Health & Fitness

TDEE Calculator

Calculate your Total Daily Energy Expenditure based on activity level

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TDEE
BMR
Activity Multiplier

About TDEE

TDEE is the total number of calories you burn per day, including all activity. It is calculated by multiplying your BMR by an activity factor. Knowing your TDEE helps you plan your diet for weight loss, maintenance, or muscle gain.

How it works

Estimates Total Daily Energy Expenditure, the calories you burn in a day including activity. TDEE scales your resting metabolic rate by an activity multiplier, and is the baseline for any cut or bulk.

Formula
TDEE = BMR × Activity Factor
Variables
  • BMRbasal metabolic rate (Mifflin-St Jeor)
  • 1.2sedentary: desk job, little exercise
  • 1.375light: 1-3 sessions/week
  • 1.55moderate: 3-5 sessions/week
  • 1.725very active: 6-7 sessions/week
  • 1.9extra active: physical job or twice-daily training
Worked example
Inputs: Male, 30 y, 80 kg, 180 cm, moderate activity
  1. BMR = 10(80) + 6.25(180) − 5(30) + 5 = 800 + 1125 − 150 + 5 = 1780
  2. TDEE = 1780 × 1.55
Result: ≈ 2,759 kcal/day
Notes
  • Activity multipliers are coarse. Track weight over 2-3 weeks and adjust. Real intake data beats any formula.
  • A deficit of about 500 kcal/day corresponds to roughly 0.45 kg (1 lb) of fat loss per week.

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Frequently Asked Questions

TDEE = BMR × activity factor. Sedentary (desk job, no exercise): 1.2. Light activity: 1.375. Moderate: 1.55. Very active: 1.725. Extra active: 1.9.

Be honest and lean conservative. If you sit all day and exercise 3 times a week, "lightly active" (1.375) is more accurate than "moderately active". Most people overestimate.

Eat at TDEE to maintain. Subtract 15-25% for weight loss (sustainable deficit). Add 10-20% for weight gain or muscle building. Recalculate every 5-10 lb of change.

TDEE Calculator | ExaCalc