The total number of calories a person needs each day varies depending on a number of factors, including the person’s age, sex, height, weight, and level of physical activity.

In addition, a need to lose, maintain, or gain weight and other factors affect how many calories should be consumed. Estimated amounts of calories needed to maintain calorie balance for various age and sex groups at four different levels of physical activity are provided by this Daily Calorie Requirements calculator.

To find your daily calorie requirment, provide your current height, weight, age, and activity level for an estimate of the calories you need each day to maintain your current weight.

If you are overweight (or underweight), then the result may be too high or low when using your current weight. Choose a healthy weight for yourself and then use that amount to find your daily caloric needs.

To lose weight, subtract 500 calories per day for each pound you want to lose per week. To gain weight, add 500 calories per day for each pound you want to gain per week.

Less than 1200 calories per day is not recommended and is too low to meet nutritional requirements. Weight loss of less than 2 pounds per week is generally recommended for safe weight loss.

Your daily calorie requirements also increase when you are physically active and exercise. For a healthy approach, try increasing your physical activity to burn calories. For example, cut calories by 250 each day and exercise enough to burn 250 each day for a total reduction of 500 calories per day.

  

Daily Calorie Requirement Calculator

Enter your Height

Enter your Weight

Your Age

years



Resting Calorie Requirements
(for basic body functions, like breathing)

Men’s Result

Women’s Result

Activity Level

Men’s
Result
Women’s
Result

Sedentary

Lifestyle that includes only the physical activity of independent living.

Lightly
Active

Lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking 3-5 times per week at a pace of 2.5 – 3 mph for under 30 minutes each time, in addition to the activities of independent living.

Moderately
Active

Lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking about 1.5 to 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the activities of independent living.

Very
Active

Lifestyle that includes physical activity equivalent to walking more than 3 miles per day at 3 to 4 miles per hour, in addition to the activities of independent living.