Macro Recommendations

Protein: 1.6–2.2g per kg of bodyweight is the general range for muscle building. Higher end if cutting calories.

Fat: 0.8–1.2g per kg. Essential for hormone production. Never drop below 0.6g/kg.

Carbohydrates: Fill the remaining calories. Fuel for training and performance.

How this macro calculator works

The calculator first estimates your maintenance calories (TDEE) with the Mifflin-St Jeor equation and your activity multiplier. It then adjusts that figure for your goal and divides the calories into protein, fat and carbohydrates.

StepWhat we use
CaloriesTDEE × 1.12 to build muscle, × 1.00 to maintain, × 0.82 to lose fat
Protein2.0 g per kg of bodyweight (2.2 g/kg when losing fat)
Fat1.0 g per kg of bodyweight
CarbohydratesRemaining calories ÷ 4 (shown with a 50 g minimum)

Macros for muscle gain and for weight loss

Muscle gain: a modest surplus (about 10–15%) supports training and recovery without adding more fat than necessary. Weight loss: a deficit of roughly 15–20% with higher protein helps preserve muscle. These are starting points — track your weight for two to three weeks and adjust by 100–150 calories if it is not moving the way you want.

Limitations

Want to see how this fits into a training plan? Read about the best workout split for your goal. Calculate your baseline separately with the TDEE calculator or check the BMI calculator. See how our calculators are built.