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Puppy Feeding Chart

How much to feed a puppy depends on its age and how big it will get. A puppy that will reach about 40 lb needs roughly 800 kcal a day at 3 months and about 1,200 kcal by 6 months, then settles toward adult feeding by the end of the first year. Use the chart below by expected adult weight, or the calculator for your exact food.

By Sikander Malik · Updated October 15, 2026 · Sources

Want the exact amount for your puppy and your bag of food? The dog food calculator uses your puppy’s current weight, its expected adult weight and the food’s calories per cup. This chart is the typical case.

Estimates only, not veterinary advice. Ask your vet about your puppy’s diet.

How much to feed a puppy by age

Energy need depends on how big the puppy will get, so the chart is by expected adult weight. The main number is calories a day (kcal); cups are at an example food density of 380 kcal per cup, so check your bag and use the calculator for an exact figure. Once a puppy reaches about 95% of its adult weight (around the end of the first year, later for large and giant breeds), feed it as an adult.

Calories per day by age and adult size
Puppy calories per day by age and expected adult weight
Puppy age10 lb adult20 lb adult40 lb adult60 lb adult †80 lb adult †
2 mo3240.9 cups4921.3 cups7642.0 cups10362.7 cups12513.3 cups
3 mo3420.9 cups5211.4 cups8172.2 cups11082.9 cups13423.5 cups
4 mo3480.9 cups5541.5 cups10802.8 cups14643.9 cups17714.7 cups
6 mo4331.1 cups7151.9 cups12023.2 cups16304.3 cups19835.2 cups
8 mo3891.0 cups6541.7 cups11323.0 cups15344.0 cups18674.9 cups
10 mo4001.1 cups6791.8 cups11613.1 cups15744.1 cups19535.1 cups
12 mo4121.1 cups6861.8 cups11643.1 cups15774.2 cups19595.2 cups
kcal a day, with cups at 380 kcal/cup. *From about 95% of adult weight (usually after the first year) feed as an adult; the dog food calculator covers that. † large-breed puppies: see the note below.
RER = 70 × kg0.75 × a growth factor that tapers from 3× to 2× as the puppy nears adult weight (Pet Nutrition Alliance, WSAVA/AAHA). Weight-for-age from Salt et al. 2017.

Food needs peak around 4 to 6 months, while puppies grow fastest, then ease off as growth slows.

Toy and small breeds usually reach adult size by 9 to 12 months; ask your vet when to switch to adult food and amounts.

Large-breed puppies († 60 and 80 lb columns)

Large and giant breeds grow for longer and are prone to joint problems if they grow too fast. Feed a food formulated for large-breed puppies, measure meals rather than free-feeding, and keep them lean. Let your vet check body condition at visits. Growing slow and steady is safer than growing fast. See the WSAVA nutrition guidelines.

Meals per day by age

Split the daily amount across several meals. Young puppies do best with small, frequent meals; toy breeds may need an extra meal to avoid low blood sugar.

How many meals a day
Puppy meals per day by age
AgeMeals
6 to 12 weeks4 meals a day
3 to 6 months3 meals a day
6 to 12 months2 meals a day
Adult2 meals a day
AAHA 2019 Canine Life Stage Guidelines; AKC.

How the chart is worked out

We take the puppy’s resting energy (RER = 70 × body weight in kg to the power 0.75) and multiply by a growth factor: 3× while a puppy is under half its adult weight, 2.5× from half to 80%, and 2× from 80% to full size, after which adult maintenance (about 1.6× for a neutered dog) applies. The puppy’s weight at each age comes from growth data on 60,951 dogs (Salt et al. 2017), scaled to the expected adult weight. The dog food calculator uses the same method for an exact, per-dog number.

Questions owners ask

How much should I feed my puppy?
It depends on age and adult size. A puppy is fed for growth: roughly 3 times its resting calorie need while small, tapering to 2 times as it nears adult weight. On this chart, a puppy heading for 40 lb needs about 800 kcal a day at 3 months and about 1,200 by 6 months. Use the dog food calculator with your puppy’s weight, its expected adult weight and your food’s calories per cup for an exact amount.
How many times a day should a puppy eat?
Feed four small meals a day up to about 3 months, three meals from 3 to 6 months, and two meals a day from 6 months on. Toy and small breeds may need an extra meal to avoid low blood sugar. Splitting the daily amount into regular meals suits a growing puppy better than one large meal.
How much should a 3-month-old puppy eat?
That depends on how big it will get. On this chart a 3-month-old heading for 20 lb needs about 520 kcal a day, one heading for 40 lb about 820 kcal, and one heading for 80 lb about 1,340 kcal, split into three or four meals. Calories per cup vary by food, so check the bag and use the calculator for cups.
When do I switch a puppy to adult food?
Around the time it reaches its adult weight: about 10 to 12 months for small and medium dogs, and 12 to 18 months or more for large and giant breeds. Our chart feeds as an adult from about 80% of adult weight. Change foods gradually over a week, and ask your vet, especially for large breeds where growth rate matters.
Why do large-breed puppies need different feeding?
Large and giant breeds grow for longer and can develop joint problems if they grow too fast or carry extra weight while growing. Feed a large-breed puppy food, measure meals instead of free-feeding, keep the puppy lean, and let your vet check body condition. Steady growth is safer than fast growth.
How accurate is this chart?
It is a well-sourced estimate, not a prescription. It uses the standard vet calorie formula (RER times a growth factor) and growth data on more than 60,000 dogs, but individual puppies can vary by up to 50% from the predicted need. Weigh your puppy, watch body condition, and adjust with your vet rather than following a single number.

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Sources

Estimates only, not veterinary advice. Ask your vet about your puppy’s diet.