BEE Calculator

Estimate your Basal Energy Expenditure - the calories your body burns at complete rest - using the Harris-Benedict equation.

Quick Facts

Formula
Harris-Benedict equation (1919)
Men: BEE = 66.47 + 13.75×weight + 5.003×height − 6.755×age. Women: BEE = 655.1 + 9.563×weight + 1.850×height − 4.676×age. Weight in kg, height in cm, age in years; result in kcal/day.

Your Results

Calculated
Basal Energy Expenditure
-
Resting calories per day (kcal)
Energy per hour
-
kcal burned at rest each hour
In kilojoules
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Same BEE expressed in kJ/day
Sedentary daily needs
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BEE × 1.2 activity factor (kcal/day)

Ready

Enter sex, weight, height, and age, then press Calculate.

About the BEE

Your Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE) is the number of calories your body burns at complete rest to keep essential functions running - breathing, circulation, cell repair, and maintaining body temperature. It is the single largest component of most people's daily energy use. This calculator estimates BEE with the Harris-Benedict equation, first published in 1919 and still one of the most widely used predictive formulas for resting energy needs.

The formula

The Harris-Benedict equation uses sex, weight (in kilograms), height (in centimeters), and age (in years):

  • Men: BEE = 66.47 + (13.75 × weight) + (5.003 × height) − (6.755 × age)
  • Women: BEE = 655.1 + (9.563 × weight) + (1.850 × height) − (4.676 × age)

The result is expressed in kilocalories per day (kcal/day). Weight has the largest positive effect, height a smaller one, and BEE declines with age as lean tissue is gradually lost.

Turning BEE into total daily calories

BEE only covers energy burned at rest. To estimate your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE), multiply BEE by an activity factor: roughly 1.2 for sedentary, 1.375 for light exercise, 1.55 for moderate, 1.725 for heavy, and 1.9 for very heavy activity. The "sedentary daily needs" figure in the results applies the 1.2 factor as a starting point.

How to get accurate results

  • Use metric units (kg and cm); weigh yourself in the morning after using the bathroom for the most stable baseline.
  • Enter your true chronological age - BEE falls by roughly 1-2% per decade in adults as lean mass declines.
  • The Harris-Benedict equation is validated for adults and assumes an average body composition; it can overestimate BEE in people with high body fat and underestimate it in very muscular individuals.

When to consult a professional

This calculator provides a population-based estimate, not a measured value or a calorie prescription. For weight management, clinical nutrition, or any decision affecting medical treatment, consult a licensed healthcare provider or registered dietitian, who can account for your individual medical history and, where needed, measure resting energy expenditure directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE)?
BEE is the number of calories your body burns at complete rest to sustain vital functions such as breathing, circulation, and cell activity. It is essentially the same as basal metabolic rate (BMR) and makes up the largest share of most people's total daily energy use.
Which formula does this calculator use?
It uses the Harris-Benedict equation (1919). For men, BEE = 66.47 + (13.75 × weight in kg) + (5.003 × height in cm) − (6.755 × age). For women, BEE = 655.1 + (9.563 × weight) + (1.850 × height) − (4.676 × age). The output is in kilocalories per day.
How do I turn BEE into my total daily calories?
Multiply BEE by an activity factor: about 1.2 for sedentary, 1.375 for light exercise, 1.55 for moderate, 1.725 for heavy, and 1.9 for very heavy activity. The product estimates your total daily energy expenditure (TDEE). BEE on its own only counts calories burned at rest.
Is BEE the same as BMR?
They are very close and often used interchangeably. Both describe resting energy needs. BMR is measured under stricter conditions (fasted, fully rested, at a neutral temperature), while predictive equations like Harris-Benedict estimate this baseline from a few simple measurements.

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