Rabbit Food Cost Calculator
Estimate the monthly and annual cost of feeding rabbits in the UK, with separate lines for feeding hay, pellets, leafy greens, treats and waste.
Enter Your Rabbit Food Plan
Good rabbit feeding advice puts hay or grass at the centre. This calculator is a budget tool, so it turns hay, pellets and fresh greens into monthly cost without pretending to prescribe a diet. Use your own vet advice for young rabbits, dental problems, gut issues, weight loss, pregnancy or illness.
Rabbit pairs are common, so the default is two.
Used for pellet planning only.
The calculator converts to kg.
Grams eaten or offered as food hay, not bedding hay.
Use the price for feeding hay, not a bedding bale.
Editable. RWAF gives 15 g per kg as a pellet guideline.
Plain rabbit nuggets or pellets, not muesli mix.
Cost of washed safe greens, herbs or forage.
Optional. Fruit and root vegetables should be small treats.
Rabbits may pull, sit in or reject some hay.
Use 30 for a simple monthly budget.
Changes the caution text only.
Your Rabbit Food Budget
Hay GBP 42.34, pellets GBP 10.89, greens GBP 38.57 and extras GBP 6.00 before annual scaling.
GBP 42.34
GBP 10.89
GBP 44.57
GBP 772.00
What This Food Budget Includes
The calculator separates feeding hay, pellets, leafy greens and small extras because those parts behave differently in a household budget. Hay is the main cost for many owners because rabbits should have good-quality hay or grass available every day. Some hay is eaten, some is used for foraging and some may be wasted when it becomes flattened, soiled or rejected. The waste field lets you budget for hay offered rather than assuming every gram is eaten.
Pellets are calculated from body weight because several rabbit welfare sources describe pellets as a limited part of the diet rather than the main food. The default 15 g per kg per day is editable. It is not a veterinary prescription and may not suit every rabbit. A rabbit with dental disease, poor hay intake, obesity, gut trouble, weight loss or recent surgery needs advice from a rabbit-savvy vet.
Leafy greens are entered as a weekly cost because most people buy them with normal food shopping. Some weeks you may use herbs, spring greens, kale, broccoli leaves, forage or garden-safe plants; other weeks you may buy bagged greens. Treats and chew extras are monthly because they are optional and should not dominate the diet.
Formula Used
Average weight in kg = entered weight converted to kg
Daily hay offered = hay grams per rabbit x number of rabbits x (1 + waste percentage)
Monthly hay kg = daily hay offered x days per month / 1,000
Monthly hay cost = monthly hay kg x hay price per kg
Daily pellet grams = average kg x pellet grams per kg x number of rabbits
Monthly pellet kg = daily pellet grams x days per month / 1,000
Monthly pellet cost = monthly pellet kg x pellet price per kg
Monthly greens cost = weekly greens cost per rabbit x number of rabbits x 52 / 12
Monthly total = hay cost + pellet cost + greens cost + treats and extras
Annual total = monthly total x 12
There is no single correct gram amount for hay because good advice usually says rabbits need a large daily bundle or constant access, not a tiny weighed ration. The hay field is therefore a budgeting aid. If your rabbits eat far less hay than expected, that is not a saving to celebrate; it may be a diet, tooth or health issue worth checking.
Diet Budget Checks
A cheap plan that reduces hay is usually not a good plan. Hay supports chewing, fibre intake and normal gut movement. Rabbits’ teeth grow continually, and chewing long-stem fibre helps wear them down. Dental pain and gut stasis can become urgent quickly, so food cost should never be weighed only against the price of hay.
Worked Examples
| Household | Inputs | Cost Pattern | Practical Check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adult pair | Two 2.2 kg rabbits, 140 g hay each per day, 20% hay waste, 15 g pellets per kg. | Hay and greens are usually larger monthly lines than pellets. | Check whether hay is being eaten or only used as bedding. |
| Single house rabbit | One 1.8 kg rabbit, small hay bag, bought leafy greens. | Smaller total, but price per kg can be higher for small packs. | Buying larger hay boxes may reduce cost if storage is dry. |
| Large pair | Two 4 kg rabbits, higher hay offered, pellets kept limited. | Hay volume and storage become the main budget issue. | Ask a vet before raising pellets only because the rabbits look hungry. |
| Dental history | Any rabbit with reduced hay intake or selective eating. | The calculator may understate real care costs. | Vet checks, pain relief, dental treatment and diet changes may be needed. |
When The Calculator Should Not Guide Feeding
Do not use this page to set a diet for a baby rabbit, a pregnant or nursing rabbit, a rabbit recovering from illness, a rabbit that has stopped eating, or a rabbit with dental disease, gut slowdown, weight loss, diarrhoea, dirty bottom or unusual droppings. Rabbits can become seriously ill when they stop eating, and prompt veterinary advice is important.
Young rabbits may have different hay and pellet needs from adult rabbits. Recently adopted rabbits may also need a gradual food change rather than a sudden switch to the cheapest bag. If your rabbit has been eating a muesli-style mix, ask a vet or rabbit welfare source how to change food safely. Sudden diet changes can upset the gut.
The calculator also excludes bedding, litter, cleaning supplies, vaccinations, neutering, insurance, toys, housing, heat protection, flystrike prevention and emergency vet care. Food is only one part of rabbit ownership. If the monthly total looks unaffordable, price a full rabbit budget before taking on more rabbits.
FAQ
How much hay should I budget for?
Use the hay grams field as a spending estimate, not a ration. Welfare sources commonly say rabbits need good-quality hay or grass available daily and in a large amount. If your rabbits eat little hay, seek advice rather than cutting the budget.
Why does the calculator use 15 g pellets per kg?
The default follows a Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund style guideline for pellets or nuggets. It is editable because pellet products, body condition and veterinary advice vary.
Should I include bedding hay in the hay price?
Only include hay intended as food. Bedding hay can be cheaper and drier. Feeding hay should be fresher, sweet-smelling and suitable for eating. If you use the same hay for both, raise the waste allowance.
Can I reduce cost by feeding more pellets?
Do not raise pellets simply to save money on hay. Hay and grass are central to dental and gut health. If hay cost is high, compare suppliers and storage options rather than replacing hay with pellets.
What greens should I budget for?
Safe leafy greens and herbs vary by rabbit and availability. RSPCA and PDSA advise variety and slow introduction. Avoid treating fruit and root vegetables as everyday bulk food.
Does the calculator store my pet details?
No. It runs the calculation in your browser and does not ask for names. The copy or email buttons use the result shown on your screen.
Sources
- RSPCA. (n.d.). What Should Rabbits Eat? Rabbit Diet Plan. RSPCA. https://education.rspca.org.uk/web/rspca/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/diet/planner
- RSPCA. (n.d.). Enhancing Your Rabbit’s Diet. RSPCA. https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/rabbits/behaviour/enrichment/dietary
- PDSA. (n.d.). Feeding Your Rabbits. PDSA. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/taking-care-of-your-pet/looking-after-your-pet/rabbits/your-rabbits-diet
- Rabbit Welfare Association and Fund. (n.d.). How To Feed Rabbits. RWAF. https://rabbitwelfare.co.uk/how-to-feed-rabbits/