What Is the Schofield Equation?
Developed by W.N. Schofield (1985) for the WHO/FAO/UNU expert consultations on energy requirements, these predictive equations estimate basal metabolic rate (BMR) from body weight, with separate coefficients for sex and age bands from infancy through older adulthood. The FAO/WHO 2001 report retained the weight-only Schofield kcal/day form (Table 5.2) for population energy planning — making it a standard reference in clinical nutrition, pediatrics, and dietetics textbooks.
BMR vs REE vs RMR vs TDEE
Metric
What it measures
Best use
Metric
What it measures
Best use
Metric
What it measures
Best use
| Metric | What it measures | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| BMR | Strict basal conditions (fasting, rest, thermoneutral) | Schofield primary source term |
| REE / RMR | Resting energy under less strict lab protocols | Often used interchangeably with Schofield output in practice |
| TDEE | Total daily energy (BMR/REE × activity factor) | Maintenance and goal calorie planning |
This calculator shows one resting-energy estimate labeled BMR / REE (Schofield) — not two separate numbers. Predictive equations derived from BMR data are commonly applied as practical REE estimates for meal planning.
Official Schofield Equations (Weight-Only)
Schofield (1985) — general form
BMR/REE (kcal/day) = a × weight (kg) + b Coefficients (a, b) depend on sex and age band: Under 3 · 3–10 · 10–18 · 18–30 · 30–60 · 60+ years Source: Schofield (1985); FAO/WHO Table 5.2 (weight-only).
- kg
- Body weight in kilograms (only required input)
- a, b
- Age- and sex-specific coefficients
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
Sex
Age band
BMR (kcal/day)
| Sex | Age band | BMR (kcal/day) |
|---|---|---|
| Male | Under 3 | 59.512×W − 30.4 |
| Male | 3–10 | 22.706×W + 504.3 |
| Male | 10–18 | 17.686×W + 658.2 |
| Male | 18–30 | 15.057×W + 692.2 |
| Male | 30–60 | 11.472×W + 873.1 |
| Male | 60+ | 11.711×W + 587.7 |
| Female | Under 3 | 58.317×W − 31.1 |
| Female | 3–10 | 20.315×W + 485.9 |
| Female | 10–18 | 13.384×W + 692.6 |
| Female | 18–30 | 14.818×W + 486.6 |
| Female | 30–60 | 8.126×W + 845.6 |
| Female | 60+ | 9.082×W + 658.5 |
Worked Examples
Toddler: male, 2 years, 12 kg
Under-3 age band.
- BMR = 59.512 × 12 − 30.4
- BMR ≈ 684 kcal/day
Result: Estimated BMR/REE ≈ 684 kcal/day
Child: female, 8 years, 30 kg
3–10 age band.
- BMR = 20.315 × 30 + 485.9
- BMR ≈ 1,095 kcal/day
Result: Estimated BMR/REE ≈ 1,095 kcal/day
Adult male: 25 years, 70 kg
18–30 age band.
- BMR = 15.057 × 70 + 692.2
- BMR ≈ 1,746 kcal/day
Result: Estimated BMR/REE ≈ 1,746 kcal/day
Older adult: female, 68 years, 62 kg
60+ age band.
- BMR = 9.082 × 62 + 658.5
- BMR ≈ 1,221 kcal/day
Result: Estimated BMR/REE ≈ 1,221 kcal/day
Why Age Changes Energy Needs
Resting energy per kilogram is highest in early childhood when growth and organ turnover demand more fuel. During puberty and young adulthood, absolute BMR rises with body size. In later adulthood, lean mass often declines and metabolism per kg can fall — Schofield captures this through different intercepts and weight coefficients by age band rather than a single adult formula.
How This Calculator Works
Step
What you enter
Result
Step
What you enter
Result
Step
What you enter
Result
Step
What you enter
Result
| Step | What you enter | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Demographics | Age, sex, weight | Auto-selected WHO age band + equation |
| 2. BMR/REE | Schofield (1985) weight-only | Resting kcal/day + ±10% range |
| 3. TDEE | Activity multiplier (1.2–1.9) | Maintenance at each activity level |
| 4. Goals | Deficit or surplus selection | Target calories for your goal |
Schofield vs Mifflin-St Jeor
Mifflin-St Jeor (1990)
Male:
BMR = (10 × kg) + (6.25 × cm)
− (5 × age) + 5
Female:
BMR = (10 × kg) + (6.25 × cm)
− (5 × age) − 161- kg
- Body weight in kilograms
- cm
- Height in centimeters
- age
- Age in years
Mifflin requires weight, height, age, and sex — and is validated mainly in adults. Schofield spans all ages with weight-only inputs, making it useful for children and WHO-style references. For healthy adults when height is known, Mifflin is often the site default; compare both at ages 15+ when height is entered. Neither replaces individual calibration.
Schofield vs Harris-Benedict
Harris-Benedict (revised 1984)
Male:
BMR = 88.362 + (13.397 × kg)
+ (4.799 × cm) − (5.677 × age)
Female:
BMR = 447.593 + (9.247 × kg)
+ (3.098 × cm) − (4.330 × age)- kg
- Body weight in kilograms
- cm
- Height in centimeters
- age
- Age in years
Harris-Benedict uses weight, height, age, and sex without pediatric age bands. Schofield was designed for lifecycle energy requirement work including children. For adults, equations often land in a similar ballpark; divergence matters most at younger or older ages.
Schofield vs WHO/FAO/UNU
The weight-only Schofield equations are the BMR component of the 1985 WHO/FAO/UNU framework. The 2001 FAO consultation evaluated newer ethnic-specific alternatives (e.g., Henry equations) but retained Schofield Table 5.2 for broad use, while noting equations were derived largely from Western Europe and North America — they may overestimate BMR in some other populations.
TDEE estimate error comes from two stacked layers — and the second is usually bigger in practice.
Layer 1: BMR formula error
Mifflin-St Jeor predicts resting metabolic rate within ~10% for roughly 82% of non-obese adults and ~70% of obese adults (Frankenfield et al., 2005). That is ±150–200 kcal for many people.
Layer 2: Activity multiplier error
Picking one activity bucket too high adds ~200–400 kcal/day. Most people remember gym time but underestimate desk hours. Take our Activity Level Quiz if unsure.
Indirect calorimetry remains the gold standard for measured resting energy. Predictive equations — including Schofield — are starting estimates with geographic and individual variation. WHO PAL categories (1.40–2.40) used in clinical factorial methods differ from this site's fitness activity multipliers (1.2–1.9); both are explained in our methodology.
Clinical & Pediatric Context (Informational)
Schofield appears in hospital dietetics workflows, pediatric nutrition references, and research — but this calculator is for personal awareness and education only, not prescribing enteral feeds, ICU targets, or child meal plans. For infants and children, work with qualified healthcare professionals.
Common Mistakes
- Using the wrong age band manually — this tool selects the band from your age automatically.
- Expecting height to change Schofield BMR — weight-only equations ignore height unless you use cross-checks.
- Confusing BMR with TDEE — multiply by activity before planning deficits or surpluses.
- Assuming universal accuracy — validate with weight trends; equations may not fit all ethnic groups equally.
Myths vs Facts
Myth
Schofield always beats Mifflin for adults.
Evidence-based view
Frankenfield (2005) and others often favor Mifflin for general adults when height is known. Schofield’s strength is age-spanning, weight-only WHO workflows.
Myth
BMR and REE are always different numbers here.
Evidence-based view
Schofield outputs one predictive resting-energy estimate; terminology differs by protocol, not by a second formula in this tool.
Myth
Schofield is only for children.
Evidence-based view
It covers all age bands through 60+ — pediatric support is the differentiator vs many fitness calculators, not the only use case.
Myth
Bed rest equals sedentary (1.2).
Evidence-based view
WHO PAL and clinical bed-rest factors differ from fitness multipliers. Use activity descriptions honestly and calibrate from trends.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the schofield calculator.
Research & References
Each citation below supports a specific claim on this page. We explain relevance so you can verify the science yourself.
- National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine — Factors Affecting Energy Expenditure and Requirements. Dietary Reference Intakes for Energy — NCBI Bookshelf, 2023.Defines TDEE components (REE, TEF, PAEE) and explains why population equations cannot capture individual metabolic variation.
- Mifflin MD, St Jeor ST, Hill LA, Scott BJ, Daugherty SA, Koh YO — A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. Am J Clin Nutr. 1990;51(2):241-247, 1990.Primary source for the Mifflin-St Jeor BMR equation used as the default in this calculator.
- Roza AM, Shizgal HM — The Harris Benedict equation reevaluated: resting energy requirements and the body cell mass. Am J Clin Nutr. 1984;40(1):168-182, 1984.Source for the revised Harris-Benedict coefficients — default equation on this calculator page.
- McArdle WD, Katch FI, Katch VL — Exercise Physiology: Energy, Nutrition, and Human Performance. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 7th edition, 2010.Textbook reference for the lean-body-mass-based Katch-McArdle resting energy estimate.
- Frankenfield D, Roth-Yousey L, Compher C — Comparison of Predictive Equations for Resting Metabolic Rate in Healthy Nonobese and Obese Adults. J Am Diet Assoc. 2005;105(5):775-789, 2005.Meta-analysis showing Mifflin-St Jeor within ~10% of measured RMR for ~82% of non-obese and ~70% of obese adults — supports honest accuracy framing.
- Jager R, Kerksick CM, Campbell BI, et al. — International Society of Sports Nutrition Position Stand: Protein and Exercise. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2017;14:20, 2017.Supports 1.6–2.2 g/kg/day protein ranges for many exercising adults — basis for protein and macro guidance.
- Schofield WN — Predicting basal metabolic rate, new standards and review of previous work. Hum Nutr Clin Nutr. 1985;39 Suppl 1:5-41, 1985.Primary source for the Schofield age- and sex-specific BMR predictive equations (weight-only kcal/day form retained in FAO/WHO Table 5.2).
- FAO/WHO/UNU — Human Energy Requirements — Report of a Joint FAO/WHO/UNU Expert Consultation. FAO Food and Nutrition Technical Report Series, 2001.Table 5.2 Schofield (1985) kcal/day coefficients by age and sex; documents retention of these equations and notes on geographic/ethnic applicability limits.