April 25, 2022

How Many Calories Should You Eat in a Day?

It depends on factors like your age, activity level and if you want to maintain, lose or gain weight

Person putting salad in a metal bowl in a kitchen setting

How many calories should I eat a day?

Advertisement

Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy

It’s a question many of us ask ourselves. And unfortunately, the right answer isn’t, “As many as you want!”

But figuring out your ideal calorie count can be almost as hard as turning down a 500-calorie slice of chocolate cake.

There are many factors that go into determining your calorie needs. Your age, weight, gender, height and activity level all play a role. According to dietary guidelines in the United States, adults 21 years old and older should consume anywhere between 1,600 and 3,000 calories per day.

So, what do you need to know to strike a healthy balance? Registered dietitian Julia Zumpano RD, LD, helps us do the math.

The importance of caloric intake

Whether you want to gain weight, lose it or find the perfect Goldilocks balance to stay exactly where you are, calories matter.

A calorie is a measure of the energy in food. To maintain your weight, energy in must equal energy out (average calories consumed per day vs. average calories burned per day).

Eat fewer calories than you burn, and you’ll lose weight. But if you consume more calories than you need, your body stores that energy for later (in the form of extra padding on your hips and around your middle).

How many calories should I be eating a day?

Everybody’s daily calorie needs are different, which can make it hard to figure out the magic number. In general, men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) need more calories than women and people assigned female at birth (AFAB).

Active people need more than those who have desk jobs. And younger people need more than older people, whose metabolisms slow down as they age.

These factors can impact your caloric intake:

  • Sex.
  • Height.
  • Weight.
  • Age.
  • Activity level.
  • Hormones.
  • Medications.

Your basal metabolic rate (BMR) is the minimum calories per day your body needs to function while resting. Your BMR contains about 60% to 70% of the energy used by your body — and this number is unique to you. And that number can change if you’re trying to lose, gain or maintain your body weight.

So how do you calculate your BMR? If you wear a smartwatch to track your fitness, BMR is used to come up with your daily goals. You can also find BMR calculators online.

“BMR is an essential starting point for calculating calories, although is it an estimate and is not 100% accurate,” explains Zumpano. “The most accurate means of measuring your BMR is direct calorimetry or indirect calorimetry, although those methods are not commonly used or available, therefore the Mifflin St-Joer equation is best to use and is only about 10% off. Most health professionals, apps and online calorie calculators use this equation.”

And while it’s a good idea to know how many calories you need each day, it also matters what kind of calories you’re consuming. You may have heard of “empty calories.” These can be found in junk foods, sugar sweetened beverages and processed foods — items that typically contain added sugar, trans fat and an unnecessary amount of fat and calories.

While you might get a boost of energy from consuming those foods, they tend to be void of nutrition — specifically fiber, minerals and vitamins. Those empty calories won’t satisfy you and are designed to make you want more, leading to food cravings and overconsumption. You may even feel tired or fatigued. These foods also promote inflammation and gut dysbiosis, which can both inhibit weight loss and eventually lead to disease.

Advertisement

Instead, make sure you focus on eating a well-balanced diet full of fruits and vegetables, lean meats, whole grains, nuts and seeds.

“Think about the foods you often crave — an apple or Brussel sprouts often don’t come to mind,” explains Zumpano. “Empty calorie foods cause craving and overconsumption leading to excess calories and poor nutrition intake.”

Goals and calorie requirements

So how many average calories per day should you aim for? The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) shares its recommended calories per day:

Calories per day for women and people AFAB

Age
21-25
Calories (Sedentary)
2,000
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,200
Calories (Active)
2,400
26-30
Calories (Sedentary)
1,800
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,000
Calories (Active)
2,400
31-50
Calories (Sedentary)
1,800
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,000
Calories (Active)
2,200
51-60
Calories (Sedentary)
1,600
Calories (Moderately Active)
1,800
Calories (Active)
2,200
61 & up
Calories (Sedentary)
1,600
Calories (Moderately Active)
1,800
Calories (Active)
2,000

Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion).

Calories per day for men and people AMAB

Age
21-25
Calories (Sedentary)
2,400
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,800
Calories (Active)
3,000
26-35
Calories (Sedentary)
2,400
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,600
Calories (Active)
3,000
36-40
Calories (Sedentary)
2,400
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,600
Calories (Active)
2,800
41-45
Calories (Sedentary)
2,200
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,600
Calories (Active)
2,800
46-55
Calories (Sedentary)
2,200
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,400
Calories (Active)
2,800
56-60
Calories (Sedentary)
2,200
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,400
Calories (Active)
2,600
61-65
Calories (Sedentary)
2,000
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,400
Calories (Active)
2,600
66-75
Calories (Sedentary)
2,000
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,200
Calories (Active)
2,600
76 & up
Calories (Sedentary)
2,000
Calories (Moderately Active)
2,200
Calories (Active)
2,400

Source: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion).

“Keep in mind, these calorie recommendations are for people who are at a normal weight,” notes Zumpano. “If your weight is above the normal range for your height and your goal is weight loss, you need to consume less. A deficit of 500 calories can provide a weight loss of 1 pound per week.”

Depending on what your goals are, here are some healthy ways you can maintain, add or lose weight.

To gain weight

If your goal is to gain weight, don’t just focus on eating more. You want to make sure you add weight in a healthy way.

Opt for high-calorie nutrient dense foods like meat, fatty fish, eggs, full-fat yogurt, whole grains, nuts and oils. You should also consider eating more often and looking for ways to add extra calories to each meal. For example, adding nuts or seeds to your yogurt, oatmeal or cereal.

“Don’t forget to include more liquid calories that won’t leave you feeling too full by the next meal,” advises Zumpano. “Opt for high-calorie beverages like whole milk, cream, 100% fruit and vegetable juices, smoothies and high-calorie nutrition shakes.”

To lose weight

If you’re trying to lose weight, you might be tempted to radically slash your calorie count to reach your goals.

But proceed with caution, Zumpano says. If you eat fewer than 1,200 calories per day to lose weight, it’s tough to get all of the nutrients you need to stay healthy. And eating too little can work against you, it can halt weight loss and even lead to weight gain due to being in starvation mode leading to fat storage.

What’s more is that extreme calorie restriction might backfire.

You may be wondering: How many calories do I burn a day? On an average day, you may burn anywhere from 1,300 to 2,000 calories without any physical activity. You can add some extra exercise to burn more calories.

Advertisement

“Regular exercise not only burns calories, which means you don’t need to cut back as much, but it also builds muscle which uses up more calories, therefore increasing your BMR,” says Zumpano. “This allows for a more balanced diet and the ability to get all the nutrients you need.”

To maintain weight

If your goal is to maintain your current weight, Zumpano says you need to balance how many calories you eat or drink with the same amount of calories you burn through physical activity and exercise.

“Weight maintenance can be tricky because your caloric needs change all the time,” says Zumpano. “Factors such as age, increased or decreased muscle mass, change in activity, health conditions and medications can influence your weight without you even realizing it.”

Should you monitor or track your daily caloric intake?

How many calories should I eat in a day? If you’ve pondered this question, it’s a good idea to have a sense of your daily calorie needs and to be aware of how the calories in your favorite foods add up. Those numbers can help guide your decisions about what to eat and what to save for another day.

But if numbers aren’t your thing, never fear. You don’t have to obsess over calories to stay healthy.

“Plenty of people lose weight not by counting calories, but by focusing on the quality of the foods they consume and on portion control,” says Zumpano.

Bottom line?

If you’re a person who likes to track and measure things, you could benefit from determining exactly how many calories you need.

Digital apps and online calorie calculators can help, Zumpano says. But because it can be complicated (are you really active, pretty active or just kind of active?), Zumpano recommends seeing a dietitian to get an expert’s take.

They can take factors like your age, sex, medications, lifestyle, weight history, family history and activity level into account and provide you with information on how to tailor your meals and exercise.

Whether you’re trying to lose, gain or maintain your weight, figuring out how many calories will help you achieve your goal is key.

It’s important to understand how many calories you’re consuming compared to how many calories your body needs. Although the source of where those calories are coming from is important, too.

“For example, consuming 200 calories from 16 ounces of soda is metabolized differently than 200 calories from 1 ounce of nuts,” says Zumpano. “You’re gaining vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein and healthy fats from the nuts and no nutritional benefits from the soda. Not to mention that the refined sugars and artificial ingredients in the soda can lead to inflammation and increased blood sugars, which will eventually lead to health problems.”

Related Articles

Older couple eating lunch on outdoor patio
February 15, 2024
Calories and Aging: Cutting Back Can Slow Age’s Creep

Calorie reduction can do more than just help you lose weight — it can also lower age-related inflammation

Person eating healthy bowl of noodles with fitness items floating around head
January 17, 2024
How To Shed 10 Pounds — For Good!

Actively choose healthy habits not only when it comes to food and nutrition, but also physical activity and your mental health

Person jumping rope on a bridge
January 16, 2024
Hop to It: 6 Benefits of Jumping Rope

Jump into the swing of things to improve your coordination, burn calories and get your heart rate going

man weighs himself in morning
June 11, 2023
The Best Time To Weigh Yourself (and How Often You Should Step on the Scale)

Consistency is a big part of weight tracking

Person in yellow tshirt and blue jeans relaxing on green couch in living room reading texts on their phone.
June 8, 2023
Here’s How Many Calories You Naturally Burn in a Day

Your metabolism may torch 1,300 to 2,000 calories daily with no activity

Green detox smoothie in glass,with green fruits and veggies around
March 18, 2024
Detox or Cleanse: What To Know Before You Start

Research doesn’t support many health claims linked to detoxification programs

Small cup of yogurt with fresh blueberries on top, with mint sprig
March 1, 2024
Easy, Low-Calorie Snacks To Get You Through the Day

Snacking can bring benefits with healthy food choices and planning

close-up of plate with eggs, wheat toast, avocados, hands holding knife and fork
January 9, 2024
Does Reverse Dieting Work?

This strategy doesn’t boost metabolism, but it may help maintain weight loss

Trending Topics

White bowls full of pumpkin seeds, dark chocolate and various kinds of nuts
25 Magnesium-Rich Foods You Should Be Eating

A healthy diet can easily meet your body’s important demands for magnesium

Woman feeling for heart rate in neck on run outside, smartwatch and earbuds
Heart Rate Zones Explained

A super high heart rate means you’re burning more than fat

Spoonful of farro salad with tomato
What To Eat If You’ve Been Diagnosed With Prediabetes

Type 2 diabetes isn’t inevitable with these dietary changes

Ad