Health

Basal Metabolic Rate Calculator

Estimate basal metabolic rate (BMR) or resting energy needs from age, height, weight, and the Mifflin-St Jeor equation.

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THE NUMORIX GUIDE

How to use the Basal Metabolic Rate Calculator

Last reviewed September 14, 2026

What this calculator does

The route uses Mifflin-St Jeor: BMR = 10 * weightKg + 6.

Formula and method

The route uses Mifflin-St Jeor: BMR = 10 * weightKg + 6.25 * heightCm - 5 * age + 5 for the male equation option, or the same terms minus 161 for the female option. Imperial inputs are converted with 1 in = 2.54 cm and 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg, then the result is rounded to a whole calorie per day.

Variables and inputs

Enter age in years, select metric or imperial units, choose the sex used by the equation, and enter height and weight in the units shown. The engine accepts ages 1-120, heights 1-260 cm, and weights 1-500 kg after conversion.

Worked example

For the default female equation with age 30, height 170 cm, and weight 70 kg: 10 * 70 + 6.25 * 170 - 5 * 30 - 161 = 1451.5, which rounds to 1,452 calories/day.

How to interpret the result

BMR is an estimate of energy use at rest under the equation's assumptions. It is not a daily eating target: activity, digestion, body composition, illness, pregnancy, and goals affect total daily energy needs.

Common mistakes to avoid

Use the unit toggle before entering height and weight, and choose the equation profile intentionally. Do not multiply BMR by an activity factor unless you are building a separate TDEE estimate, and do not treat the rounded value as a measured metabolic rate.

Assumptions and limitations

Mifflin-St Jeor is a population equation with individual error. It does not measure metabolism, model body composition, or adjust for medical conditions, pregnancy, breastfeeding, medications, or unusual activity. The sex selector is an equation parameter, not a full description of physiology.

Sources and references

COMMON QUESTIONS

Frequently asked questions

Is BMR the number of calories I should eat?

No. BMR estimates resting energy use. A daily target normally also considers movement, exercise, digestion, goals, and individual response.

Does changing from metric to imperial change the result?

It should not when the same measurements are converted correctly. The UI converts inches and pounds to centimeters and kilograms before applying the equation.

What does sex used by equation mean?

It selects the +5 or -161 constant in Mifflin-St Jeor. It is an equation convention and cannot capture every person's body composition or clinical context.

FROM THE NUMORIX GUIDES

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