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Calorie Deficit & Weight-Loss Timeline Calculator

Estimate your maintenance calories, a safe daily deficit and target intake, then project a weight-loss timeline or goal date.

General educational information only, not medical or dietary advice.

About this tool

This calculator has two parts. First it estimates your daily energy needs with the Mifflin-St Jeor equation, then it maps a chosen deficit onto a realistic weight-loss timeline. All maths runs locally in your browser — nothing you type leaves your device.

Maintenance calories (TDEE) come from BMR = 10 × weight(kg) + 6.25 × height(cm) − 5 × age + (5 for male, −161 for female), multiplied by an activity factor from 1.2 (sedentary) to 1.9 (very active). For the timeline, roughly 7,700 kcal is burned per kilogram of fat (3,500 kcal per pound). Choosing 'by daily deficit' gives weeks-to-goal = (weight change × kcal per unit) ÷ (deficit × 7) and a projected date; choosing 'by goal date' works backwards to the daily deficit you would need. Your target daily intake is simply maintenance minus that deficit, and all date maths uses UTC day counts so daylight-saving shifts never move a date.

This is general educational information, not medical or dietary advice. The tool warns if your target intake drops below about 1,200 kcal (women) or 1,500 kcal (men), levels that are widely considered too low without supervision — always consult a qualified professional before starting a diet.

Frequently asked questions

How is my maintenance calorie figure calculated?
It uses the Mifflin-St Jeor BMR formula and multiplies by an activity factor (1.2–1.9). This TDEE is an estimate; real needs vary with body composition, genetics and how honestly you rate activity.
Why 7,700 kcal per kg or 3,500 per pound?
A pound of body fat stores roughly 3,500 kcal (about 7,700 per kilogram). Dividing your total weight change by this gives the energy you must cut, which the timeline spreads over days or weeks.
What is the difference between the two modes?
'By daily deficit' fixes how many calories you cut each day and tells you when you'll arrive; 'by goal date' fixes the finish date and tells you the daily deficit required to hit it.
Why does it warn about low calories?
Very low intakes can be unsafe. If your target falls under about 1,200 kcal (women) or 1,500 kcal (men) a warning appears — consider a smaller deficit and get professional guidance.

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