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Calculate calories burned doing household chores, cleaning, gardening, and domestic activities.
Vacuuming carpets and floors
Calories Burned
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calories
Calories per Minute
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Activity Intensity
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This calculator uses MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) values for common household activities:
Formula: Calories = MET × Weight (kg) × Duration (hours)
These activities count toward your daily physical activity goals and can contribute significantly to calorie expenditure and fitness when done regularly.
Yes! Housework is considered moderate-intensity physical activity. The CDC counts housework toward the recommended 150 minutes of weekly moderate activity. An hour of vigorous cleaning or yard work can burn as many calories as a gym workout.
A 165-lb person burns approximately 160-380 calories per hour doing household chores, depending on the activity. Light cleaning burns ~160 cal/hr, moderate tasks like vacuuming burn ~220 cal/hr, and heavy activities like moving furniture burn ~380 cal/hr.
Yes, when combined with proper diet. Spending 2-3 hours daily on various household tasks can burn 400-1000 calories. Regular housework and yard work, combined with a caloric deficit, can contribute to weight loss of 1-2 lbs per week.
Moving furniture (6.0 METs) burns the most at ~380 cal/hour, followed by mowing lawn (5.5 METs) at ~345 cal/hour, and heavy gardening (5.0 METs) at ~315 cal/hour. These activities provide both cardio and strength benefits.
Vacuuming is a moderate-intensity activity (3.5 METs) that burns ~220 calories per hour while engaging arms, core, and legs. To maximize the workout, use long strokes, engage your core, add lunges, and vacuum at a brisk pace.
Increase intensity by: moving faster, adding squats and lunges, carrying items up stairs, scrubbing vigorously, doing multiple tasks in succession without breaks, and engaging core muscles throughout. Play upbeat music to naturally increase your pace.
Heavy gardening (digging, hauling, shoveling) provides resistance training benefits for arms, back, and core. While not equivalent to weightlifting, regular gardening builds functional strength. Combine with dedicated strength training for comprehensive fitness.
Yes, but be realistic. Count dedicated cleaning sessions where you're continuously active for 20+ minutes. Don't count light tidying or brief tasks. If using a fitness tracker, it may already include this activity in your daily total, so avoid double-counting.
This calculator provides estimates only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Actual calorie burn varies based on individual factors including age, gender, fitness level, metabolism, and activity intensity. Consult with a healthcare provider before significantly increasing physical activity, especially if you have pre-existing health conditions. Use proper lifting techniques and take breaks to prevent injury during household tasks.