How Many Calories Am I Burning? (Infographic)

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Infographic: How many calories are burned by common activities.
Common household chores may not burn as many calories as you think. (Image credit: by Karl Tate, Infographics Artist)

People who classify housework as exercise tend to be heavier than those who perform traditional exercise, a new study has found. It could be that some people overestimate how many calories they burn doing chores.

Calories burned in 30 minutes by an individual weighing 196 pounds / 164 pounds

 

Running, treadmill: 1,039 / 870

Running: 842 / 705

Firefighting: 561 / 470

Rock climbing: 515 / 431

Swimming: 515 / 431

Cycling (stationary bike, vigorous): 491 / 411

Carrying boxes upstairs: 421 / 352

Walking (5mph / 8 kph): 374 / 315

Aerobics : 304 / 254

Mowing lawn (hand mower): 281 / 235

Mowing lawn (power mower): 257 / 215

Walking (brisk): 234 / 196

Dancing: 210 / 176

Gardening: 187 / 157

Trombone playing: 164 / 137

Vacuuming: 164 / 137

Light cleaning: 140 / 98

Cooking: 140 / 98

Piano playing: 140 / 98

Child care: 140 / 98

Household tasks: 140 / 98

Making the bed: 94 / 78

Driving 94 / 78

Standing, talking on the phone: 84 / 70

Sexual activity: 70 / 59

Lying quietly: 47 / 39

Sleeping: 42 / 35

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Karl Tate
Karl Tate
LiveScience Infographic Artist
Karl has been Purch's infographics specialist across all editorial properties since 2010.  Before joining Purch, Karl spent 11 years at the New York headquarters of The Associated Press, creating news graphics for use around the world in newspapers and on the web.  He has a degree in graphic design from Louisiana State University.