Calorie Calculator

Created by Lead Calculators, Modified on Mon, 29 Sep, 2025 at 12:58 PM by Lead Calculators

The Calorie Calculator estimates a user’s daily calorie needs based on their Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE). BMR represents the number of calories the body needs at rest to maintain essential functions such as breathing and circulation. TDEE adjusts this number by factoring in daily activity levels.

The calculator uses information such as age, gender, height, weight, and activity level to determine calorie needs. This provides an estimate of how many calories may be required to maintain, lose, or gain weight.

The following information will be collected from the user:

Biological gender
Age
Height
Weight
Activity level

Calculations

To determine the calories required based on the answers of the user, the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) and Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) need to be determined first:

Basal Metabolic Rate (Men)

BMR = 66 + (6.23 * weight (lbs)) + (12.7 * height (inches)) - (6.8 * age (years))

Basal Metabolic Rate (Women)

BMR = 665 + (4.35 * weight(lbs)) + (4.7 * height (inches)) - (4.7 * age (years))

Total Daily Energy Expenditure

TDEE  = BMR * Activity level

The activity level multiplier is as follows:

Activity level	Multiplier
Sedentary: little or no exercise	1.2
Lightly active: light exercise/sports; 1-3 days a week	1.375
Moderately active: moderate exercise/sports; 3-5 days a week	1.55
Very active: hard exercise/sports; 6-7 days a week	1.725
Super active: very hard exercise or physically demanding job	1.9

Calorie calculation:

For weight loss: Subtract 500 calories/day from TDEE (for approximately 1 lb. weight loss per week)

For maintenance: TDEE is the amount of calories needed to maintain the current weight

For weight gain: Add 500 calories/day to TDEE (for approximately 1 lb. gain per week)

Default Email Response:

Once the user's calorie requirements have been computed and they have submitted their info, an email with the following copy will be sent out (universal to all weight goals):

Calories are the energy your body needs to function. Balancing the calories you consume with those you burn is key to managing your weight. Consuming fewer calories than you burn leads to weight loss, while consuming more leads to weight gain. Maintaining a balance helps keep your weight stable.

To edit the copies of each email response, please see our help article on creating a calculator and editing the email templates.