Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) Calculator — IOM Equations
Calculate your estimated energy requirement (EER) with the Institute of Medicine DRI equations for adults and children aged 3+, by age, sex, weight, height and activity.
How it works
Men 19+: EER = 662 − 9.53A + PA × (15.91W + 539.6H) · Women 19+: EER = 354 − 6.91A + PA × (9.36W + 726H) · Boys 3–18: 88.5 − 61.9A + PA × (26.7W + 903H) + 20 (3–8 y) or + 25 (9–18 y) · Girls 3–18: 135.3 − 30.8A + PA × (10.0W + 934H) + 20 or + 25 (A years, W kg, H m)
The Institute of Medicine (now the National Academies) derived these equations from doubly labelled water measurements of total energy expenditure, the gold standard for free-living people, for its 2005 Dietary Reference Intakes. The PA coefficient depends on the activity category and differs by sex and age group; for children the extra 20 or 25 kcal covers the energy deposited in growth. EER is the intake that maintains energy balance in a healthy person of that body size and activity.
Worked example
A 30-year-old man, 70 kg and 1.75 m, low active (PA = 1.11): EER = 662 − 9.53 × 30 + 1.11 × (15.91 × 70 + 539.6 × 1.75) = 662 − 285.9 + 1.11 × 2,058 = 2,660 kcal/day.
Frequently asked questions
What is the estimated energy requirement (EER)?
EER is the average daily calorie intake predicted to keep a healthy person’s weight stable, given their age, sex, weight, height and activity level. It is the energy reference value in the US and Canadian Dietary Reference Intakes.
How do I choose my activity category?
Sedentary means only daily-living activity. Low active roughly equals adding 30–60 minutes of moderate walking a day; active about 1–2 hours; very active more than that or a physically demanding job. Most office workers who exercise a few times a week are low active.
How is EER different from TDEE?
They describe the same thing — total calories burned per day — but EER comes from doubly labelled water studies, while most TDEE calculators multiply a BMR equation by an activity factor. Results are usually within 5–10% of each other.
Are there newer equations?
Yes. The National Academies published updated EER equations in 2023 based on a larger data set. The 2005 equations here remain widely taught and used in dietetics software, and the results are similar for most adults.
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This calculator gives general nutrition estimates and is not medical advice. Energy and nutrient needs vary between people; children, pregnant people and anyone with a medical condition should follow a doctor or registered dietitian.