Calories in Popular Dry Dog Foods (kcal per Cup)
Calories per cup for 14 popular dry dog foods, taken from each manufacturer's own product page. Last checked October 16, 2026.
| Food | kcal per cup | kcal per kg | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pedigree Small Dog Adult Grilled Steak & Vegetable | 332 | 3,469 | Manufacturer page |
| Rachael Ray Nutrish Real Chicken & Veggies Recipe | 340 | 3,575 | Manufacturer page |
| Nutro Adult Farm-Raised Chicken & Brown Rice Recipe | 341 | 3,646 | Manufacturer page |
| Purina Pro Plan Specialized Large Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice | 353 | 3,688 | Manufacturer page |
| Hill's Science Diet Adult Chicken & Barley Recipe | 365 | 3,675 | Manufacturer page |
| Purina ONE SmartBlend Chicken & Rice Adult | 383 | 4,004 | Manufacturer page |
| Purina Pro Plan Specialized Small Breed Shredded Blend Chicken & Rice | 397 | 4,075 | Manufacturer page |
| Diamond Naturals Large Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula | 397 | 3,499 | Manufacturer page |
| Purina Dog Chow Complete Adult Chicken Flavor | 405 | 3,469 | Manufacturer page |
| Victor Hi-Pro Plus | 406 | 3,815 | Manufacturer page |
| Diamond Naturals Small Breed Adult Chicken & Rice Formula | 418 | 3,683 | Manufacturer page |
| Fromm Family Adult Gold | 418 | 3,735 | Manufacturer page |
| Taste of the Wild High Prairie Canine Recipe with Roasted Bison & Roasted Venison | 422 | 3,719 | Manufacturer page |
| Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains | 434 | 3,660 | Manufacturer page |
Values are each manufacturer's calculated metabolizable energy, as fed. Sorted from fewest to most calories per cup.
Why the number matters
In this table the foods range from 332 to 434 calories per cup. A neutered 40-pound adult dog needs roughly 980 calories a day, which is about 2.25 cups of Merrick Healthy Grains Real Chicken + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains but about 3 cups of Pedigree Small Dog Adult Grilled Steak & Vegetable. Feeding the same scoop of each would give very different calories, so measure by calories, not by the scoop.
Calorie density says nothing about whether a food is a good one. A food with more calories per cup is simply more concentrated, so you feed less of it.
Work out your dog's cost per day
Use the dog food cost per day calculator to turn these numbers into cups, cost per day, and cost per month for your dog.
How we collected this data
- Every number comes from the manufacturer's own website for that specific food, not from retailer listings, which sometimes disagree.
- Foods are calculated by the maker and can change when a formula is updated. Different bag sizes, regions, and older bags can list slightly different values, so check the calorie statement on your own bag.
- This is a growing list. We have not tested these foods, and being listed is not a recommendation.
- Some links may be affiliate links, as described on our About page.
Not sure where to find the calories on your bag? See how to read a dog food label.