Free Health Tool
TDEE Calculator
Calculate your Total Daily Energy Expenditure — the total calories your body burns each day — and discover exactly how many calories you need to lose, maintain, or gain weight.
Your Total Daily Energy Expenditure
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Explore weight loss treatments →What is TDEE?
Total daily energy expenditure (TDEE) represents the total number of calories your body burns in a 24-hour period. This includes all the energy your body uses daily — from keeping your heart beating and lungs breathing, to processing food and moving around. Understanding your TDEE gives you a precise target for calorie intake to achieve your weight goal.
The 3 components of TDEE
Calories burned at complete rest — keeping your heart, lungs, and organs functioning.
All movement including structured exercise, walking, and daily tasks.
Energy used to digest, absorb, and metabolize the food you eat.
How is TDEE related to weight loss?
If you consume more calories than your TDEE, your body stores the excess as fat — leading to weight gain. If you consume fewer calories than your TDEE, your body draws on stored energy — resulting in weight loss. A deficit of 500 calories/day typically produces ~1 lb of weight loss per week. For faster results, prescription GLP-1 treatments can reduce appetite, making it easier to maintain a calorie deficit.
Frequently asked questions
BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate) is the number of calories your body burns at complete rest. TDEE adds on top of that — it includes your BMR plus all the calories burned through physical activity and digestion. TDEE is the more practical number for setting daily calorie goals.
Increasing your physical activity level raises your TDEE. Both structured exercise (gym, cardio) and non-exercise activity (walking, standing, household tasks) contribute. Building muscle through strength training also raises your BMR, permanently increasing your TDEE over time.
A deficit of 300–750 calories below your TDEE is generally considered safe and sustainable, producing 0.5–1.5 lbs of weight loss per week. Avoid going below your BMR as this can slow metabolism and cause muscle loss. Work with a licensed provider for personalized guidance.
Yes. GLP-1 medications like Semaglutide and Tirzepatide work by reducing appetite and slowing gastric emptying, making it significantly easier to maintain a calorie deficit. Clinical trials show 15–22% body weight reduction in adults. They're most effective when combined with a calorie-aware diet aligned with your TDEE.
TDEE estimates how many calories your body burns daily, helping you understand your energy needs. BMI (Body Mass Index) is a measure of body composition based on height and weight. While TDEE focuses on energy expenditure, BMI categorizes your weight range. Both tools are useful starting points for your health journey.
