Calories Burned Calculator
This free calories burned calculator estimates how many calories you burn during exercise based on the activity, your body weight, and how long you work out. It uses MET values (metabolic equivalents), the standard way exercise science compares the intensity of different activities.
Calories Burned Calculator: Quick Facts
- What it finds: calories burned for a workout.
- Inputs: activity, body weight, and duration.
- Method: MET-based, the exercise-science standard.
- Units: pounds or kilograms.
- Covers: running, cycling, swimming, lifting, sports, and more.
How the Calories Burned Calculator Works
Every activity has a MET value that reflects its intensity, where 1 MET is roughly your resting rate. The calculator uses the standard formula: calories per minute = MET x 3.5 x your weight in kilograms divided by 200. Multiply that by the minutes you exercised to get the total. Heavier people and higher-intensity activities burn more, which is why both weight and activity matter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How accurate is a calories burned calculator?
MET-based estimates are a solid guide, but real burn varies with fitness, effort, and body composition. Treat the number as a close estimate rather than an exact figure.
What is a MET value?
A MET, or metabolic equivalent, measures how much energy an activity uses compared with sitting at rest. An activity at 8 METs burns about eight times the calories of resting.
Does body weight change calories burned?
Yes. Heavier bodies burn more calories doing the same activity, because it takes more energy to move more mass, which is why the calculator asks for your weight.
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