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Daily calorie calculator

Fill in your details and activity level. You see your basal metabolic rate and the calories you burn on a normal day.

It is a rough estimate. It is not a substitute for advice from a health or nutrition professional.

How it's calculated

Basal metabolic rate (Mifflin-St Jeor): 10 × weight in kg + 6.25 × height in cm − 5 × age, plus 5 for men or minus 161 for women.
Maintenance calories = basal rate × activity factor, from 1.2 (little activity) to 1.9 (very high).
To lose weight it takes off 500 kcal a day, and to gain it adds 300: a moderate, sustainable change.

An example

A 35-year-old man who weighs 180 lb and is 5 ft 10 in tall has a basal metabolic rate of about 1,758 kcal.

With little activity, he keeps his weight on about 2,109 kcal a day.

Frequently asked questions

What is basal metabolic rate?

It is the energy your body uses at complete rest to breathe, keep warm and keep your organs working.

How many calories should I eat to lose weight?

A common starting point is about 500 kcal a day below maintenance. It is best to set it with a professional.

How accurate is the formula?

Mifflin-St Jeor is one of the most widely used, but it gives an average. Genetics, muscle mass and health change what you really burn.

Key terms

Calorie (kcal): The unit of energy in food and in what your body burns.
Basal metabolic rate: The calories your body burns at complete rest.

The same calculation in other countries

Up-to-date official data

We check the official sources automatically, every day.

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