How Many Calories Should I Eat Per Day?

Recommended intake ranges from 1,600 to 3,200 a day based on several factors

Wondering, “How many calories should I eat a day?” Eating a certain number of calories daily can help you achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Research further indicates that, when following a balanced diet, consuming the best number of calories for you can also help improve your health and boost longevity.1

When determining how many calories you should eat per day, it helps to first understand the established recommended calorie intakes. From there, you can consider other factors to find the right calorie intake for you, given your body and health-related goals. Here is what you need to know about daily calorie consumption.

 

How Many Calories Should You Eat In a Day?

How many calories you should eat in a day will change as your body composition and size, activity level, and health change. Knowing the recommended calorie intake guidelines can provide a better idea of your calorie range. These vary based on whether you are an adult, a teen, or a child.

Adults

The recommended calorie intake for adult women ranges from 1,600 calories per day to 2,400 calories per day, according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.2 For men, the amount is slightly higher, ranging from 2,200 to 3,200 calories per day.

If you are somewhat sedentary or older, your calorie needs are likely toward the bottom of the range. You may be closer to the top if you are fairly physically active, pregnant, or breastfeeding.

Teens

Calorie intake recommendations for teens vary based on age, sex, and activity level. A 13-year-old girl’s recommended intake ranges from 1,600 to 2,200 calories daily, with a 2,000 to 2,600 recommended intake for a 13-year-old boy.

These amounts increase slightly in the later teen years. The range for girls aged 14 to 18 is 1,800 calories per day to 2,400. The recommended calorie intake for boys in this same age range is somewhere between 2,000 and 3,200 calories.2

Children

Children between the ages of 2 and 3 need between 1,000 and 1,400 calories daily. Where they fall in this range depends on how active they are.

At 4 to 8 years of age, the range starts at 1,200 calories daily and increases to 1,800 calories for girls and 2,000 calories for boys. At 9 to 13 years, the calorie range is 1,400 to 2,200 calories per day for girls and 1,600 to 2,600 calories daily for boys.2

Factors That Affect How Many Calories You Should Eat

As the recommended calorie intake guidelines suggest, the number of calories you need per day can vary based on various factors. Among them are:4

• Sex
• Height
• Weight
• Age
• Activity level

Additional factors that can affect how many calories your body uses for energy, thus also impacting how many you should consume, include your hormones,5 some medications (such as steroids and some diabetes medicines),6 and your overall health.

Using Weight Loss Calculators

Whether your goal is to lose weight, gain weight, or maintain your current weight, an online calculator (or calorie counter app) can help. The calculator uses your sex, weight, height, and age to determine the number of calories you need to fuel your body for daily activity.

Then it adds the calories needed to gain weight or subtracts the calories required to help you lose weight if you’re using it as a weight loss calculator. It can figure out how many calories you should eat to maintain weight as well.

Inputting accurate information can help determine your daily caloric needs. If you’re unsure how active you are during the day, keep an activity journal for a week or look at data from your fitness tracker to get a quick estimate.

Next, the calculator will ask you about your goals. It’s important to be realistic during this step. Try to set goals that you believe are attainable. Once you reach your goal, you can always set a new one.

Reaching Your Goal Weight

After entering your information into the calorie calculator, you’ll receive a daily calorie goal. This is the number of calories you should eat daily to reach your desired weight in the set time frame.

To Lose Weight

If weight loss is your goal, a calorie deficit is factored into your recommended daily caloric intake. A calorie deficit is simply an energy shortfall—consuming fewer calories than you use—so your body burns stored fat (excess weight) for fuel.

You can create a calorie deficit by eating less than your body needs. You can also burn extra calories by increasing your physical activity. Combining the two (a balanced diet and exercise) is a healthy strategy for losing weight.

To Gain Weight

If you are trying to gain weight, your daily calorie goal will include a calorie surplus. The key to making this gain healthy involves following a few simple guidelines:11

• Eat high-quality high-calorie foods, such as high-protein meats, healthy fats, and whole grains.
• Eat more often (this helps if you get full quickly).
• Add extra calories to your meals by putting nuts on your morning oatmeal.
• Drink nutrient-rich shakes.
• Stay active to boost appetite and consider adding strength training into your exercise routine.
• Dine with friends and family to make meals more enjoyable

To Maintain Weight

Several pieces of research have sought the best ways to maintain one’s current weight, especially after successful weight loss. Many of these studies report that results are mixed as to what strategies may work best.12

However, many of these studies did find that following a higher-protein diet might help with weight maintenance. A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids and polyphenols was also suggested as an effective approach to sustaining a healthy weight.

What to Know About Nutrition

You can eat whatever you want and lose weight if you stay within your calorie range. That said, it might be hard to stay in this range if you don’t eat nutritious foods.

Plus, empty-calorie foods don’t provide your body with the nutrients you need to live an active life. And when you eat less nutritious foods, you’re likely to get hungry more often and overeat. Conversely, nutritious foods help you to feel strong, energized, and satiated.

Additionally, all calories are not created equal. Calories from nutritious food sources will help you feel full longer, fuel your daily activity, and improve your well-being. Empty calories can leave you feeling hungry, increase your food cravings, and even increase fatigue. You’ll find them in processed foods that contain added sugars, trans fat, excess fat, and calories. They may provide energy but not the fiber, vitamins, and minerals you need.

How to Address Weight Challenges

Evaluate your eating and exercise habits to see if there are adjustments you can make to reach your goal. There may also be medical reasons that you can’t lose weight. So talk to a healthcare provider if you are concerned.

Your physician may be able to refer you to a registered dietitian for personalized nutrition advice. They also can evaluate your medical history and current fitness level to help you determine what type of exercise is right for you.

A Word From Verywell

Determining your ideal caloric intake is a smart part of being mindful of your nutrition. Although being intentional about weight is one way to contribute to your overall health, being overly focused on calorie intake can be a worrying sign of diet culture or even disordered eating. Consult a healthcare provider if you need help navigating your ideal calorie intake.