Glossary
TDEE meaning
Updated 2026-08-25By Chris RichardsAll terms
Definition
TDEE (total daily energy expenditure) is an estimate of the calories you burn in a full day — resting metabolism plus movement, training, and digestion. This page is the definition. The number belongs on the TDEE calculator.
Definition
Total daily energy expenditure is resting burn plus everything on top: walking, fidgeting, workouts, and digesting food. Eating near your TDEE tends to hold weight steady over weeks. Eating below it, on average, is a calorie deficit.
If you searched this term because you want a calorie target, skip the rest of the glossary and open the TDEE calculator. Mifflin-St Jeor estimates rest; an activity factor estimates the rest of the day. Come back here only if you needed the acronym.
How the estimate is built
Step one estimates BMR from weight, height, age, and sex. Step two multiplies by an activity factor (about 1.2 sedentary through 1.9 extra active). Both halves are estimates, so treat the output as a starting point rather than a lab reading. The calculator has the formula, the multipliers, and a worked example. This page does not try to rank for that job.
The mistake people make
Picking the flattering activity level, then treating the output as measured. One tier too high inflates the target and quietly deletes a deficit. Verify with three weeks of logging and weekly weight averages — the maintenance guide is that process.
FAQ
What does TDEE stand for?
TDEE stands for total daily energy expenditure — an estimate of all the calories you burn in 24 hours, including rest, movement, training, and digestion. Calculate yours on the TDEE calculator.
Is TDEE the same as maintenance calories?
They point at the same thing from different directions. TDEE is the calculated burn; maintenance is the intake your own logging shows holds weight flat. When they disagree, trust the logs.
Where should I calculate TDEE?
On the TDEE calculator, not this glossary. This page defines the term. The tool is the ranking page for the number.
Sources
- [1] Mifflin MD, St Jeor ST, et al. “A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals” (1990) — American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 51:241–247
- [2] Body Weight Planner — National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH)
General nutrition information, not medical advice. Calorie and macro targets are estimates — talk to a doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet, especially if you are pregnant, managing a health condition, or have a history of disordered eating.
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