Maintenance Calorie Calculator
Find exactly how many calories you need per day to maintain your current weight — compared across two leading formulas for accuracy.
What Does This Tool Do?
Calculate maintenance calories — the exact daily calorie intake needed to maintain your current weight — using two formulas (Mifflin-St Jeor and Harris-Benedict) for comparison.
Key Features
Two Formulas
Mifflin-St Jeor and revised Harris-Benedict.
Average Shown
Average of both formulas for best estimate.
Maintenance Focus
Specifically for weight maintenance, not loss or gain.
Instant
Results immediately.
How to Use
- Enter age, sex, height and weight.
- Select your activity level.
- Click Calculate Maintenance Calories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does maintenance calories mean?▾
Maintenance calories (TDEE) is the number of calories you need to eat each day to keep your current weight steady — not gain or lose.
Which formula is more accurate?▾
Mifflin-St Jeor is generally considered more accurate for most adults in modern research. Harris-Benedict (1919, revised 1984) tends to overestimate slightly. The average of both is a good practical estimate.
Why do the two formulas give different results?▾
They were developed in different eras using different study populations and methods. Real-world accuracy for individuals varies by ±10-15% regardless of formula.