What size portions can automatic feeders dispense accurately?

A typical feeder can be set anywhere from a small snack sized 10 to 20 g (0.4 to 0.7 oz) portion up to 250 to 300 g (9 to 10.5 oz) for a large dog's full meal, usually adjusted in steps equivalent to a tablespoon or so of kibble.

For a toy breed needing only 20 to 40 g (0.7 to 1.4 oz) per meal, a single rotation of the dispensing mechanism can deliver noticeably more or less than intended, since the smallest adjustable increment is often close to that entire portion. Weighing the actual dispensed amount for a toy breed is worth doing more often than for a larger dog.

Very small or very large kibble pieces do not always fill the dispensing chamber evenly, which can mean a slightly inconsistent amount between one dispense and the next even at the same setting. Switching to a different kibble size sometimes noticeably changes how consistent a feeder's portions become, which is worth testing if you notice unexplained weight changes.

Changing to a new food brand or formula is a good moment to reweigh a dispensed portion, since density and piece size can differ enough between products to shift the same volume setting into a meaningfully different weight. Manufacturers usually publish an expected accuracy range for their specific model, which is worth checking against your own kitchen scale results rather than assuming every unit performs identically out of the box.