Estimate your dog’s daily calories. This free dog calorie calculator uses the vet RER/MER formula with weight and life-stage/activity to give a daily feeding target and per-meal amount.
Enter your dog’s weight and pick the option that fits. The estimate uses the resting energy requirement (RER) scaled by a life-stage and activity factor.
Formula: RER = 70 x (weight in kg)^0.75, then daily calories (MER) = RER x activity factor. A 20 kg neutered adult dog needs roughly 1,060 kcal a day. Always check your food’s feeding guide and your vet’s advice.
What This Dog Calorie Calculator Does
A dog calorie calculator estimates daily energy needs using the standard veterinary RER and MER formulas, adjusted for your dog’s life stage and activity.
How Dog Calories Are Calculated
RER = 70 x (weight in kg)^0.75daily calories (MER) = RER x activity factor
So a 20 kg neutered adult dog needs roughly 1,060 calories a day, while a very active dog of the same size needs more.
Activity Factors
| Dog | Factor (x RER) |
|---|---|
| Weight loss | 1.0 |
| Older / inactive | 1.4 |
| Neutered adult | 1.6 |
| Intact adult | 1.8 |
| Very active / working | 2.0–5.0 |
| Puppy | 2.0–3.0 |
Turning Calories Into Food
Check the kcal per cup or per gram on your dog food’s label, then divide the daily calorie target by that to get the amount to feed. Split it across meals and adjust based on your dog’s body condition.
How to Use the Dog Calorie Calculator
- Enter your dog’s weight in kg or lb.
- Choose life stage / activity.
- Read the daily calories and per-meal amount.
Have a cat too? See our Cat Calorie Calculator.