Protein Intake Calculator

Find your optimal daily protein intake based on your weight, activity level, and fitness goals.

Free to use. Runs in your browser.

Enter your weight and activity level to see your daily protein target. Sedentary adults need 0.8 g per kg body weight; active adults and older adults benefit from 1.2 to 2.0 g per kg.

Calculate Protein Intake

Age

Gender

Male

Female

Weight

lbs

Your Goal

Educational Estimates Only: These calculations are approximations based on population-level formulas and may not accurately reflect your individual health status. Body composition varies significantly due to factors like muscle mass, bone density, hydration, and ethnicity. This is not medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalized assessment, diagnosis, or treatment decisions.

Why Protein Is the Most Important Macro for Almost Everyone

Of the three macronutrients, protein, carbs, and fat, protein is the one most people get wrong. Not because they eat too much, but because they eat too little. The government's minimum recommendation (0.8g per kg) is just that: a minimum to prevent deficiency. It's not an optimal amount for anyone who exercises, wants to lose fat, or is over 50.

Protein does three things that carbs and fat can't: it builds and repairs muscle tissue, it keeps you feeling full for hours (the most satiating macro), and it costs the most energy to digest, your body burns 20 to 30% of protein calories just processing it, compared to 5 to 10% for carbs and 0 to 3% for fat.

That's why every evidence-based nutrition plan puts protein first. Get your protein right, and the rest of your diet largely falls into place.

How Much Protein Do You Actually Need?

It depends on your goal, activity level, and age. Here's what the research supports:

Goal / Situation	Grams per kg	Grams per lb	Example (75 kg / 165 lb)
Sedentary adult (minimum)	0.8 g/kg	0.36 g/lb	60g
General fitness	1.2 to 1.4 g/kg	0.55 to 0.64 g/lb	90 to 105g
Muscle building	1.6 to 2.2 g/kg	0.73 to 1.0 g/lb	120 to 165g
Fat loss (calorie deficit)	1.6 to 2.4 g/kg	0.73 to 1.1 g/lb	120 to 180g
Endurance athlete	1.2 to 1.6 g/kg	0.55 to 0.73 g/lb	90 to 120g
Adults over 50	1.2 to 1.6 g/kg	0.55 to 0.73 g/lb	90 to 120g

What this means for you: If you exercise and want to lose fat, you need roughly double the government minimum. A 75 kg person dieting should aim for 120 to 180g of protein per day. That's the range where muscle preservation, satiety, and the thermic effect of food all work in your favour. Use our Macro Calculator to fit this into your total calorie budget.

Best Protein Sources (With Grams Per Serving)

Food	Serving Size	Protein	Calories
Chicken breast	150g cooked	46g	248
Greek yoghurt (0% fat)	200g	20g	118
Eggs	2 large	12g	140
Salmon fillet	150g cooked	39g	312
Whey protein shake	1 scoop (30g)	24g	120
Lentils (cooked)	200g	18g	230
Tofu (firm)	150g	18g	174
Cottage cheese	200g	22g	196

Quick maths: If you need 150g of protein per day, you could hit it with chicken breast at lunch (46g), salmon at dinner (39g), Greek yoghurt as a snack (20g), two eggs at breakfast (12g), and a protein shake (24g). That's 141g, and you'll pick up the last 10g from other foods like bread, rice, and vegetables.

Protein Timing: Does It Matter When You Eat It?

Short answer: your total daily intake matters far more than timing. But there are some evidence-based nuances worth knowing:

Spread It Across 3 to 5 Meals

Your body can only use about 25 to 40g of protein per meal for muscle building (the exact amount depends on your size and the protein source). Eating 100g in one meal won't harm you, but you'll get more muscle-building benefit from splitting it across meals.

Post-Workout Window

The "anabolic window" isn't as narrow as the supplement industry claims. You don't need protein within 30 minutes of training. But having 25 to 40g within 2 hours of exercise is a reasonable practice backed by research. A regular meal works just as well as a shake.

Related Health & Nutrition Tools

Macro CalculatorGet your full protein/carbs/fat split Calorie CalculatorFind your daily calorie target TDEE CalculatorCalculate total daily energy expenditure Weight Loss CalculatorPlan your deficit and timeline One Rep Max CalculatorProgramme your strength training Body Fat CalculatorEstimate your body fat percentage

Part of a workflow

Health & Fitness Workflow

Body baseline → Calories → Nutrition → Training → Progress. 13 tools free.

How to use this tool

Select your preferred unit system

Enter your age and gender

Input your current weight

Share this tool

Frequently Asked Questions

How much protein do I need per day?

It depends on your goal. The minimum is 0.8g per kg for sedentary adults. For muscle building, aim for 1.6 to 2.2g/kg. For fat loss during a calorie deficit, 1.6 to 2.4g/kg preserves muscle and keeps you fuller. A 75 kg person building muscle needs 120 to 165g per day.

Do I need more protein to build muscle?

Yes. A 2018 meta-analysis in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that 1.6g per kg is the threshold for maximum muscle protein synthesis during resistance training. Going up to 2.2g/kg provides a safety margin and extra satiety, but beyond that there's no additional muscle-building benefit.

Can I eat too much protein?

For healthy individuals, intakes up to 2.5g/kg are well-studied and safe. Excess protein is used for energy or excreted, it doesn't damage healthy kidneys. People with existing kidney disease should consult a doctor before increasing protein above the RDA.

What are the best protein sources?

Chicken breast (31g per 150g), salmon (26g per 150g), Greek yoghurt (10g per 100g), eggs (6g each), cottage cheese (11g per 100g), tofu (12g per 150g), lentils (9g per 100g cooked), and whey protein (24g per scoop). Mix animal and plant sources for the best amino acid profile.

Does protein help with weight loss?

Yes, in three ways. It's the most satiating macro (keeps you full longer), it has the highest thermic effect (your body burns 20 to 30% of protein calories during digestion), and it preserves muscle during a calorie deficit. A 2016 study found high-protein dieters lost 27% more fat than a lower-protein group on the same calories.

Does the timing of protein matter?

Your total daily intake matters most. But spreading protein across 3 to 5 meals (25 to 40g each) is slightly better for muscle building than eating it all in one sitting. The 'anabolic window' after training isn't as narrow as claimed, aim for protein within 2 hours of exercise, not necessarily within 30 minutes.

Do I need protein supplements?

Only if you can't hit your target through food alone. Whey protein is convenient and well-absorbed, but a chicken breast or tin of tuna provides the same protein with additional nutrients. Supplements are tools, not requirements, food first.

How do vegetarians and vegans get enough protein?

Combine plant sources throughout the day: lentils, chickpeas, tofu, tempeh, edamame, seitan, quinoa, nuts, and seeds. Most plant proteins are incomplete individually but complement each other when varied. Aim for 10 to 20% more total protein than animal-based eaters to account for lower digestibility.

Does protein need increase with age?

Yes. Adults over 50 have reduced 'anabolic sensitivity', their muscles respond less efficiently to protein. The International Society of Sports Nutrition recommends 1.2 to 1.6g/kg for older adults (vs 0.8g/kg minimum for younger adults). Higher protein also helps prevent age-related muscle loss (sarcopenia).

Is whey or casein protein better?

Whey is absorbed faster and has more leucine (the key muscle-building amino acid), making it slightly better around workouts. Casein digests slowly and is better before bed. But the difference is marginal, total daily protein intake matters 10x more than protein type. Use whichever fits your routine.

How much protein can your body absorb at once?

Your body can digest and absorb virtually unlimited protein, it just takes longer. For muscle building specifically, 25 to 40g per meal produces the maximum muscle protein synthesis response. Beyond that, extra protein is used for energy or other bodily functions, not wasted.

Does cooking affect protein content?

Cooking doesn't destroy protein. It denatures it (changes its structure), which actually makes it easier to digest. A cooked chicken breast has the same protein as a raw one. The only concern is charring at very high temperatures, which can create harmful compounds, but that's a separate food safety issue.

Results are for general informational purposes only and should be checked before use. They are not professional advice. See our Disclaimer and Terms of Service.