How many calories does skiing burn per hour?

Downhill skiing burns 300-600 calories per hour depending on terrain and intensity. Cross-country skiing burns 500-1000+ calories per hour. A 155 lb person burns about 490 calories/hour of moderate downhill skiing.

Downhill vs cross-country: which burns more?

Cross-country skiing burns significantly more—often 50-100% more than downhill. Cross-country requires continuous effort while downhill includes rest on lifts. Vigorous cross-country skiing (12.5 MET) is one of the highest calorie-burning activities.

Is skiing good exercise?

Skiing is excellent exercise. It builds leg strength, improves balance and coordination, and provides significant cardio benefits. The cold environment may also increase calorie burn slightly. Regular skiing improves overall fitness.

What muscles does skiing work?

Skiing primarily works legs—quads, hamstrings, glutes, and calves control turns and absorb terrain. Core muscles stabilize the body. Arms work with poles. Cross-country skiing adds significant upper body work.

How many calories does a full ski day burn?

A full day of downhill skiing (4-6 hours of actual skiing) burns 1,500-3,000 calories. Including walking in boots, carrying equipment, and the cold environment, total expenditure can reach 2,500-4,000 calories.

All Exercises

sports

Calories Burned Skiing

Skiing burns significant calories while providing an exhilarating outdoor experience. Downhill skiing burns 300-600 calories per hour depending on intensity, while cross-country skiing can burn 500-1000+ calories per hour due to continuous full-body effort.

~246 calories

per 30 min at 155 lbs

Calorie Calculator

Your Weight (lbs)

Duration (minutes)

Intensity

You will burn approximately

246 calories

Skiing for 30 minutes at 155 lbs

Calories Burned by Body Weight

Calories burned per 30 minutes of skiing at moderate intensity (MET 7)

Body Weight	Calories Burned
120 lbs (54 kg)	191 cal
140 lbs (64 kg)	222 cal
155 lbs (70 kg)Reference	246 cal
170 lbs (77 kg)	270 cal
185 lbs (84 kg)	294 cal
200 lbs (91 kg)	318 cal
220 lbs (100 kg)	349 cal