Health calculator
Calorie Calculator by Age, Sex & Activity
Estimate daily maintenance calories from age, sex, height, weight, and activity level.
FormulaBMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; TDEE = BMR x activity factor
Formula
Mifflin-St Jeor estimate
Calorie estimates are general planning tools and should not replace advice from a qualified health professional.
BMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; TDEE = BMR x activity factor
For men s = 5, for women s = -161. Multiply BMR by activity level for daily calories.
SourcesThis calculator includes source notes, assumptions, and exclusions so the result is easier to verify before use.
Sources and assumptions
Source notes
This calculator includes source notes, assumptions, and exclusions so the result is easier to verify before use.
- Effective year
- Current rules
- Last verified
- 2026-06-18
Calorie estimates are general planning tools and should not replace advice from a qualified health professional.
Official and reference sources
Assumptions
- The Mifflin-St Jeor male or female constant is selected from the sex input.
- Maintenance calories multiply estimated resting energy expenditure by the selected activity factor.
Not included
- Pregnancy, lactation, growth, illness, medication effects, metabolic adaptation, and measured energy expenditure.
FAQ6 common questions for this calculator.
FAQs
What are maintenance calories?+
Maintenance calories estimate the daily intake needed to keep body weight roughly stable.
Why is my actual result different?+
Metabolism, tracking accuracy, activity, sleep, and health conditions can all affect real-world calorie needs.
How does the Calorie Calculator calculate the result?+
For the Calorie Calculator, it uses the Mifflin-St Jeor estimate: BMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; TDEE = BMR x activity factor. For men s = 5, for women s = -161. Multiply BMR by activity level for daily calories.
What information do I need to use the Calorie Calculator?+
For the Calorie Calculator, enter age, sex, height, weight, and activity level. Keep the units consistent with the calculator fields and compare your setup with the worked example on the page.
How accurate is the Calorie Calculator?+
Calorie Calculator is only as accurate as the age, sex, height, weight, and activity level entered. It applies the Mifflin-St Jeor estimate shown on this page, then rounds for readability. Treat the output as screening guidance rather than a diagnosis.
What should I check before using the Calorie Calculator result?+
For the Calorie Calculator, check age, sex, height, weight, and activity level, unit choices, and whether the calculator's assumptions fit the person being assessed. Use the result as screening or planning context, not as a diagnosis.
RelatedNearby health calculators for the next step after Calorie Calculator.
Health guide
How to use the Calorie Calculator
Estimate daily maintenance calories from age, sex, height, weight, and activity level. The page also explains the mifflin-St Jeor estimate and shows a practical example: For men s = 5, for women s = -161. Multiply BMR by activity level for daily calories.
- 1
Enter your details
Enter age, sex, height, weight, and activity level, then complete any other fields shown in the calculator.
- 2
Check the calculation
Review the result alongside the mifflin-St Jeor estimate: BMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; TDEE = BMR x activity factor.
- 3
Compare scenarios
Change one or more inputs to see how they affect the calorie Calculator result before you use the estimate.
Guides
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