How much does it cost to feed a dog each month? It depends mostly on two things: how many calories your dog needs, which rises with weight, and how much the food costs per calorie. This guide gives a size-by-size table you can use for a quick budget. For your own dog and your own foods, use the free pet food cost calculator.
How we estimated the numbers
Daily calories for a neutered adult dog were estimated as 70 x (weight in kg) to the power of 0.75, multiplied by 1.6. Monthly cost uses 30.4 days. These are estimates, not feeding instructions. Active dogs, puppies, intact dogs and dogs that need to lose weight differ, so ask your veterinarian about your dog.
The three price levels are examples of cost per 1,000 kcal, not specific brands. As a rough guide, a low-cost kibble can land near $1.25, a mid-priced kibble near $2.00, and canned, fresh-style or other premium foods can reach $5.00 or more. Use the Calories and price on your own bag for real numbers.
Monthly cost by dog weight
| Dog weight | Calories per day | At $1.25 per 1,000 kcal | At $2.00 per 1,000 kcal | At $5.00 per 1,000 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 lb | about 350 | $13 | $21 | $53 |
| 25 lb | about 690 | $26 | $42 | $105 |
| 40 lb | about 985 | $37 | $60 | $150 |
| 60 lb | about 1,335 | $51 | $81 | $203 |
| 80 lb | about 1,655 | $63 | $101 | $252 |
| 100 lb | about 1,960 | $74 | $119 | $298 |
What the table shows
- Size matters, but not linearly. A 100 lb dog needs about 5.6 times the calories of a 10 lb dog, not 10 times, because energy needs grow more slowly than body weight.
- Food choice matters more than size. Moving from the lowest to the highest price level multiplies the cost by four for the same dog, which is a bigger swing than the difference between a 25 lb and a 60 lb dog.
- Calorie density changes the scoop, not the cost per calorie. What counts is price per 1,000 kcal, which is why the same bag can be a good or poor value depending on its calories.
Ways your real bill can differ
- Active, working or growing dogs often need more calories, and inactive or overweight dogs need fewer.
- Treats, chews and table scraps add calories and cost. Keep treats to roughly 10 percent of daily calories.
- Bigger bags usually cost less per pound, but check that the food stays fresh until you finish it.
- Prescription and special diets can cost more and should be chosen with your vet.
Get your own number
Enter your dog’s weight and life stage, then the price, size and calories of the foods you are considering, into the pet food cost calculator. It shows cost per 1,000 kcal plus daily, monthly and yearly cost, and lets you save the comparison as a PDF. If you want the method behind it, see how to compare pet food by cost per 1,000 calories.
