Dog Food Cost-Per-Month Calculator

Planning a dog food budget is easiest when you translate feeding guidance into concrete quantities and prices. This calculator estimates monthly cost by combining your dog’s body weight, an assumed feed rate (what percent of body weight is eaten daily, or label‑based grams/cups for kibble and wet foods), the food’s price per kilogram, and the number of days in a month. The result helps you compare diet types—kibble, wet, raw, or home‑prepared—and to anticipate how changes such as weight, activity, or food choice will affect your monthly spend.

For raw and home‑prepared diets, many owners start with 1.5–2.5% of body weight per day for adult maintenance, adjusting for activity and body condition. Active or working dogs may require 3–4%, while weight‑loss plans often use a lower rate. Commercial foods (kibble, wet) provide feeding tables based on weight and sometimes calories; because kibble density varies, weighing portions is more accurate than using cups. Regardless of diet, individual needs vary—treat the estimate as a baseline and fine‑tune after monitoring your dog’s weight and body condition for several weeks.

Price comparisons aren’t as simple as picking the lowest sticker price per bag. Consider kcal density and digestibility: a premium food that costs more per kg might be fed at a smaller amount, narrowing or even reversing the monthly cost difference. Storage, convenience, prep time, and veterinary recommendations also matter. If your dog has medical needs, consult your veterinarian for a nutrition plan; the cheapest choice may not support long‑term health outcomes.

To get the most accurate budget, weigh daily portions and track how long a bag, case, or batch lasts in your household. Revisit the calculation whenever prices change significantly, when your dog’s weight or activity level shifts, or when you transition to a new brand or diet type. For multi‑dog households, run the numbers for each dog and sum the totals; account for treats and toppers too.