Notification
Go to Home All Tools Compare Glossary Blog Contact

BMR Calculator

Calculate your Basal Metabolic Rate, the calories your body burns at rest, using the Mifflin-St Jeor and Harris-Benedict formulas.

Physiological Parameters

cm
kg
Biological Gender

Example Presets

Load representative profiles to check ranges:

BMR Assessment

Awaiting Parameters

Fill in your physical attributes to predict resting energy expenditure baselines.

BMR, Metabolism & Energy Expenditure Guide

Understanding basal calories and the metabolic mechanisms driving daily energy burn.

What is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?

BMR represents the baseline amount of thermal energy required to keep your body functional in a resting state. It accounts for about 60% to 75% of your total daily energy output.

Your organs (liver, brain, heart, kidneys) utilize the majority of resting baseline energy, even when you are asleep.

BMR vs. TDEE

BMR is your resting metabolic rate. Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) factors in physical activity and digestive processes.

  • • TDEE = BMR × Activity Factor
  • • Sedentary lifestyle = BMR × 1.2
  • • Moderately active = BMR × 1.55

Metabolic Factors

Several physiological factors regulate BMR:

  • Lean Muscle Mass: Muscle burns more calories at rest than fat tissue. Increasing muscle increases BMR.
  • Hormones: Thyroid hormones regulate overall metabolism speed.
  • Body Stature: Taller, heavier bodies require more energy, raising BMR.
Wellness & Health Coach

AI Advisor Health Advisor

Ask AI
Education

How Mifflin-St Jeor and Harris-Benedict Compare

01

The Mifflin-St Jeor Equation

For men, BMR = (10 x weight in kg) + (6.25 x height in cm) - (5 x age) + 5. For women, the same terms are used but 161 is subtracted instead of adding 5. This equation, published in 1990, is generally considered the more accurate default for most modern adults.

02

The Revised Harris-Benedict Equation

This calculator uses the 1984 Roza and Shizgal revision of the original 1918 Harris-Benedict formula: for men, BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 x weight in kg) + (4.799 x height in cm) - (5.677 x age); for women, BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 x weight in kg) + (3.098 x height in cm) - (4.330 x age). It tends to produce a slightly higher result than Mifflin-St Jeor for the same inputs.

03

Worked Example

For a 30-year-old man who is 178 cm tall and weighs 75 kg, Mifflin-St Jeor gives roughly 1,718 kcal/day, while the revised Harris-Benedict formula gives roughly 1,777 kcal/day for the same inputs. Both are resting-only estimates and exclude any calories burned through movement or exercise.

04

Use BMR With Activity-Based Tools

BMR only reflects energy needs at complete rest, so multiply it by an activity factor using the Calorie Calculator or TDEE Calculator to estimate realistic total daily calorie needs for weight maintenance, loss, or gain.

Good to know

Questions, answered

Quick answers about how this tool works.

The original Harris-Benedict formula was published in 1918. The Mifflin-St Jeor formula was introduced in 1990 and is generally considered more accurate for modern populations. Mifflin-St Jeor tends to predict slightly lower BMR values, which helps prevent overestimating daily calorie needs.

Metabolism is the cellular chemical process of converting food intake into physical energy. BMR naturally declines with age (roughly 1-2% per decade after age 30) due to gradual muscle tissue loss. Regular strength training can help maintain muscle and preserve BMR.

Yes, BMR is the energy required to survive in a comatose state at rest. However, any physical activity—including sitting, walking, or eating—requires additional calories. Consuming fewer calories than your BMR for long periods forces the body to conserve energy, potentially slowing down weight loss and causing muscle depletion.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body needs each day to perform essential life-sustaining functions such as breathing, circulation, cell production, and temperature regulation while at complete rest.

What do you need to work out next?

Search 244+ free tools by name, or pick a category below. Every one runs instantly in your browser — no signup, nothing to install.