Calories Burned by Heart Rate
Calculate calories burned using your average heart rate — more accurate than MET-only methods as it accounts for individual cardiovascular response.
Reviewed October 7, 2026 Runs in your browser — inputs are never stored
This tool provides general sports and fitness estimates for educational purposes only. It is not medical advice — consult a physician before starting or intensifying training, especially if you have a cardiovascular condition.
About the Calories Burned by Heart Rate
The calories burned by heart rate calculator uses the Keytel et al. (2005) equations, which estimate energy expenditure from average heart rate, age, weight and sex. Because heart rate reflects how hard you are actually working, it is usually more personal than a MET-based estimate. The equations were developed for steady aerobic exercise.
How to use it
- 1Select your sex and enter age and weight.
- 2Enter your average heart rate from a watch or chest strap.
- 3Enter the duration and press Calculate.
Worked example
a 35-year-old man weighing 75 kg who averages 140 bpm for 45 minutes burns about (0.2017 × 35 + 0.1988 × 75 + 0.6309 × 140 − 55.0969) × 45 ÷ 4.184 ≈ 594 kcal.
How it works
Formula (Keytel et al. 2005)
Men: kcal = (−55.0969 + 0.6309 × HR + 0.1988 × weight + 0.2017 × age) × t ÷ 4.184
Women: kcal = (−20.4022 + 0.4472 × HR − 0.1263 × weight + 0.074 × age) × t ÷ 4.184
HR is average heart rate in beats per minute, weight is in kilograms, age in years and t is the duration in minutes. The equations were developed for steady aerobic exercise.
Common use cases
- Estimating calories from a heart-rate monitor
- Comparing workouts of different types
- Checking fitness-tracker numbers
Frequently asked questions
A:Heart rate reflects actual effort level, making it more personalized than weight/duration alone.
A:The Keytel et al. (2005) equations, with weight in kg and duration in minutes: men kcal = (−55.0969 + 0.6309×HR + 0.1988×Weight + 0.2017×Age) × t ÷ 4.184; women kcal = (−20.4022 + 0.4472×HR − 0.1263×Weight + 0.074×Age) × t ÷ 4.184.
A:Reasonably accurate for steady-state aerobic exercise; less reliable for HIIT or very short intervals.
A:Yes — men and women burn calories at different rates due to physiological differences.
A:Use an average from your fitness tracker for best accuracy.
Reviewed for accuracy · Last updated October 7, 2026
Formulas follow published sports-science literature and official league definitions (Karvonen heart rate reserve, Cooper and Bruce protocols, MET compendium values, and standard baseball, cricket, and basketball statistics).
CalcWisee Editorial Team
Calculator development and formula review
CalcWisee is an independent site founded by Ayman. Every calculator is built from a published formula or official definition, tested against hand-worked examples before it goes live, and corrected promptly when a reader reports an issue to ayman@calcwisee.com.
Expertise: Financial mathematics, Health and fitness formulas, Applied mathematics, Unit conversion standards
References & sources