Estimate the calories your body burns at complete rest, using the Mifflin-St Jeor and Harris-Benedict equations.
How bmr is worked out
Your basal metabolic rate is the energy your body uses just to keep functioning at rest. Enter your sex, age, height and weight to estimate it two ways.
Multiply BMR by an activity factor (see the calorie calculator) to estimate total daily needs. These are general estimates.
Getting your answer
- Choose your sex and enter age, height and weight.
- Read the BMR from each equation.
- Use the calorie calculator to add activity.
The maths behind it
Mifflin-St Jeor = 10×kg + 6.25×cm − 5×age + s
(s = +5 male, −161 female)
Worked example
On the values this calculator opens with, the BMR is 1,649. Underneath, Mifflin-St Jeor comes out at 1,649 kcal and Harris-Benedict at 1,696 kcal. Change any field and every figure updates as you type.
Questions people ask about this
What is BMR?
Basal metabolic rate — the calories your body burns at rest for basic functions like breathing and circulation.
Which equation is best?
Mifflin-St Jeor is generally considered the most accurate for most people today; Harris-Benedict is the older standard.
How do I use BMR?
Multiply it by an activity factor to estimate daily calorie needs. The calorie calculator does this for you.