Calories burned calculator
Calories burned by walking, running, cycling, swimming and other activities.
About this calculator
This calories burned calculator estimates how much energy an activity uses, from walking and running to swimming, yoga and housework. Pick an activity, enter how long you did it and your weight.
A table shows what the same time would burn in other activities, so you can compare.
How it works
Calories per minute = MET × 3.5 × weight in kg ÷ 200. A MET is how hard an activity is compared with sitting still, so an activity of 5 METs uses five times as much energy as rest.
Last reviewed:
Worked example
- Activity: Brisk walking, 4 mph (6.4 km/h)
- Duration: 45 minutes
- Units: Feet and pounds
- Weight: 155 lb
Calories burned: 277 kcal
Common questions
How accurate are calories burned estimates?
They're averages. Fitness, effort, technique and body make-up all change the real figure, often by 10% to 20% or more. Fitness trackers have similar margins.
Why do heavier people burn more calories?
Moving a heavier body takes more energy, so the same activity for the same time burns more calories.
Which exercise burns the most calories?
Vigorous activities such as running, fast cycling, rowing and circuit training burn the most per minute. The best one is the one you'll do regularly.
Sources and further reading
The story behind it
Where the idea came from: Barbara Ainsworth and colleagues published the first Compendium of Physical Activities in 1993, giving a MET value to hundreds of activities.
Researchers wanted a common scale for comparing studies of exercise and health. The MET, defined as the energy of sitting quietly, gave them one, and the Compendium listed a value for everything from jogging to mowing the lawn. It is still updated and is the basis of most calorie estimates.
Why you can trust this calculator
- It runs in your browser. Nothing you type into it is sent anywhere.
- The method is explained on this page, so you can check it yourself.
- Free to use, with no sign-up.
- Results are estimates, not medical advice.
- Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we'll look into it.
After 15 years as a mathematics educator, I built CalculStore to give students, teachers, professionals and anyone working with numbers simple, reliable tools.
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