What Does TDEE Mean?
A clear definition of Total Daily Energy Expenditure and how it connects to maintenance calories.
Last updated: January 2026
If you’ve seen “TDEE” in calorie calculators or fitness apps, it’s basically shorthand for your total daily calorie burn. Below we explain what it includes, how it’s estimated, and how to use it for day-to-day calorie planning.
TDEE meaning: Total Daily Energy Expenditure
TDEE stands for Total Daily Energy Expenditure. It is the total number of calories your body burns in a day when all sources of energy use are included, not just workouts.
What TDEE includes
Think of your daily calorie burn as a “whole day” total. Your TDEE generally includes:
- Resting energy (BMR): calories your body uses to keep you alive at rest (breathing, circulation, cell repair, etc.).
- Daily movement: walking, standing, chores, and all non-exercise activity.
- Digestion (thermic effect of food): energy required to digest and process what you eat.
- Exercise: workouts, sports, and intentional training.
How TDEE is calculated (the simple version)
Most calculators estimate your BMR first, then adjust it upward using an activity factor that reflects how active you are.
TDEE ≈ BMR × Activity Multiplier
That’s why the same person can get a different TDEE depending on whether they select sedentary vs. very active.
What your TDEE tells you
Your TDEE is most useful as a starting point for calorie targets:
- Eat around your TDEE: you’ll tend to maintain your current weight (on average over time).
- Eat above your TDEE: you’ll tend to gain weight over time (assuming other factors stay similar).
- Eat below your TDEE: you’ll tend to lose weight over time (again, assuming other factors stay similar).
Because TDEE is an estimate, we recommend using it as a baseline and then adjusting based on your real-world trend after 2–3 weeks of consistent tracking.
Common confusion: TDEE vs. “calories burned in workouts”
People sometimes treat TDEE like it’s only about exercise calories, but for most people resting energy (BMR) is the largest part of the number. That’s why your daily calories can still be significant even on rest days.
TDEE means Total Daily Energy Expenditure, which is your estimated total daily calorie burn. It is typically calculated by estimating BMR and multiplying by an activity factor. This number is most helpful for setting a realistic maintenance baseline, and then planning a modest deficit or surplus from there.