Fitness & Wellbeing

Calorie Deficit
Calculator

Enter your stats and goal weight, choose your pace, and get your exact daily calorie target — plus a projected timeline to reach your goal.

Your Details
Units
Biological Sex
Age
Current Weight (kg)
Feet
Inches
Goal Weight (kg)
Activity Level
Weight Loss Pace
GentleSteadyModerateBriskAggressive
−0.5 kg/week · −500 kcal/day
Daily Calorie Target
1,900
calories/day · 500 kcal deficit
Your TDEE
Weeks to Goal
Goal Date
Weight Loss Projection
Deficit Comparison
Daily DeficitWeekly LossCalories/Day

What is a calorie deficit?

A calorie deficit means eating fewer calories than your body burns (TDEE). A deficit of 3,500 kcal equals approximately 0.45kg (1lb) of fat loss. So a 500 kcal/day deficit creates a 3,500 kcal weekly deficit — about 0.5kg/week of fat loss.

How fast should I lose weight?

Most health professionals recommend 0.5–1kg per week as sustainable. Losing faster risks muscle loss, nutritional deficiencies, fatigue, and rebound weight gain. Slower is almost always better — it preserves muscle, keeps hunger manageable, and is far more likely to stick long-term.

Why does weight loss slow down?

As you lose weight, your TDEE decreases — a lighter body burns fewer calories. This is why the same deficit produces slower loss over time. Update your numbers every 4–6 weeks as your weight changes to keep your targets accurate.

Pair with your macro targets

Knowing your calorie target is step one. Use the Macro Calculator to split those calories into protein, carbohydrate, and fat targets — high protein during a deficit is especially important to preserve lean muscle mass.

Step 5 of 5 ✓ Chain complete! — You know your BMI, body fat, TDEE, macros, and deficit. Now track your daily food to hit those numbers.
Open Food Calorie Diary →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I calculate my calorie deficit?
Step 1: Calculate your TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) using your age, weight, height, and activity level. Step 2: Subtract your chosen deficit from TDEE. Example: TDEE 2,400 kcal − 500 deficit = 1,900 kcal/day target. This calculator does both steps instantly — just enter your details above.
Is 500 calories a day a good deficit?
500 kcal/day is widely considered the sweet spot — large enough to produce meaningful fat loss (~0.5kg/week) but small enough to preserve muscle, keep energy levels stable, and remain sustainable. Very large deficits (1,000+ kcal) often backfire through muscle loss, metabolic adaptation, and intense hunger that leads to overeating.
What is TDEE?
TDEE (Total Daily Energy Expenditure) is the total calories your body burns in a day — including your resting metabolic rate, physical activity, and the energy used digesting food. Eating exactly at your TDEE maintains your current weight. This calculator uses the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, which is the most validated formula for the general population.
Should I eat back exercise calories?
It depends on how you set your activity multiplier. If you selected "Moderately active" or above, exercise is already factored into your TDEE — do not eat back calories. If you selected "Sedentary" but exercise regularly, you can eat back a portion (50–75%) of exercise calories to compensate. Most people slightly overestimate exercise calories.
How to Use the Calorie Deficit Calculator

Calculate the exact calorie deficit needed to reach your weight goal by your target date.

01
Enter your current details
Weight, height, age, and activity level are used to calculate your TDEE — the total calories you currently burn per day.
02
Set your goal weight
Enter a realistic target. A safe rate of loss is 0.5–1kg (1–2lbs) per week. Faster losses usually result in muscle loss and rebound weight gain.
03
Choose a target date or weekly loss rate
Either set a date (the calculator tells you the required daily deficit) or set a loss rate (the calculator shows the target date). Both update in real time.
04
Review your calorie target
This is your daily calorie goal. The deficit should not exceed 1,000 calories/day — this risks nutrient deficiency, metabolic adaptation, and muscle loss.
05
Plan your approach
A 500 cal/day deficit can come from diet alone, exercise alone, or a combination. Most people find a mix easiest to sustain.
💡
💡 Never go below 1,200 calories/day (women) or 1,500/day (men) without medical supervision. The body adapts to severe restriction by reducing metabolic rate.