Dog Food Calculator: Cups Per Day and How Long a Bag Lasts
Use the dog food calculator above to see how many cups of food your dog needs per day and how long a 15 lb bag will last. Enter your dog's ideal weight and activity level, then the calories per cup of the food you feed. Below the calculator you will find the formula it uses, a pounds-to-cups guide and a bag-length chart, so you can check the math for any brand.
Family-owned since 2009 · Made in USA · Every batch triple tested · Zero recalls · 50,000+ 5-star reviews · Dog Food Advisor 5/5
- What's your dog's ideal weight? (Use the weight your dog should be, not the current weight, if they need to gain or lose.)
- How much does your dog exercise?
- How many calories per cup are in your chosen food? It is printed on the bag as "kcal/cup".
Use a measuring cup for accurate feeding. A coffee mug or random scoop can be off by half a cup or more.
Calorie density changes how much you scoop. Bully Max 30/20 has 535 calories per cup, so you scoop fewer cups than you would with a lower-calorie food.
TRY BULLY MAX 30/20 HIGH-PROTEIN DOG FOOD
Fuel strength and energy with meat-based nutrition, 30% protein, 20% fat, and 535 calories per cup.
Save 10% with autoship and get each bag delivered on a schedule.
What Does This Dog Food Calculator Do?
This dog food calculator:
- Shows how much to feed your dog per day in cups
- Adjusts that amount for your dog's weight and activity level
- Shows how many days a 15 lb bag of dog food will last
- Calculates a lower daily amount for weight loss
- Calculates amounts for different activity levels
NOTE: This dog food calculator is designed for adult dogs only. For puppies, pregnant and nursing dogs, follow the feeding chart printed on the bag and check with your vet.
* The calculated day supply is an estimate only.
How the Calculator Works Out Daily Calories
Most feeding calculators start with resting energy requirement (RER), the calories a dog burns at rest:
RER = 70 × (body weight in kg)0.75 (1 kg = 2.2 lb)
That number is then multiplied by an activity factor. Common starting factors are:
| Dog | Typical multiplier | Example: 60 lb dog (RER about 834 kcal) |
|---|---|---|
| Weight loss (under vet guidance) | 1.0 | about 830 kcal/day |
| Spayed/neutered, calm adult | 1.4–1.6 | about 1,170–1,330 kcal/day |
| Intact or moderately active adult | 1.6–1.8 | about 1,330–1,500 kcal/day |
| Very active, sport or working dog | 2.0–5.0 | about 1,670 kcal/day and up |
Multipliers are commonly used starting points, not exact needs. Every dog is different, so adjust based on body condition every two weeks.
Finally, divide daily calories by the calories per cup of your food. A 60 lb dog that needs about 1,400 calories would eat about 2.6 cups of a 535 kcal/cup food, or about 3.4 cups of a 415 kcal/cup food. Want the long version? Read our guide on how much to feed your dog or how to count calories for your dog.
Calories per cup change how much you scoop. Bully Max 30/20 Beef delivers 530 calories per cup:
TRY BULLY MAX 30/20 HIGH-PROTEIN BEEF DOG FOOD
Chicken-free, meat-based nutrition with 30% protein, 20% fat, and 530 calories per cup for strength and energy.
Calories per Cup for Every Bully Max Formula
Feeding Bully Max? Enter these calories per cup in the calculator above.
| Bully Max formula | Protein | Fat | kcal/cup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30/20 High Protein Chicken | 30% | 20% | 535 | Active adults that need muscle and energy |
| 30/20 High Protein Beef | 30% | 20% | 530 | Dogs that need a chicken-free food; all life stages |
| PRO Series 31/25 High Calorie | 31% | 25% | 600 | Hard keepers, underweight, working and sport dogs |
| 25/11 Lamb, 45% less fat | 25% | 11% | 415 | Less active dogs, weight control, Frenchies and small breeds; chicken-free |
| 24/14 High Protein & Growth Puppy | 24% | 14% | 419 | Puppies, including large-breed puppies |
Protein and fat are guaranteed-analysis minimums; calories per 8 oz cup. Figures from each product's label data on shop.bullymax.com.
How Many Cups Are in a Pound of Dog Food?
For most dry kibble, one pound is roughly 4 cups, but it can range from about 3 to 5 cups depending on kibble size and density. You can work out the exact number for any food from two numbers on the bag:
Cups per pound = (kcal per kg ÷ 2.2) ÷ kcal per cup
Example: a food with 3,960 kcal/kg and 440 kcal/cup has 1,800 kcal per pound, which is about 4.1 cups per pound. Scales beat scoops: weighing food in grams is the most accurate way to feed.
How many grams is 1 cup of dog food? It depends on the kibble. A level 8 oz measuring cup of dry food often weighs somewhere around 100 to 120 grams, but small, dense kibble weighs more than large, airy kibble. Weigh one level cup of your dog's food on a kitchen scale once, then use that number from then on.
| Bag size | Approximate cups (at about 4 cups per lb) |
|---|---|
| 5 lb | about 20 cups |
| 15 lb | about 60 cups |
| 18 lb | about 72 cups |
| 30 lb | about 120 cups |
| 40 lb | about 160 cups |
Estimates only. Use your food's kcal/kg and kcal/cup for the exact number.
How Long Will a Bag of Dog Food Last?
Divide the cups in the bag by the cups your dog eats per day. Using the estimate of about 60 cups in a 15 lb bag:
| Cups fed per day | Days a 15 lb bag lasts (estimate) | Days a 30 lb bag lasts (estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cup | about 60 days | about 120 days |
| 2 cups | about 30 days | about 60 days |
| 3 cups | about 20 days | about 40 days |
| 4 cups | about 15 days | about 30 days |
A calorie-dense food usually means fewer cups per day, so the same size bag lasts longer. That is why it makes sense to compare dog foods by cost per day instead of cost per bag. If you would rather not run out, Bully Max autoship delivers on a schedule and saves 10%.
Using the Calculator for Weight Loss or Weight Gain
Weight loss
Feed for your dog's ideal weight, not the current one, and count treats. Weigh your dog every two weeks and aim for slow, steady loss. Ask your vet for a target weight and to rule out issues like low thyroid. Not sure what your dog should weigh? See how to find your dog's ideal weight.
If the calculator shows your dog needs fewer calories, a lighter recipe can make portions easier to manage.
TRY BULLY MAX 25/11 REDUCED FAT DOG FOOD
Chicken-free lamb recipe with 25% protein, 45% less fat, and 415 calories per cup for dogs that need a lighter bowl.
Weight gain
For an underweight dog, first see your vet to rule out worms, dental pain or illness. Then feed for the goal weight, add calories in steps of about 10%, and split food into two or three meals. A more calorie-dense food like PRO Series 31/25 (600 calories per cup) lets you add calories without a much bigger bowl. More tips in how to help a dog gain healthy weight.
What About Puppies?
Puppies need more calories per pound than adults and their needs change every few weeks, so this calculator does not cover them. Follow the puppy chart on the bag, keep your puppy lean, and check our guide on when to switch to adult dog food. For growing bully breeds, Bully Max 24/14 Puppy Food has 24% protein, real lamb and TruMune to support digestion and immune health.
In our customers' words
“I tried out a month supply to see how my dog would take to it and he loves the food definitely more active and healthy”
— Bully Max customer, post-purchase survey
“Better results for her and keeping weight on her”
— Bully Max customer, post-purchase survey
Dog Food Calculator FAQ
How many cups of dog food are in a pound?
Usually about 4 cups, with a range of roughly 3 to 5 cups for most dry kibble. Divide the food's kcal per pound by its kcal per cup for the exact number.
How many cups are in an 18 lb bag of dog food?
About 72 cups if the food runs 4 cups per pound. Check the kcal/kg and kcal/cup on your bag to be exact.
How long will a 15 lb bag of dog food last?
At about 60 cups per bag, a dog eating 2 cups a day will finish it in about a month, and a dog eating 3 cups a day in about 20 days.
How much should a 50 lb dog eat per day?
A typical adult 50 lb dog needs very roughly 1,000 to 1,300 calories a day. That is about 2 to 2.5 cups of a 535 kcal/cup food. Adjust for activity and body shape.
Does the calculator work for every brand?
Yes. Enter the calories per cup from your bag. The calorie math is the same for any dry food.
How do I measure a result like 0.61 cups?
Multiply the decimal by 16 to get tablespoons. For example, 0.61 cups is about 10 tablespoons, a little less than 2/3 cup. To split a daily amount into meals, divide it by the number of meals first, then convert.
Why does the calculator show "NaN"?
NaN means "not a number." Enter digits only in each box, with no letters, units or symbols such as "lbs" or "~", then calculate again.
Ready to put this into practice? Start your dog on a meat-based, high-protein food made in the USA by a family-owned company, with every batch triple tested for safety.
Put your result on autoship
Your calculator result shows how many days a bag lasts. Set autoship to match, so the next bag arrives before you run out.
READY TO SWITCH? TRY BULLY MAX 30/20 HIGH-PROTEIN FOOD
Fuel strength and energy with meat-based nutrition, 30% protein, 20% fat, and 535 calories per cup.
Save 10% with autoship on every delivery.
Family-owned since 2009 · Made in USA · Every batch triple tested · Zero recalls · 50,000+ 5-star reviews · Dog Food Advisor 5/5
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THE BULLY MAX PROMISE
- 0 product recalls, ever
- 3-stage testing on every batch
- No corn. No soy. No by-products.
- 100 percent meat-based diets
These are not marketing claims. They are non-negotiable standards.
Bully Max is built on one non-negotiable standard: never compromise on safety or quality. That commitment is reflected in multiple 5-out-of-5-star ratings from Dog Food Advisor.
When you choose Bully Max, you’re choosing a company that takes responsibility for what goes into your dog’s bowl, before and after the sale.
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14 comments
Hi Jill, this is just over 1/2 cup.
How much should i feed my couch potatoes. One is 80lbs the other 40lbs
What calculator?….I don’t see one.
Hi how much does one cup of food weigh