Weight Lifting Calories Calculator
A 70 kg person doing moderate-effort weight training burns about 184 kcal in 30 minutes, roughly 6.1 kcal per minute. That is lower than steady cardio for the same time, but resistance training adds muscle that raises resting burn over months.
What is Weight Lifting Calories Calculator?
The calorie cost of lifting during the session itself is modest. Most of the metabolic benefit comes afterwards and over the long term, not from the workout minutes.
Rest periods matter enormously. Short rests and supersets push the effective MET value toward the vigorous end; long rests between heavy sets bring it down toward light.
MET values used
| Activity intensity | MET |
|---|---|
| Light / general lifting | 3.5 |
| Moderate effort | 5 |
| Vigorous effort | 6 |
How to use this calculator
- Choose metric (kg) or imperial (lb).
- Enter your body weight.
- Enter how long you exercised, in minutes.
- Select the intensity that best matches your effort — each option shows its MET value.
- Read your total burn, the per-minute rate, and the equivalent time walking.
How calories burned are calculated▾
Every activity has a MET value — a metabolic equivalent where 1 MET is the energy you use sitting still. This calculator uses the ACSM metabolic equation, which converts a MET value and your body weight into a calorie burn rate. MET values come from the Compendium of Physical Activities, a standard reference used in exercise research. Pick the intensity that matches what you actually did; the table below shows every option and its MET value.
kcal per minute = MET × 3.5 × body weight (kg) ÷ 200
Total kcal = kcal per minute × duration (minutes)Source: ACSM metabolic equation; MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my watch show fewer calories than cardio?▾
Heart rate averages are lower during lifting because of rest intervals. Watches using heart rate tend to undercount strength work, though the true burn is genuinely lower than continuous cardio.
Does building muscle raise metabolism?▾
Slightly. Each extra kilogram of muscle burns roughly 13 kcal per day at rest. Gaining 5 kg of muscle adds about 65 kcal a day — helpful, but not dramatic.
Should I do cardio or weights to lose fat?▾
Both. Resistance training preserves muscle during a calorie deficit, which keeps resting burn higher and improves how you look at a given weight.
Do compound lifts burn more?▾
Yes. Squats, deadlifts and rows move more muscle mass than isolation exercises, raising per-minute burn substantially.
Related calculators
References & method
- ACSM metabolic equation; MET values from the Compendium of Physical Activities.
Every formula, its published source and its assumptions are listed on our methodology page. This page is written for information and has not been reviewed by a clinician.
Read the methodology →These figures are estimates from population formulas, not medical advice. Individual needs vary. If you are pregnant, managing a medical condition, or under 18, talk to a doctor before changing your diet.