The average person burns approximately 1,300 to over 2,000 calories per day without any exercise, depending on factors such as age, sex, weight, and body composition. This calorie burn is primarily due to the basal metabolic rate (BMR), which is the energy your body uses to maintain essential functions like breathing, circulating blood, and regulating body temperature while at rest
. More specifically, most people burn around 1,800 calories daily just through these basic bodily functions without any physical activity
. Men tend to burn more calories than women because they generally have more muscle mass, which increases metabolism. Muscle mass boosts calorie burn even at rest, while fat mass burns fewer calories
. In summary, without exercise, the average daily calorie burn typically ranges:
- About 1,300 to 2,000+ calories per day depending on individual factors
- Around 1,800 calories per day for many people doing no physical activity
- Men usually burn more than women due to higher muscle mass
This baseline calorie burn supports survival and bodily maintenance even when sedentary or sleeping
