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Resting energy

BMR Calculator

Estimate your basal metabolic rate, the calories your body burns at rest, before planning daily calories.

Gender based formulaMifflin-St JeorCalorie baseline

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BMR uses age, sex, height, and weight to estimate resting calorie burn.

Gender
cm
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How BMR fits into calorie planning

Resting baseline

BMR estimates energy used for basic body functions before activity is added.

Activity matters

Most daily calorie targets should account for movement, workouts, and lifestyle.

Method

Formula, result meaning, and common mistakes

This free BMR calculator uses the Mifflin-St Jeor method with age, sex, height, and weight to estimate calories burned at rest.

How to use it

Use BMR as the baseline, then use TDEE or calorie tools when activity and goal adjustments matter.

Common mistakes

Do not use BMR as your full daily calorie target unless you are specifically estimating resting energy only.

Understand deeper

How the Mifflin-St Jeor BMR formula works

This calculator uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, one of the most widely trusted formulas for estimating basal metabolic rate in healthy adults. The basal metabolic rate formula estimates how many calories your body burns at rest to support breathing, circulation, temperature control, and other essential functions. For men, the equation is 10 × weight in kg + 6.25 × height in cm - 5 × age - 5. For women, it is 10 × weight in kg + 6.25 × height in cm - 5 × age - 161. That makes BMR a useful baseline before you add activity.

For example, a 30-year-old man who weighs 80 kg and is 180 cm tall gets 10×80 + 6.25×180 - 5×30 + 5 = 1,780 calories per day. This is why understanding the difference between BMR and TDEE matters: BMR is your resting burn, while TDEE is daily burn after movement is added. A resting metabolic rate calculator often gives a similar estimate under less strict testing conditions. Mifflin et al. published this method in 1990 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and it remains a strong starting point for bmr for weight loss planning.

The formula

Men: 10×weight (kg) + 6.25×height (cm) - 5×age - 5. Women: 10×weight (kg) + 6.25×height (cm) - 5×age - 161.

Worked example

For a 30-year-old male at 80 kg and 180 cm: 10×80 + 6.25×180 - 5×30 + 5 = 1,780 calories per day.

Scientific basis

Mifflin et al. introduced this equation in 1990 in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, and it is still considered one of the best general BMR formulas for healthy adults.

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FAQ

Common questions