BMR vs. TDEE: What’s the Difference?

BMR and TDEE are two of the most commonly confused terms in nutrition. Understanding the difference is essential if you’re trying to set an accurate calorie target.

BMR: Calories at Rest

Basal Metabolic Rate is the energy your body needs to perform basic life-sustaining functions while completely at rest — it’s the calorie floor, not a target to eat at.

TDEE: Your Real Daily Number

Total Daily Energy Expenditure (TDEE) adds your activity level on top of BMR — everything from walking and exercise to fidgeting and digestion. TDEE is the number that actually reflects how many calories you burn in a typical day, and it’s the figure that should guide calorie targets for weight loss, maintenance, or gain.

Putting It Into Practice

To lose weight, you generally want to eat below your TDEE; to gain, above it. Our BMR Calculator estimates both numbers together, and our Calorie Deficit Calculator turns your TDEE into a concrete daily target and timeline.

Source: CDC — Losing Weight.