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Calorie Calculator

Daily calories for maintenance, loss or gain — BMR times your activity level, adjusted for your goal.

years
cm
kg

Target calories

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How it works

BMR (Mifflin-St Jeor) × activity factor = TDEE
Target = TDEE + goal adjustment (−500 for loss, 0 for maintenance, +500 for gain)

Worked example: a 30-year-old man, 175 cm, 75 kg, moderately active, maintaining weight. BMR is 1,699 calories, TDEE is 1,699 × 1.55 = 2,633 calories a day, and the maintenance target is 2,633 calories.

Frequently asked questions

What is TDEE?

Total daily energy expenditure: your BMR plus the energy of everything you do in a day. The activity factor (1.2 to 1.9) is a rough multiplier for how active you are.

Why adjust by 500 calories for loss or gain?

A 500-calorie daily gap is the common rule of thumb for roughly half a kilogram a week of change. It is a starting estimate, not a guaranteed rate.

Which activity level should I pick?

Sedentary is desk work with little exercise; moderate is exercise 3–5 days a week; very active is hard daily training or a physical job. When in doubt, pick the lower level.

Is this a diet plan?

No. This is an informational estimate. For a personal plan, especially with a health condition, speak to a clinician or registered dietitian.

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