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Dips
Dips is a 8.0 MET exercise. At 75 kg that is about 10.5 kcal a minute, or 210 kcal in 20 minutes. Form cues, common mistakes and how to progress.
StrengthKit: Bars or benchWorks: Triceps, chest, front shoulder
Calories burned by body weight
| Body weight | kcal/min | 10 min | 20 min | 30 min | 45 min |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 kg | 7.7 | 77 | 154 | 231 | 347 |
| 65 kg | 9.1 | 91 | 182 | 273 | 410 |
| 75 kg | 10.5 | 105 | 210 | 315 | 473 |
| 85 kg | 11.9 | 119 | 238 | 357 | 536 |
| 95 kg | 13.3 | 133 | 266 | 399 | 599 |
How to do it well
- Shoulders down and back before you descend
- Lower until the upper arm is parallel
- Slight forward lean for the chest, upright for triceps
Common mistakes
- Dropping into the bottom
- Shoulders rolling forward
- Going deeper than your shoulders allow
Make it harder or easier
Progression. Add weight in a belt.
Regression. Bench dips with the feet close in.
Form notes are general coaching guidance, not treatment. If a movement causes pain, stop and speak to a clinician or a qualified coach.
What ten minutes is worth
Ten minutes of dips costs about 105 kcal at 75 kg. In energy terms that is close to 2 047 steps of brisk walking. The comparison is energetic only: your phone counts steps, not effort.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories does dips burn?
At 75 kg, about 10.5 kcal a minute — roughly 210 kcal in 20 minutes and 473 in 45. Multiply by your own weight over 75 kg to adjust.
What is the MET value of dips?
8.0, from the 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities (Compendium 02054, calisthenics, vigorous). That means it costs about 8.0 times your resting energy use.
How many steps is it worth?
Ten minutes is worth roughly 2 047 brisk-walking steps in energy terms. It is an energy comparison, not a step count your phone will record.
Source: 2011 Compendium of Physical Activities (Ainsworth et al.) — Compendium 02054, calisthenics, vigorous · checked 2026-09-02
Related exercises
Push-ups
MET 8.0 · 10.5 kcal/min at 75 kg
Bodyweight squats
MET 5.0 · 6.6 kcal/min at 75 kg
Lunges
MET 5.0 · 6.6 kcal/min at 75 kg
Glute bridge
MET 3.5 · 4.6 kcal/min at 75 kg
Pull-ups
MET 8.0 · 10.5 kcal/min at 75 kg
Deadlift
MET 6.0 · 7.9 kcal/min at 75 kg
All exercises · Calories burned by activity · Daily calorie needs
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