On average, the number of calories you burn in a day varies based on factors like age, sex, weight, height, and physical activity level.
- Most adult men burn between about 2,000 and 3,000 calories per day.
- Most adult women burn between about 1,600 and 2,200 calories per day.
- The body's basal metabolic rate (BMR)—calories burned at rest for basic functions like breathing and cell repair—makes up about 60% to 70% of daily calorie burn.
- Physical activity and the energy used to digest food also contribute to total daily calories burned.
- For example, a sedentary man aged 19-30 may burn around 2,400-2,600 calories per day, while an active man of the same age may burn up to 3,000 calories or more depending on exercise levels.
So, in general, daily calorie burn averages about 2,000 to 3,000 calories for most adults but depends greatly on individual characteristics and activity levels.