TDEE Calculator

Imperial

Calculate your BMI using imperial units.

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE)

Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) estimates how many calories your body burns daily by accounting for three major contributing factors: your basal metabolic rate (BMR), your activity level and the thermic effect of food metabolism.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

Basal metabolic rate (BMR) estimates the number of calories your body burns over a 24-hour period while at rest. For your body to be truly “at rest,” your digestive system must be inactive, which typically requires a 12-hour fasting period, and your external environment needs to be a neutral temperature. BMR comprises the largest portion of most people’s TDEE.

Activity Level

The Forbes Health TDEE calculator uses the following ranges to help determine the appropriate activity multiplier for you:

  • Sedentary: Little or no exercise, desk job (BMR x 1.2)
  • Lightly active: Light exercise 1–3 days/week (BMR x 1.375)
  • Moderately active: Moderate exercise 3–5 days/week (BMR x 1.55)

Thermic Effect of Food

The thermic effect of food is the amount of energy your body uses to metabolize the food you eat. The Mifflin-St Jeor equation used in the calculator above accounts for this estimated contribution to your body’s daily calorie burn.