What is the ideal weight for a dog of each size? The answer depends on its breed and its frame, but the table below gives the typical adult weight range for every size — toy, small, medium, large, and giant for dogs, and small, medium, and large for cats — with the typical lifespan and the age at which a dog of that size is usually considered a senior. This guide is the ideal dog weight chart by breed size: the ranges, how to use them, and how to tell whether your own dog is at a healthy weight. Every figure is a typical range, not a prescription: individual dogs vary, and the vet's advice matters more than the table. The dog calorie calculator works out the daily calories for a dog of any weight.
The short version is: find your dog's size in the table, check whether its weight is in the range, and then check its shape — because a dog's weight on the scales matters less than its body condition. A dog at a body condition score of 4 or 5 out of 9 is at a healthy weight, whatever the scales say. The is my dog overweight calculator guide helps you check your own dog's condition, and the dog body condition score chart gives the 9-point scale in full.
Ideal dog weight chart by breed size
The table below gives the typical adult weight range for every size, with the typical lifespan and the age at which a dog of that size is usually considered a senior. Use it to see where your dog sits — and to know what to expect as it ages.
| Size | Typical adult weight | Typical lifespan | Senior from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 1–5 kg | 12–16 years | About 10 years |
| Small | 5–10 kg | 12–15 years | About 10 years |
| Medium | 10–25 kg | 10–14 years | 8–10 years |
| Large | 25–40 kg | 10–12 years | 7–8 years |
| Giant | 40–90 kg | 7–10 years | 6–7 years |
Read the table from top to bottom and the pattern is clear: the larger the dog, the heavier it is, the shorter it typically lives, and the earlier it becomes a senior. A toy dog typically weighs 1 to 5 kg and lives 12 to 16 years, while a giant dog typically weighs 40 to 90 kg and lives 7 to 10 years. A small cat typically weighs 2 to 4 kg and lives 12 to 16 years, while a large cat typically weighs 5 to 11 kg and lives 10 to 14 years. The dog life expectancy by breed guide gives the lifespans breed by breed.
How to use the chart
Find your dog's size in the table — toy, small, medium, large, or giant for a dog, and small, medium, or large for a cat — and check whether its weight is in the range. If it is in the range, it is probably at a healthy weight, but check its shape too: feel its ribs and waist, and give it a body condition score out of 9. If it is above the range, it may be overweight — or it may be a large-framed individual of its breed, or a male, or a dog with a lot of muscle. If it is below the range, it may be underweight — or it may be a small-framed individual, or a female, or a young dog that is still growing.
The chart is a starting point, not a prescription: a dog's ideal weight depends on its breed, its frame, its sex, and its age, and two dogs of the same breed can have different ideal weights. A vet who knows your dog can work out its ideal weight, and can tell you whether it needs to gain, lose, or stay the same. The ideal dog weight chart by breed guide gives the weight ranges by breed, and the dog weight loss diet plan guide covers a dog that needs to lose weight.
How to tell if a dog is at a healthy weight
The best way to tell if a dog is at a healthy weight is body condition score, or BCS: a 9-point scale, where 1 is very thin, 4 or 5 is ideal, and 9 is very fat. At a score of 4 or 5, you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, you can see a waist from above and from the side, and there is a small pad of fat on the belly. At a score of 6 or more, you cannot feel the ribs, there is no waist, and the belly hangs. At a score of 3 or less, you can see the ribs, the spine, and the hip bones, and there is no fat to feel.
| Score | Label | What you see and feel |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Emaciated | Ribs, spine and hip bones are easy to see, even from a distance. No fat cover at all, and the waist is very obvious from above and from the side. |
| 2 | Very thin | Ribs are easy to see, and the waist and tummy tuck are very obvious. There is almost no fat to feel over the ribs. |
| 3 | Thin | Ribs are easy to feel and may be visible. The waist is obvious from above, and the tummy tuck is obvious from the side. |
| 4 | Ideal — lean end | Ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat. The waist is easy to see from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. |
| 5 | Ideal | Ribs are easy to feel under a thin layer of fat, with no fat to pinch. The waist is visible from above, and the tummy tuck is visible from the side. |
| 6 | Above ideal | Ribs are harder to feel — you have to press to find them. The waist is hard to see from above, and the tummy tuck is less obvious. |
| 7 | Overweight | Ribs are hard to feel under a clear layer of fat. The waist is hard to see from above, and the tummy tuck is gone from the side. |
| 8 | Very overweight | Ribs are very hard to feel. The waist is gone from above, and the belly is rounded or sagging from the side. |
| 9 | Obese | Ribs cannot be felt at all under a thick layer of fat. There is no waist from above, the belly is very rounded, and fat deposits are visible on the neck, limbs and chest. |
Use the table above to score your dog: look at it from above and from the side, feel its ribs and waist, and give it a score out of 9. A dog at a score of 4 or 5 is at a healthy weight, whatever the scales say. A dog at a score of 6 or more needs less food and more exercise; a dog at a score of 3 or less needs more food — or a vet check, if the loss is unexplained. The dog body condition score chart gives the 9-point scale in full.
Weighing your dog at home
Weigh your dog every month, and write the result down: a single reading matters less than the line over months. For a small dog, put it in a basket on the kitchen scales and subtract the basket's weight. For a larger dog, weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the dog, and take the difference — or use the scales at the vet, which are more accurate. Do it on a hard, flat floor, with the scales in the same place each time, and weigh the dog at the same time of day.
A dog that is gaining weight steadily needs less food, a dog that is losing weight steadily needs more food — or a vet check, if the loss is unexplained. A dog that loses more than a tenth of its body weight in a month, or that is losing weight and eating less, needs a vet check. The how to weigh your dog at home guide gives the method in full, and the dog calorie calculator guide works out how much to feed.
When to ask a vet about weight
Ask a vet if your dog is losing weight and you do not know why, if it is gaining weight on a measured amount of food, if it is at a body condition score of 3 or less or 7 or more, or if it has stopped eating. A dog that stops eating is an emergency: a cat that does not eat for more than a day or two can develop a serious liver problem, and a dog that stops eating needs checking too. A vet can work out whether the weight is a problem, and what to do about it.
Ask a vet, too, if your dog is a senior and is losing weight: weight loss in a senior dog can be a sign of kidney disease, thyroid disease, or cancer, and the earlier it is found, the better the chance of treating it. A vet who knows your dog will notice changes sooner, and will know what is normal for your individual dog. The senior dog diet guide covers feeding in the senior years.
For related reading, see the dog calorie calculator, the is my dog overweight calculator guide, the dog body condition score chart, the dog life expectancy by breed guide, the how to weigh your dog at home guide, the dog calorie calculator guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal weight for a dog?
It depends on its size and its breed. A toy dog typically weighs 1 to 5 kg, a small dog 5 to 10 kg, a medium dog 10 to 25 kg, a large dog 25 to 40 kg, and a giant dog 40 to 90 kg. The table above gives the ranges by size, with the typical lifespan and the senior age.
How do I know if my dog is overweight?
Use body condition score: at a score of 4 or 5 out of 9, you can feel the ribs under a thin layer of fat, you can see a waist from above and from the side, and there is a small pad of fat on the belly. At a score of 6 or more, you cannot feel the ribs, there is no waist, and the belly hangs. The is my dog overweight calculator helps you check your own dog.
Does my dog's ideal weight change with age?
Yes — a young dog gains weight as it grows, an adult dog's weight is fairly stable, and a senior dog may lose weight as it ages. Weigh your dog every month, and write the result down: the line over months matters more than any single reading. A senior dog that is losing weight needs a vet check.
How do I weigh my dog at home?
For a small dog, put it in a basket on the kitchen scales and subtract the basket's weight. For a larger dog, weigh yourself, then weigh yourself holding the dog, and take the difference. Do it on a hard, flat floor, with the scales in the same place each time, and at the same time of day.
Is my dog too thin?
At a body condition score of 3 or less, you can see the ribs, the spine, and the hip bones, and there is no fat to feel. A dog that is too thin needs more food — or a vet check, if the loss is unexplained. A dog that stops eating needs checking promptly.
When should I ask a vet about my dog's weight?
Ask a vet if your dog is losing weight and you do not know why, if it is gaining weight on a measured amount of food, if it is at a body condition score of 3 or less or 7 or more, or if it has stopped eating. A vet can work out whether the weight is a problem, and what to do about it.
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.