Maintenance Calories for a 170 lb Woman

A 170 lb (77 kg) woman burns roughly 1,561 to 2,667 calories a day, depending on height, age and activity. For example, a 35-year-old woman who is 5′4″ and lightly active needs about 1,995 calories to maintain weight.

Set to a 35-year-old woman, 5′4″, 170 lb. Change any value:

Your TDEE (maintenance calories)

1,995 calories/day

BMR 1,451Mifflin-St JeorLightly active ×1.375

Units
Sex
Height

Light exercise or sports 1–3 days a week

How the formulas work

Calories by activity level

Activity levelCalories/day
Sedentary ×1.2Little or no exercise, mostly sitting (desk job)1,741
Lightly active ×1.375Light exercise or sports 1–3 days a week1,995
Moderately active ×1.55Moderate exercise or sports 3–5 days a week2,249
Very active ×1.725Hard exercise or sports 6–7 days a week2,503
Extra active ×1.9Very hard daily training, or exercise plus a physical job2,757

Maintenance and gradual change

Gentle starting points based on your TDEE. Real-world change is usually slower and less even than the arithmetic suggests, so watch your trend over several weeks and adjust.

GoalCalories/day
Lose about 1 lb a week1,495
Lose about 0.5 lb a week1,745
Maintain current weight1,995
Gain about 0.5 lb a week2,245

BMR by formula

Calories by height (170 lb, age 35)

HeightSedentaryLightlyModeratelyVery
5′0″1,6651,9082,1512,394
5′2″1,7031,9522,2002,448
5′4″1,7411,9952,2492,503
5′6″1,7792,0392,2982,558
5′8″1,8182,0832,3482,613
5′10″1,8562,1262,3972,667

Calories per day to maintain weight, Mifflin-St Jeor. Sedentary ×1.2, Lightly ×1.375, Moderately ×1.55, Very ×1.725.

Calories by age (170 lb, 5′4″)

AgeSedentaryLightlyModeratelyVery
251,8012,0642,3272,589
351,7411,9952,2492,503
451,6811,9272,1722,417
551,6211,8582,0942,331
651,5611,7892,0172,244

Each 10 years of age lowers the estimate by 50 calories of BMR, which becomes about 60 to 86 calories of TDEE depending on activity. Height matters a little more: each extra 2 inches adds about 32 calories of BMR. Activity matters most. A very hard daily trainer at this weight (35, 5′4″, “extra active”) would burn around 2,757.

Using these numbers

These are estimates for the average woman with these measurements. Your real maintenance could be a couple of hundred calories either side. The way to know is to eat close to your estimate for two to four weeks and watch your weekly average weight; see how to find your maintenance calories. If you want a gradual change, the calculator above shows gentle ranges and won’t show a target below about 1,200 calories a day.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories should a 170 lb woman eat to maintain weight?

Roughly 1,561 to 2,667 calories a day across the heights, ages and activity levels in the tables on this page, by the Mifflin-St Jeor equation. A 35-year-old woman who is 5′4″ and lightly active comes out at about 1,995. Your own number depends on your height, age and activity; enter them in the calculator for a personal estimate.

How many calories should a 170 lb woman eat to lose weight?

Starting from about 1,995 calories (age 35, 5′4″, lightly active), a gentle reduction of 250 to 500 calories a day gives roughly 1,495 to 1,745 calories, often linked to about 0.5 to 1 lb a week at first. Results vary, so watch your trend over several weeks.

Is 1,700 calories a day enough for a 170 lb woman?

For a 35-year-old woman who is 5′4″ and mostly sedentary, it is close to estimated maintenance (about 1,741). More active women of the same weight burn more and would likely need more to keep their weight stable.

How many calories does a 170 lb woman burn at rest?

A 35-year-old woman who is 5′4″ and 170 lb has an estimated BMR of about 1,451 calories a day by Mifflin-St Jeor. That is the energy used at complete rest, before any movement or digestion.

More weights: 110 lb · 120 lb · 130 lb · 140 lb · 150 lb · 160 lb · 170 lb · 180 lb · 190 lb · 200 lb. Also see the 170 lb man table.

Estimates only, not medical advice. Methodology and sources · Reviewed November 11, 2026