MET 3.0 · Compendium code 03040

Calories burned rumba

Rumba is classified in the Compendium of Physical Activities as “Ballroom, slow, examples: waltz, foxtrot, slow dancing, samba tango, rumba, 19th century dance, mambo, cha cha”, with a MET value of 3.0 — about 221 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)	36	71	107	143	214	286
110 lb (50 kg)	39	79	118	157	236	314
120 lb (54 kg)	43	86	129	171	257	343
130 lb (59 kg)	46	93	139	186	279	371
140 lb (64 kg)	50	100	150	200	300	400
150 lb (68 kg)	54	107	161	214	321	429
155 lb (70 kg)	55	111	166	221	332	443
160 lb (73 kg)	57	114	171	229	343	457
170 lb (77 kg)	61	121	182	243	364	486
180 lb (82 kg)	64	129	193	257	386	514
190 lb (86 kg)	68	136	204	271	407	543
200 lb (91 kg)	71	143	214	286	429	572
210 lb (95 kg)	75	150	225	300	450	600
220 lb (100 kg)	79	157	236	314	472	629
240 lb (109 kg)	86	171	257	343	514	686
260 lb (118 kg)	93	186	279	371	557	743
280 lb (127 kg)	100	200	300	400	600	800
300 lb (136 kg)	107	214	321	429	643	857

FAQ

How many calories does rumba burn per hour?

About 221 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, 179 for 125 lb and 264 for 185 lb, using a MET value of 3 (Ballroom, slow (waltz, foxtrot, slow dancing, samba, tango, rumba, mambo, cha-cha)).

Is rumba a good workout?

At 3 METs, rumba 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.