Calories Burned Swimming Calculator
Estimate how many calories you burn during your swim session.
Your results will be displayed here.
Swimming for Weight Loss
Swimming is an excellent full-body workout that's easy on the joints, making it a great option for people of all ages and fitness levels. It not only burns a significant amount of calories but also builds lean muscle, which in turn boosts your metabolism.
The number of calories burned while swimming depends on your body weight, the duration of your swim, and the intensity of your stroke. This calculator uses MET values to give you an accurate estimate of your calorie expenditure.
MET Values of Different Swimming Strokes
A MET (Metabolic Equivalent of Task) value represents the energy cost of a physical activity. Here are the MET values for various swimming styles and water activities used in this calculator:
| Activity | MET Value |
|---|---|
| Backstroke | 9.8 |
| Breaststroke | 10.0 |
| Butterfly | 13.0 |
| Crawl / Freestyle (moderate) | 10.0 |
| Crawl / Freestyle (vigorous) | 12.0 |
| Sidestroke | 6.0 |
| Swimming leisurely | 7.0 |
| Water aerobics | 4.0 |
| Treading water (moderate) | 3.5 |
| Treading water (vigorous) | 10.0 |
The formula to calculate the calories burned is: Calories/min = (MET × Body Weight in kg × 3.5) / 200
Frequently Asked Questions
Which swimming stroke burns the most calories?
The butterfly is the most demanding stroke and burns the most calories, with a MET value of 13.0. This is followed by a vigorous freestyle or crawl.
Is swimming better than running for weight loss?
Both are excellent exercises for burning calories. Running may burn slightly more calories per hour, but swimming is a full-body workout that is much easier on the joints. The best exercise is the one you enjoy and can stick with consistently.