Adults only (18+)

How Many Calories Can You Burn Sleeping? Understanding Your Body’s Energy Use at Rest

Sleeping might seem like a completely inactive time, but your body is hard at work maintaining vital functions such as breathing, circulation, cell repair and temperature regulation. All these activities require energy, meaning you do burn calories while you sleep. The exact amount varies depending on several personal factors.

Average Calorie Burn During Sleep

On average, adults burn between 50 and 70 calories per hour while sleeping. Over a typical 7 to 8-hour night, this translates to roughly 350 to 560 calories burned. This range depends on your body weight, age, sex and metabolic rate. People with more muscle mass tend to burn more calories even at rest because muscle tissue requires more energy to maintain than fat.

Factors That Influence Calorie Expenditure

Your basal metabolic rate, or BMR, is the main driver of calories burned during sleep. BMR is the energy your body uses to perform essential functions while at rest. Factors such as genetics, hormone levels and overall health can affect BMR. Sleep stages also play a role. For instance, during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, brain activity increases, which can slightly raise calorie burning.

Why Calorie Burn While Sleeping Matters

Though the calories burned during sleep represent a small portion of your total daily energy expenditure, good quality sleep supports hormone balance and metabolism. This in turn helps regulate appetite and body weight, making restful sleep an important part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In Summary

Sleeping burns a moderate amount of calories typically around 50 to 70 calories an hour, influenced by individual factors. While it is not a substitute for physical activity, sleep contributes to your overall energy balance and wellbeing.