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Calorie Calculator

Estimate your basal metabolic rate and daily calorie needs for maintenance, weight loss, or weight gain based on your body metrics and activity level.

BMR

1,783 cal/day

Maintenance

2,763 cal/day

Weight Loss

2,263 cal/day

About 500 calories below maintenance

Weight Gain

3,263 cal/day

About 500 calories above maintenance

Based on the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and a moderately active activity level.

Editorial noteMaintained by EveryCalc - Reviewed June 2026

EveryCalc calculators are designed for fast, practical estimates with transparent inputs and no required account. We use plain formulas, visible assumptions, and related tools so visitors can check the result from more than one angle.

Results are informational only. For financial, tax, legal, medical, construction, or other high-impact decisions, verify the output against primary sources or a qualified professional.

Learn more about our review process on the EveryCalc methodology page.

How this calculator works

What this page estimates

This Calorie Calculator is built to give a quick, browser-based estimate for calorie. Estimate your basal metabolic rate and daily calorie needs for maintenance, weight loss, or weight gain based on your body metrics and activity level. The inputs stay on the page during normal use, and the result should be treated as an estimate for planning, comparison, or education rather than professional advice.

Calculation approach

The calculator applies the standard relationship implied by the inputs, then formats the answer so it can be checked and reused. For health tools, the most important step is using consistent units, rates, time periods, and assumptions before comparing the result with another calculator or outside quote.

Example workflow

For example, start with a realistic value you already know, change one input at a time, and watch how the answer moves. That makes it easier to tell whether the result is being driven by the main amount, the rate, the time period, or a unit conversion.

Practical checks

  • Use current, real-world numbers when the result affects money, health, tax, or legal decisions.
  • Run a low, base, and high case when the inputs are estimates.
  • Check the related calculators below when the next decision depends on a different assumption.

How to interpret the calorie result

Best use

Use the result as an informational wellness estimate that can help organize measurements, targets, or timing before a conversation with a clinician.

Cross-check

Compare the output with your own records, device readings, lab values, medication instructions, or guidance from a qualified health professional.

Watch for

Do not use this page to diagnose, treat, or ignore symptoms. Health calculators are most useful when they make questions clearer, not when they replace care.

This page belongs to the Health calculator library, so the answer should be read in the context of the decision you are modeling rather than as a universal rule.

Before relying on this calorie estimate

Most calculator mistakes come from the inputs, not the arithmetic. Use this short audit before you reuse the answer in a spreadsheet, quote, application, or important conversation.

Use current measurements

Recent weight, height, age, activity, nutrition, sleep, or timing inputs matter more than remembered estimates.

Look for context

A calculator can organize a wellness number, but it cannot read symptoms, medical history, medications, or lab results.

Escalate high-impact questions

Use clinical guidance for pregnancy, dosage, heart, risk, illness, or treatment decisions.

Rerun this page when measurements change, a clinician gives new guidance, or the result is being used for a new goal.

How to Use

  1. Enter your age and select your gender.
  2. Choose your preferred weight and height units, then enter your measurements.
  3. Pick the activity level that best matches your typical week.
  4. Review your estimated BMR, maintenance calories, and calorie targets for losing or gaining weight.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is BMR?

BMR stands for basal metabolic rate. It is an estimate of how many calories your body burns each day at complete rest just to support essential functions like breathing, circulation, and temperature regulation.

What is TDEE?

TDEE means total daily energy expenditure. It takes your BMR and multiplies it by an activity factor to estimate how many calories you burn in a typical day, including movement and exercise.

How accurate is the Mifflin-St Jeor equation?

The Mifflin-St Jeor equation is one of the most widely used formulas for estimating calorie needs and is generally considered more accurate than older formulas for many adults. It still provides an estimate, so your real calorie needs may vary.

Why does the calculator show a 500 calorie adjustment for weight loss or gain?

A 500 calorie daily deficit or surplus is a common rule of thumb because it roughly corresponds to about 1 pound of weight change per week for many people. Actual results can differ based on metabolism, adherence, and body composition.

Should I eat exactly the maintenance calories every day?

Not necessarily. Day-to-day intake can fluctuate. Maintenance calories are a useful average target over time, and you can adjust up or down after tracking your weight, hunger, and activity for a few weeks.

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