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BMR Calculator

Use this BMR calculator to estimate resting daily calorie needs before activity is added.

Method and assumptions documentedPlanning estimateSource note includedNo expert review claimed

Live calculator

BMR calculator

Estimated BMR1,460 calories/day

Estimated resting energy needs before activity is added.

Metric inputs74.8 kg

167.6 cm used in the Mifflin-St Jeor equation.

Planning note

BMR is not the same as maintenance calories. Most people need more than BMR because daily movement, exercise, and digestion add energy needs.

Use this as a planning estimate, not medical advice. Medical conditions, medication, pregnancy, eating disorder history, or disease-specific nutrition needs should be handled with a qualified professional.

Quick answer

BMR Calculator: what it calculates

BMR Calculator estimates basal metabolic rate from sex, age, height, and weight using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. Use it as a resting-calorie baseline before adding activity with a TDEE estimate.

ResultEstimated BMR
InputsSex, Age, Weight, Height
FormulaMifflin-St Jeor equation

Formula

Mifflin-St Jeor equation

BMR = 10 x weight kg + 6.25 x height cm - 5 x age + 5 for men or -161 for women

BMR is an estimate of resting energy needs before activity is added.

How to use

Steps

  1. Choose sex.
  2. Enter age, weight, and height.
  3. Review estimated resting calories per day.
  4. Use TDEE, not BMR alone, for maintenance calorie planning.

Example

Sample calculation

Profile35-year-old female
Height and weight5 ft 6 in, 165 lb
BMRAbout 1,455 calories/day

Calculator use

Best for

  • Estimating basal metabolic rate from age, sex, height, and weight.
  • Comparing BMR with TDEE or calorie estimates before choosing an activity multiplier.
  • Using a visible Mifflin-St Jeor estimate as a baseline for general adult planning.
  • Checking how changes in body size or age affect estimated baseline energy needs.

Before relying on it

Check first

  • Treating estimated BMR as a personalized medical or nutrition prescription.
  • Ignoring medical conditions, medications, eating disorder history, pregnancy, lactation, or athletic training context.
  • Confusing BMR with total daily calories, which also includes activity and digestion.
  • Assuming the formula directly measures body composition or metabolism instead of estimating it.

Details

What to know before using the result

Resting estimateBefore activity

BMR is lower than total daily energy expenditure because it excludes most movement and exercise.

Formula inputsMetric conversion

The calculator converts pounds to kilograms and inches to centimeters before applying the equation.

Accuracy limitPopulation equation

Individual metabolism can differ from equation estimates because of body composition, hormones, illness, medications, and training.

Source notes

References used for this calculator

PubMedIndexes the 1990 Mifflin-St Jeor paper introducing a predictive equation for resting energy expenditure.NCBI BookshelfExplains that energy metabolism changes with rest, work, exercise, and other demands.

Benchmarks

How to read the result

BMR: Resting calories.

Energy estimate before activity adjustment.

TDEE: BMR x activity.

Better for maintenance calorie planning.

Tracked intake: Reality check.

Real weight trends are useful for adjusting equation estimates.

Calculator accuracy

Methodology and assumptions

Formula

BMR = 10 x weight kg + 6.25 x height cm - 5 x age + 5 for men or -161 for women

Inputs used

Sex, Age, Weight, Height

Limitations

Health results are screening or planning estimates. Age, body composition, medication, medical history, pregnancy, and professional guidance can change the right interpretation.

Review record

Method and sources checked on July 12, 2026. The documented method, source timing, validity conditions, and reliance limits were checked on this date.

Method provenanceEstimate · toolkitshelf.BMR-mifflin.v1
Maintained by
Toolkit Shelf
Calculation class
Estimate
Method version
toolkitshelf.BMR-mifflin.v1
Source date
February 1990
Source checked
July 12, 2026
Intended audience
Adults seeking a general resting-energy estimate from age, height, weight, and the equation's male or female coefficient.
Valid when
Use adult measurements and the coefficient that matches the equation input. Illness, pregnancy, medications, body-composition extremes, and individual metabolism can materially change actual needs.
Reliance boundary
This is predicted resting energy expenditure, not indirect calorimetry, maintenance calories, medical nutrition therapy, or a personalized intake target.
Data freshness
The published Mifflin equation and its adult study population were checked on July 12, 2026. The equation is fixed unless the internal method version changes.
Cite this page

Toolkit Shelf. BMR Calculator. https://toolkitshelf.com/tools/bmr-calculator

FAQ

Common questions

What is BMR?

BMR is an estimate of calories your body uses at rest before daily activity is added.

Is BMR the same as maintenance calories?

No. Maintenance calories usually mean total daily energy expenditure, which adds activity to BMR.

Which BMR formula does this use?

It uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation with weight in kilograms and height in centimeters.

When should I ask a clinician?

Ask a clinician or qualified nutrition professional when pregnancy, medication, medical history, eating disorder risk, symptoms, or disease-specific guidance matters.

Why can health formulas be misleading?

Health formulas simplify age, sex, body composition, training status, measurement method, pregnancy, and medical context into a planning estimate.

Is this medical advice?

No. Health calculators are screening or planning tools and do not diagnose, treat, or replace professional medical or nutrition guidance.