How Many Calories Should You Eat Per Day?

Calories are the units of energy your body uses to perform daily activities such as breathing, walking, and digestion. Your daily calorie needs depend on factors such as age, gender, body weight, height, and physical activity level.

Average Daily Calorie Needs

Calories for Weight Loss

To lose weight safely, most people reduce their daily calorie intake by about 300–500 calories below maintenance level.

Calories for Weight Gain

To gain weight, you generally need to consume about 300–500 extra calories per day.

Use Our Free Calorie Calculator

You can estimate your daily calorie requirements quickly using our calculator.

Open Calorie Calculator


Return to the homepage: Fit Metrics Tools