Maintenance Calories for a 230 lb Man

A 230 lb (104 kg) man burns roughly 2,201 to 3,588 calories a day, depending on height, age and activity. For example, a 35-year-old man who is 5′10″ and lightly active needs about 2,729 calories to maintain weight.

Set to a 35-year-old man, 5′10″, 230 lb. Change any value:

Your TDEE (maintenance calories)

2,729 calories/day

BMR 1,985Mifflin-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)2,381
Lightly active ×1.375Light exercise or sports 1–3 days a week2,729
Moderately active ×1.55Moderate exercise or sports 3–5 days a week3,076
Very active ×1.725Hard exercise or sports 6–7 days a week3,423
Extra active ×1.9Very hard daily training, or exercise plus a physical job3,771

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 week2,229
Lose about 0.5 lb a week2,479
Maintain current weight2,729
Gain about 0.5 lb a week2,979

BMR by formula

Calories by height (230 lb, age 35)

HeightSedentaryLightlyModeratelyVery
5′6″2,3052,6412,9783,314
5′8″2,3432,6853,0273,369
5′10″2,3812,7293,0763,423
6′0″2,4202,7723,1253,478
6′2″2,4582,8163,1743,533
6′4″2,4962,8603,2243,588

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

Calories by age (230 lb, 5′10″)

AgeSedentaryLightlyModeratelyVery
252,4412,7973,1533,510
352,3812,7293,0763,423
452,3212,6602,9983,337
552,2612,5912,9213,251
652,2012,5222,8433,165

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′10″, “extra active”) would burn around 3,771.

Using these numbers

These are estimates for the average man 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 1,500 calories a day.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories should a 230 lb man eat to maintain weight?

Roughly 2,201 to 3,588 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 man who is 5′10″ and lightly active comes out at about 2,729. Your own number depends on your height, age and activity; enter them in the calculator for a personal estimate.

How many calories should a 230 lb man eat to lose weight?

Starting from about 2,729 calories (age 35, 5′10″, lightly active), a gentle reduction of 250 to 500 calories a day gives roughly 2,229 to 2,479 calories, often linked to about 0.5 to 1 lb a week at first. Results vary, so watch your trend over several weeks.

Is 2,400 calories a day enough for a 230 lb man?

For a 35-year-old man who is 5′10″ and mostly sedentary, it is close to estimated maintenance (about 2,381). More active men of the same weight burn more and would likely need more to keep their weight stable.

How many calories does a 230 lb man burn at rest?

A 35-year-old man who is 5′10″ and 230 lb has an estimated BMR of about 1,985 calories a day by Mifflin-St Jeor. That is the energy used at complete rest, before any movement or digestion.

More weights: 140 lb · 150 lb · 160 lb · 170 lb · 180 lb · 190 lb · 200 lb · 210 lb · 220 lb · 230 lb · 240 lb · 250 lb. Also see the 200 lb woman table.

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