Calories burned in 30 minutes for people of three different weights

swimming-water-aerobics-Ridofranz-iStock

Happy smiling mature man and old woman cycling on a swimming bike in swimming pool. Happy and healthy senior people enjoying swimming with young woman. Fitness class doing aqua aerobics on exercise bikes in a swimming pool. Photo Credit: iStock

Calories burned chart by activity and weight, including walking, sports, and everyday household activities

The table below lists the calories burned by doing dozens of activities listed by category (such as gym activities, training, and sports activities, home repair, etc.) for 30 minutes. Activities and exercises include walking (casual, race, and everything in between), swimming, jogging, yoga, and even watching TV and sleeping. In each category, activities are listed from least to most calories burned.

Calories burned in 30-minute activities
Gym Activities125-pound person155-pound person185-pound person
Weight Lifting: general90112133
Aerobics: water120149178
Stretching, Hatha Yoga120149178
Calisthenics: moderate135167200
Riders: general150186222
Aerobics: low impact165205244
Stair Step Machine: general180223266
Teaching aerobics180223266
Weight Lifting: vigorous180223266
Aerobics, Step: low impact210260311
Aerobics: high impact210260311
Bicycling, Stationary: moderate210260311
Rowing, Stationary: moderate210260311
Calisthenics: vigorous240298355
Circuit Training: general240298355
Rowing, Stationary: vigorous255316377
Elliptical Trainer: general270335400
Ski Machine: general285353422
Aerobics, Step: high impact300372444
Bicycling, Stationary: vigorous315391466
    
Training and Sport Activities   
Billiards7593111
Bowling90112133
Dancing: slow, waltz, foxtrot90112133
Frisbee90112133
Volleyball: non-competitive, general play90112133
Water Volleyball90112133
Archery: non-hunting105130155
Golf: using cart105130155
Hang Gliding105130155
Curling120149178
Gymnastics: general120149178
Horseback Riding: general120149178
Tai Chi120149178
Volleyball: competitive, gymnasium play120149178
Walking: 3.5 mph (17 min/mi)120149178
Badminton: general135167200
Walking: 4 mph (15 min/mi)135167200
Kayaking150186222
Skateboarding150186222
Snorkeling150186222
Softball: general play150186222
Walking: 4.5 mph (13 min/mi)150186222
Whitewater: rafting, kayaking150186222
Dancing: disco, ballroom, square165205244
Golf: carrying clubs165205244
Dancing: Fast, ballet, twist180223266
Fencing180223266
Hiking: cross-country180223266
Skiing: downhill180223266
Swimming: general180223266
Walk/Jog: jog <10 min.180223266
Water Skiing180223266
Wrestling180223266
Basketball: wheelchair195242289
Race Walking195242289
Ice Skating: general210260311
Racquetball: casual, general210260311
Rollerblade Skating210260311
Scuba or skin diving210260311
Sledding, luge, toboggan210260311
Soccer: general210260311
Tennis: general210260311
Basketball: playing a game240298355
Bicycling: 12-13.9 mph240298355
Football: touch, flag, general240298355
Hockey: field & ice240298355
Rock Climbing: rappelling240298355
Running: 5 mph (12 min/mile)240298355
Running: pushing wheelchair, marathon wheeling240298355
Skiing: cross-country240298355
Snow Shoeing240298355
Swimming: backstroke240298355
Volleyball: beach240298355
Bicycling: BMX or mountain255316377
Boxing: sparring270335400
Football: competitive270335400
Orienteering270335400
Running: 5.2 mph (11.5 min/mile)270335400
Running: cross-country270335400
Bicycling: 14-15.9 mph300372444
Martial Arts: judo, karate, kickbox300372444
Racquetball: competitive300372444
Rope Jumping300372444
Running: 6 mph (10 min/mile)300372444
Swimming: breaststroke300372444
Swimming: laps, vigorous300372444
Swimming: treading, vigorous300372444
Water Polo300372444
Rock Climbing: ascending330409488
Running: 6.7 mph (9 min/mile)330409488
Swimming: butterfly330409488
Swimming: crawl330409488
Bicycling: 16-19 mph360446533
Handball: general360446533
Running: 7.5 mph (8 min/mile)375465555
Running: 8.6 mph (7 min/mile)435539644
Bicycling: > 20 mph495614733
Running: 10 mph (6 min/mile)495614733
    
Outdoor Activities   
Planting seedlings, shrubs120149178
Raking Lawn120149178
Sacking grass or leaves120149178
Gardening: general135167200
Mowing Lawn: push, power135167200
Operate Snow Blower: walking135167200
Plant trees135167200
Gardening: weeding139172205
Carrying & stacking wood150186222
Digging, spading dirt150186222
Laying sod / crushed rock150186222
Mowing Lawn: push, hand165205244
Chopping & splitting wood180223266
Shoveling Snow: by hand180223266
    
Home & Daily Life Activities   
Sleeping192328
Watching TV232833
Reading: sitting344250
Standing in line384756
Cooking7593111
Child-care: bathing, feeding, etc.105130155
Food Shopping: with cart105130155
Moving: unpacking105130155
Playing w/kids: moderate effort120149178
Heavy Cleaning: wash car, windows135167200
Child games: hop-scotch, jacks, etc.150186222
Playing w/kids: vigorous effort150186222
Moving: household furniture180223266
Moving: carrying boxes210260311
    
Home Repair   
Auto Repair90112133
Wiring and Plumbing90112133
Carpentry: refinish furniture135167200
Lay or remove carpet/tile135167200
Paint, paper, remodel: inside135167200
Cleaning rain gutters150186222
Hanging storm windows150186222
Paint house: outside150186222
Carpentry: outside180223266
Roofing180223266
    
Occupational Activities   
Computer Work415161
Light Office Work455667
Sitting in Meetings496072
Desk Work536578
Sitting in Class536578
Truck Driving: sitting607489
Bartending/Server7593111
Heavy Equip. Operator7593111
Police Officer7593111
Theater Work90112133
Welding90112133
Carpentry Work105130155
Coaching Sports120149178
Masseur, standing120149178
Construction, general165205244
Coal Mining180223266
Horse Grooming180223266
Masonry210260311
Forestry, general240298355
Heavy Tools, not power240298355
Steel Mill: general240298355
Firefighting360446533
Published: July 2004

ARCHIVED CONTENT: As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date each article was posted or last reviewed. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinicians.