Health calculator
Maintenance Calorie Calculator
Estimate maintenance calories from age, sex, height, weight, and activity using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation.
FormulaBMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; maintenance calories = BMR x activity factor
Formula
Maintenance calorie formula
Maintenance calorie estimates are planning tools. Track body-weight trends and adjust gradually for real-world activity, appetite, and health context.
BMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; maintenance calories = BMR x activity factor
If BMR is 1,650 kcal/day and the activity factor is 1.55, maintenance calories are 1,650 x 1.55 = 2,558 kcal/day.
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
Maintenance calorie estimates are planning tools. Track body-weight trends and adjust gradually for real-world activity, appetite, and health context.
Official and reference sources
Assumptions
- The Mifflin-St Jeor equation estimates adult resting energy expenditure from age, sex, height, and weight.
- Maintenance calories multiply the resting estimate by the selected activity factor.
- The result is a starting calorie target for weight maintenance, not a measured metabolic test.
Not included
- Pregnancy, lactation, pediatric growth, illness, medication effects, metabolic adaptation, wearable activity data, and measured indirect calorimetry.
FAQ7 common questions for this calculator.
FAQs
How do I calculate maintenance calories?+
Estimate BMR from age, sex, height, and weight, then multiply by an activity factor that matches your usual week.
Is this different from a TDEE calculator?+
It uses the same idea: TDEE is the estimated total daily energy expenditure, and many people use that number as their maintenance calorie target.
Can I use this in India?+
Yes. The equation uses metric inputs and is not country-specific, but food labels, activity patterns, and body-weight trends should guide adjustments.
How does the Maintenance Calorie Calculator calculate the result?+
For the Maintenance Calorie Calculator, it uses the Maintenance calorie formula: BMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; maintenance calories = BMR x activity factor. If BMR is 1,650 kcal/day and the activity factor is 1.55, maintenance calories are 1,650 x 1.55 = 2,558 kcal/day.
What information do I need to use the Maintenance Calorie Calculator?+
For the Maintenance Calorie Calculator, enter age, sex, height, weight, and activity. Keep the units consistent with the calculator fields and compare your setup with the worked example on the page.
How accurate is the Maintenance Calorie Calculator?+
Maintenance Calorie Calculator is only as accurate as the age, sex, height, weight, and activity entered. It applies the Maintenance calorie formula 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 Maintenance Calorie Calculator result?+
For the Maintenance Calorie Calculator, check age, sex, height, weight, and activity, 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.
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Health guide
How to use the Maintenance Calorie Calculator
Estimate maintenance calories from age, sex, height, weight, and activity using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. The page also explains the maintenance calorie formula and shows a practical example: If BMR is 1,650 kcal/day and the activity factor is 1.55, maintenance calories are 1,650 x 1.55 = 2,558 kcal/day.
- 1
Enter your details
Enter age, sex, height, weight, and activity using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, then complete any other fields shown in the calculator.
- 2
Check the calculation
Review the result alongside the maintenance calorie formula: BMR = 10w + 6.25h - 5a + s; maintenance calories = BMR x activity factor.
- 3
Compare scenarios
Change one or more inputs to see how they affect the maintenance Calorie Calculator result before you use the estimate.
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