Calorie Calculator

Estimate how many calories your body uses each day, based on your age, sex, height, weight and activity level.

How it works

The calculator first estimates your basal metabolic rate (BMR), the energy you burn at rest, using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, which research has found to be among the most reliable for healthy adults:

• Men: BMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age + 5
• Women: BMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age – 161

It then multiplies BMR by an activity factor (1.2 for sedentary up to 1.9 for very active) to estimate your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE).

Using the result

Eating about your TDEE keeps your weight stable. A moderate deficit of around 500 calories a day is often cited for losing about 0.5 kg (1 lb) a week, but bodies adapt and the real result varies. The calculator never suggests going below 1,200 calories (women) or 1,500 (men), common minimums for unsupervised diets.

Important

This is an estimate for healthy adults. It is not suitable during pregnancy, for children and teens, or for people with medical conditions. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before making big changes. Read more in how many calories should I eat a day?