Food Calculator Oni

Your ultimate tool for planning a sustainable food supply in ONI.

Calculation Results

What is the ONI Food Calculator?

The Oxygen Not Included (ONI) Food Calculator is an essential tool for any player looking to build a thriving colony. Managing your duplicants’ food supply is one of the most critical challenges in the game. Running out of food can quickly lead to a colony’s collapse. This calculator helps you determine exactly how many plants or critters you need to farm to keep your duplicants fed and happy. By planning your food production, you can avoid starvation and focus on expanding your base and exploring the asteroid.

ONI Food Formula and Explanation

The calculation for your colony’s total food requirement is straightforward. Each duplicant has a base calorie consumption rate, and certain traits can modify this. The formula is:

Total Calories per Cycle = (Number of Duplicants * 1000) + (Number of “Bottomless Stomach” Duplicants * 500)

This formula gives you the total kilocalories (kcal) your colony needs to produce each cycle to prevent starvation.

Variables in Food Calculation

Variable	Meaning	Unit	Typical Range
Number of Duplicants	The total count of your colonists.	–	3 – 20+
Base Calorie Need	The standard food requirement for one duplicant per cycle.	kcal/cycle	1000
Bottomless Stomach	An additional food requirement for duplicants with this trait.	kcal/cycle	500

Practical Examples

Example 1: Early Game Colony

Let’s say you have a new colony with 4 duplicants, and none of them have the “Bottomless Stomach” trait.

• Inputs: 4 Duplicants, 0 Bottomless Stomach
• Calculation: (4 * 1000) + (0 * 500) = 4000 kcal/cycle
• Result: If you are farming Mealwood, which produces 600 kcal per harvest every 3 cycles (200 kcal/cycle), you would need 4000 / 200 = 20 Mealwood plants.

Example 2: Mid-Game Colony with a Hungry Dupe

Imagine your colony has grown to 10 duplicants, and one of them has the “Bottomless Stomach” trait. You’ve upgraded to Bristle Blossoms for better food quality.

• Inputs: 10 Duplicants, 1 Bottomless Stomach
• Calculation: (9 * 1000) + (1 * 1500) = 10500 kcal/cycle
• Result: Bristle Blossoms produce 1600 kcal every 6 cycles (approx. 266.7 kcal/cycle). You would need about 10500 / 266.7 ≈ 40 Bristle Blossom plants.

How to Use This ONI Food Calculator

1. Enter the number of duplicants: Input the total number of duplicants in your colony.
2. Specify “Bottomless Stomach” duplicants: Enter how many of your duplicants have this food-consuming trait.
3. Select your food source: Choose the plant or critter you are farming from the dropdown menu.
4. Review the results: The calculator will instantly show you the total calories needed and the number of plants or ranches required.
5. Analyze the chart: The chart provides a visual breakdown of your colony’s calorie needs, helping you understand the impact of different duplicant types.

Key Factors That Affect Food in ONI

• Food Spoilage: Food will rot if not stored in a sterile environment (like CO2) or refrigerated. This can lead to significant food loss.
• Farming Efficiency: Plant growth can be stifled by incorrect temperatures, atmospheric pressure, or lack of irrigation/fertilization.
• Critter Ranching: Critter populations need to be managed carefully. Overcrowding or lack of food for the critters themselves will stop reproduction.
• Food Quality: Higher quality food provides a morale bonus to your duplicants, which is crucial for taking on high-skill jobs.
• Harvesting and Cooking Time: Your duplicants need to spend time harvesting plants and cooking food. A shortage of labor can lead to a food bottleneck.
• Water and Resource Management: Many high-tier plants require a steady supply of water or other resources. Plan your resource management alongside your food production. For more info, see our water management guide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How many calories does a duplicant need?

A standard duplicant needs 1000 kcal per cycle. A duplicant with the “Bottomless Stomach” trait needs 1500 kcal per cycle.

What is the best early-game food?

Meal Lice is the go-to early-game food because it’s easy to grow and requires only dirt. However, it provides low morale. Check out our early game survival guide.

How do I stop food from spoiling?

Store it in a Ration Box placed in a pit filled with carbon dioxide, or build a Refrigerator.

Is it better to cook food?

Almost always. Cooking food at an Electric Grill or Gas Range increases its calorie content and quality, providing more morale. Learn more in our cooking guide.

How many Hatches do I need for meat?

This calculator can tell you! A single Hatch, once the ranch is stable, can support about 0.5 duplicants with continuous meat production (BBQ).

Why are my plants not growing?

Check their environmental requirements. Common issues include incorrect temperature, wrong atmosphere, or lack of fertilization. Our advanced farming guide can help.

What is food morale?

Duplicants get a morale bonus for eating high-quality food. This is essential for preventing stress in the mid to late game. More details are in our morale management guide.

Can duplicants starve to death?

Yes. If a duplicant’s internal calorie store reaches zero, they will die. This calculator helps you prevent that from ever happening.