How Many Calories Does Singing Burn? A Practical Guide to Singing as Exercise

Have you ever belted out your favorite tune in the shower and wondered if that hour of “performing” did anything for your waistline? Or maybe you’re a choir member curious whether rehearsals count toward your fitness goals. Let’s explore that surprisingly common question and turn your love of singing into an intentional, calorie-burning habit.

Quick answer: how many calories does singing burn?

Short version: singing burns calories, but not a huge amount on its own. The exact number depends on your body weight, posture, vocal intensity, and whether you move while you sing. Typical estimates range from about 60–200 calories per hour for casual singing, and up to 250–400 calories per hour for energetic singing combined with movement.

Why singing burns calories: the science in plain English

Singing is more than just vocal cords — it engages your diaphragm, core, chest and back muscles, and breathing control. Metabolic Equivalent of Task (MET) values, commonly used to estimate calorie expenditure, put singing somewhere between light-intensity activities (like sitting quietly) and moderate activities (like slow walking), depending on how intense the performance is.

How to estimate calories burned while singing

Use this simple formula to get a ballpark figure:

• Calories burned = MET × body weight (kg) × time (hours)

Example scenarios:

• Seated or casual singing (≈1.5–2 METs): a 70 kg person burns ~105–140 calories/hour.
• Standing choir rehearsal or lively practice (≈2–3 METs): same person burns ~140–210 calories/hour.
• Performing with movement or stage show (≈3–4 METs): same person burns ~210–280 calories/hour.

Factors that change calorie burn

Calories burned while singing are influenced by:

• Body weight — heavier people burn more calories doing the same activity.
• Vocal intensity — belting and strong airflow recruit more muscle and energy.
• Posture and core engagement — standing tall and using diaphragmatic breathing increases expenditure.
• Movement — adding choreography, footwork, or walking raises heart rate and calorie burn.
• Duration and frequency — consistency matters more than a single long session.

Practical singing workouts and variations to burn more calories

If you love singing and want to squeeze more fitness out of it, try these realistic variations that combine vocal training with exercise:

1. Vocal warm-up + mobility circuit (20–30 minutes)

• 5–10 minutes of diaphragmatic breathing and humming.
• 2 rounds: 10 squats, 10 standing rows with a resistance band, 10 calf raises — sing a short scale between sets.
• Finisher: 2 minutes of marching in place while sustaining long vowel sounds.

2. Choir rehearsal meet cardio (45–60 minutes)

• Stand throughout practice, incorporate deliberate posture breaks, and move feet or sway to the beat.
• Add short 1–2 minute movement breaks (step-touch, side steps) between songs to keep heart rate elevated.

3. Stage-style interval session (30–40 minutes)

• Alternate 3 minutes of vigorous singing with choreography (fast pace) and 2 minutes of active rest (walking, core drills).
• This boosts calorie burn by mixing aerobic bursts with vocal effort.

Health benefits beyond calories

Singing offers many wellness perks that complement weight management:

• Improves posture and breath control, which helps with core strength.
• Reduces stress through controlled breathing and endorphin release.
• Boosts mood and social connection — key for consistent healthy habits.
• Strengthens respiratory muscles, helpful for endurance and other workouts.

Tips to maximize calorie burn while keeping your voice healthy

• Hydrate: keep water close and avoid excessive caffeine before heavy singing sessions.
• Warm up safely: always do gentle vocal warm-ups before intense singing or combining with movement.
• Mix modalities: combine singing sessions with strength or cardio workouts on the same day for better results.
• Monitor fatigue: if your voice gets hoarse, rest it — vocal health is critical.
• Track progress: use a heart-rate watch during movement-heavy singing to see real calorie burn for you.

Real-world examples

Meet Anna, a 30-year-old choir singer who rehearses twice a week for 90 minutes. By standing, engaging her core, and occasionally moving, she burns roughly 200–300 calories per rehearsal. She pairs rehearsals with two short strength sessions per week from her workout routines page to build muscle and raise resting metabolic rate.

Or take Marcus, a baritone who performs high-energy gigs with choreography. On performance nights he can burn 300+ calories per hour — not enough alone for major weight loss, but meaningful alongside better eating and regular exercise found in our nutrition guides.

How to incorporate singing into an overall fitness plan

Singing can be a valuable complement to a balanced fitness program. Aim for:

• 3–5 sessions a week of mixed activity (cardio, strength, flexibility).
• Use singing days as active recovery or combine short vocal workouts with light cardio.
• Follow healthy eating patterns to control calories and support vocal performance.

For daily habits, check out our wellness tips for hydration, sleep, and stress management — all of which help both fitness and vocal longevity.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. How many calories does singing burn per hour?

It varies. Casual sitting or light singing burns roughly 60–140 calories/hour; standing choir-level singing can be 140–210 calories/hour; energetic performing with movement may reach 250–400+ calories/hour, depending on body weight and intensity.

2. Can singing help me lose weight?

Singing alone is unlikely to produce significant weight loss unless combined with overall calorie control and regular exercise. However, it contributes to daily activity, improves posture and breathing, and increases motivation — useful pieces of a broader weight-loss plan.

3. Does professional singing burn more calories than hobby singing?

Generally yes — professional performances often involve longer durations, greater intensity, and more movement, all of which raise calorie expenditure. Touring and performing schedules can also increase total weekly activity, contributing more to overall energy burn.

Conclusion — sing smart, move more, and track results

So, how many calories does singing burn? The honest answer: it depends — but with smart tweaks (stand, engage your core, add movement), singing can be a meaningful and enjoyable part of your active lifestyle. Use singing as a supplement to cardio and strength training, pay attention to vocal health, and track what works for you.

Ready to make your practice sessions count? Start by adding brief movement intervals to your next rehearsal and track your heart rate. For more structured ideas, explore our workout routines, consult our nutrition guides, and browse wellness tips to support performance and fitness. Sing on — and make it move you.