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Driving Calories Burned Calculator

Calculate calories burned while driving based on your weight, activity type, and duration.

Enter your current body weight
Select your type of driving activity
How long you drove (15 min to 12 hours)
Calories Burned Driving Calculator

How Many Calories Does Driving Burn?

Different types of driving activities can burn anywhere from 60-180 calories per hour, depending on the type of vehicle and driving conditions. Let me break down the science behind calories burned while driving and show you how to calculate your energy expenditure!

How Different Types of Driving Affect Your Calorie Burn

Based on the Compendium of Physical Activities, here’s my breakdown of driving intensity levels:

  • Driving a Car (Sitting): 1.3 METs – Regular car, automatic transmission
  • Truck Driving (Delivery): 2.0 METs – Delivery truck, taxi, shuttle bus
  • Heavy Machinery: 6.0 METs – Building road, operating heavy equipment
  • Loading/Unloading: 6.5 METs – Truck driving with loading activities
  • Farming Equipment: 2.8 METs – Driving tractor or harvester
EXPERT TIP:

While driving itself burns minimal calories, you can increase your energy expenditure by maintaining good posture and engaging your core muscles!

Driving Calorie Burn Guide

Duration Regular Car
(1.3 MET)		 Delivery Truck
(2.0 MET)		 Heavy Machinery
(6.0 MET)		 Loading/Unloading
(6.5 MET)
30 minutes 39-45 calories 60-70 calories 180-210 calories 195-228 calories
60 minutes 78-91 calories 120-140 calories 360-420 calories 390-455 calories
90 minutes 117-137 calories 180-210 calories 540-630 calories 585-683 calories
← Slide to explore different activities →

Calories Burned by Specific Driving Activities

Activity Type MET Value Calories/Hour (70kg person) Key Factors
Regular Car Driving 1.3 78-91 cal/hr Minimal movement
Delivery Driving 2.0 120-140 cal/hr Frequent stops
Heavy Machinery 6.0 360-420 cal/hr Complex controls
Loading/Unloading 6.5 390-455 cal/hr Physical labor
Farm Equipment 2.8 168-196 cal/hr Varied terrain
← Slide for more activities →

*Calculations based on a 70kg person. Individual results vary based on weight, vehicle type, and driving conditions.

Calculate Your Driving Calorie Burn

Calories Burned = (MET × Weight(kg) × 3.5) ÷ 200 × Duration(min)

  • MET Value: Energy cost of driving (1.3-6.5 depending on activity)
  • Your Weight: Heavier individuals burn more calories
  • Duration: Total time spent driving
  • 3.5: Standard metabolic factor

FAQs

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Does manual transmission burn more calories than automatic?

Yes, driving a manual transmission vehicle typically burns slightly more calories due to the additional physical effort required for shifting gears and operating the clutch pedal.

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How can I increase calorie burn while driving?

While safety should always be your primary focus, you can increase calorie burn by maintaining good posture, engaging your core muscles, and taking regular breaks to stretch and move around during long trips.

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Why do truck drivers burn more calories than car drivers?

Truck drivers typically burn more calories due to additional physical activities like loading/unloading cargo, securing loads, performing vehicle checks, and operating larger vehicles that require more physical effort to control.

Related

References

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