Medical Calculators

Daily Calorie Needs Calculator

Your approximate daily need: calories to maintain your current weight.

Basal metabolic rate (BMR): calories — what your body burns at complete rest.

Results are approximate guidance only and are no substitute for consulting a specialist doctor.

About this calculator

Knowing your daily calorie needs is the starting point of any nutrition plan — whether to maintain, lose or gain weight healthily.

How the calculation works

The calculator uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, the most accurate accepted estimate of basal metabolic rate (BMR): for men 10×weight + 6.25×height − 5×age + 5; for women 10×weight + 6.25×height − 5×age − 161. The result is multiplied by an activity factor (1.2 sedentary to 1.9 very active) for the total daily need.