EER Calculator – Estimated Energy Requirement
Estimate your daily calorie needs (Estimated Energy Requirement) using the Institute of Medicine’s standard equation based on your age, sex, height, weight, and activity level.
What is EER?
Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) is the average daily calorie intake predicted to maintain energy balance in a healthy adult of a given age, sex, weight, height, and physical activity level. It was developed by the U.S. Institute of Medicine (IOM) as a standard reference for dietary planning.
How it’s calculated
The IOM equations combine your body size and age with a Physical Activity (PA) coefficient that scales up your needs depending on how active you are, from sedentary to very active. Men and women use slightly different equations because of differences in average body composition.
- Sedentary: little to no exercise beyond daily living.
- Low Active: the equivalent of walking about 2 miles a day.
- Active: the equivalent of walking about 7 miles a day.
- Very Active: the equivalent of walking more than 17 miles a day.
This tool is for general planning and educational purposes only and does not replace personalized advice from a registered dietitian or healthcare provider.