Pet Food Cost Calculator
Calculate daily, monthly, and yearly pet food cost based on bag size, price, and daily portion.
What this calculates
Pet food is a recurring cost that quietly adds up. A premium kibble might look expensive per bag but cheap per day; a budget option can be the opposite if portions are larger. This calculator translates bag price and daily portion into the real per-day, per-month, and per-year cost.
Formula & how it works
Days per bag = bag_size_g ÷ daily_g. Cost per day = bag_price ÷ days_per_bag. Monthly = daily × 30. Yearly = daily × 365. Multi-pet households scale linearly. Wet/raw is typically 3-5× more per day than dry kibble of similar quality.
Worked example
Medium dog eating 250 g/day, 12 kg bag at $60. Days/bag = 12000/250 = 48 days. Daily cost = $60/48 = $1.25. Monthly = $37.50. Yearly = $456. Same dog on premium freeze-dried at $50 per 1.4 kg bag: daily ~$9. Yearly $3,285 — a $2,800 difference.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the right portion?
Bag instructions are starting points but often run high (sells more food). Vet-recommended calorie counts based on body weight and activity are more accurate. Monitor body condition; adjust 10 % up or down if you see weight drift.
Is expensive food worth it?
Mixed. High-quality protein, controlled fats, no junk fillers matter. But $100/month boutique food doesn't always outperform $40/month decent food. Vet recommendation > marketing.
Should I free-feed?
Most vets recommend meal-feeding twice daily for dogs (and cats too, but free-feeding cats works OK with portion control). Free-feeding makes monitoring harder and contributes to overweight pets.
How long does dry food keep?
Sealed: 12-18 months from manufacture date. Opened: best within 6 weeks for freshness. Store in original bag inside an airtight container — the bag has barrier coating; pouring kibble loose into plastic loses freshness fast.