EER Calculator

Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) is an estimate of energy needed each day, expressed in kilocalories (kcal). For a weight-stable adult, it approximates energy expenditure. For a child, the estimate also includes energy for growth. Pregnancy and breastfeeding have their own adjustments.

This calculator uses the National Academies' 2023 Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy, which updated the earlier 2005 equations. EER is a starting estimate for dietary planning, not a measure of an individual's metabolism or a diagnosis.

The model selects an equation for age, sex, activity category, and applicable life stage. It combines an intercept with age in years, height in centimeters, and weight in kilograms. Unlike the older model, each activity category has its own equation; the result is not calculated with one universal activity multiplier.

For example, the equation for a low-active, nonpregnant woman age 19 or older is: EER = 575.77 − 7.01 × age + 6.60 × height (cm) + 12.14 × weight (kg). Other categories use different coefficients. See Health Canada's full equation tables for all groups and source definitions.

The activity choices are inactive, low active, active, and very active. They describe overall daily movement, including ordinary activities and work, rather than exercise days alone. Selecting a category is often the largest judgment in the input.

1. Enter age, sex, current weight, and height. Choose kilograms or pounds and centimeters or inches as needed.
2. Select the activity category that best reflects a typical day, including movement outside workouts.
3. If applicable, choose pregnancy trimester or breastfeeding period. Second- and third-trimester calculations also use gestation week and pre-pregnancy weight to select the appropriate equation.
4. Calculate and read the estimated kcal per day alongside the equation used.

The calculator accepts ages 3 through 120. It does not estimate needs for infants or children younger than 3.

A low-active woman age 22, 165 cm tall, weighing 63 kg, and neither pregnant nor breastfeeding has an EER of about 2,275 kcal/day: 575.77 − (7.01 × 22) + (6.60 × 165) + (12.14 × 63) = 2,275.37, rounded to 2,275. This is also the worked adult example in the National Academies' 2023 report highlights.

The displayed number is an estimate of average daily intake that would match predicted needs for someone with those characteristics. A difference of a few calories from hand calculations can come from rounding. Do not treat the number as an exact requirement or compare one day's intake with it as a pass/fail test.

For ages 3–18, the 2023 equations add an age-specific allowance for growth. A child's EER therefore does not represent an intake meant to keep weight unchanged. Growth patterns and energy needs should be interpreted in context.

In the first trimester, the 2023 method uses the corresponding nonpregnant equation. In the second and third trimesters, it uses gestation week, current weight, and a pre-pregnancy BMI category; it does not simply add the same fixed amount for everyone. Breastfeeding estimates add 400 kcal/day for months 0–6 or 380 kcal/day for months 7–12 to the applicable base equation, as specified in the source tables.

People with the same recorded inputs can have different actual energy expenditure. The National Academies recommend looking at weight trend over time when assessing energy balance, while accounting for normal growth or pregnancy where relevant. Activity category and changing body size can also shift the estimate.

EER does not determine nutrient quality or a treatment plan. For nutrient reference values, use the DRI calculator. If you have a medical condition, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or are assessing a child's intake, a clinician or registered dietitian can interpret the estimate in context.

Method and cited sources checked September 28, 2026.