TDEE Formula Comparison: Which Equation Is Most Accurate?

Compare TDEE Formulas

Enter your stats once. See what Mifflin-St Jeor, Harris-Benedict, Katch-McArdle and Cunningham each predict — side by side, with the math shown.

Units

Sex

Age (years)

Weight (kg)

Height (cm)

Body fat % (optional)

Activity level

Results

Formula	BMR (kcal)	× activity	TDEE (kcal)

How to read this: the spread between formulas is normal — it comes from the different equations themselves, not your body. Pick the formula that matches the data you actually have (Katch-McArdle or Cunningham only if your body-fat % is measured, not guessed), then calibrate with 2–4 weeks of scale data. Formulas estimate; your trend refines.

The formulas, printed openly

Mifflin-St Jeor (1990): Men: 10×W + 6.25×H − 5×A + 5 · Women: 10×W + 6.25×H − 5×A − 161. Widely used as the default for general adults.
Harris-Benedict, revised (1984): Men: 88.362 + 13.397×W + 4.799×H − 5.677×A · Women: 447.593 + 9.247×W + 3.098×H − 4.330×A. The 1918 classic; tends to overestimate vs Mifflin.
Katch-McArdle: 370 + 21.6 × lean mass (kg). Needs body-fat %. Useful when lean mass is known.
Cunningham (1980): 500 + 22 × lean mass (kg). Needs body-fat %. Similar role to Katch-McArdle.
W = weight (kg), H = height (cm), A = age (years). TDEE = BMR × activity multiplier.