How to Calculate How Many Calories You Burn on the Elliptical Based on Weight

If your elliptical machine doesn't display how many calories you burn during a workout, use calorie-burning estimates to get an idea of how effective your elliptical workouts are. Harvard Medical School provides a table of common exercises and the number of calories people of various weights might burn performing them. Based on the information provided in that table, you will burn roughly 2.16 calories for every pound of body weight during 30 minutes of general elliptical machine use. For example, a 185-lb. person would burn about 400 calories in a typical 30-minute elliptical workout.

Step 1

Use a scale to determine your weight in pounds.

Step 2

Multiply that number by 2.16 to determine how many calories you burn in 30 minutes of elliptical use.

Step 3

Increase the duration of your workout if you want to burn more. For example, increasing the duration of your workout from 30 to 60 minutes will double the number of calories you burn.

Tip

Note that the numbers provided are rough estimates. You might burn fewer or more calories based on the intensity of your workout. Generally, the more intense the exercise, the more calories you will burn.

Don't lean on the handles while you use the elliptical machine. Allow your lower body to do most of the work to maximize the number of calories you burn.

You might also be able to increase the number of calories you burn during an elliptical workout by increasing the resistance on the machine.