Protein Calculator
Find how much protein you should eat per day for your weight and goal — fat loss, muscle, or general health. Free, no signup.
How much protein do you actually need?
Protein needs scale with your body weight and how active you are. The official minimum (RDA) is 0.8g per kg just to avoid deficiency — but research on body composition and athletic performance points much higher, especially when you're losing fat or building muscle. Use this scale (grams of protein per kg of body weight per day):
| Goal | Protein (g/kg/day) |
|---|---|
| General health (sedentary) | 0.8 – 1.2 |
| Active / general fitness | 1.2 – 1.6 |
| Losing fat (preserve muscle) | 1.6 – 2.2 |
| Building muscle | 1.6 – 2.2 |
| Athlete / hard training | 1.8 – 2.4 |
Want to hit your number? See our high-protein foods list and the full keto macro calculator.
Frequently asked questions
- How much protein should I eat a day?
- It depends on your weight and goal. General health needs about 0.8–1.2g of protein per kg of body weight; active people and those losing fat or building muscle do better at 1.6–2.2g/kg. For a 70kg (154lb) person, that's roughly 56g/day at the low end up to about 150g/day if you're cutting or training hard.
- How is the protein recommendation calculated?
- This calculator multiplies your body weight (in kg) by an evidence-based grams-per-kg range for your goal: 0.8–1.2 for general health, 1.2–1.6 for active, and 1.6–2.2 for fat loss or muscle gain. It then suggests a midpoint target and a per-meal amount, since spreading protein across the day supports muscle retention.
- Do I need more protein on keto or low-carb?
- Protein needs are similar on keto, but adequate protein matters even more when you're in a calorie deficit, because it preserves lean muscle. On keto, aim for the same 1.6–2.2g/kg if you're losing fat — just keep an eye on portion sizes of higher-fat protein sources to stay within your calorie goal.
- Is too much protein bad for you?
- For healthy people, higher protein intakes (up to ~2.2g/kg) are considered safe and are common among athletes. If you have kidney disease or another medical condition, talk to your doctor before increasing protein significantly.