BMR Calculator — Calculate Your Basal Metabolic Rate
What Is BMR?
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the number of calories your body burns every day while at complete rest. It represents the minimum amount of energy needed to keep essential body functions working, including breathing, blood circulation, brain activity, and maintaining body temperature.
Your BMR does not include calories burned through walking, exercise, or daily activities. It only reflects the energy required for basic life-sustaining functions.
How This Calculator Works
Enter your age, gender, height, and weight. This calculator estimates your Basal Metabolic Rate using either the recommended Mifflin-St Jeor equation or the Harris-Benedict equation. The result shows approximately how many calories your body needs each day while resting.
The BMR Formula
| Formula | Equation |
|---|---|
| Mifflin-St Jeor (Men) | 10 × Weight + 6.25 × Height − 5 × Age + 5 |
| Mifflin-St Jeor (Women) | 10 × Weight + 6.25 × Height − 5 × Age − 161 |
| Harris-Benedict (Men) | 88.362 + (13.397 × Weight) + (4.799 × Height) − (5.677 × Age) |
| Harris-Benedict (Women) | 447.593 + (9.247 × Weight) + (3.098 × Height) − (4.330 × Age) |
Example Calculation
A 30-year-old male with a height of 175 cm and weight of 70 kg has an estimated BMR of approximately 1,649 calories per day using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation (or roughly 1,696 using Harris-Benedict). This means his body requires around this many calories daily to maintain essential functions while at rest.
Factors That Affect BMR
- Age
- Gender
- Height
- Body weight
- Lean muscle mass
- Hormone levels
- Genetics
- Health conditions
BMR vs TDEE
| BMR | TDEE |
|---|---|
| Calories burned at complete rest. | Total calories burned throughout the day. |
| Does not include physical activity. | Includes work, walking, exercise, and daily movement. |
| Starting point for calorie planning. | Used to estimate daily calorie requirements. |
Why Knowing Your BMR Matters
- Helps estimate daily calorie requirements
- Useful for weight loss and weight gain planning
- Supports meal planning and nutrition goals
- Provides a foundation for calculating TDEE
- Helps track metabolic changes over time
