Daily calorie calculator
Estimate how many calories you need a day to lose, keep or gain weight, using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation.
How this works
The calculator first estimates your basal metabolic rate (BMR), the energy your body uses at rest, with the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. It then multiplies that by an activity factor to estimate your total daily energy use.
The NHS uses around 2,000 kcal a day for women and 2,500 kcal for men as a general guide, but your own figure depends on your size, age and how active you are.
Using it when you eat out
Large restaurant chains in England must show calories on their menus. Compare a meal with your daily figure: a 1,200 kcal burger meal is more than half of a 2,000 kcal day. Our menu pages show calories wherever the restaurant publishes them.
This calculator gives general estimates only and isn't medical advice. Speak to your GP or a registered dietitian about your own needs.