TDEE Calculator

Calculate Your Total Daily Energy Expenditure

Discover how many calories you burn per day based on your activity level. Get personalized recommendations for weight loss, maintenance, or muscle gain.

What is TDEE?

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) is the total number of calories you burn in a day. It's calculated by combining your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) with your activity level. Understanding your TDEE is crucial for managing weight, optimizing nutrition, and achieving fitness goals.

BMR (60-75%)

Basal Metabolic Rate - calories burned at rest to maintain vital functions

Activity (15-30%)

Calories burned through exercise and daily movement

TEF (10%)

Thermic Effect of Food - calories burned digesting food

Calculate Your TDEE

Enter your details below to calculate your daily calorie needs

lbs
ft
in
%

More accurate results if you know your body fat percentage

Understanding TDEE

What is TDEE?

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) represents the total number of calories your body burns in a 24-hour period. This includes all activities from basic bodily functions like breathing and circulation to exercise and daily movement.

TDEE is calculated by taking your Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and multiplying it by an activity factor that represents your typical daily activity level. This gives you a personalized estimate of your daily caloric needs.

Components of TDEE

  • BMR (60-75%): The calories your body burns at complete rest to maintain vital functions
  • Activity (15-30%): Calories burned through intentional exercise and sports
  • NEAT (15-20%): Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis - calories from daily activities like walking, fidgeting
  • TEF (10%): Thermic Effect of Food - energy required to digest and process food

Using Your TDEE

Once you know your TDEE, you can adjust your calorie intake based on your goals:

  • Weight Loss: Eat 10-20% below your TDEE (caloric deficit)
  • Weight Maintenance: Eat at your TDEE level
  • Weight/Muscle Gain: Eat 10-20% above your TDEE (caloric surplus)

Remember that TDEE is an estimate and individual metabolism can vary. Monitor your progress and adjust as needed.

Calculation Methods

Mifflin-St Jeor Equation

Most accurate for the general population

Men: BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age) + 5

Women: BMR = (10 × weight in kg) + (6.25 × height in cm) - (5 × age) - 161

Harris-Benedict Equation (Revised)

Classic formula, revised for modern populations

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

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

Katch-McArdle Equation

Most accurate if you know your body fat percentage

BMR = 370 + (21.6 × Lean Body Mass in kg)

Where LBM = weight × (1 - body fat %/100)

Activity Multipliers

Activity Level Multiplier Description
Sedentary 1.2 Little or no exercise, desk job
Lightly Active 1.375 Light exercise 1-3 days/week
Moderately Active 1.55 Moderate exercise 3-5 days/week
Very Active 1.725 Hard exercise 6-7 days/week
Extremely Active 1.9 Very hard exercise, physical job, or training twice a day

Frequently Asked Questions

How accurate is the TDEE calculator?

TDEE calculators provide a good starting estimate, typically within 10% accuracy for most people. Individual metabolism, genetics, and lifestyle factors can cause variations. Use the calculator as a starting point and adjust based on your actual results over 2-4 weeks.

Should I eat back exercise calories?

If you selected an activity level that includes your exercise, you shouldn't eat back exercise calories as they're already accounted for. If you selected sedentary and exercise occasionally, you may want to add those calories on exercise days.

How often should I recalculate my TDEE?

Recalculate your TDEE every 10-15 pounds of weight change, when your activity level significantly changes, or every 2-3 months during a diet. Your metabolism adapts to changes in weight and activity (metabolic adaptation).

What's the difference between BMR and TDEE?

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is the calories you burn at complete rest. TDEE includes BMR plus all calories burned through activity, exercise, and food digestion. TDEE is always higher than BMR.

Useful Resources & Tools

Expand your fitness journey with these carefully selected resources for nutrition tracking, exercise planning, and health optimization.

📊 Nutrition Tracking Apps

  • MyFitnessPal - Comprehensive food database and calorie tracker
  • Cronometer - Detailed micronutrient tracking
  • Lose It! - Photo food logging and barcode scanning
  • FatSecret - Free calorie counter with community support

🧮 Advanced Calculators

💪 Exercise Databases

📚 Scientific Resources

🍽️ Meal Planning Tools

👥 Communities & Support

📖 Educational Content

🏃 Activity Trackers

🥗 Recipe & Food Databases

Disclaimer: These external resources are provided for informational purposes only. Always consult with healthcare professionals before making significant changes to your diet or exercise routine. We are not affiliated with these websites and cannot guarantee their accuracy or availability.