Do Apple watches overestimate or underestimate calories burned?

Author: Mrs. Rubie Gleason  |  Last update: Saturday, January 24, 2026

Apple Watch's Activity Tracking Compared with Other Fitness Trackers. The Apple Watch has actually been found to overestimate the number of calories burned when compared to other wearable devices on the market.

Are the calories burned on the Apple Watch accurate?

Yes, the Apple Watch is quite accurate at calculating calories burned as long as you use the correct settings. We'll teach you how to improve your Apple Watch calorie accuracy by updating your height and weight in the Health app, recalibrating your watch, and making sure you are wearing it correctly.

Why does my boyfriend burn more calories than me on my Apple Watch?

Different people have different bodies. Some people can burn calories easier than others for a variety of reasons such as age, size, gender, height, etc. It's just the way the body works. The Apple Watch uses these factors when calculating the progress of activity circles.

Is burning 600 calories on an Apple Watch good?

If you exercise several times a week, don't hesitate: 600 calories is what you should aim for. Working out at the gym, you'll burn around 300. Or if you prefer to run 5 km, you will burn about 200 calories; if you reach 10 km, you will burn more than 300 calories.

What is a realistic calorie burn goal on an Apple Watch?

A common starting point is 500-1,000 active calories per day, but this can be adjusted as you progress and depending on how much exercise you're doing.

I Tested Apple Watch's Calorie Burn (vs Sports Lab)

Does the Apple Watch overestimate calories burned?

Apple Watch's Activity Tracking Compared with Other Fitness Trackers. The Apple Watch has actually been found to overestimate the number of calories burned when compared to other wearable devices on the market.

How many calories do 10,000 steps burn?

Most people burn 30-40 calories per 1,000 steps they walk, meaning they'll burn 300 to 400 calories by walking 10,000 steps, Hirai says. However, this is just an estimate. Each step you take burns calories, but the exact amount is highly individualized. "Calorie burn rate can be quite variable," he says.

Why is my calorie burn so high on Apple Watch?

Why Apple Watch Calories Are Too High. An unusually high calorie bonus in Lose It! is often caused by a third-party app sending resting energy data, which adds to the resting calories from your Apple Watch.

How much weight will I lose if I burn 400 calories a day for a month?

400 calories burned per day = 2,800 calories burned in a week (400 x 7). 2,800 calories burned per week = roughly 0.8 pounds of fat loss (since 3,500 calories equals 1 pound of fat). Calories burned in a month = 12,000 calories (400 calories/day x 30 days). Weight loss in a month = about 3.4 pounds (12,000/3,500).

Is burning 700 active calories a day good?

For Weight Loss: To lose weight, you'll need to create a calorie deficit, meaning you burn more calories than you consume. Aiming to burn 500 to 700 active calories per day through exercise and physical activity can help you achieve a sustainable weight loss of about 1 to 2 pounds per week, depending on your diet.

Do you burn less calories as you get fitter?

Fitness Level

It means that you can run faster or for longer with practice, and your muscles will be able to lift heavier weights with proper training. But it also affects your calorie burn. “As your body adapts to training, you will burn less calories with the same workouts,” Gonzalez says.

What is the most accurate calorie burn tracker?

Amazfit's Balance Smartwatch is our top overall pick for its accuracy, comfort, ultra-long battery life, and much more. During testing, we found its metrics to be extremely precise, whether we were tracking our step count, calories burned, or heart rate.

Why is my Apple Watch saying I ve burned more calories than I have?

Several studies have measured the accuracy of these wearable devices and they all overestimate the amount of calories an individual burns per day. It is not just an Apple situation, all tracking devices have the same problem, and the estimate can be pretty far from the predicted caloric burn the device gives you.

How many calories should I burn a day to lose weight?

No matter what type of diet you follow, to lose weight you need to burn more calories than you take in each day. For most people with overweight, cutting about 500 calories a day is a good place to start. If you can eat 500 fewer calories every day, you should lose about a pound (454 g) a week.

What is the difference between active calories and total calories?

Active calories: Active calories are the calories you burn when you work out or simply walk. Total calories: As the name suggests, it is a sum. Specifically, the sum of active calories and calories at rest. Those that your body burns naturally, even when you're watching a movie on the sofa or sleeping.

Are Apple Watch steps accurate?

In our article,2 we reported a study evaluating the accuracy of step counts obtained from Apple Watch at four different walking speeds using a treadmill protocol and compared with manual counts of video recordings. We found that Apple Watch tested to be an extremely accurate device for measuring daily step counts.

How to lose belly fat?

8 Ways to Lose Belly Fat and Live a Healthier Life
  1. Try curbing carbs instead of fats. ...
  2. Think eating plan, not diet. ...
  3. Keep moving. ...
  4. Lift weights. ...
  5. Become a label reader. ...
  6. Move away from processed foods. ...
  7. Focus on the way your clothes fit more than reading a scale. ...
  8. Hang out with health-focused friends.

How many calories do I need to burn to lose 10 pounds a month?

Now let's look at the numbers. To lose a pound, you have to burn roughly 3500 calories and not replace them, which forces your body to burn a pound of stored fat to compensate. Ten pounds a month is 2.5lb a week. So you need to create an 8750-calorie deficit each week – or a 1250-calorie deficit each day.

Why doesn't my Apple Watch track my calories correctly?

Calibrate your Apple Watch for improved Workout and Activity accuracy. You can calibrate your Apple Watch to improve the accuracy of your distance, pace, and calorie measurements. Calibrating your watch can also help it learn your fitness level and stride, which improves accuracy when GPS is limited or unavailable.

Does the Apple Watch overestimate workouts?

In all of the tested activities, such as cycling, walking, running, etc., the Apple Watch calorie estimates were more than 5% off the actual measured energy expenditure via indirect calorimetry (the gold standard for assessing caloric expenditure).

How accurate is Apple Watch Cardio Fitness?

Accuracy of Apple Watch VO2Max (cardio fitness)

So, is the Apple Watch's estimate of VO2Max accurate? Yes—within about 4% of the true value. Let's dive in to how Apple validated the algorithm against actual VO2Max estimates.

Has anyone lost weight walking 10,000 steps a day?

After a family trip made me realise how much my weight was holding me back, I started following a low-carb diet, weighing my food with a scale, and walking at least 10,000 steps a day. I've now lost 80 pounds (5 stone and 10lbs, or 36kg) in under 11 months. I have been overweight most of my life.

How many steps a day to lose belly fat?

Popular fitness trackers and pedometers encourage people to take 10,000 steps per day, and one 2016 study agrees that 10,000 steps are ideal. This works out to roughly 5 miles of walking. People interested in walking for weight loss should consistently hit at least 10,000 steps each day.

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