Hiking Calculator

Use our hiking calculator to estimate hiking calories burned and plan backpacking weight. Includes how to calculate calories burned hiking and how hike percentage (grade) is calculated from elevation gain and distance.

Distance (mi)

Elevation gain (ft)

Hiker's weight (lb)

Backpack weight (lb)

Results

Trail average grade (%)

—%

Calories burned (kcal)

—kcal

Weight lost (lb)

—lb

Grade = (elevation ÷ (distance × 5280)) × 100. Calories are an estimate using distance + elevation (gravity) cost.

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What Is A Hiking Calculator?

A hiking calculator helps estimate calories burned during a hike based on factors like body weight, distance, elevation gain, and backpack weight. It can also help plan total backpacking weight by combining base gear weight with consumables like food and water.

This hiking calculator focuses on three common calculations: calories burned, backpack weight, and hike grade percentage (elevation gain divided by horizontal distance). These estimates can help hikers prepare for trips and understand the physical demands of their routes.

Hiking Formulas

This calculator focuses on three common hiking calculations: calories burned, backpack weight, and hike grade percentage.

Hike percentage (grade) =

Grade (%) = (Elevation gain / Horizontal distance) × 100

Use consistent units (feet/feet or meters/meters).

Total pack weight =

Total pack weight = Base weight + Consumables + Water

Base weight is gear (excluding food, water, fuel).

Calories burned (estimate) =

Calories ≈ MET × Weight(kg) × Time(hours)

MET depends on pace, terrain, elevation, and pack load.

Example: hike grade percentage

Elevation gain 500 ft over 2 miles (10,560 ft) → Grade = (500/10,560)×100 ≈ 4.7%

A helpful way to compare steepness between routes.

Example: pack weight

Base 18 lb + food 6 lb + water 4 lb → total pack ≈ 28 lb

This is the weight you actually carry at the trailhead.

How to Use the Hiking Calculator

1
Enter your body weight and hike duration (or distance + pace/time).
2
Optional: enter elevation gain and distance to calculate hike percentage (grade).
3
Optional: enter base weight, consumables (food/fuel), and water to calculate total backpacking weight.
4
The calculator estimates calories burned and shows pack weight and grade if those inputs are provided.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories did I burn hiking?

Calories burned depends on your weight, time hiking, terrain, pace, elevation, and pack load. A common estimate uses Calories ≈ MET × weight(kg) × time(hours), where MET increases with harder hiking.

How do you calculate calories burned hiking?

Estimate a MET level for your hike, then multiply by your weight in kilograms and the time in hours. Steeper terrain, faster pace, and heavier packs generally increase calories burned.

What is hike percentage calculation (grade)?

Hike grade (%) is elevation gain divided by horizontal distance, multiplied by 100. It’s a quick way to quantify how steep a route is.

What is a backpacking weight calculator used for?

It helps you estimate total pack weight at the start of a hike by combining base weight (gear) plus consumables like food, fuel, and water.

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