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BMR calculator (Harris-Benedict)

The Harris-Benedict equation from 1919 was the first BMR formula, revised in 1984 by Roza and Shizgal for modern accuracy. Enter your stats to estimate resting calorie burn with the classic method.

BMR (Harris-Benedict)

The classic 1919 equation, revised 1984. Live results.

Basal metabolic rate
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Enter weight, height, and age.

Burn per hour
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Burn per week
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Formulas (revised 1984): Men: 88.362 + 13.397 x kg + 4.799 x cm - 5.677 x age. Women: 447.593 + 9.247 x kg + 3.098 x cm - 4.33 x age.
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The revised Harris-Benedict equation

The 1984 revision by Roza and Shizgal recalibrated the 1919 original against newer data: men use 88.362 + 13.397 x kg + 4.799 x cm - 5.677 x age, women use 447.593 + 9.247 x kg + 3.098 x cm - 4.33 x age. It tends to run slightly higher than Mifflin-St Jeor, often by 50 to 150 calories.

When to use Harris-Benedict

It remains popular in clinical settings and older textbooks, and many diet plans still reference it. For the general public the Mifflin-St Jeor version is usually a touch more accurate, so compare both and use the average if they disagree.

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BMR Harris-Benedict FAQs

What is the Harris-Benedict formula?
Revised version, men: 88.362 + 13.397 x kg + 4.799 x cm - 5.677 x age. Women: 447.593 + 9.247 x kg + 3.098 x cm - 4.33 x age. Output is calories per day.
What is the difference between the original and revised Harris-Benedict?
The 1984 revision updated the coefficients using more subjects and modern methods. The revised version is the one you should use; the 1919 original overestimates for many people.
Is Harris-Benedict or Mifflin-St Jeor better?
Studies favor Mifflin-St Jeor slightly for typical adults. Harris-Benedict runs a bit higher and is still common in hospitals. Try both and split the difference.
Why does sex change the BMR result?
Men typically carry more muscle mass, which burns more at rest, so the male formula adds a constant while the female formula subtracts one. Weight, height, and age do the rest.
Can athletes use Harris-Benedict?
It underestimates very muscular people because it cannot see muscle mass. Athletes often add 10 to 15 percent or use a lean-mass based formula like Katch-McArdle instead.
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