Basketball vs Soccer: Calories Burned Compared (2026)

Soccer burns more calories, with 246 calories in 30 minutes and 492 per hour, compared to Basketball's 228 calories in 30 minutes and 457 per hour. Soccer has a MET value of 7.0, while Basketball has a MET value of 6.5.

Calorie burn during physical activities is influenced by factors such as MET values, body weight, duration, and intensity. Basketball and Soccer are both high-impact sports that can significantly elevate heart rates and energy expenditure. This comparison examines the calories burned by each activity for a 155-pound individual.

What Is the Difference Between Basketball and Soccer?

Basketball is a team sport played on a rectangular court where players aim to score points by shooting a ball through the opposing team's hoop. It is classified as a high-impact activity. Soccer is a team sport played on a rectangular field where players aim to score goals by getting a ball into the opposing team's net. It is also classified as a high-impact activity.

Basketball vs Soccer: Calories Burned Side by Side

The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of calories burned during Basketball and Soccer.

Duration (155 lb / 70 kg)	Basketball	Soccer
15 min	114 cal	123 cal
30 min	228 cal	246 cal
45 min	343 cal	369 cal
60 min	457 cal	492 cal

Values are for a 155-pound (70 kg) person. A heavier body burns more, a lighter body less, at the same intensity.

Which Burns More Calories, Basketball or Soccer?

For burning the most calories: Soccer burns 18 more calories in 30 minutes and 35 more calories per hour compared to Basketball.

For time efficiency: Soccer burns 8.2 calories per minute, while Basketball burns 7.6 calories per minute.

For lower-impact exercise: Both activities are high-impact, but Basketball has a slightly lower MET value than Soccer.

Tracking Exercise in Nutrola

Calories burned only count toward your goal if you record them. Nutrola lets you log a session of basketball or soccer by describing it in your own words by voice or text, by picking an exercise type and intensity, or by entering the calories directly, and on iOS and Android it can sync workouts automatically from Apple Health or Health Connect. Logged workouts sit next to the food you track from a photo, barcode, or voice entry, so calories in and calories out stay in one place. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

Sources and Method

MET (metabolic equivalent) values are from the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al.), the standard reference for the energy cost of physical activity. Calories are estimated with calories = METs x body weight in kilograms x duration in hours. Basketball is rated at about 6.5 METs (general play) and Soccer at about 7.0 METs (casual play). Real burn varies with fitness, technique, terrain, and effort, so treat these as close estimates, not exact counts. This is educational and not medical advice.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which burns more calories?

Soccer burns 246 calories in 30 minutes, while Basketball burns 228 calories in the same duration.

What is the calorie burn per hour for each sport?

Basketball burns 457 calories per hour, while Soccer burns 492 calories per hour.

How many calories does a 155-pound person burn playing Basketball?

A 155-pound person burns 228 calories in 30 minutes and 457 calories in an hour playing Basketball.

How many calories does a 155-pound person burn playing Soccer?

A 155-pound person burns 246 calories in 30 minutes and 492 calories in an hour playing Soccer.

Which sport is better for weight loss?

Soccer burns more calories overall, with 246 calories in 30 minutes compared to Basketball's 228 calories.

What are the MET values for Basketball and Soccer?

Basketball has a MET value of 6.5, while Soccer has a MET value of 7.0.

Key Takeaways

• Basketball burns 228 calories in 30 minutes.
• Soccer burns 246 calories in 30 minutes.
• Basketball burns 457 calories in an hour.
• Soccer burns 492 calories in an hour.
• Soccer has a MET value of 7.0.
• Basketball has a MET value of 6.5.