> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://verinourishwomen.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Calorie Calculator for Women: BMR and TDEE - URL: https://verinourishwomen.com/tools/calorie-calculator/ - Published: 2026-07-08T09:55:11.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-03T19:09:16.000Z - Description: Estimate the calories your body uses each day with the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. A maintenance figure to work from. - Author: VeriNourish Editorial Team - Tags: Tools Estimate the calories your body uses each day using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. Enter your details to see a maintenance figure to work from. Nothing is stored. Your weight kg lb Your height cm ft/in Your age Activity level Sedentary, little exercise Lightly active, 1 to 3 days a week Moderately active, 3 to 5 days Very active, 6 to 7 days To maintain your weight 1900 calories / day An estimate of the energy your body uses at this activity level. ◷ To lose weight gradually, many aim for roughly 500 fewer; to build, a small surplus. This uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, a well-established estimate. Real needs vary with genetics, muscle and health, so treat it as a starting point, not a strict rule. It is not suitable during pregnancy or breastfeeding. See our [protein](https://verinourishwomen.com/nutrition/protein/)and [fibre](https://verinourishwomen.com/nutrition/fiber/) guides for eating well. This tool is information, not medical advice. ## How it works Enter your details and activity level to estimate the calories your body uses in a day. ## The formula and sources It uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation for women to estimate your resting metabolic rate, then multiplies by an activity factor to give a maintenance figure to work from. ## Assumptions - You are a generally healthy adult. - Activity is estimated honestly. ## Limitations This is an estimate. Individual metabolism, muscle mass, and medical conditions shift the real number, so use it as a starting point and adjust to how your weight actually responds. ## When to see a doctor If you are managing a health condition, or have a history of disordered eating, work with your doctor or a dietitian rather than a calculator. ## Primary sources - [Mifflin MD, St Jeor ST, et al. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 1990](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2305711/?ref=verinourishwomen.com). The paper that published the equation this tool uses. For women it is 10 times weight in kg, plus 6.25 times height in cm, minus 5 times age in years, minus 161\. It was derived and validated in 498 healthy adults aged 19 to 78, 247 of them women, and included people with and without obesity. **Calculator version 1.0, Mifflin-St Jeor.** Figures and formula last checked 27 July 2026 against the sources above. This tool gives general information and does not replace advice from your own doctor. ## Frequently asked questions ### How accurate is a calorie calculator? It gives a solid estimate, usually within a few hundred calories. Metabolism, muscle mass and activity vary, so use the number as a starting point and adjust to how your weight responds. ### What is the difference between BMR and TDEE? BMR is the energy your body uses at rest. TDEE is your BMR plus everything you do in a day, which is the maintenance figure most people want. ### How many calories should I eat to lose weight? A deficit of about 500 calories a day below your maintenance figure is a common, gradual approach. Very low intakes are hard to sustain and often backfire. ### Why am I not losing weight in a deficit? Estimates can be off, day-to-day activity varies, and intake is easy to undercount. Track for a couple of weeks and adjust. See our guide to [weight loss](https://verinourishwomen.com/symptoms/weight-loss/).