INFOGRAPHIC

How Many Calories Are Burned During Everyday Activities?

By Amanda Doyle
Reviewed by Claudia Levi, R.N.
March 25, 2025
Everyday Activities That Burn Calories 50-100+ Calories Per Hour -Standing -Playing a musical instrument -Cooking dinner -Ironing clothes -Baking -Playing board games -Knitting or sewing 100-200+ Calories Per Hour -Doing laundry -Vacuuming -Pushing a stroller -Walking to work -Playing with a pet -Gardening -Raking or shoveling -Washing your car -Bowling -Dancing -Fishing -Tai chi -Shopping

Experts recommend that you get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise every week, but how you move your body when you’re not exercising can also have a significant influence on the calories you burn.

Experts may refer to the different types of calorie-burning activities as EAT and NEAT.

  • Exercise activity thermogenesis (EAT): The calories you burn from physical activity you do on purpose, like walking for exercise or taking a yoga class. EAT usually makes up about 15% to 30% of your total energy expenditure.

  • Non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT): The remainer of your daily calorie burn that comes from spontaneous activity rather than purposeful exercise.

Increasing your NEAT can help you burn more calories when you’re not working out:

  • For people who are mainly sedentary, NEAT accounts for just 6% to 10% of their total calories burned.
  • For those who are more active, NEAT may burn even more calories than their workout does, clocking in at 50% or more of their total energy expenditure.

Sound good? Here are activities that can keep you active and burning calories.

Activities That Burn 50-100+ Calories Per Hour

  • Standing or using a standing desk
  • Playing a musical instrument
  • Cooking dinner
  • Ironing clothes
  • Stretching
  • Baking
  • Playing board games
  • Knitting or sewing

Activities That Burn 100-200+ Calories Per Hour

At home:

  • Doing laundry
  • Organizing closets or the garage
  • Vacuuming
  • Painting a room
  • Cleaning

While You’re Out and About:

  • Taking the stairs
  • Pushing a stroller
  • Walking to work
  • Walking the dog

In the Yard:

  • Playing with pets
  • Gardening
  • Raking
  • Shoveling
  • Washing your car

Hobbies:

  • Bowling
  • Dancing
  • Frisbee
  • Fishing
  • Kayaking
  • Tai Chi
  • Shopping

Complement Your Exercise Routine

These activities are great ways to burn extra calories when you’re trying to manage your weight. Experts emphasize that daily activities that burn calories are not a replacement for getting regular exercise, however.

For best results when it comes to managing your weight and overall health, keep up your fitness routine — and find ways to move in your free time.