How to use the Calorie Calculator
Enter the measurements shown in the form, choose an activity level and goal, then select Calculate Calories. The Calorie Calculator shows BMR, Maintenance (TDEE, kcal/day), and Target for goal (kcal/day), along with the formula and the values used.
- Enter Height and choose cm, ft, or in.
- Enter Weight and choose kg or lb, then enter Age (years).
- Choose Sex, Activity level, and Goal.
- Select Calculate Calories.
The form starts with Male, Moderately active (moderate exercise 3-5 days/week), and Maintain weight. Select Reset to clear the fields and set Sex to Male, Activity level to Sedentary (little or no exercise), and Goal to Lose weight (-500 kcal/day).
Daily calorie needs from BMR and TDEE
BMR uses the Mifflin-St Jeor formula after imperial values are converted to metric. TDEE is BMR multiplied by the selected activity value. The available values run from 1.2 for Sedentary (little or no exercise) to 1.9 for Extra active (very hard exercise, physical job). Goal then adjusts TDEE by -500, 0, or +500 kcal/day.
Height: 180 cm, Weight: 80 kg, Age: 30, Sex: Male
Activity level: Moderately active, Goal: Maintain weight
BMR: 1780 kcal/day
Maintenance (TDEE): 2759 kcal/day
Target for goal: 2759 kcal/dayThese three displayed values are rounded to whole numbers. The assumptions table also lists the entered units, metric height and weight, age, Sex, Activity level, Goal, activity multiplier, TDEE, and target.
Metric and imperial calorie calculator inputs
Height accepts cm, ft, or in. Weight accepts kg or lb. The conversions are 1 in = 2.54 cm, 1 ft = 30.48 cm, and 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. The result is cleared when a form value changes, so select Calculate Calories again after editing an input.
Height and Weight must be finite numbers greater than zero. Age must be a whole number from 15 through 120. A missing or invalid value stops the calculation and shows an error. The code does not set an upper limit for Height or Weight.
When to use this health calculator
Compare the Maintain weight result with the Lose weight or Gain weight target when you are checking a daily calorie estimate. Change Activity level and calculate again to see how its multiplier changes TDEE.
The result is an estimate based on the measurements you enter, not medical advice. The form has no inputs for medical conditions, body composition, or a custom calorie adjustment.
Choose another health calculator
Choose the Health Calculators category when you need a different measurement. BMI Calculator is the better choice for BMI and its standard weight category from height and weight. Use Body Fat Percentage Calculator for the US Navy circumference method, or Calories Burned Calculator for calories burned during an activity using duration and activity data.
Copying and downloading the result
After a valid calculation, Copy result copies the plain-text result when clipboard access succeeds. If copying fails, the result stays visible for manual selection.
Download result (.txt) saves the plain-text result as calorie-calculator-result.txt. The calculator script does not send the values you enter in a request.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate daily calorie needs?
Enter the requested measurements, choose Activity level and Goal, then select Calculate Calories. The result shows BMR, Maintenance (TDEE, kcal/day), and Target for goal (kcal/day).
What formula does the Calorie Calculator use?
It uses the Mifflin-St Jeor formula for BMR, then multiplies BMR by the selected activity multiplier to calculate TDEE. Imperial Height and Weight values are converted to metric first.
How is the calorie target for weight loss calculated?
Lose weight applies a -500 kcal/day adjustment to TDEE, Maintain weight applies 0, and Gain weight applies +500 kcal/day. The displayed target is limited to zero or higher.
Can I use pounds and feet in the calorie calculator?
Yes. Choose ft or in beside Height and lb beside Weight. The converted metric values appear in the assumptions shown with the result.
Can I copy or download my calorie result?
Yes. After a valid calculation, Copy result copies the plain-text result when clipboard access succeeds, and Download result (.txt) saves it as calorie-calculator-result.txt.