What This Calculator Does
The Basketball Calories Burned Calculator estimates the energy you expend during a basketball session. It uses the internationally recognized MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) method, combining your body weight, how long you play, and how hard you play to produce a calorie estimate in kilocalories (kcal).
How to Use It
Pick the intensity that matches your session: casual shooting around (MET 4.5), a general pickup game (MET 6.5), or a hard competitive game (MET 8.0). Enter your body weight in kilograms and the total minutes you played, then read your estimated calorie burn along with per-minute and per-hour rates.
The Formula Explained
The calculation is $$\text{kcal} = \text{MET} \times 3.5 \times \text{kg} \div 200 \times \text{minutes}$$ One MET equals roughly 3.5 ml of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute, and burning that oxygen releases about 5 kcal of energy. Dividing by 200 converts the oxygen consumption into kilocalories per minute, which is then multiplied by your playing time. Heavier players and longer or harder sessions burn proportionally more.
Worked Example
A 70 kg player plays a general game (MET 6.5) for 30 minutes: $$6.5 \times 3.5 \times 70 \div 200 \times 30 = 238.875 \text{ kcal}$$ or about 239 calories. That works out to roughly 8 kcal per minute and 478 kcal per hour.
Basketball MET Values by Activity Type
The MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) is a standardized measure of energy expenditure where 1 MET equals the energy used at rest (about 3.5 mL of oxygen per kilogram of body weight per minute). The values below come from the Compendium of Physical Activities, which catalogs basketball at several intensity levels. This calculator groups them into three selectable intensities — light (4.5), moderate (6.5), and vigorous (8.0).
| Activity | MET value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Shooting baskets | 4.5 | Casual shooting around, light effort, no continuous running |
| General / non-game play | 6.0–6.5 | Recreational play, drills, scrimmage without sustained competition |
| Wheelchair basketball | 6.5 | Competitive wheelchair play |
| Officiating | 7.0 | Refereeing an active game, continuous movement |
| Game (competitive) | 8.0 | Full-court competitive game, sustained vigorous effort |
The three intensities offered by this tool (4.5, 6.5, 8.0) correspond to shooting baskets, general/non-game play, and a competitive game respectively, covering the practical range most players experience.
FAQ
Are these numbers exact? No — MET values are population averages. Your real burn depends on fitness, effort, age, and body composition, so treat the result as a solid estimate.
What MET should I choose? Use 4.5 for shooting drills, 6.5 for typical recreational games, and 8.0 for fast, full-court competitive play.
Does this include resting calories? The MET formula reflects total energy during the activity, including the baseline you would burn at rest during that time.
