The average sexual encounter burns about 100 calories, roughly equivalent to walking for 20 minutes.
How Many Calories Does Sex Actually Burn?
If you've ever heard that sex is a great workout, you're not entirely wrong—but you're probably overestimating the burn. The often-cited claim that sex torches 300+ calories per hour has been floating around gyms and bedrooms for decades. The reality? It's a bit more modest.
What the Science Says
A study published in PLOS ONE tracked young couples during sexual activity using armband sensors. The results: men burned about 4.2 calories per minute, while women burned around 3.1 calories per minute. That's roughly 100 calories for an average encounter.
For context, that's equivalent to:
- A 20-minute walk
- 15 minutes of light cycling
- Eating about 1.5 Oreo cookies
Not exactly marathon training, but hey—it beats sitting on the couch.
Why the Myth Persists
The inflated numbers likely come from theoretical calculations based on maximum exertion sustained for a full hour. In reality, the average duration is closer to 5-15 minutes, and intensity varies wildly. Unless you're training for some kind of Olympic event, you're not hitting those peak numbers.
There's also wishful thinking at play. We want to believe that pleasure and fitness go hand in hand. And while sex does elevate heart rate and engage multiple muscle groups, it's more comparable to light-to-moderate exercise than an intense gym session.
The Real Health Benefits
Don't be discouraged by the calorie reality check. Sex offers plenty of benefits beyond the burn:
- Stress reduction through oxytocin and endorphin release
- Better sleep thanks to prolactin, released after orgasm
- Immune support—studies link regular sex to higher immunoglobulin A levels
- Pain relief from natural endorphins
Plus, it's considerably more enjoyable than most treadmill sessions.
The Bottom Line
Sex burns about as many calories as a brisk walk—around 100 for a typical encounter. It's not replacing your gym membership anytime soon, but it's a perfectly valid form of physical activity with bonus mood-boosting benefits. Just don't cancel your fitness routine expecting your love life to pick up the slack.