Estimate your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE), the approximate number of calories you use in a typical day after accounting for activity.
Estimate total daily energy expenditure from BMR and activity level.
What Is TDEE?
Total Daily Energy Expenditure is an estimate of the calories your body uses across a full day. It combines estimated resting energy needs with an activity multiplier.
How TDEE Is Calculated
The calculator first estimates BMR with the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and then applies an activity factor based on the activity level you select.
How to Use the TDEE Calculator
- Select your units.
- Enter sex, age, height and weight.
- Choose the activity level that best reflects your usual routine.
- Select Calculate.
How to Interpret Your Result
Your TDEE is an estimate of maintenance energy needs. Actual needs can differ, so body-weight trends over several weeks can help determine whether the estimate is close to your real maintenance level.
Common Mistakes
Choosing an activity level that is too high is a common source of overestimation. Use the level that reflects your typical routine rather than your most active day.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TDEE the same as maintenance calories?
They are closely related. Estimated TDEE is commonly used as an estimate of maintenance calorie needs.
Why can two people have different TDEE values?
Age, sex, body size, activity and body composition can all influence energy expenditure.
How often should I recalculate TDEE?
Recalculate after meaningful changes in body weight, activity or other inputs used by the equation.
Methodology & References
TDEE is estimated by multiplying BMR by an activity factor. Activity multipliers are approximations and real energy needs vary.