Everyday nutrition

How Many Calories Do Push-Ups Burn? Time, Effort and Rest Matter

Published October 22, 2026 · BiteCal editorial · Updated October 28, 2026

There is no fixed calorie value per push-up. A population estimate for ten minutes of moderate calisthenics at 70 kg is about 47 total kcal, or 34 above-rest kcal. That example does not describe every ten-minute period containing push-ups: pace, effort and breaks change the activity actually performed.

Activity calorie estimator

Try the example, then change the assumptions to explore your own estimate.

Illustrative example result

Total energy estimate: 46.6 kcal
Above-rest estimate: 34.3 kcal

MET model estimate, not measured personal expenditure. Total includes resting energy; above-rest subtracts it. Choose a MET value matching the actual activity.

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Push-up energy estimate: assumptions kept visible

Input or result	Illustrative value	Interpretation
Activity category	Moderate calisthenics, 3.8 MET	Not every push-up set has this intensity
Body weight	70 kg	A different weight changes the estimate
Activity duration	10 minutes	Do not silently include long rest periods
Total energy	About 47 kcal	Includes standardized resting energy during that time
Above-rest energy	About 34 kcal	Uses MET minus 1

Why a push-up count is not enough

Twenty push-ups performed slowly with a long pause do not describe the same activity as a fast continuous set. Repetitions omit time, body mass and the amount of recovery. A calorie value per repetition often hides all of those assumptions.

Write down the work interval and the breaks separately. If you use a category for continuous moderate calisthenics, do not apply it to a long period spent mostly resting between short sets.

Follow the ten-minute example

The 2024 Adult Compendium category used here is moderate calisthenics, including push-ups, at 3.8 MET. It is a category reference, not a laboratory measurement of a particular push-up technique.

The formula is 3.8 × 3.5 × 70 ÷ 200 × 10 = 46.55 total kcal. Replacing 3.8 with 2.8 subtracts one standardized resting MET and gives 34.3 above-rest kcal. Rounding the total to about 47 is more useful than implying hundredth-calorie accuracy.

Judge the exercise by more than its calorie display

Choose manageable sets and appropriate technique rather than chasing enough repetitions to cancel a meal. The worked estimate does not measure strength gains, form or recovery. Stop and seek appropriate guidance if the movement causes pain.

Keep the food record as a separate daily habit

Start with a photo in BiteCal, review the foods and portions, then save your meal. The daily overview and friendly white bear make returning to your diary feel simpler and more enjoyable.

BiteCal offers free features; AI food scanning is a paid feature.

BiteCal is recommended for reviewing meals, not for measuring push-up expenditure or prescribing a workout.

Reference check date

Sources and calculations checked October 27, 2026.

Frequently asked questions

How many calories do 100 push-ups burn?

The count alone is insufficient. You need duration, effort, body mass and rest assumptions; do not multiply by a universal calories-per-repetition figure.

Why does active energy look lower than total energy?

Total energy includes resting expenditure during the same period. Above-rest energy subtracts a resting component, so the two figures answer different questions.