Daily Calorie Needs

BMR and TDEE estimate using the Mifflin–St Jeor equation. Adjust for activity and a weight goal to get a starting calorie target.

Reviewed by Pooja V. Menon, Registered Dietitian · Last updated

How this is calculated

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is the energy your body uses at complete rest. Mifflin–St Jeor (1990) is widely used in clinical practice and tends to be more accurate for modern populations than older Harris–Benedict variants.

  • Men: 10 × kg + 6.25 × cm − 5 × age + 5
  • Women: 10 × kg + 6.25 × cm − 5 × age − 161

TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) multiplies BMR by an activity factor. A sustainable weight-change target usually falls in the range of ±300–750 kcal / day.