Basketball Calories Burned Calculator
Calculate calories burned from shooting practice to professional games.
Game Details
Burn Statistics
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How Many Calories Does Basketball Burn?
Basketball burns between 275-735 calories per hour depending on intensity. Casual shooting practice burns ~275 cal/hr, while competitive games burn 490-590 cal/hr, and professional play can exceed 700 calories per hour.
Basketball games are metabolic furnaces. Unlike training drills, game situations force unpredictable, maximal-intensity efforts. Every offensive possession requires explosive sprinting; every defensive stand demands lateral quickness and reactive jumping. The mental pressure of competition further elevates heart rate and energy expenditure beyond what training can replicate.
Our calculator uses 2024 Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) indices. Game intensity ranges from MET 6.5 for recreational pickup to MET 11.0 for professional-level competition. Competitive games (MET 8.0) match tennis matches or competitive fencing.
Factors Influencing Game Calorie Burn
Minutes Played
Starters playing 30+ minutes burn significantly more total calories, while substitutes playing short, intense bursts burn more per minute.
Game Tempo
Fast-break, up-tempo games burn 30-50% more calories than slow-paced, half-court offensive systems.
Defensive Assignment
Guarding quick, ball-handling players requires constant movement and burns more calories than guarding stationary post players.
Game Closeness
Close games maintain high intensity throughout, while blowouts see reduced effort in final quarters, lowering overall calorie burn.
Basketball Game Burn Projections
Calories by Playing Time (70 kg / 154 lbs)
| Duration | Rec (6.5) | Comp (8.0) | Tourn (9.0) | Elite (10.0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 min | 80 | 98 | 110 | 123 |
| 20 min | 159 | 196 | 221 | 245 |
| 30 min | 239 | 294 | 331 | 368 |
| 40 min | 319 | 392 | 441 | 490 |
| 48 min | 382 | 470 | 529 | 588 |
Calories by Your Weight (30 min Competitive Game)
Basketball Game vs. Other Activities (30 min, 70 kg)
| 🏀Basketball (Competitive) | 294 cal |
| 🎾Tennis | 245 cal |
| 🎾Tennis (Singles) | 294 cal |
| 🤺Fencing (Competitive) | 294 cal |
| 🏃Running (6 mph) | 368 cal |
| 🦵Kickboxing (Advanced) | 386 cal |
Data source: 2024 Revised Compendium of Physical Activities.
Basketball Game FAQ
Standardized & Verified By
Manish KumarCertified Fitness Professional (NASM) • Sports Performance Specialist • Expert in basketball conditioning and competitive athletics with 10+ years experience.