What is the TDEE for a 120 lb woman?

The estimated TDEE for a lightly active 120 lb woman of average height and age 35 is approximately 1684 kcal/day. Sedentary would be 1469 kcal and very active would be 2112 kcal.

Calorie Guide · Imperial

Daily Calories for 120 lb Women

Q: How many calories should a 120 lb woman eat to lose weight?

A 120 lb woman who is lightly active should eat approximately 1184 kcal/day to lose about 1 lb per week. This is a 500 kcal deficit from the estimated TDEE of 1684 kcal.

Q: How many calories to maintain weight at 120 lbs?

To maintain weight at 120 lbs, a lightly active woman needs approximately 1684 kcal/day. This varies with activity level — from 1469 kcal (sedentary) to 2112 kcal (very active).

Exact calorie targets for 120 lb womans — weight loss, maintenance and muscle gain.

Calorie Needs: 120 lbs, Age 35

1225

BMR (at rest)

1469

Sedentary TDEE

1684
Lightly active TDEE

1898

Moderately active

1184

Weight loss target

1684

Maintenance

1984

Muscle gain target

How Many Calories Does a 120 lb Woman Need?

Using the Mifflin-St Jeor equation — the gold standard in nutrition science — a 120 lb woman (54.4 kg) of average height burns approximately 1225 kcal/day at rest (BMR). With typical daily activity, total calorie expenditure (TDEE) ranges from 1469 to 2112 kcal/day depending on activity level.

Current BMI at average height (5'4"): 20.6 — ✅ Healthy weight.

Calorie Targets by Goal

Goal	Daily Calories	Expected Result
🔵 Aggressive weight loss	934 kcal	~1.5 lbs/week
📉 Weight loss	1184 kcal	~1 lb/week
✅ Maintenance	1684 kcal	Weight stable
💪 Lean bulk	1984 kcal	~0.5–0.75 lbs/week
🏋️ Aggressive bulk	2184 kcal	~1 lb/week

Calorie Needs by Activity Level

Activity Level	Description	Daily Calories
Sedentary	Desk job, minimal movement	1469 kcal
Lightly active	1–3 workouts/week	1684 kcal
Moderately active	3–5 workouts/week	1898 kcal
Very active	Hard training 6–7 days/week	2112 kcal

Macronutrient Breakdown at 1684 kcal (Maintenance)

Macro	% of Calories	Grams/day	Calories
Protein	30%	126 g	504 kcal
Carbohydrates	40%	168 g	672 kcal
Fat	30%	56 g	504 kcal

For weight loss at 1184 kcal/day, increase protein to 35% (104 g) to preserve muscle during the deficit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories should a 120 lb woman eat to lose weight?A lightly active 120 lb woman should eat approximately 1184 kcal/day to lose about 1 lb per week. This represents a 500 kcal deficit from the estimated TDEE of 1684 kcal. Use our TDEE calculator for a personalized number.

How many calories to maintain weight at 120 lbs?For a 120 lb woman, maintenance calories range from 1469 kcal (sedentary) to 2112 kcal (very active). The lightly active estimate of 1684 kcal/day applies to most people with 1–3 workouts per week.

Does calorie need change as weight changes?Yes — your TDEE decreases as you lose weight. Recalculate every 4–6 weeks during a diet. Losing 10 lbs can reduce your TDEE by ~70–100 kcal/day, slowly shrinking your deficit if you don't adjust.

Related Weight Guides

Sources

WHO CDC