Calculators

Keto Macro Calculator

By Ted KallmyerUpdated December 13, 2023

Calculate your ideal keto macro ratios for weight loss with this personalized calculator.

Age

Biological Sex

Current Weight

Height

Formula ?

Activity Level

Weight Goal

Carbohydrate
Protein
Fat

Adjust Meals Per Day

Adjust Protein Amount

Now What?

Sticking to a Keto diet is challenging. We recommend that all beginners follow a structured meal plan until you get the hang of it.

 

Is a keto diet right for you?

A keto diet can be difficult to stick to, but research suggests that it can help you lose weight faster than other diets.

  • Are you training for fitness competitions?
  • Are you losing weight for an event but have a shorter time window?
  • Are you unable to lose weight eating normal levels of carbohydrates.

The Keto is a good option.

How does keto work?

  1. Keto became popular among bodybuilders to cut fat before competitions.
  2. When you’re on a ketogenic diet, your body will use fat as its primary energy source.
  3. You achieve this by limiting carbs and eating more fat.
  4. Without carbohydrates, the body converts food and body fat into ketones for energy.

Are calories still important with keto?

Yes. A calorie deficit is still required for weight loss.

How do I calculate macros for keto?

To calculate your keto diet macros, you must establish your estimated TDEE (total daily energy expenditure).

Your TDEE accurately measures how much energy you expend each day (at rest and when exercising).

The calculator above measures your TDEE and then creates the optimum macro ratio.

Setting a Calorie Deficit

To achieve fat loss, you need a calorie deficit.

We recommend 20% of your daily calories.

This is automatically applied when setting the Weight Goal to Lose in the above calculator.

Achieving Ketosis

Taking your body into ketosis requires very low levels of carbs.

The process can also be induced with Keto salts. However, they should be consumed in moderation.

Testing for Ketosis

You don’t have to guess whether or not your body is in ketosis.

There are several over-the-counter testing methods to determine your ketosis status.

  1. Urine keto test strips
  2. Blood ketone testers

You want to be in the range of 0.5 – 3.0 for blood ketones with the optimal fat-burning target of 2.0.

How many carbs do I eat on the Keto Diet?

The keto diet isn’t carb-free but just low in carbs.

5% of your total daily calories should be in the form of carbs.

This is 20-30 grams of carbohydrates per day for most people, depending on your stats and exercise-adjusted TDEE.

Net carbs

Carbs that don’t produce energy, like certain types of fiber, do not count toward your totals.

How much protein do I eat?

No more than 0.8 grams per pound of body weight should be consumed on a keto diet.

The calculator default is set at .7 grams per pound.

Adjust lower or higher if it’s challenging to reach your macro targets.

Some macro calculators recommend higher fat (but less protein). However, protein is essential for muscle repair and preservation.

How much fat do I eat on Keto?

After calculating carbs and protein, your remaining calories should come from fat.

Example: A moderately active woman, 30 years old, 5’5″, and 180 pounds, would have a weight loss TDEE of 1908 calories.

Here are her keto macros:

  • Protein: 126 grams (27%)
  • Fat: 145 grams (69%)
  • Carbs: 24 grams (5%)

How much fiber do I need while doing keto?

Fiber is essential for a healthy digestive system.

You still should consume green leafy and other low-carb veggies while on the keto diet.

Fiber supplements may be necessary. Psyllium husks are an excellent natural fiber choice if you aren’t getting enough.

The essential Keto-Friendly foods

These foods will help you reach your keto macros.

  • Avocado
  • Ground flax seed
  • Coconut oil
  • Olive oil
  • Grassfed butter
  • Dark meat chicken
  • Eggs
  • Steak
  • Pork
  • Lamb
  • Bacon
  • Sour cream
  • Hard cheeses
  • Nuts (watch the carbs)
  • Seeds (watch the carbs)
  • Peanut Butter
  • Almond butter
  • Leafy greens and other low-carb veggies like cucumber, celery, broccoli, cauliflower, sprouts, etc.

Symptoms you may experience with a ketogenic diet

There is an adjustment period when starting a ketogenic diet. You may experience some of the following symptoms:

  1. Brain fog
    Your brain loves glucose and consumes a lot of it.
  2. Lack of energy
    Feeling tired and lethargic is an adjustment to using fat for energy instead of sugar.
  3. Lack of strength during workouts
    You may tire more quickly without carbs replenishing your muscles’ glycogen supplies.
  4. Cravings
    Your brain will not be happy and will want you to eat carbs. Be prepared for some intense cravings when you start.

Do you have to track macros on keto?

It’s possible to go into ketosis without tracking macros, but tracking macros ensures the following three things:

  1. You aren’t eating too many carbs.
  2. You are eating the right amount of protein.
  3. You are eating the right amount of calories for weight loss.

How long should I be on the keto diet?

Keto dieting is suitable for short-term fat loss but is difficult to sustain long-term.

After reaching your initial weight loss goals, you should transition to a normalized set of macros.

Don’t know where to start?

  • You can get started in 60 minutes with the right app and plan.
  • Keto cycle has personalized meal plans and step-by-step instructions.
View article sources

Sources

  • Yancy, W. S., Olsen, M. K., Guyton, J. R., Bakst, R. P., & Westman, E. C. (2004). A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet versus a low-fat diet to treat obesity and hyperlipidemia. A randomized, controlled trial. Annals of internal medicine, 140(10), 769-777. Ref
  • Mifflin, M. D., St Jeor, S. T., Hill, L. A., Scott, B. J., Daugherty, S. A., & Koh, Y. O. (1990). A new predictive equation for resting energy expenditure in healthy individuals. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 51 (2), 241-247. URL http://www.ajcn.org/content/51/2/241.abstract
  • Yancy, W. S., Foy, M., Chalecki, A. M., Vernon, M. C., & Westman, E. C. (2005). A low-carbohydrate, ketogenic diet to treat type 2 diabetes. Nutrition & Metabolism, 2(1), 34. Study link

87 Comments

  • suesanne

    hi i’m trying to be skinny to fit in a size 2 of clothing i need to weigh 102 pounds

    Reply
    • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

      Hi Suesanne, keto isn’t always appropriate for everyone. What’s your starting weight?

      Reply
  • Michelle

    I heard of this Diet f4om a friend and it has changed my life. No other dieting has ever worked. I started on September 1st, 2022 at 254lbs & today on December 10, 2022 I am 221 lbs💙. I don’t work out aside from walking when I can, but have realized that you should Workout, because even though we don’t like out over weight appearance, To Me I need to workout because you will fill MORE Energetic once the weight starts to drop🎉🎈🎉 but our skin sags😵‍💫. So stay faithful on your Keto Diet, only weigh yourself once a week and you feel so good seeing the lbs diffrence🙂. Stay with it, and stay faithful, cause once you see the weight drop, your body and mind WANTS TO & MAKES US STAY FAITHFUL.

    Reply
  • Carol Wroblewski

    I am using a cookbook on beginners keto with a meal plan. Food is great but every meal is work.not losing much. Feel like there is too much fat. Not sure of my macros

    Reply
    • James (Moderator)

      Carol, keto can be hard going, and difficult to stick to. Have you considered a simpler macro-based approach, where you don’t need to heavily restrict carbs?

      Reply
    • Hillary

      Be careful using cookbooks and trusting their carbs. The carbs depend on the brands of the products you use in the recipes. So, use the recipe as a guideline, but I would do the math for net carbs bases on your labels.

      Reply
      • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

        So true, Hillary. Net carb info can be really inaccurate.

        Reply
  • Brandi

    Why are you keto macros for fat lower than 70% most keto diets have the protein around 25% and fat at 70?

    Reply
    • James (Moderator)

      Because protein is not set at a once-size-fits-all percentage. It is set according to body weight. Remaining energy intake is from fat. So sometimes fat will be < 70%.

      Reply
  • Shauna Lee Crawford

    Thank you for this calculator. I am using it sent a link to my sister. So far I have lost 4 lbs. I notice as my weight and bmi change so does my caloric and macros. Great tool!

    Reply
    • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

      Hi Shauna, So glad that you find it helpful and great job on your progress so far! Keep up the great work. 🙂

      Reply
  • Tasha

    Is the keto diet good for a person that needs to lose 200 plus pounds?

    Reply
    • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

      Hi Tasha, thanks for your question. Will you lose weight on keto? Most likely, but is it a sustainable way to eat long-term enough to get you to your goal weight? Probably not. This is why a teach and preach the moderate approach to weight loss that allows you to eat normal macro ratios but in levels that will allow you to lose fat. The balanced approach is the way to go in my expert opinion.

      Reply
  • Helene Kirschbaum

    215 grams of protein a day??? Isn’t that kinda high?? The last time I did this I used Chronometer and my protein macro was 110 grams….what could account for such a discrepancy?

    Reply
    • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

      Hi Helene, This calculator bases protein on your body weight, so if you have a lot of fat tissue weight it skews the calculation. Use the low protein setting.

      Reply
  • Jessi

    I read the macros for normal diets and saw it’s different for those who are obese.
    Does the calculator above work for obese people?
    I’m a female, 5’6 and have about 120lbs to lose just to be in a normal range for bmi

    Reply
    • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

      Hi Jessi, Unfortunately, all online calculators will skew if you have more than 40-50 pounds of fat tissue. Fat tissue is low metabolic tissue and TDEE formulas can’t tell the difference between that and high metabolic tissue such as muscle. I’m more than happy to calculate everything for you and consider all factors. Use the custom macros option on my coaching page and indicate keto on your macros form you’ll be asked to complete after purchase.

      Reply
  • alyssa vining

    Need 20lb more to lose

    Reply
  • Melody

    I should be on a Low carb and Low sugar diet. ? I was born with epilepsy. The convulsions stopped when I was 12 yrs. I am now 52 yrs. I am 5 ft 6 inches. Women. 127 lbs. I don’t need to lose weight. I am actively. Working 12 to 24 hours a week. It varies. My diet has been frozen veggies or fresh. Beef fish no skin sweet potato nuts jello almond milk. I ride a bike 3 times a week 2 hrs each trip

    Reply
  • Neifa

    Im a massage therapist. Is that considered moderately active? I also workout 2xs per week. When the gym was open. Haven’t been in since 11/18/20 but they just opened up again so im going to start again.

    Reply
    • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

      Hi Neifa, It probably depends on how many massages you do per day?

      Reply
  • Roxanna

    Hello, my doctor told me that my body was starting to posture too much insulin and told me that I needed to loose weight for help this, is keto good for me to do? Everything else like sugar, cholesterol, and etc is fine it’s just the insulin part. I’m 16 going on to 17 in July, about 5’4 at a weight of 199.

    Reply
    • Ted Kallmyer (Certified Macro Coach)

      Hi Roxanna, I think you should do a more balanced approach by calculating your energy needs, your optimal macro levels, and then reducing your consumption by about 20%. Here’s my calculator that can help you get started. Flexible Dieting Macro Calculator

      Reply

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