Estimate your maintenance calories.
Estimate how many calories you may need per day to maintain your current weight based on your body metrics and activity level.
How this calculator helps
Estimate how many calories you may need per day to maintain your current weight based on your body metrics and activity level. It gives a quick estimate so you can compare scenarios and plan with clearer expectations.
Formula: Maintenance calories = BMR × activity factor, where BMR is estimated using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation.
Assumptions: This is a good planning estimate for adults, but it does not account for medication, medical conditions, or significant changes in body composition.
Worked example: A 32-year-old woman weighing 140 lb and 65 in tall with moderate activity may need roughly 2,000 calories per day to maintain weight.
- Inputs: Use your own values for the fields below.
- Adjustments: Change one variable at a time to compare different scenarios.
- Output: Review the result as a planning estimate, not a medical diagnosis.
What the result means
This estimate is designed to help with planning, not to replace professional judgment. Real people differ in body composition, schedule, routine, health history, and recovery needs, so the result is best understood as a useful starting point rather than a single fixed truth.
When you change an input, the result changes because the calculation is modeling the relationship between your habits and your goal. For wellness planning, it is often helpful to test a few realistic scenarios and compare the results before making a decision. That gives you a more balanced picture than relying on one number in isolation.
We recommend revisiting the calculator whenever your routine, weight, or health goals change materially. A trend is usually more useful than a one-time value, especially for nutrition, hydration, exercise, or sleep planning. Keep the result in context and use it alongside your personal experience and any medical or coaching advice you follow.
Related calculators
Calorie maintenance, Protein intake, and Steps to distance are closely related to this estimate.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this calculator accurate? It is a practical estimate based on common formulas and assumptions, but real-world conditions can shift the result.
- Should I use the result as a target? Use it as a baseline and adjust based on progress, comfort, and your own health needs.
- How often should I update the numbers? Review the values whenever your weight, routine, or goals change significantly.
- Is this a medical diagnosis? No. It is a general wellness planning tool and not a substitute for medical advice.