Backpacking Food Weight Calculator
Fill in the values and the answer updates as you type.
How the Backpacking Food Weight Calculator works
Total calories = hikers × days × calories per day. Food weight = total calories ÷ energy density. Dried backpacking food runs about 3.5 to 4.6 kcal per gram, so choose higher values for nut butters, oils, and dried fruit, and lower values for fresh or canned food. Most hikers need 2,500 to 4,000 kcal per day on a strenuous trip. Plan about 600 to 900 g of food per person per day. Example: with Number of hikers 2, Trip length 4 days, and Calories per person per day 3000 kcal, the result is Total food weight (kg) = 6; Food per person per day (g) = 750; Total calories to pack (kcal) = 24,000.
Inputs and results
The Backpacking Food Weight Calculator takes 4 inputs and gives 4 results.
What you enter
- Number of hikers — starts at 2.
- Trip length (days) — starts at 4.
- Calories per person per day (kcal) — starts at 3000.
- Food energy density (kcal/g) — starts at 4.
What you get
- Total food weight (kg)
- Food per person per day (g)
- Total calories to pack (kcal)
- Total food weight (lb)
Example: Backpacking Food Weight Calculator with the starting values
With number of hikers 2, trip length 4 days, calories per person per day 3000 kcal and food energy density 4 kcal/g, the calculator returns:
| Total food weight (kg) | 6 |
|---|---|
| Food per person per day (g) | 750 |
| Total calories to pack (kcal) | 24,000 |
| Total food weight (lb) | 13.23 |
Change any value above and the results update straight away.
Backpacking Food Weight Calculator FAQ
How do I use the Backpacking Food Weight Calculator?
Enter number of hikers, trip length, calories per person per day and food energy density in the fields, then read total food weight (kg), food per person per day (g), total calories to pack (kcal) and total food weight (lb) in the result panel. The answer updates as you type, and you can press Calculate or Enter to refresh it. Use “Copy link” to share your exact numbers with someone else.
What does the Backpacking Food Weight Calculator calculate?
Food weight to pack from calories, days, and food energy density. It returns total food weight (kg), food per person per day (g), total calories to pack (kcal) and total food weight (lb) from the 4 values you provide.
What values does the Backpacking Food Weight Calculator start with?
It opens with number of hikers 2, trip length 4 days, calories per person per day 3000 kcal and food energy density 4 kcal/g so you can see a working result straight away. Replace them with your own numbers, or press Reset to return to these starting values.
Is the Backpacking Food Weight Calculator free and private?
Yes. It is free, needs no account, and runs in your browser, so nothing you type is sent to or stored on our servers. See the Privacy Policy for details.
Can I rely on the Backpacking Food Weight Calculator for important decisions?
Treat the result as a well-rounded estimate. Real situations often have details a general calculator cannot know, so confirm important decisions with a qualified professional. See the Disclaimer for more.