Houndmath

Dog food cost calculator

Compare two foods by what they actually cost to feed this dog each day, month and year — not by the price printed on a bag.

Compare two foods

This sets the multiplier applied to resting energy.

Food A

Use the same currency for A and B.
Needed to convert kcal/cup to kcal/kg; leave blank for kcal/kg.

Food B

Use the same currency for A and B.
Needed to convert kcal/cup to kcal/kg; leave blank for kcal/kg.

Enter the dog's weight and both foods to compare their true feeding cost.

The comparison that bag prices hide

A pricier food can still cost less per day. A dog needs calories, not kilograms of kibble: when a food has higher energy density, the daily ration is smaller. The relevant comparison is therefore each food's price per kcal, multiplied by this dog's daily energy requirement. That is exactly what the calculator does.

The preferred label input is kcal/kg. If a label only provides kcal/cup, the grams in that cup are also required; the calculator converts it to kcal/kg as kcal/cup ÷ grams/cup × 1,000. It deliberately refuses to guess that conversion because a cup of one kibble does not weigh the same as a cup of another.

Formula

RER = 70 × kg ^ 0.75; MER = RER × life-stage multiplier

daily cost = MER × bag price ÷ (bag kg × kcal/kg)

days per bag = (bag kg × kcal/kg) ÷ MER

Where the comparison stops being exact

MER is a starting estimate; individual dogs can differ materially with age, activity, neutering and body condition. Treats, toppers and wet food are not included. A displayed price is only as current as the bag price you enter, and taxes, delivery and subscription discounts can change the real cost. Use the dog's weight trend and a vet's guidance to adjust the ration, then rerun the comparison with the actual amount being fed.

Sources: Energy formula and life-stage multipliers: WSAVA Global Nutrition Guidelines