Jump Rope Calories Calculator
Estimate calories burned skipping rope from your weight, time and intensity — jumping rope is one of the highest-MET cardio workouts there is.
How it works
calories/min = MET × 3.5 × body weight (kg) ÷ 200 · total = calories/min × minutes
Jumping rope is a high-intensity, whole-body activity, which is why its MET values (8.8–12.3) sit among the highest of common cardio exercises. The standard MET formula converts intensity and body mass to a calorie-per-minute rate, so heavier athletes and faster cadences both push the number up. Because the effort is so concentrated, a short skipping session rivals a much longer walk or easy jog for total energy burned.
Worked example
A 160 lb (72.6 kg) athlete skipping at a moderate 11.8 METs: kcal/min = 11.8 × 3.5 × 72.6 ÷ 200 = 15.0 kcal/min, so 15 minutes ≈ 225 kcal and about 1,650 skips.
Frequently asked questions
Is jumping rope really that many calories?
Per minute, yes — at 11–12 METs it burns more than jogging. The catch is duration: most people cannot sustain continuous skipping for long, so total session calories often trail a longer run even though the per-minute rate is higher.
How many skips are in the estimate?
The estimate assumes a typical cadence for each intensity band (about 90, 110 and 130 skips per minute). Your actual count depends on your rhythm and how much rest you take between rounds.
Does rope length or weight change the burn?
A weighted rope raises upper-body effort and can nudge the MET value up a little, but body mass, cadence and total time dominate the calorie total far more than the rope itself.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.