TDEE Calculator
Total daily energy expenditure is your BMR plus your activity level — the calorie figure most people actually want when they say "maintenance calories."
Not a diagnosis. This is a formula-based estimate — see the Health & Fitness section intro for more on that.
How it's calculated
TDEE = BMR (Mifflin-St Jeor formula) × an activity multiplier: 1.2 sedentary, 1.375 light, 1.55 moderate, 1.725 active, 1.9 very active.
Frequently asked
Should I eat exactly my TDEE every day?
TDEE is an estimate of maintenance calories — eating around it should roughly maintain weight. Eating below it creates a deficit for weight loss, above it a surplus for weight gain, but individual metabolism varies from the formula's estimate.
How do I pick the right activity level?
Count structured exercise plus how active your daily life is otherwise. A desk job with a few gym sessions a week is usually "light" or "moderate", not "active" — most people overestimate this.