Housework Calories Burned Calculator

Enter Calculation

Body weight (kg)

Laundry (min)

Shopping (min)

Shopping mode Walking Bicycle

Cooking (min)

Washing dishes (min)

Vacuuming (min)

Mopping (min)

Cleaning bathroom (min)

Gardening (min)

Caring for pets (min)

Playing with children (min)

Tidying up (min)

Results

Total calories burned

685.6

kcal

Chore	kcal
Laundry	63
Shopping	165.4
Cooking	126
Washing dishes	56.7
Vacuuming	104
Mopping	55.1
Cleaning bathroom	36.8
Gardening	0
Caring for pets	0
Playing with children	0
Tidying up	78.8

What this calculator does

The Housework Calories Burned Calculator estimates how many calories (kilocalories) you burn while doing everyday household chores. It combines your body weight, the time you spend on each chore, and the MET (metabolic equivalent) value of that chore. The formula is universal physiology, so it works anywhere. The MET values used here follow the internationally standard Compendium of Physical Activities, the same values cited in Japan's Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Physical Activity Reference for Health Promotion 2013."

Typical household activities covered by the calculator.

How to use it

Enter your body weight in kilograms. Then type the number of minutes you spend on each chore. For shopping, choose whether you mostly walk or cycle, which changes the MET value used. Leave a chore at 0 if you do not do it. The calculator converts each chore's minutes to hours, multiplies by its MET value, your weight, and the constant 1.05, then adds everything up.

The formula explained

For each chore the energy burned is $$\text{kcal} = \text{MET} \times \text{weight (kg)} \times \frac{\text{minutes}}{60} \times 1.05$$ One MET represents resting energy use of roughly 1 kcal per kilogram per hour; the coefficient 1.05 is the commonly used refinement. The MET values applied are: laundry 2.0, shopping walking 3.5 or cycling 4.0, cooking 2.0, washing dishes 1.8, vacuuming 3.3, mopping 3.5, cleaning the bathroom 3.5, gardening 4.0, pet care 2.5, light play with children 2.8, and tidying up 2.5.

How MET, body weight and time combine to estimate calories burned.

Worked example

For a 60 kg person doing the default routine (laundry 30 min, shopping 45 min walking, cooking 60 min, dishwashing 30 min, vacuuming 30 min, mopping 15 min, bathroom 10 min, tidying 30 min): the chores total about 685.65 kcal, roughly 686 kcal. For example vacuuming for 30 min gives $$3.3 \times 60 \times 0.5 \times 1.05 = 103.95 \text{ kcal}.$$

FAQ

Is this gross or net calories? It is gross energy expenditure, meaning it includes the resting metabolism you would burn anyway during that time. Some references subtract 1 MET for net burn; this tool does not.

How accurate is it? It is an estimate. Real burn depends on intensity, fitness, and technique. Treat it as a useful guide, not medical advice.

Can I use pounds? Convert pounds to kilograms first by multiplying by 0.4536, then enter the result.