BMR Calculator - Basal Metabolic Rate
Calculate your resting calories using the most accurate scientific formulas
Calculate Your BMR
What is Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) is the amount of energy (calories) your body needs daily to stay alive at complete rest. This includes energy for breathing, blood circulation, cell growth, and body temperature regulation.
BMR accounts for approximately 60-75% of your total daily calorie expenditure. Understanding your BMR helps you accurately determine your nutritional needs for weight loss, gain, or maintenance.
Formulas Used:
- Mifflin-St Jeor (1990): Most accurate and recommended by dietitians. Accounts for modern lifestyle changes.
- Harris-Benedict (1919): Classic widely-used formula. May slightly overestimate results.
Frequently Asked Questions
BMR is the number of calories your body burns at complete rest to maintain vital functions like breathing, heartbeat, and temperature regulation. It represents the minimum energy your body needs to survive.
Mifflin-St Jeor (1990) is newer and more accurate for modern populations, recommended by the American Dietetic Association. Harris-Benedict (1919) is older and may overestimate by 5-15%.
Build muscle through resistance training, eat adequate protein (1.6-2.2g/kg), sleep 7-9 hours, stay hydrated, and avoid crash diets below 1200 calories.
BMR is resting calories only. TDEE adds physical activity, digestion, and daily movement calories to BMR. TDEE is what you actually need for diet planning.
Yes, BMR decreases by 1-2% per decade after age 20 due to muscle mass loss. The solution: regular resistance training and a protein-rich diet.