | 31 | 49 | 74 |
| 15 kg (33 lb) | 275 g | 25 | 42 | 67 | 101 |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 342 g | 31 | 52 | 83 | 125 |
| 25 kg (55 lb) | 404 g | 37 | 61 | 98 | 147 |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 463 g | 42 | 70 | 113 | 169 |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 574 g | 52 | 87 | 140 | 210 |
How long a 12 kg bag lasts
Inactive adult, 3,600 kcal/kg; bags per year at that rate.
| Dog weight | Days per bag | Bags per year |
|---|---|---|
| 5 kg (11 lb) | 136 days | 2.7 |
| 10 kg (22 lb) | 81 days | 4.5 |
| 15 kg (33 lb) | 60 days | 6.1 |
| 20 kg (44 lb) | 48 days | 7.6 |
| 25 kg (55 lb) | 41 days | 9 |
| 30 kg (66 lb) | 35 days | 10.3 |
| 40 kg (88 lb) | 29 days | 12.8 |
Cost per 1,000 kcal
Two bags at the same price per kilogram are not the same price to feed: the denser one feeds fewer grams. Grams shown for a 20 kg inactive dog.
| Food density | Per 1,000 kcal | Grams / day, 20 kg dog |
|---|---|---|
| 3,000 kcal/kg | 1.67 | 299 g |
| 3,400 kcal/kg | 1.47 | 264 g |
| 3,800 kcal/kg | 1.32 | 236 g |
| 4,200 kcal/kg | 1.19 | 214 g |
Your own numbers
Enter the bag price, bag weight and kcal/kg in the pet food cost calculator to get cost per day, per month and per 1,000 kcal for the dog's actual grams; the dog food calculator gives the grams from weight and life stage. Puppies and pregnant dogs eat more than the adult tables; senior dogs often a little less.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I get the price per kilogram?
- Bag price divided by bag weight: a 12 kg bag at 60 is 5 per kg; a 2 kg bag at 18 is 9 per kg. Larger bags are usually cheaper per kilogram but only pay off if the dog finishes them within about six weeks of opening, before the fat oxidises.
- Why compare per 1,000 kcal and not per kilogram?
- Because a denser food feeds fewer grams. At the same 5 per kg, a 3,000 kcal/kg food costs 1.67 per 1,000 kcal and a 4,200 kcal/kg food 1.19. The cost calculator shows this figure for any two bags side by side.
- How much more does an active dog cost?
- About 37% more, because the NRC active equation (130 x kg^0.75) is 37% above the inactive one (95 x kg^0.75): the 20 kg dog goes from 38 to 52 a month on the 5/kg food.
- What about wet food?
- Wet food is 75-80% water, so per calorie it usually costs several times more than kibble of the same quality. Feeding half wet, half dry roughly doubles the monthly bill; the dog food calculator gives the grams and cans for any split and the cost calculator prices both.
- Does the monthly figure include treats?
- No. Treats should stay under 10% of daily calories, so budget up to 10% more, and reduce the kibble by the same calories or the dog gains weight. Vet care, insurance and toys are separate lines.
More guides
- How much does it cost to feed a cat per month?
Monthly cost of dry, wet or mixed feeding for cats from 3 to 6 kg at four price points, days per 2 kg bag, pouches a month and cost per 1,000 kcal.
- How much does it cost to feed a puppy per month?
Monthly puppy food cost by adult size and growth stage at 3 to 12 per kg of a 4,000 kcal/kg puppy food, next to the adult cost, and days per bag.
- 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.
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 2026-09-29. 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.