How Many Calories Does Housework Burn? Discover the Surprising Benefits of Cleaning

Housework definitely burns calories, though it really depends on the chore and how much effort you put in. On average, you’ll burn about 180 calories an hour with light housework, but if you’re vacuuming or scrubbing, you might hit 200 calories or even more per hour.

Even those small chores—like folding laundry or unpacking boxes—add up over time.

Knowing how many calories you burn can make housework feel a bit more rewarding, especially if you’re trying to stay active but don’t love the gym.

If you move a little faster or put more energy into your cleaning, you’ll end up burning even more calories and your home stays clean in the process.

It’s kind of wild how much effort goes into daily tasks, isn’t it? Here, you’ll find ideas for getting the most out of your housework and answers to common questions about burning calories while cleaning.

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Key Takeaways

Light housework burns around 180 calories per hour.
More active chores can burn over 200 calories per hour.
Small tweaks while cleaning can help you burn more.

How Many Calories Does Housework Burn?

You’ll burn calories doing housework, but the exact number changes depending on your weight and what chores you tackle.

Most people can burn between 100 and 500 calories with regular household tasks.

Factors That Affect Calories Burned

Your weight makes a big difference in how many calories you burn during housework.

For instance, if you weigh 125 pounds, you might burn about 105 calories in 30 minutes of chores.

If you’re closer to 200 pounds, expect more like 155 calories.

Age and heart rate come into play, too.

Younger folks or those with a higher heart rate usually burn more.

The kind of chore matters—a little dusting burns way fewer calories than scrubbing the floors or moving heavy stuff.

Time spent cleaning also adds up.

An hour of general housework might burn 165 to 180 calories.

More active chores can push that number higher.

Comparing Housework to Other Activities

Housework does burn calories, but not as much as jogging or cycling.

Take vacuuming—it can burn 100 to 200 calories an hour.

That’s a lot less than running, but hey, it’s way better than just sitting around.

If you stand while working, you’ll burn about three times as many calories as sitting.

So, getting up and moving more during chores really helps.

Trying to lose weight? Housework helps you stay active, especially if you mix it with other exercise.

Popular Chores and Their Calorie Burn

Here’s a quick rundown of how many calories you might burn in an hour if you weigh about 150 pounds:

Vacuuming: 100-200 calories
Scrubbing floors: 250-300 calories
Folding laundry: 100-150 calories
Mopping: 200-250 calories
General cleaning: 165-180 calories

If a chore gets your heart pumping, you’ll burn more.

You can even track your heart rate while cleaning to see how hard you’re working.

Maximizing the Exercise Benefits of Housework

You can actually turn everyday chores into a decent workout by upping your effort and paying attention to your movements.

Keeping track of calories burned can also help you stay motivated.

Turning Chores Into a Workout

Try moving faster or adding more energy to your chores to get a better workout.

For example, vacuum with bigger arm sweeps or scrub the floor with a bit more pressure.

If you want to make it fun, dance while you clean—it’s a sneaky way to burn even more.

Mix in quick bursts of exercise between chores.

Maybe do a few jumping jacks or jog in place for a minute.

It’ll raise your heart rate and make chores feel less boring.

Gardening works, too, since it uses different muscles and gets you outside.

If you combine housework with activities like walking or cycling, you’ll keep your exercise routine more interesting.

Tips for Tracking Your Housework Calories

Tracking calories helps you see the real value of your chores as exercise.

Use fitness apps or a smartwatch—they estimate calories burned based on your weight and how active you are.

A 150-pound person usually burns about 200 calories per hour with housework.

Jot down how long you spend on each task and how much effort you put in.

Washing dishes burns fewer calories than scrubbing the floor, for example.

Here’s a rough look at calories burned per hour for a 150-pound person:

Washing dishes: ~100 calories
Vacuuming: ~200 calories
Scrubbing floors: ~250 calories

Want to get more accurate? Try a heart rate monitor or chat with a personal trainer.

And don’t forget, good sleep helps your body recover from daily activity.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can definitely burn a decent amount of calories with housework.

Some chores are better than others for calorie burn, and it all depends on how long and how hard you work.

How many calories can you burn by cleaning the house for an afternoon?

If you clean for a few hours, you could burn several hundred calories.

Working for three to four hours might burn anywhere from 300 to 600 calories, depending on your weight and which chores you do.

What kind of household chores help to burn the most calories?

Vacuuming and mopping usually burn the most.

If you move quickly, these chores can turn into a mini aerobic workout and burn even more.

Can you calculate the number of calories burned during an hour of housework?

You sure can.

One hour of general housework burns about 165 calories on average, and if you work harder or do tougher chores, you’ll burn even more.

Is it possible to estimate daily calorie expenditure from doing household tasks?

Yes, you can estimate it.

Just add up the time you spend on each chore and the average calories they burn.

Some sources say regular chores can burn thousands of calories every month.

What amount of calories might you burn by doing 30 minutes of mopping?

In half an hour of mopping, you’ll probably burn around 80 to 100 calories.

The exact number depends on how fast and vigorously you mop.

On average, how many calories could you expend cleaning the bathroom?

If you spend an hour cleaning the bathroom, you might burn anywhere from 150 to 200 calories.

Scrubbing, wiping, and moving around all add up, so it’s not a bad way to sneak in some exercise.