RMR, TDEE and kcal—without the alphabet soup.

kcal — kilocalorie

The unit of energy used by this site. In everyday nutrition, the same amount is often simply called one Calorie.

RMR — resting metabolic rate

An estimate of the energy your body uses at rest for essential processes such as breathing and circulation. This calculator predicts RMR; it does not measure it.

TDEE — total daily energy expenditure

An estimate of energy used across a whole day. Here it is calculated by multiplying estimated RMR by the activity factor you select.

Macro — macronutrient

A shortened term for protein, carbohydrate or fat. The displayed macro split is an illustration, not a personalised prescription.

Carbs — carbohydrates

A common shortening of carbohydrates, one of the three macronutrient groups shown in the illustrative split.

g — gram

The unit used for the illustrative protein, carbohydrate and fat amounts.

Important: food preference changes shopping suggestions only. It does not change RMR, TDEE or the calorie equation.

BMR — basal metabolic rate

Energy used under stricter resting conditions. Consumer calculators often use BMR loosely, but this site labels its predicted resting figure RMR.

REE — resting energy expenditure

A closely related way to describe energy used at rest, and the wording used in the research behind the Mifflin–St Jeor equation.

BMI — body mass index

A ratio based on weight and height. This site uses the original study's BMI range only to check whether the equation represented similar inputs; it does not display BMI or make a diagnosis.

Activity factor

A broad multiplier used to turn estimated resting energy into estimated full-day energy. It is an assumption, not a measurement from a wearable.

Mifflin–St Jeor equation

The published formula this site uses to predict resting energy from weight, height, age and one of two sex-specific constants.

Maintenance

The site's estimated TDEE before a goal adjustment. It is associated with broadly stable weight on average, not a guarantee for an individual day.

Starting range

The goal-adjusted estimate is the midpoint. The displayed range normally spans 5% either side and is clipped so it stays inside the tool's 1,200–5,000 kcal/day presentation limits.

For the exact calculation and its limitations, read how the estimate works.

Metric and imperial

The two input systems offered by the calculator. Metric uses kg and cm; imperial uses lb, ft and in. The equation works from metric values internally.

kg — kilogram

The metric weight unit accepted by the calculator.

lb — pound

The imperial weight unit accepted by the calculator.

cm — centimetre

The metric height unit accepted by the calculator.

ft — foot or feet

The larger imperial height unit, used together with inches.

in — inch or inches

The smaller imperial height unit, used together with feet.

% — percent

A proportion out of 100. The gentle goal options change estimated maintenance by 10%, while the displayed starting range spans 5% either side of the target.

CSV — comma-separated values

A simple table file produced by the 14-day check. It can be opened by most spreadsheet applications.

TXT — plain text

The simple file format used when you download a shopping list. It can be opened without specialist software.

HTML — HyperText Markup Language

The web-page format used by the downloadable calculator help sheet so it can be opened and printed in a browser.

WHO — World Health Organization

An international public-health body whose material is used for general context on healthy diets and weight-related health.

IP address — Internet Protocol address

A technical network identifier that a web host may receive in ordinary service logs. The calculator's own code does not add it to your result or help-sheet download.

QCC — Quick Calorie Calc

The site's shortened name. It appears mainly as the qcc_ prefix on the storage keys listed on the cookies page.

Local storage and session storage

Small areas in a browser used for display, food preferences, recipe-interest choices and future paid-feature research choices. Remembered choices use local storage; session-only choices end with that browser session.

Read the privacy notice for the difference between calculations that stay in your browser and ordinary hosting records.