How to use the pet travel food calculator
- Enter how many days you will be away.
- Add spare days and the grams you feed each day.
- Press Calculate.
Worked example
A 10-day trip with 2 spare days for two pets eating 300 g each a day.
- Days away
- 10
- Spare days for delays
- 2
- Grams fed per pet per day
- 300
- Number of pets
- 2
- Total grams
- 7,200
- Days covered
- 12
- Pets
- 2
Pack the usual food: sudden changes can upset a pet's stomach.
Example values are illustrative; this result is produced by the same calculator above.
How we calculate it
Sources: Pure arithmetic / unit conversion on user inputs (no external constant)
Understanding your result
To pack the right amount of food, multiply the days away, plus a few spare days, by the grams each pet eats a day and the number of pets. A 10-day trip with 2 spare days for two pets eating 300 g each needs 12 × 300 × 2 = 7,200 g, which is 7.2 kg or about 15.9 lb.
Spare days cover delays, and it is better to bring a little too much than too little. Pack the usual food in sealed containers.
Include treats in the daily grams if you will give them on the trip. If you board your pet, ask the place whether they supply food.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting spare days.
- Packing a new food that could upset a pet's stomach.
- Leaving out medication or special diets.
- Counting only one pet.
- Not bringing a measuring scoop.
Good to know
- Check what food you can take across borders or on a plane.
- Keep food cool and dry.
- Use the Pet Boarding Cost Calculator if you will use a sitter.
Packing for the trip and the delays
Pack for the whole trip plus spare days, because delays are common and the same food is easier on a pet's stomach than a sudden change. For a 5-day trip with 2 spare days and a pet that eats 300 g a day, you need 7 × 300 g = 2,100 g, which is 2.1 kg or about 4.6 lb. For two pets eating the same amount, double it.
Check the rules for your route. Airlines, ferry operators and some countries limit what pet food can be carried or imported, and fresh or raw food is often restricted. Pack food in sealed containers and keep a day's supply in hand luggage in case bags are delayed.
If you will use a different brand while away, bring enough of the usual food to mix in for a few days. The calculator needs only your usual grams a day, which you can get from the Dog Food or Cat Food Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
How many spare days should I pack?
A day or two covers delays. Choose what suits your trip.
Should I pack the usual food?
Yes, keep the usual food. Sudden changes can upset a pet's stomach.
Does it include treats?
Only if you add their grams to the daily amount.
Should I bring the usual food?
Yes. Sudden changes can upset a pet's stomach.
How many spare days should I add?
One or two days covers most delays. Choose what suits your trip.
Can I use it for cats and dogs together?
Run it once per pet with each pet's grams, or enter the average and the number of pets.
Sources
- Pure arithmetic / unit conversion on user inputs (no external constant)
Guides about this
- How Much Does Pet Boarding Cost? A Trip BudgetHow to calculate pet boarding or sitter cost from nights, nightly rate, number of pets and fixed fees, with a price grid, a sitter comparison and a checklist.
- Dog Car Travel: Crate or Harness Set-UpSet up safe dog car travel with a secured crate or a car harness: measuring for fit, placement, ventilation, rest stops and a checklist to run before every trip.
Related calculators
- Pet Food Bag Duration CalculatorFind out how many days a bag of pet food will last at the amount you feed.
- Pet Meal Size CalculatorSplit a daily food amount into meals and see how many grams (and calories) go in each bowl.
- Pet Boarding Cost CalculatorAdd up the cost of boarding or pet sitting for a trip from nights, nightly rate and number of pets.
- Dog Food CalculatorTurn your dog's daily calorie need into grams and cups of the food you actually feed, using the energy value printed on the bag.
Estimates only. Every pet is different — confirm with your veterinarian.