MET 5.8 · Compendium code 03085

Calories burned hula

Hula is classified in the Compendium of Physical Activities as “Polynesian dance, Hawaiian hula slow, Maori haka, Tongan”, with a MET value of 5.8 — about 428 calories per hour for a 155-lb person.

Body weight	15 min	30 min	45 min	60 min	90 min	120 min
100 lb (45 kg)	69	138	207	276	414	552
110 lb (50 kg)	76	152	228	304	456	608
120 lb (54 kg)	83	166	249	331	497	663
130 lb (59 kg)	90	180	269	359	539	718
140 lb (64 kg)	97	193	290	387	580	773
150 lb (68 kg)	104	207	311	414	622	829
155 lb (70 kg)	107	214	321	428	642	856
160 lb (73 kg)	110	221	331	442	663	884
170 lb (77 kg)	117	235	352	470	704	939
180 lb (82 kg)	124	249	373	497	746	994
190 lb (86 kg)	131	262	394	525	787	1050
200 lb (91 kg)	138	276	414	552	829	1105
210 lb (95 kg)	145	290	435	580	870	1160
220 lb (100 kg)	152	304	456	608	912	1215
240 lb (109 kg)	166	331	497	663	994	1326
260 lb (118 kg)	180	359	539	718	1077	1436
280 lb (127 kg)	193	387	580	773	1160	1547
300 lb (136 kg)	207	414	622	829	1243	1657

FAQ

How many calories does hula burn per hour?

About 428 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, 345 for 125 lb and 511 for 185 lb, using a MET value of 5.8 (Polynesian dance — slow hula, haka, Tongan).

Is hula a good workout?

At 5.8 METs, hula counts as moderate-intensity activity. Federal guidelines recommend 150 minutes of moderate (or 75 minutes of vigorous) activity a week.

Compare with other dance activities

Activity	MET	kcal/hr (155 lb)
Ballroom DanceSport competition (Standard and Latin)	13.0	960
Ballroom dancing, competitive, general	11.3	834
Musical theater, singing and dancing	10.3	760
Nightclub or folk dancing, vigorous (disco, line dancing, Irish step, polka, contra)	9.8	723
Polynesian dance, Samoan slap, Tahitian	8.8	650
Flamenco dance	8.5	627
Aerobic dance, general (e.g. Zumba-style classes)	7.3	539
Aerobic dance, high impact	7.3	539
Chinese square dance, aerobic dance	7.3	539
Polynesian dance — fast hula, Samoan sasa, tinikling	7.0	517
Ballet, modern or jazz — performance, vigorous effort	6.8	502
Ballet exercises (pliés, tendus, jetés, rond de jambe, grand battement)	6.3	465
Salsa dancing to a video	6.3	465
Afro-Cuban salsa (cha-cha-cha, mambo, Afro rumba, son steps)	6.0	443
Ballroom dance, recreational (waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, swing)	6.0	443
Polynesian dance — slow hula, haka, Tongan	5.8	428
Ballroom dancing, fast	5.5	406
Anishinaabe jingle dancing and other traditional American Indian dancing	5.5	406
Square dancing, American Western, country	5.5	406
Chinese square dance, Ballet & Tibetan dance	5.5	406
Ballet, modern or jazz — general, rehearsal or class	5.0	369
Aerobic dance, low impact	5.0	369
Folk dancing, moderate effort	5.0	369
Tap dancing	4.8	354
Salsa dancing with a partner	4.8	354
Ethnic or cultural dancing (e.g. salsa, merengue, flamenco, belly, hula, swing)	4.5	332
Jazz dancing, general	4.5	332
Contemporary dancing, nightclub	4.3	317
Contemporary dancing, general	3.8	281
Caribbean dance (Abakua, Beguine, Bellair, Jonkonnu and others)	3.5	258
Ballroom, slow (waltz, foxtrot, slow dancing, samba, tango, rumba, mambo, cha-cha)	3.0	221

kcal = MET × kg × hours (1 MET ≈ 1 kcal/kg/hour; we use 1.05 to match 3.5 ml O₂/kg/min). Source: Compendium of Physical Activities. Estimates only.