BMR Calculator
Estimate your resting calorie needs using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. Get your BMR and estimated daily maintenance calories.
What Is BMR?
BMR stands for Basal Metabolic Rate. It refers to the amount of energy your body requires to support basic functions such as breathing, circulation, and maintaining cells while at rest.
This calculator uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation to estimate resting energy expenditure. The equation is widely used because it generally performs well as a population-based estimate.
The Mifflin-St Jeor Formula
The Mifflin-St Jeor equation uses weight, height, age, and sex-specific constants:
Male: BMR = (10 × weight kg) + (6.25 × height cm) − (5 × age) + 5
Female: BMR = (10 × weight kg) + (6.25 × height cm) − (5 × age) − 161
For imperial measurements, pounds are converted to kilograms and feet/inches are converted to centimeters before applying the same equation. The calculation uses the full converted values, while the displayed BMR is rounded to the nearest whole calorie.
BMR vs. Maintenance Calories
BMR represents the estimated energy your body uses at rest. Your total daily energy expenditure is higher because it also includes movement, exercise, and the energy used to digest food.
The maintenance estimates shown above use common activity multipliers and should be treated as starting estimates. Actual energy needs vary from person to person.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good BMR?
There is no single "good" BMR. It varies with factors such as age, sex, height, weight, and body composition. Larger bodies and people with more metabolically active tissue generally have higher energy requirements.
How is BMR different from TDEE?
BMR is an estimate of energy expenditure at rest. TDEE, or Total Daily Energy Expenditure, accounts for resting metabolism plus physical activity and the energy used to process food.
Can I use BMR to lose weight?
BMR is useful as a starting point, but it is not your daily calorie target. Weight change depends on your overall energy balance, which is better considered using estimated total daily energy expenditure.
Is the Mifflin-St Jeor formula accurate?
The Mifflin-St Jeor equation is a widely used predictive equation and generally performs well for estimating resting energy expenditure in many adults. However, it is still an estimate, and individual results can differ from actual energy expenditure.
Does the calculator round the BMR?
The calculation uses the full converted input values without rounding the intermediate result. For readability, the final BMR displayed by the calculator is rounded to the nearest whole calorie.