Muscle burns approximately 6 calories per pound per day at rest. This is a more accurate and research-supported figure than the commonly cited myth that a pound of muscle burns 30 to 50 calories daily

. When considering total daily energy expenditure, including the energy used to carry and use muscle during activity, a pound of muscle may increase calorie burn to about 9 to 10 calories per day on average, and up to 15-16 calories per day in very active individuals

. This includes both basal metabolic rate (the energy used at rest) and active energy expenditure (energy used in movement and physical activity). In comparison, fat burns about 2 calories per pound per day at rest, so muscle is more metabolically active but not dramatically so

Summary:

• Resting calorie burn per pound of muscle: ~6 calories/day
• Total daily calorie burn per pound of muscle (including activity): ~9-10 calories/day (can be higher with more activity)
• Calorie burn per pound of fat: ~2 calories/day

Thus, while muscle does increase your metabolism, the effect is modest at rest, and the larger calorie burn comes from the physical activity and maintenance involved in having more muscle mass