# TV Alternatives Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/everyday-life/tv-alternatives/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The TV alternatives calculator shows how much time you would gain by cutting back on TV, and what you could do with it instead – calories burned walking or jogging, books read and years of life expectancy at stake.

## Inputs

- TV time per day (h)
- Days per week
- I will cut
- Body weight (kg, lb, g)
- Activity instead
- Reading speed (wpm)
- Words per book

## Results

- Hours freed per year
- Calories burned instead
- Equivalent body fat
- Books you could read

## Formula

```
Hours freed per year = TV hours per day × days per week × 52.18 × share cut
Calories = MET × weight (kg) × hours; books = hours × reading speed ÷ words per book
```

## Explanation

Adults in many countries watch around three hours of TV a day. Cutting even a quarter of that frees over 250 hours a year. Long hours of sitting are linked with poorer health, so swapping some viewing for activity is a simple way to move more.

### How to use the TV Alternatives Calculator

- **TV time per day**
- **Days per week**
- **I will cut**
- **Body weight**
- **Activity instead**
- **Reading speed**
- **Words per book**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

Enter your daily TV time and days per week, how much you would cut, your weight, the activity you would do instead and your reading speed.

### Tips

- Results are estimates meant for planning and fun – adjust the inputs to match your situation.
- Everything runs in your browser, so you can try as many variations as you like.
- Share the result link with friends so everyone sees the same numbers.
- For safety-related hobbies (hammocks, balloons, tents), follow the manufacturer's limits.

### Common mistakes to avoid

- Using default values when you know your own figures.
- Treating rough rules of thumb as exact.
- Forgetting to add breaks, travel or setup time.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterTV time per dayIn hDays per weekA numberI will cutChoose one: All of it, 75%, Half, 25%Body weightUnits: kg, lb, gActivity insteadChoose one: Walking, moderate (3.5 MET), Walking, brisk (5.0 MET), Jogging (7.0 MET), Running (9.8 MET) …Reading speedIn wpmWords per bookA number

### What each result means

- **Hours freed per year** = [TV time per day]×[Days per week]×52.18×[I will cut]÷100
- **Calories burned instead** = [Activity instead]×[Body weight]×[Hours freed per year]
- **Equivalent body fat** = [Calories burned instead]÷7700
- **Books you could read** = [Hours freed per year]×60×[Reading speed]÷[Words per book]

### Example values

How the main result changes when **TV time per day** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

TV time per day (h)Hours freed per year1.52742.2541135483.756854.582261,096

## Worked example

Inputs — TV time per day: 3 h; Days per week: 7; I will cut: Half; Body weight: 75 kg; Activity instead: Walking, moderate (3.5 MET); Reading speed: 238 wpm; Words per book: 90,000.

Results — **Hours freed per year = 548**; Calories burned instead = 143,821 kcal; Equivalent body fat = 18.7 kg; Books you could read = 87.

## FAQ

**How much TV does the average person watch?**
About 2.5–3 hours a day in the U.S. according to the American Time Use Survey.

**Is watching TV bad for health?**
Long periods of sitting are linked with higher risk of heart disease and diabetes; breaking them up helps.

**How many books could I read instead of an hour of TV a day?**
About 50 average-length novels a year.

**What formula does the TV Alternatives Calculator use?**
Hours freed per year = TV hours per day × days per week × 52.18 × share cut.


## Sources

- [U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – American Time Use Survey](https://www.bls.gov/tus/)