The difference in one line
BMR is what your body burns lying still all day. TDEE is what you burn on a normal day, including all your movement and exercise. TDEE is always higher, typically 20 to 90% higher than BMR.
Side by side
| BMR | TDEE | |
|---|---|---|
| Stands for | Basal metabolic rate | Total daily energy expenditure |
| Includes | Organ function at complete rest | BMR + daily movement + exercise + digestion |
| Typical value, 70 kg adult | 1,400–1,700 kcal | 1,800–2,800 kcal |
| Use it to | Calculate TDEE | Set your daily calorie target |
Worked example
A 40-year-old man, 178 cm (5 ft 10 in), 82 kg (181 lb), who walks a fair amount and trains three times a week:
TDEE = 1,738 × 1.55 = 2,693 kcal
If he ate 1,738 calories, his BMR, he would be in a deficit of almost 1,000 kcal a day. That is far bigger than he needs. Eating around 2,200 kcal, 500 below TDEE, is a steadier way to lose weight.
The most common mistake
Some apps and articles suggest eating your BMR to lose weight. For most people this creates a deficit that is too large to sustain and too low in nutrients. Always start from TDEE.
Work out both numbers with the BMR calculator and TDEE calculator.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. See our disclaimer and how we calculate.