Calorie Calculator

2,628
Daily calories to maintain weight

Your Daily Calorie Goals

GoalCalories/Day
Weight Loss (1 lb/week)2,128
Weight Loss (0.5 lb/week)2,378
Maintain Weight (TDEE)2,628
Weight Gain (0.5 lb/week)2,878
Weight Gain (1 lb/week)3,128

💡 1 lb of body weight ≈ 3,500 calories. To lose 1 lb/week, eat 500 fewer calories than TDEE daily.

How Calories Are Calculated

Your TDEE: 2,628 calories/day

This uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, considered the most accurate for estimating calorie needs without lab testing.

Formulas

Male: BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × weight kg) + (4.799 × height cm) - (5.677 × age)

Female: BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × weight kg) + (3.098 × height cm) - (4.330 × age)

TDEE = BMR × Activity Multiplier

Understanding TDEE and Calories

What is TDEE?

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) is the total calories you burn per day including basal metabolic rate (BMR), physical activity, and digestion (thermic effect of food).

Activity Multipliers

  • 1.2 = Sedentary (desk job, little movement)
  • 1.375 = Light (1-3 days light exercise)
  • 1.55 = Moderate (3-5 days moderate exercise)
  • 1.725 = Very active (6-7 days hard exercise)
  • 1.9 = Extra active (athlete or physical laborer)

Macro Breakdown for Weight Loss

For balanced nutrition: 30% protein (160g), 30% fat (71g), 40% carbs (213g)

✅ Free to use    ✅ No registration required    ✅ Mifflin-St Jeor formula

Frequently Asked Questions

What is my daily calorie needs?

To maintain weight: 2,628 calories/day. This varies based on your age, gender, height, weight, and activity level.

How many calories to lose weight?

2,128 calories/day to lose 1 lb/week. Never eat below 1,200 (women) or 1,500 (men) without medical supervision.

What's the most accurate calorie formula?

Mifflin-St Jeor is considered most accurate for general population. Katch-McArdle works better if you know body fat percentage.

Should I count net or gross calories?

Track consumed (gross) calories. Exercise adds to your budget but don't "eat back" all calories burned unless weight loss stalls.

Do calories matter more than food quality?

For weight loss, calories matter most. For health, food quality matters more (nutrients, fiber, protein). Both matter for long-term success.