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Maintenance kJ Calculator

Your maintenance kilojoules is the amount of energy you need to eat each day to keep your weight stable - not gaining or losing. This is the starting point for any weight management plan.

1

Enter your details

Gender
years
kg
cm

Your Maintenance Energy

Example

Example figures, not your own. Worked for a moderately active 35 year old woman of 75 kg and 165 cm. Enter your own details and press Calculate.

Daily Maintenance Energy

9,733kJ/day

Eat this amount to maintain your current weight

How It Works

Maintenance energy is calculated using the Harris-Benedict formula for BMR, multiplied by your activity level factor. This gives your Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) - the kJ you need to maintain weight.

How to use it

  1. 1Select your gender
  2. 2Enter your age, weight (kg), and height (cm)
  3. 3Select your activity level
  4. 4Click "Calculate" to see your maintenance kilojoules per day

Quick Reference

Activity LevelMultiplierkJ/daykcal/day
Sedentary×1.209,0882,172
Lightly Active×1.37510,4162,490
Moderately Active×1.5511,7382,806
Active×1.72513,0633,122
Very Active×1.9014,3903,440

Example: 80 kg male, 175 cm, age 35.

How This Is Calculated

Maintenance kJ = BMR × activity multiplier
BMR
= Basal Metabolic Rate (Harris-Benedict revised equation)
Activity multiplier
= 1.2 (sedentary) to 1.9 (very active)

Your maintenance kJ is the energy you need to keep your weight stable. Eating above this leads to weight gain; eating below leads to weight loss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are maintenance kilojoules?
Maintenance kilojoules (or maintenance calories) is the amount of energy you need each day to maintain your current weight. Eating above this leads to weight gain; eating below leads to weight loss.
How do I find my maintenance kJ?
Use this calculator for an estimate based on the Harris-Benedict formula. For a more precise figure, track your food intake and weight for 2-3 weeks. If your weight stays stable, your average daily intake is your maintenance level.
Should I eat at maintenance to build muscle?
For muscle building, most people eat slightly above maintenance (a surplus of 1,000-2,000 kJ per day) while following a strength training program. Beginners can sometimes build muscle at maintenance or even in a slight deficit.

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