# Calories Burned by Heart Rate Calculator

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/sports/calories-burned-by-heart-rate/
Last updated: 2026-10-30

> The calories burned by heart rate calculator estimates energy expenditure during exercise from your average heart rate, age, weight, sex and duration, with an optional VO₂ max for a more personal result (Keytel et al., 2005).

## Inputs

- Sex
- Do you know your VO₂ max?
- Age (years)
- Body weight (kg, lb)
- Average heart rate (bpm)
- VO₂ max (ml/kg/min)
- Exercise duration (min, h)

## Results

- Calories burned
- Per minute
- Estimated maximum heart rate (Tanaka)
- Intensity (% of max HR)

## Formula

```
Men: kcal = t × (−55.0969 + 0.6309·HR + 0.1988·W + 0.2017·A) ÷ 4.184
Women: kcal = t × (−20.4022 + 0.4472·HR − 0.1263·W + 0.074·A) ÷ 4.184  (VO₂ max versions use extra terms)
```

## Explanation

Heart rate rises in step with oxygen use, so it is a good guide to how hard you're working. These equations, from a study of people exercising on treadmills and bikes, are what many fitness watches use.

### How to use the Calories Burned by Heart Rate Calculator

- **Sex**
- **Do you know your VO₂ max?**
- **Age (years)**
- **Body weight**
- **Average heart rate (bpm)**
- **VO₂ max (ml/kg/min)**
- **Exercise duration**

Results update as you type, every field has its own unit menu, and everything is calculated in your browser.

### How it works

Choose your sex, whether you know your VO₂ max, then enter age, weight, average heart rate and duration. Valid for heart rates between about 90 and 150 bpm.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterSexChoose one: Male, FemaleDo you know your VO₂ max?Choose one: Yes, NoAge (years)A numberBody weightUnits: kg, lbAverage heart rate (bpm)A numberVO₂ max (ml/kg/min)A numberExercise durationUnits: min, h

### What each result means

- **Per minute** = [Calories burned]÷[Exercise duration]
- **Estimated maximum heart rate (Tanaka)** = 208 - 0.7×[Age (years)]
- **Intensity (% of max HR)** = [Average heart rate (bpm)]÷(208 - 0.7×[Age (years)])×100

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Age** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Age (years)Calories burned (kcal)17.5555.726.25574.735593.743.75612.752.5631.670669.6

## Worked example

Inputs — Sex: Male; Do you know your VO₂ max?: No; Age (years): 35; Body weight: 75 kg; Average heart rate (bpm): 140; Exercise duration: 45 min.

Results — **Calories burned = 593.7 kcal**; Per minute = 13.19 kcal/min; Estimated maximum heart rate (Tanaka) = 184 bpm; Intensity (% of max HR) = 76.3 %.

## Key terms

- **VO₂ max**: Maximum rate of oxygen use, ml/kg/min.

## FAQ

**Is heart-rate-based estimation accurate?**
Typically within about 10–15% for steady aerobic exercise.

**Why does sex matter?**
Body composition and heart size differ on average.

**Does it work for weightlifting?**
Less well – heart rate rises without proportional oxygen use.

**Where does the formula come from?**
Keytel et al., Journal of Sports Sciences, 2005.


## Sources

- [Keytel et al. (2005), Prediction of energy expenditure from heart rate monitoring during submaximal exercise, J Sports Sci](https://doi.org/10.1080/02640410470001730089)
- [ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription](https://www.acsm.org/education-resources/books/guidelines-exercise-testing-prescription)