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Calories Burned Calculator: MET Values by Activity

Pick an activity, enter weight and time, and see the energy used in kcal at once, with a per-minute rate. METs come from the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities. A rough estimate, not a measurement.

Activity

kg
Duration

h
min
Energy used–
Hourly rate–

A rough estimate. The Compendium gives one average MET value per activity, for adults aged 19 to 59. Real energy use varies with body composition, fitness, terrain, technique and health.

This is a general estimate for educational use. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a treatment plan. Talk to a doctor, registered dietitian or other qualified professional before you change your diet, exercise or health care.

Same time and weight, other activities
Same weight and duration in every row. Your activity is highlighted.
Activity METs kcal kcal per min
Show the working

Private by design. Everything runs in your browser and is never uploaded.

The basics

How many calories does an activity burn?

The energy an activity uses is estimated as its MET value × body weight in kilograms × time in hours. Moderate-pace walking (3.8 METs) for 45 minutes at 65 kg comes to about 185 kcal. The MET values come from the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities, and the result is a rough estimate, not a measurement.

Search 50 common activities, each shown with its Compendium code, then type your weight and time. The answer, the rate per minute and a same-time comparison update as you type, and the working shows every step. For daily energy needs rather than one activity, see the calorie calculator, and browse all free online calculators.

Worked examples (kcal, rounded half up)
Activity and Compendium code METs Weight Time kcal
Walking, moderate pace (2.8 to 3.4 mph) 17190 3.8 65 kg 45 min 185
Running, 6 to 6.3 mph (10 min per mile) 12050 9.3 70 kg 30 min 326
Bicycling, 12 to 13.9 mph, moderate effort 01030 8.0 80 kg 1 h 640
Swimming laps, freestyle, slow 18240 5.8 60 kg 30 min 174
Strength training, 8 to 15 reps, varied resistance 02054 3.5 75 kg 45 min 197
Vacuuming, moderate effort 05043 3.0 70 kg 30 min 105
How it works

How to use the calories burned calculator

The first answer is already on screen. Change any value and the result updates at once, with no Calculate button.

01

Pick an activity

Tap the activity box, then search by name or code, or filter by category. Each row shows its Compendium code and METs.

02

Enter your weight

Choose kg or lb and type a weight from 20 to 400 kg (about 44 to 882 lb). Switching units converts the number for you.

03

Enter the time

Type hours and minutes, for example 1 and 30, or write 1:30 in either box. Anything from 1 minute to 24 hours is accepted.

04

Read, compare, share

See kcal, kcal per minute and per hour, then the same time across other activities. Open the working, copy the result or share a link.

The formula

How calories burned are calculated from METs

A MET (metabolic equivalent) compares the energy cost of an activity with a standard resting rate. Multiply it by body weight and time to get kcal. Every MET value below is copied from the 2024 Adult Compendium, and the conversions follow its unit conversions page.

The calculations behind the result
Quantity Formula Example: 3.8 METs, 65 kg, 45 min
Energy used kcal = METs × kg × hours 3.8 × 65 × 0.75 = 185.25 kcal
Per minute kcal ÷ minutes 185.25 ÷ 45 = 4.1 kcal
Per hour METs × kg 3.8 × 65 = 247 kcal
MET-minutes METs × minutes 3.8 × 45 = 171
Pounds to kilograms kg = lb × 0.45359237 150 lb = 68.04 kg
Second conversion (shown in the working) METs × 3.5 × kg ÷ 200 per minute 194.5 kcal, about 5% more
The 50 activities and METs used on this page (2024 Adult Compendium)
Code Activity, as the Compendium describes it METs Group
17151 Walking, less than 2.0 mph, level, strolling, very slow 2.3 Walking and hiking, light
17152 Walking, 2.0 to 2.4 mph, level, slow pace, firm surface 2.8 Walking and hiking, light
17170 Walking, 2.5 mph, firm, level surface 3.0 Walking and hiking, moderate
17190 Walking, 2.8 to 3.4 mph, level, moderate pace, firm surface 3.8 Walking and hiking, moderate
17200 Walking, 3.5 to 3.9 mph, level, brisk, firm surface, walking for exercise 4.8 Walking and hiking, moderate
17220 Walking, 4.0 to 4.4 mph (6.4 to 7.1 km/h), level, firm surface, very brisk pace 5.5 Walking and hiking, moderate
17080 Hiking, cross country (Taylor Code 040) 6.0 Walking and hiking, vigorous
12020 Jogging, general, self-selected pace 7.5 Running and jogging, vigorous
12028 Running, 4 to 4.2 mph (13 min/mile) 6.5 Running and jogging, vigorous
12030 Running, 5.0 to 5.2 mph (12 min/mile) 8.5 Running and jogging, vigorous
12050 Running, 6-6.3 mph (10 min/mile) 9.3 Running and jogging, vigorous
12060 Running, 6.7 mph (9 min/mile) 10.5 Running and jogging, vigorous
12090 Running, 8 mph (7.5 min/mile) 12.0 Running and jogging, vigorous
12120 Running, 10 mph (6 min/mile) 14.8 Running and jogging, vigorous
01018 Bicycling, leisure 5.5 mph 3.5 Cycling, moderate
01020 Bicycling, 10-11.9 mph, leisure, slow, light effort 6.8 Cycling, vigorous
01030 Bicycling, 12-13.9 mph, leisure, moderate effort 8.0 Cycling, vigorous
01040 Bicycling, 14-15.9 mph, racing or leisure, fast, vigorous effort 10.0 Cycling, vigorous
01050 Bicycling, 16-19 mph, racing/not drafting or >19 mph drafting, very fast, racing general 12.0 Cycling, vigorous
01200 Bicycling, stationary, general 6.8 Cycling, vigorous
18310 Swimming, leisurely, not lap swimming, general 6.0 Swimming and water, vigorous
18240 Swimming laps, freestyle, slow, recreational 5.8 Swimming and water, moderate
18230 Swimming laps, freestyle, fast, vigorous effort 9.8 Swimming and water, vigorous
18355 Water aerobics, water calisthenics, general 5.5 Swimming and water, moderate
02054 Resistance (weight) training, multiple exercises, 8-15 reps at varied resistance 3.5 Gym and exercise classes, moderate
02050 Resistance (weight lifting – free weight, nautilus or universal-type), power lifting or body building, vigorous effort (Taylor Code 210) 6.0 Gym and exercise classes, vigorous
02020 Calisthenics (e.g., pushups, sit ups, pull-ups, jumping jacks, burpees, battling ropes), vigorous effort 7.5 Gym and exercise classes, vigorous
02035 Circuit training, moderate effort 5.0 Gym and exercise classes, moderate
02048 Elliptical trainer, moderate effort 5.0 Gym and exercise classes, moderate
02150 Yoga, Hatha 2.3 Gym and exercise classes, light
02068 Rope skipping exercise, general 11.0 Gym and exercise classes, vigorous
02310 Zumba, group class 6.5 Gym and exercise classes, vigorous
05043 Vacuuming, general, moderate effort 3.0 Housework, moderate
05030 Cleaning, house or cabin, general, moderate effort 3.3 Housework, moderate
05050 Cooking or food preparation – standing or sitting or in general (not broken into stand/walk components), manual appliances, light effort 2.0 Housework, light
05120 Moving furniture, household items, carrying boxes 5.8 Housework, moderate
08245 Gardening, general, moderate effort 3.8 Gardening and yard work, moderate
08095 Mowing lawn, general, walking, moderate effort 5.5 Gardening and yard work, moderate
08160 Raking lawn or leaves, moderate effort 4.0 Gardening and yard work, moderate
08050 Digging, spading, filling garden, composting (Taylor Code 590) 5.0 Gardening and yard work, moderate
15610 Soccer, casual, general (Taylor Code 540) 7.0 Sports, vigorous
15055 Basketball, general 7.5 Sports, vigorous
15690 Tennis, singles (Taylor Code 420) 8.0 Sports, vigorous
15711 Volleyball, competitive, in gymnasium 6.0 Sports, vigorous
15265 Golf, walking, carrying clubs 4.3 Sports, moderate
15533 Rock or mountain climbing (Taylor Code 060), (formerly code 17120) 8.0 Sports, vigorous
15430 Martial Arts, different types, moderate pace (e.g., judo, jujitsu, karate, kick boxing, tae kwon do, tai-bo, Muay Thai boxing) 10.3 Sports, vigorous
03042 Ballroom Dance, Recreational (Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-cha, Swing) 6.0 Dancing and resting, vigorous
03031 Nightclub or folk dancing, vigorous effort (e.g., nightclub, disco, folk, line dancing, Irish step dancing, polka, contra) 9.8 Dancing and resting, vigorous
07021 Sitting quietly, general 1.0 Dancing and resting, sedentary
Comparison

How this calculator differs from a basic calories burned calculator

Many pages take an activity, a weight and a time and print one number. These are the differences that matter when you want to understand the number.

Features compared
Feature Basic calculator This calculator
MET source Often an older edition, or no source named The 2024 Adult Compendium, with the code beside every activity
Finding an activity A long drop-down list Search by name or code, or filter by category
Result One total, often after a Calculate button kcal, kcal per minute and per hour, updating as you type
Working Answer only Every step, plus the second energy conversion and MET-minutes
Comparison Rare The same weight and time across other activities, side by side
Limits A short disclaimer, if any Age range, estimated-value flag and what the formula leaves out, from the Compendium authors
Claims Often framed around weight loss Energy used only, with no weight-change promises
Sharing Rare Copy the result or share a link that opens with the same inputs
Use cases

When a calories burned calculator helps

Comparing two activities

See how much more energy a run uses than a walk of the same length, or how a swim compares with a bike ride, for your own weight.

Making sense of a number

A class, app or gym machine shows a kcal figure. Enter the same activity, weight and time to see how a published MET estimate compares.

Housework and gardening

Vacuuming, mowing and digging have MET values too. The list includes everyday tasks, not just exercise.

Studying exercise science

Open the working to follow METs, MET-minutes and the kcal conversion, with the Compendium code beside each activity.

Putting an activity in a day

Energy for one session is only part of a day. The TDEE calculator estimates total daily energy from a published formula.

Speed and distance

Walking, running and cycling rows are speed bands. The pace calculator turns a distance and time into a speed so you can pick the matching row.

Good to know

What a MET is, and how to read the groups

A MET value says how many times the resting rate an activity uses. These points come from the Compendium and its authors.

A rough estimate. One average MET value is used per activity. Real energy use differs between people and between days, so treat the kcal figure as a ballpark, not a target.

  • A ratio to rest

    Sitting quietly is 1.0 MET, so 3.8 METs means 3.8 times the resting rate. The Compendium sets the resting rate at 3.5 mL of oxygen per kg per minute, about 1 kcal per kg per hour.

  • The intensity groups

    The Compendium treats 1.0 to 1.5 METs as sedentary, 1.6 to 2.9 as light, 3.0 to 5.9 as moderate and 6.0 or more as vigorous. The result panel shows which group your activity falls in.

  • Weight scales the result

    In this formula energy rises in direct proportion to weight. The same activity for the same time uses twice as many kcal at 100 kg as at 50 kg.

  • Pick the matching speed row

    Walking, running and cycling are listed as speed ranges, such as 6 to 6.3 mph (10 minutes per mile). A range is one average value for every speed inside it.

  • Measured, not estimated

    The Compendium prints estimated MET values in red. None of the 50 activities here is marked as estimated, and the list would carry an estimated tag if one were.

  • The total includes rest

    The result is all the energy used in that time, including what the body uses at rest anyway. For a daily total, see the calorie calculator.

Limits

What this calories burned calculator does not do

A population average

The Compendium authors write that it can be a starting point but does not reflect precise individual energy use. One study they cite found about 8 to 15 percent higher energy use at the same treadmill speeds in women with a higher body mass index. See the 2024 Compendium paper.

Adults aged 19 to 59

The 2024 Adult Compendium is limited to ages 19 to 59 and to adults without conditions that change energy use, such as heart failure, COPD or pregnancy. Separate lists exist for older adults and for youth. This page applies the adult values at every age.

Fitness, terrain and technique

The formula uses only the activity, weight and time. It does not know your fitness, body composition, hills, wind, load or technique. The Compendium also describes corrected METs that adjust for age, height, weight and sex, which this page does not apply.

Sources

Where the facts come from

Every MET value, activity description and code was copied from the Compendium heading pages and checked against the live pages while the page was built. The definition of a MET, the intensity groups and the limits come from the 2024 update paper and the Compendium pages listed here. The first Compendium was published in 1993 by Ainsworth and colleagues and was updated in 2000, 2011 and 2024; this page uses only the 2024 Adult edition.

Where the Compendium site gives two ways to convert METs to kcal, both are shown in the working. The editions before 2024 are not used.

FAQ

Calories burned calculator FAQ

Short answers about METs, the formula and the limits of this calculator.

How do you calculate calories burned?

Multiply the activity MET value by body weight in kilograms and by the time in hours. For 3.8 METs, 65 kg and 45 minutes (0.75 h) that is 3.8 × 65 × 0.75 = 185.25, shown as 185 kcal. The MET value comes from the Compendium of Physical Activities, and the working under the result shows each step.

What is a MET?

A MET is the energy cost of an activity divided by a standard resting rate of 3.5 mL of oxygen per kg per minute, which is about 1 kcal per kg per hour. Sitting quietly is 1.0 MET, so moderate-pace walking at 3.8 METs uses about 3.8 times the resting rate.

Where do the MET values come from?

From the 2024 Adult Compendium of Physical Activities (Herrmann and colleagues, Journal of Sport and Health Science, 2024), read on pacompendium.com. Each activity shows its five-digit Compendium code. This page uses 50 of the 1,114 activities in that edition.

How many calories does walking burn?

It depends on speed and body weight. At 65 kg, moderate-pace walking (2.8 to 3.4 mph, 3.8 METs) for 30 minutes comes to about 124 kcal, and brisk walking (3.5 to 3.9 mph, 4.8 METs) comes to about 156 kcal. Change the weight or time above to see your own figure.

How many calories does running burn?

Running at 6 to 6.3 mph (10 minutes per mile) is 9.3 METs in the Compendium. At 70 kg for 30 minutes that is 9.3 × 70 × 0.5 = 325.5, shown as 326 kcal. Slower and faster running speeds have their own MET values in the activity list.

Does the result include the calories I burn at rest?

Yes. A MET value is a ratio to the resting rate, so the result is the whole energy used during that time, not only the part above rest. The Compendium pages opened for this tool do not define a net-of-resting figure, so none is shown.

Why are there two energy formulas in the working?

The Compendium calculator workbook converts with 1 MET = 1 kcal per kg per hour, and the headline uses that. The Compendium conversions page also lists METs × 3.5 × kg ÷ 200 per minute, which comes out about 5 percent higher, 194.5 kcal for the default example. Both are shown so the difference is visible.

How accurate is a calories burned calculator?

It is a rough estimate. The Compendium authors say it does not reflect precise individual energy use, and one study they cite found about 8 to 15 percent higher energy use at the same treadmill speeds in women with a higher body mass index. Fitness, terrain, technique and health also matter.

Does it work for people under 19 or over 59?

The 2024 Adult Compendium covers ages 19 to 59, and separate Compendium lists exist for older adults and for youth. This page applies the adult values to every age, so for anyone outside 19 to 59, or with a condition that changes energy use, the figure is rougher still.

Why does my fitness tracker show a different number?

Trackers use their own methods, often adding movement or heart-rate data, age and body measurements, while this page uses one average MET value per activity. Different methods give different numbers, and none of them measures your energy use directly.

What does an estimated MET value mean?

The Compendium prints a MET value in red when it is estimated rather than backed by published measurements. None of the 50 activities on this page is marked that way, and the list would show an estimated tag if one were.

What weights and times does the calculator accept, and is anything saved?

Weights from 20 to 400 kg (about 44 to 882 lb) and times from 1 minute to 24 hours; outside those limits it shows a message instead of a number. The calculation runs in your browser and nothing is uploaded. Only your choice of kg or lb is remembered on your own device.