Calorie Calculator
Estimate daily calorie needs using age, height, weight, sex and activity level. Results are general estimates, not personalized medical or nutrition advice.
Calculate Daily Calories
Choose your units, enter the requested information, select an activity level and calculate an estimated BMR and daily calorie requirement.
What Is a Calorie Calculator?
A calorie calculator is an online tool that estimates daily energy requirements from information such as age, height, weight, sex and activity level.
The result is an estimate rather than a direct measurement of your actual daily energy expenditure.
What Is BMR?
BMR stands for Basal Metabolic Rate. It is an estimate of the energy needed to support basic body functions while at rest under defined conditions.
BMR is not the same as the total amount of energy used during a normal day because daily movement and activity also require energy.
BMR Formula Used by This Calculator
This calculator uses a commonly used Mifflin-St Jeor equation for adults.
BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age) + 5
Women:
BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age) - 161
What Is TDEE?
TDEE stands for Total Daily Energy Expenditure. A simplified calculator can estimate TDEE by multiplying BMR by an activity factor.
Activity Levels
| Level | General Description | Factor |
|---|---|---|
| Sedentary | Little regular exercise. | 1.20 |
| Lightly Active | Light exercise or activity. | 1.375 |
| Moderately Active | Regular moderate exercise. | 1.55 |
| Very Active | Frequent or demanding exercise. | 1.725 |
| Extra Active | Very demanding physical activity. | 1.90 |
Activity categories are broad estimates. Two people with the same category can have different actual activity levels.
Example Calculation
Suppose an adult has the following information:
Height: 175 cm
Weight: 70 kg
Activity: Moderately active
The calculator first estimates BMR and then applies the selected activity factor to produce an estimated daily calorie requirement.
Why Your Actual Calorie Needs May Be Different
Mathematical formulas use general assumptions. Real energy expenditure can vary because of body composition, daily movement, physical activity, health, medications and other factors.
Calorie Calculator and Weight Change
Changes in body weight are influenced by energy intake and energy expenditure over time, but a calculator cannot guarantee a particular amount or rate of weight change.
Individual responses can differ, and energy needs may change as body weight and activity change.
Common Calorie Calculator Mistakes
- Entering the wrong height or weight.
- Selecting the wrong unit system.
- Overestimating activity level.
- Treating the result as an exact calorie requirement.
- Ignoring changes in activity or body weight.
Who Should Use Extra Caution?
General calorie calculators may not be appropriate for every situation. Children, adolescents, pregnancy, breastfeeding and people with specific medical or nutritional needs may require individualized guidance.
A qualified healthcare professional or registered dietitian can provide advice suited to an individual's situation.
How to Use This Calculator
- Choose Metric or Imperial.
- Enter age.
- Select sex.
- Enter height and weight.
- Choose an activity level.
- Select Calculate Calories.
- Review the BMR and estimated daily calories.
Calorie Calculator FAQ
Common questions about calorie calculations.
It estimates daily calorie needs using information such as age, height, weight, sex and activity level.
BMR is an estimate of the energy needed to support basic body functions at rest under specified conditions.
TDEE means Total Daily Energy Expenditure and represents an estimate of total daily energy use.
No. They are estimates based on formulas and assumptions and can differ from actual individual energy needs.
No. A calculator cannot guarantee weight loss, weight gain or a specific rate of change.
This general calculator is designed around an adult calculation model. Children and adolescents may need age-specific professional assessment.