Calories Burned: Basketball
Basketball is a vigorous-intensity activity with a MET value of 6.5. A 155-lb (70 kg) person burns about 228 calories in 30 minutes and 457 in an hour. Adjust the weight and duration below for your exact number.
How to use this calculator
Basketball is pre-selected. Set your body weight and how long you exercised, and the calorie estimate updates instantly. You can also switch to any of 40+ other activities using the category buttons.
Understanding your basketball calorie burn
The estimate uses the MET formula: calories = MET × weight (kg) × hours. Basketball's MET of 6.5 means it burns 6.5× more energy than sitting at rest. It's classified as vigorous intensity — actual burn varies with your effort, fitness level, and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Calories burned: basketball by weight and duration
Calorie burn scales directly with body weight — the same session costs a heavier person more energy because they are moving more mass. All figures use basketball's MET value of 6.5.
| Duration | 125 lbs | 155 lbs | 185 lbs | 215 lbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 min | 92 cal | 114 cal | 136 cal | 158 cal |
| 30 min | 184 cal | 228 cal | 273 cal | 317 cal |
| 45 min | 276 cal | 343 cal | 409 cal | 475 cal |
| 60 min | 369 cal | 457 cal | 545 cal | 634 cal |
Common calorie targets
How long a 155-lb person needs to do basketball to hit common burn targets:
- ·Burn 100 calories: about 13 minutes
- ·Burn 250 calories: about 33 minutes
- ·Burn 500 calories: about 66 minutes
How basketball compares to other sports activities
Same duration, same 155-lb person — only the intensity (MET) changes:
| Activity | MET | 30 min at 155 lbs |
|---|---|---|
| Basketball | 6.5 | 228 cal |
| Soccer | 7 | 246 cal |
| Tennis | 7.3 | 257 cal |
| Golf (walking) | 4.3 | 151 cal |
| Volleyball | 4 | 141 cal |
| Martial arts | 10.3 | 362 cal |
| Boxing (sparring) | 9 | 316 cal |
Related calculators
Calories burned in other sports activities
Same calculator, different intensity — each page shows that activity's numbers by weight and duration.