Basal Metabolic Rate — Calories burned at rest per day
| Formula | Men | Women | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mifflin-St Jeor (recommended) | 10W + 6.25H − 5A + 5 | 10W + 6.25H − 5A − 161 | Best for most adults |
| Harris-Benedict (revised) | 88.36 + 13.4W + 4.8H − 5.7A | 447.6 + 9.25W + 3.10H − 4.33A | Good for athletes |
W = weight (kg), H = height (cm), A = age (years)
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body needs to maintain basic life functions — breathing, circulation, cell production, and organ function — while at complete rest. BMR typically accounts for 60–70% of your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE).
BMR is the starting point for calculating your TDEE. Once you know your BMR, multiply it by your activity level to get your TDEE — the total calories you need each day. See the TDEE Calculator for this calculation.