Calories burned: Sitting (office work)
Desk sitting at light attention — the baseline to beat with movement breaks.
≈ 63 kcal in 30 min at 70 kg
Reviewed by the Exercise Calorie Calculator editorial team · · Method & sources
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Estimate only — not medical advice. Actual burn varies with fitness, body composition, effort and conditions.
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Sitting (office work) calorie chart
Estimated kcal for sitting (office work) (MET 1.8) by session length and body weight. Values are rounded estimates.
| Duration | 50 kg | 60 kg | 70 kg | 85 kg | 100 kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 min | 15 | 18 | 21 | 26 | 30 |
| 15 min | 23 | 27 | 32 | 38 | 45 |
| 20 min | 30 | 36 | 42 | 51 | 60 |
| 30 min | 45 | 54 | 63 | 77 | 90 |
| 45 min | 68 | 81 | 95 | 115 | 135 |
| 1 h | 90 | 108 | 126 | 153 | 180 |
| 1.5 h | 135 | 162 | 189 | 230 | 270 |
Imperial check: 154 lb ≈ 70 kg · 187 lb ≈ 85 kg · 220 lb ≈ 100 kg.
About this estimate
Sitting (office work) carries a MET of 1.8(light intensity) in the Compendium of Physical Activities — the research standard for energy-cost data (source database, see also our full methodology). The calculator uses:
calories = MET × weight (kg) × hours
So for a 70 kg person, one hour of sitting (office work) costs about126 kcal. Effort matters: going harder, adding hills, carrying load or rushing intervals all push the real number up; breaks and easy pacing pull it down.
How to burn more
- Add intervals — 1 minute hard, 2 minutes easy — to raise average intensity.
- Extend the session gradually; an extra 10 minutes adds ~21 kcal at 70 kg.
- Combine with a second activity — see the compare tray in the calculator above.
- Keep non-exercise movement high on rest days (walking, stairs, chores).
Estimate only — not medical advice. Real-world burn depends on fitness, body composition, age, weather and terrain.
Sitting (office work) calorie FAQ
How many calories does sitting (office work) burn in 30 minutes?
For a 70 kg (154 lb) person, sitting (office work) burns about 63 kcal in 30 minutes at its standard intensity (MET 1.8). Heavier people burn more, lighter people less — the chart below shows common weights.
How many calories does sitting (office work) burn in an hour?
About 126 kcal for a 70 kg person at MET 1.8. Double the time roughly doubles the burn, assuming steady effort throughout.
What is the MET of sitting (office work)?
The MET (metabolic equivalent of task) of sitting (office work) is 1.8 — light intensity. The formula is: calories = MET × weight(kg) × hours. Example at 70 kg: 1.8 × 70 × 1 h = 126 kcal.