Basal Metabolic Rate Calculator (BMR Calculator)
Calculate your basal metabolic rate and resting metabolic rate by Mifflin-St Jeor Equation and Harris-Benedict Equations
How to find BMR using this tool?
Enter your height in the field marked as 'Your height'. Make sure to select the unit as either feet/inches or cm. For example, if you want to enter height as 185 cms, then select the option cm and then enter the value.
Next, enter your weight in the field marked as 'Your weight'. You can enter in pounds or kilograms. Select the unit as either 'lb' or 'kg' and enter appropriate value.
BMR formula uses Age as an input. So enter your age in the field marked as 'Age'. Gender is optional. The tool by default calculates for both male and female
The tool calculates Your BMR based on your age, weight and height and uses both the Mifflin-St Jeor and Harris-Benedict formulae.
The result shown is in Kilo calories/day and it indicates your minimum energy requirement at rest.
Formula to Calculate BMR and RMR
There are 2 equations that are commonly used to calculate BMR/RMR. They are Mifflin-St Jeor Equation and Harris-Benedict Equation.
Mifflin-St Jeor Equation for RMR
- It is a revised equation for calculating resting energy requirements.
- Mifflin-St Jeor Formula for Men
RMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age (years) + 5 - Mifflin-St Jeor Formula for Women
RMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age (years) – 161
Harris-Benedict Equation for BMR
- It provides an estimate of basic minimum calories needed and this is useful input for those into weight loss to avoid getting into issues related to low RMR and Low BMR and ensure minimum calorie intake is maintained.
- Harris-Benedict BMR Formula for Men
BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × weight in kg) + (4.799 × height in cm) - (5.677 × age in years) - Harris-Benedict BMR Formula for Women
BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × weight in kg) + (3.098 × height in cm) - (4.330 × age in years)
What is a Basal Metabolic Rate?
BMR is a measure of your energy requirement (in terms of calories)
BMR calculator gives the calories needed to perform your basic function at rest or at steady state.
It is also referred to as Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR) or Metabolic Calorie Calculator. There is a slight difference between BMR and RMR
BMR is measured in units of Kilocalories or Kilo Joules
Is BMR and RMR same?
They are almost similar. Both BMR and RMR represent the calories needed by our body in resting state. They differ in the part of what activities are included as part of a resting state.
The basal functions are digestion, circulation, respiration, sleeping and so on...
Resting Metabolic Rate includes all of the basic body functions and in addition involves getting up, lying down, eating, drinking and moving around minimally without any exercise.
BMR is computed by Harris-Benedict Equation. RMR is computed by Mifflin-St Jeor equation.
RMR will always be slightly higher than BMR as it includes few additional functions. Also RMR may represent a more accurate measure of energy /calorie requirement at resting state as it covers the bare minimal functions that need to be taken care of.
Resting Metabolic Rate Table for Women
These are average guideline values and not to be taken as absolute reference
| Age | Calories Burnt per day at rest (kcal / day) |
|---|---|
| 19–30 | 1,800–2,400 |
| 31–40 | 1,800–2,200 |
| 41–50 | 1,800–2,200 |
| 51–60 | 1,600–2,200 |
| 61–70 | 1,600–2,000 |
| 71+ | 1,600–2,000 |
Resting Metabolic Rate Table for Men
These are average guideline values and not to be taken as absolute reference
| Age | Calories Burnt per day (kcal / day) |
|---|---|
| 19–30 | 2,400–3,000 |
| 31–40 | 2,400–3,800 |
| 41–50 | 2,200–2,800 |
| 51–60 | 2,200–2,800 |
| 61–70 | 2,000–2,600 |
| 71+ | 2,000–2,600 |
Frequently Asked Questions on BMR
BMR is basal metabolic rate.
It is a measure of the calories needed by the body to perform its basal functions at complete resting state with no activity.
Basal functions are digestion, circulation, breathing, sleeping and so on.
It is measured in terms of kcal per day.
It is Resting Metabolic Rate. It is almost same as BMR.
It is the calories needed at resting state but it involves normal movement like getting up, eating , bathing but no exercise as such.
RMR is always slightly more than BMR.
BMR calculator is used to find your basal metabolic rate using height, weight and gender.
BMR for men and BMR for women are different.
BMR can be measured with tool and apparatus as well as can be roughly computed by standard formula.
BMR is calculated using one of 2 equations - Harris-Benedict Equation or Mifflin - St Jeor Equation.
Mifflin - St Jeor Formula is for computing RMR while Harris Benedict formula computes BMR.
BMR Formula for women by Harris-Benedict Equation.
BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × weight in kg) + (3.098 × height in cm) - (4.330 × age in years).
RMR formula for women by Mifflin - St Jeor Formula.
BMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age (years) – 161
BMR Formula for men by Harris-Benedict Equation.
BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × weight in kg) + (4.799 × height in cm) - (5.677 × age in years).
RMR formula for men by Mifflin - St Jeor Formula.
BMR = 10 x weight (kg) + 6.25 x height (cm) – 5 x age (years) + 5 .
Normal BMR for women is in the range of 1400-1500 kilo calories per day.
Normal BMR for men is in the range of 1600-1700 kilo calories per day.
Low BMR means body needs less calories to do its basic function. It indicates lower metabolism.
These are indicative and may vary and has to take into account level of activity,age and genetic factors.
Lower than 1300 indicates low BMR for women.
Lower than 1500 indicates low BMR for men.
It indicates higher metabolism and ability to burn more calories.
It may be due to higher muscle mass, genetics and various factors.
These are indicative, High BMR for women > 1700 .
High BMR for men > 2000 .
It is the calorie burnt while doing activity.
BMR or RMR is the caloriie burnt at rest.
25% of calories burnt is from muscle mass at resting state.
It increases with age from child to teen to adult and then at some point,
BMR decreases gradually as we age with lower metabolism Our ability to burn calories reduces as we age.
By Increasing Physical activity and building muscle mass.
Balanced intake of food with protein and carbohydrate.
Getting Adequate sleep of minimum 8 hours.
Average basal metabolic rate for women is 1409 kcal per day (5900 kJ).
Average basal metabolic rate for men 1696 kcal per day(7100 kJ)
