What this calculator does
EER stands for Estimated Energy Requirement, a specific set of equations published by the (US) Institute of Medicine for how much energy an adult needs each day to maintain their current weight, given their age, sex, weight, height and physical activity level. It is the formula behind the dietary reference intakes used in official nutrition guidance, rather than a general rule of thumb.
EER is a distinct, named formula, not the same equation as BMR or the Mifflin-St Jeor calculation used elsewhere on this site. Where BMR estimates energy burned at complete rest, EER is built specifically to estimate total daily need in a free-living adult, folding activity level directly into its own coefficients rather than multiplying a resting figure by a separate activity factor.
The formula
The equations differ by sex. For men, EER = 662 − 9.53 × age + PA × (15.91 × weight in kg + 539.6 × height in metres). For women, EER = 354 − 6.91 × age + PA × (9.36 × weight in kg + 726 × height in metres). PA is a physical activity coefficient that also differs between men and women at each activity level, reflecting how much of an effect activity has on total energy need relative to sex.
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| EER | Estimated Energy Requirement: predicted daily energy need to maintain current weight, in kilocalories per day. |
| PA | The physical activity coefficient, a multiplier that scales the weight and height terms of the equation according to activity level. |
| a, w, h | Age in years, weight in kilograms, and height in metres, the three body measurements the equation uses directly. |
The inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Sex | Biological sex, since the EER equation and its activity coefficients differ between men and women. |
| Age (years) | Age in whole years. These published equations apply to adults aged 19 and over. |
| Weight (kg) | Current body weight in kilograms. |
| Height (cm) | Height in centimetres, converted internally to metres for the formula. |
| Physical activity level | Physical activity level, using the same four categories (sedentary, low active, active, very active) the published equations are defined against. |
When to use it
Following official dietary guidance
EER is the specific equation behind published dietary reference intakes for energy, so it is the appropriate formula when working from or checking against official nutrition guidance rather than a general fitness estimate.
Comparing EER against other calorie estimates
Running the same person's numbers through EER and through a BMR-based TDEE calculation shows how differently the two methods weigh activity, since EER builds activity directly into its coefficients rather than as a separate multiplier.
Setting a starting point before adjusting for a goal
EER estimates maintenance energy needs; anyone wanting to lose or gain weight would use this as the starting figure before applying a deliberate calorie surplus or deficit on top of it.
Worked examples
Every figure in the tables below is produced by this page’s own calculator at build time, so the numbers and the tool always agree. Select any row to load that scenario.
How EER changes with weight, at a fixed age, height and activity level
A 30-year-old man at 175 cm, low active, across a range of body weights.
| Weight | EER |
|---|---|
| 60 kg | 2,484 kcal/day |
| 70 kg | 2,660 kcal/day |
| 80 kg | 2,837 kcal/day |
| 90 kg | 3,014 kcal/day |
| 100 kg | 3,190 kcal/day |
How EER changes with activity level, at a fixed age, weight and height
A 30-year-old woman at 65 kg and 165 cm, across each of the four activity levels.
| Activity level | EER | Physical activity coefficient (PA) used |
|---|---|---|
| Sedentary | 1,953 kcal/day | 1.00 |
| Low active | 2,170 kcal/day | 1.12 |
| Active | 2,441 kcal/day | 1.27 |
| Very active | 2,766 kcal/day | 1.45 |
Questions
How is EER different from BMR or TDEE?
BMR estimates energy burned at complete rest and needs a separate activity multiplier to reach total need. EER is a different published equation that estimates total daily energy need directly, with activity level folded into its own coefficients rather than applied as a separate step.
Who published the EER equations?
They come from the Dietary Reference Intakes for energy, published by the US Institute of Medicine (part of the National Academies), and are the equations behind official adult dietary energy guidance.
Do these equations apply to children or pregnant women?
No. This calculator uses the adult equations, for people aged 19 and over who are not pregnant or breastfeeding. Separate published equations exist for children, adolescents, pregnancy and lactation, which are outside the scope of this tool.
Should I use EER to set a weight-loss target directly?
EER estimates maintenance, the calories needed to hold current weight steady, not a loss or gain target. A sustainable calorie deficit is usually worked out as a modest reduction from a maintenance estimate like this one, ideally with guidance from a health professional rather than an aggressive cut.
For the related resting-energy formulas used elsewhere on this site, see the BMR calculator and the TDEE calculator.