What is the average dog weight by breed size? For dogs, a toy breed is typically 1 to 5 kg, a small breed 5 to 10 kg, a medium breed 10 to 25 kg, a large breed 25 to 40 kg, and a giant breed 40 to 90 kg. For cats, a small breed is typically 2 to 4 kg, a medium breed 3 to 6 kg, and a large breed 5 to 11 kg. This guide is the full table: the typical adult weight, typical lifespan, and daily calories for each size, with example breeds — and how to use it for a crossbreed or a mix, where size is the only guide you have. Every figure is a range, not a prescription for an individual dog.
The short version is: find your dog's size, take the weight range as a starting point, and then check the dog with your hands — ribs easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, waist visible from above, tummy tuck visible from the side. A dog inside its size range that passes the hands-on check is at a healthy weight. The dog ideal weight calculator works out a target range for any breed and weight, and the ideal dog weight chart by breed guide gives the ranges breed by breed.
Average dog weight by breed size
The table below gives the typical adult weight, typical lifespan, and daily calories for each size. The calories are for a typical neutered adult at the middle of the size's weight range, worked out from the resting energy requirement (RER) formula vets use — RER equals 70 times body weight in kg to the power of 0.75, multiplied by 1.6 for a typical neutered adult dog.
| Size | Typical adult weight | Typical lifespan | Daily calories, neutered adult at middle weight (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 1–5 kg (2.2–11.0 lb) | 12 to 16 years | About 255 |
| Small | 5–10 kg (11.0–22.0 lb) | 12 to 15 years | About 510 |
| Medium | 10–25 kg (22.0–55.1 lb) | 10 to 14 years | About 960 |
| Large | 25–40 kg (55.1–88.2 lb) | 10 to 12 years | About 1525 |
| Giant | 40–90 kg (88.2–198.4 lb) | 7 to 10 years | About 2565 |
Example breeds by size are: toy: Chihuahua, Pomeranian, Yorkshire Terrier; small: Beagle, Shih Tzu, French Bulldog; medium: Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, Beagle; large: Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd Dog, Golden Retriever; giant: Great Dane, Mastiff, Saint Bernard. Those are examples, not a full list — the size is what matters for weight, not the breed name, and a dog of any breed in a size should sit in the same broad range. The dog food calculator works out the calories for your dog's exact weight, and the ideal dog weight chart by breed size guide gives the same ranges as a chart rather than a table.
How to use the size table for your dog
First, weigh the dog — monthly, at the same time of day, on the same scales — and write the number down. Then find the size in the table and compare: is the dog inside its size's typical range, above it, or below it? Then do the hands-on check: feel the ribs, look for a waist from above, and look for a tummy tuck from the side. If the dog is inside its range and passes the check, it is at a healthy weight, and the job is to keep it there with measured food and daily exercise.
If your dog is a crossbreed or a mix, the size table is the only guide you have — and it is a good one, because weight follows size far more closely than it follows breed. A crossbreed that is 15 kg as an adult is a medium dog, whatever its parents were, and it should be fed as a medium dog. The ideal dog weight chart by breed size guide gives the same ranges as a chart, and the dog body condition score chart shows the nine-point scale vets use to judge shape rather than weight.
Why weight follows size
Weight follows size because a bigger body needs more of everything: more bone, more muscle, more food, and more calories to run it. A giant breed at 65 kg needs about four times the calories of a toy breed at 3 kg, and it eats about four times as much food — which is why the cost of feeding a large dog is so much higher than the cost of feeding a small one. Size also affects lifespan: smaller dogs usually live longer than larger ones, with toy dogs typically living 12 to 16 years and giant dogs typically living only 7 to 10 years. That size effect is the most consistent finding in dog lifespan research, and it is worth taking seriously.
Size also affects how the dog grows up: a toy breed finishes growing at about 9 to 12 months, while a giant breed can take 18 months to 2 years to finish growing. That is why the feeding plan for a puppy depends on its size, not just its age — a large-breed puppy needs a large-breed puppy food, designed for steady rather than rapid growth, because rapid growth and excess weight in a large-breed puppy strain developing joints. The when is a dog fully grown guide gives the growth ages by size, and the how long do dogs live guide gives the lifespans by size.
Average weight and calories
The calories in the table are for a typical neutered adult at the middle of each size's weight range. An intact adult needs about 10 to 20% more, a very active or working dog needs more again, and a senior or a dog that needs to lose weight needs less. The right amount is the one that keeps weight steady inside the size's range: weigh the dog monthly, and if weight drifts up, cut food by about 10% and re-weigh in a month rather than changing everything at once. If weight drifts down without a change in food, mention it to your vet promptly — unexplained weight loss is always worth checking.
Note that calories are the real target and cups are only a translation: different foods have very different calorie densities, so always check the kcal per cup or per 100 g on your own bag or tin and work from that. The cups figures in this site's guides assume a typical dry food at around 350 kcal per cup, but your food may differ by a wide margin, and the bag's number always wins over this guide's. The dog food calculator converts calories into cups and grams for any food, and the dog feeding chart by weight guide gives the daily amounts by weight.
When the size table says to see a vet
See a vet if the dog is well outside its size's range, if it is losing weight without a change in food, if it is lethargic or off its food, if it is a senior that is losing weight, or if it is a young animal that is not growing. A vet check first is sensible because some medical conditions cause weight change, and those need treating, not just more or less food. Bring the numbers: the dog's weight over the last few months, what it eats, how much, and any treats — that information helps the vet far more than a guess about the size.
At the vet, expect a weigh-in, a body condition score, and questions about food, treats, exercise, and other pets in the house. The vet may also check the teeth, because dental pain is a common cause of weight loss, and may run a blood test if the weight change is unexplained. Do not try to put weight on a dog or take weight off a dog with a crash diet or a sudden large increase in food — both are risky, and both need a plan set with a vet. The how to help a dog lose weight safely guide and the how to help a dog gain weight safely guide give the safe plans for both directions.
For related reading, see the dog ideal weight calculator, the ideal dog weight chart by breed guide, the ideal dog weight chart by breed size guide, the dog body condition score chart, the how to weigh your dog at home guide, the dog food calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average dog weight by breed size?
For dogs: toy 1 to 5 kg, small 5 to 10 kg, medium 10 to 25 kg, large 25 to 40 kg, and giant 40 to 90 kg. For cats: small 2 to 4 kg, medium 3 to 6 kg, and large 5 to 11 kg. Those are typical adult ranges — within a range, the right weight is the one where the ribs are easy to feel, the waist is visible from above, and the dog moves well.
How much should a medium dog weigh?
A medium dog typically weighs 10 to 25 kg as an adult. At the middle of that range it needs about 960 calories a day as a typical neutered adult. Individual dogs vary within the range, so check with your hands as well as with the chart.
My dog is a crossbreed — which size do I use?
Use its adult weight: a crossbreed that is 15 kg as an adult is a medium dog, whatever its parents were, and it should be fed as a medium dog. Weight follows size far more closely than it follows breed, so the size table is the right guide for a crossbreed or a mix.
How many calories does my dog need?
It depends on weight, age, and activity. A typical neutered adult dog needs about 1.6 times its resting energy requirement, where RER equals 70 times body weight in kg to the power of 0.75. Use the table above for the size's middle weight, or the dog food calculator for your dog's exact weight.
Do smaller dogs live longer?
Yes — size is the biggest predictor of lifespan in dogs, and it matters in cats too. Toy dogs typically live 12 to 16 years, while giant dogs typically live only 7 to 10 years. Large cats typically live 10 to 14 years, while small and medium cats typically live 12 to 16 years.
When should I see a vet about my dog's weight?
See a vet if the dog is well outside its size's range, if it is losing weight without a change in food, if it is lethargic or off its food, if it is a senior that is losing weight, or if it is a young animal that is not growing. Bring the weight record and the food details.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.