How much to feed
How much should I feed a 30 lb dog?
Last updated 23 September 2026 · How we write and check this
Short answer
A 30 lb dog, about 13.6kg, typically needs around 205 to 220g of a standard dry food a day, roughly one and a half cups depending on the brand. This weight covers a lot of common small to mid sized breeds, so it is worth confirming your dog's exact weight on a scale rather than estimating, since the range between a 25 lb and 35 lb dog's needs is meaningfully different.
Working out the amount
A 30 lb dog weighs about 13.6kg, giving a resting energy of around 496 kcal, and a typical neutered adult at normal activity needs close to 1.6 times that, about 795 kcal a day. At 350 to 400 kcal per 100g of dry food, that lands near 205 to 220g.
If your dog is closer to 27 or 33 lb, recalculate rather than rounding to the nearest 30, since a few pounds shifts the number by 15 to 20g.
Cups versus grams
A cup measurement here often lands around one and a half cups, but this varies enough between brands that it is only a rough guide, not a precise target.
If you only have a measuring cup, weigh a full cup once on a kitchen scale to learn exactly how many grams your specific food's cup holds, then use that number going forward.
Confirming it is working
Check the waist and ribs every two to three weeks, and expect a visible tuck behind the ribs on most breeds at this weight.
If your dog is a breed prone to weight gain, start at the lower end of the range and increase only if the ribs become too easy to see. Photographing your dog from above every couple of weeks can also help you notice a gradual shift before it becomes obvious just by eye.
Key takeaways
- A 30 lb (13.6kg) dog typically needs about 205 to 220g of dry food a day.
- Recalculate for your dog's exact weight rather than rounding to the nearest common figure.
- Weigh one cup of your specific food once to learn its real gram equivalent.
- Start at the lower end of the range for breeds known to gain weight easily.