Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the energy your body needs to keep running at complete rest — breathing, circulation, temperature and cell repair. It is usually the largest part of the calories you burn each day.
This calculator uses the Mifflin–St Jeor equation, which studies have found to be among the most accurate for healthy adults. Treat the result as an estimate.
Formula
BMR = 10 × weight (kg) + 6.25 × height (cm) − 5 × age + s
s is +5 for men and −161 for women.
Worked example
A 30-year-old man who weighs 70 kg and is 175 cm tall: 10 × 70 + 6.25 × 175 − 5 × 30 + 5 = 1,648.75 kcal/day.
BMR vs daily calories
BMR excludes all movement. To estimate the calories you burn on a normal day, multiply it by an activity factor — the calorie calculator does this for you.
Frequently asked questions
What is a normal BMR?
For adults it is commonly around 1,200–1,800 kcal/day for women and 1,500–2,000 kcal/day for men, depending mostly on body size, age and muscle mass.
How can I increase my BMR?
Building muscle through strength training raises BMR modestly, because muscle uses more energy at rest than fat.
Last updated · Calculations checked by automated tests· Editorial policy