How Many Calories Do You Burn When You Laugh? Science Explained

I often get questions that sit at the amusing intersection of daily life and science. A reader recently asked, “Marilyn, does my laughing fit during a comedy special count as a workout?” It’s a fun thought, and surprisingly, it’s not entirely fiction. While I wouldn’t trade in my running shoes for a “Seinfeld” marathon just yet, research confirms that genuine laughter does burn a measurable number of calories.

Studies show that 10–15 minutes of hearty laughter can burn between 10–40 calories by raising your heart rate 10–20% and engaging your core muscles^2^. It works by making your body respond in ways similar to light exercise. So, think of it as a small, happy bonus to an activity you already enjoy.

The Science Behind Laughter and Calorie Burn

So, what’s happening inside your body when you’re mid-chuckle? Let’s break down the physical changes that lead to burning calories.

Cardiovascular Response
Your heart rate increases, typically by about 10–20% above your resting rate^2^. This uptick in your pulse requires your body to use more energy.

Muscle Engagement
A good belly laugh is a full-body experience:

• Your chest muscles expand and contract, like they do during deep breathing.

• Your abdominal muscles get a mini-workout as they contract rhythmically^3^.

• Even muscles in your face, shoulders, and legs can join in during a really good laugh.

Metabolic Impact
Genuine laughter makes you take in more oxygen. Processing that extra oxygen requires energy, lightly mimicking what happens during aerobic activity. Researchers sometimes call it a form of “internal jogging”, it gets your heart pumping and muscles working without you having to go anywhere.

Exact Numbers: Calories Burned Per Minute and Session

Scientific Measurements

To get precise numbers, researchers at Vanderbilt University used a method called whole-room indirect calorimetry. They placed people inside a sealed chamber to measure their exact energy use. The results showed that laughing burns about 0.19 kilocalories per minute more than just resting^2^.

For those who appreciate the details of the science, the study was quite controlled:

• The Chamber: An airtight room (2.6 x 3.4 x 2.4 meters) kept at a steady 24°C.

• The Participants: Healthy adults with a range of body weights.

• The Validation: The system was accurate enough to measure energy changes within a minute.

A BMJ Clinical Review confirmed these findings, noting that 15 minutes of genuine laughter can increase energy expenditure by up to 40 calories^5^.

Calorie Burn by Body Weight

As with any physical activity, your body weight matters. It takes more energy to move a larger body.

• A 130-pound person might burn 10–20 calories in a 10–15 minute session.

• A 200-pound person might burn 30–40 calories in the same amount of time.

Laughter’s Role in Your Daily Calorie Burn

In the health field, there’s a concept called Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis (NEAT). It’s a formal name for the calories you burn doing everything that isn’t formal exercise, walking around, fidgeting, standing, or even laughing.

NEAT is an important factor in weight management because it can vary by hundreds of calories from person to person. While a few chuckles won’t burn as much as a brisk walk, laughter is a small but real contributor to your total daily energy use. Every little bit adds up to help maintain a healthy energy balance.

How Laughter Compares to Other Activities

To put things in perspective, let’s see how 15 minutes of laughter stacks up against other activities.

*Calorie ranges vary based on body weight and intensity.

As you can see, laughing is on par with other very light activities. It’s certainly no substitute for a jog, but it’s a welcome addition.

What Kind of Comedy Works Best?

Logically, the more you laugh, the more calories you burn. So, what type of comedy is most likely to produce sustained, belly-shaking laughter? While humor is subjective, some formats are known for getting bigger reactions.

High-Impact Comedy:

• Physical and Slapstick: Think of classic Carry On films or modern slapstick in movies like Booksmart.

• Classic and Modern Sitcoms: Older shows like Dad’s Army are great, but so are contemporary hits like Ted Lasso that mix heart with humor.

• Goofy Comedy Movies: Films like Tommy Boy or Step Brothers often cause deep, sustained laughter.

• Stand-Up Specials: Whether it’s a compilation from Dry Bar Comedy or a special from a comedian whose humor clicks with you, stand-up is designed for laughs.

The key is finding what makes you laugh uncontrollably. It’s a very personal prescription. A friend of mine swears by watching old cartoons, which for him, works better than any modern stand-up show. The most effective content combines physical gags with relatable punchlines.

Laughter Yoga: A More Structured Approach

For those who want to be more intentional about laughing, there is a practice called Laughter Yoga. It uses structured exercises to simulate laughter in a group setting.

A Typical Session:

A 30- to 60-minute session involves warm-ups, guided laughter exercises (like “Mobile Phone Laughter”), and a period of free-flowing group laughter, followed by calming activities.

The Effect:

Participants can still burn 10–40 calories in a 10–15 minute period. The main advantage here is that the structured format encourages continuous and more intense laughter than you might experience naturally. The body, it seems, doesn’t always distinguish between simulated and spontaneous laughter when it comes to the physical response.

The Broader Health Benefits are No Laughing Matter

The small calorie burn is interesting, but the other health benefits are far more significant. This is where the real value lies.

• Stress Reduction: Laughter can lower cortisol (a primary stress hormone) by a significant amount in just one session^4^.

• Immune Support: It has also been shown to increase levels of infection-fighting antibodies^4^.

• Blood Sugar Control: Watching a comedy after a meal led to smaller spikes in blood sugar compared to watching something dull^3, 5^.

• Pain Tolerance: Laughing releases endorphins, which can temporarily increase your pain threshold^5^.

How to Get the Most out of Your Laughter

If you want to lean into the benefits, the approach is simple:

1. Find your triggers: Seek out comedy that makes you genuinely laugh until you ache.

2. Laugh with others: We tend to laugh more when we’re with other people.

3. Consider laughter yoga: If you’re curious, a structured session can guarantee a prolonged laugh.

4. Don’t hold back: Let yourself laugh fully when you feel the urge.

A quick reminder: Polite, forced chuckles don’t count. The benefits come from real, involuntary laughter that engages your muscles.

The Final Word

So, to answer the original question: Yes, you do burn calories when you laugh. The numbers are modest, about 10–40 calories for every 10–15 minutes of real laughter^1, 2^. Over a year, that might add up to a few pounds, but let’s be practical.

The most logical conclusion is that the value of laughter isn’t as a workout replacement. Its true strength is in its contribution to your overall well-being. It reduces stress, improves mood, and offers a gentle internal workout. In 2025, as we continue to appreciate the connection between mind and body, think of laughter not as exercise, but as a vital part of a healthy and happy life. The calorie burn is just a delightful little perk.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many calories does laughing burn per minute?
Studies show laughter burns about 0.19 kilocalories per minute above your resting metabolic rate^2^.

Does laughing burn belly fat?
While laughter engages abdominal muscles and contributes to calorie burn, it alone won’t specifically target belly fat. However, as part of an overall healthy lifestyle, it plays a supportive role.

How many calories do you burn when you sleep?
On average, sleeping burns 50–70 calories per hour for most adults, depending on body weight and metabolism.

How many calories do you burn when you cry?
Crying slightly increases calorie burn above the resting rate, perhaps a few calories per hour, but negligibly compared to laughter since it doesn’t significantly elevate heart rate or engage many muscle groups.

^1^ https://news.vumc.org/reporter-archive/no-joke-study-finds-laughing-can-burn-calories/
^2^ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16652129/
^3^ https://achs.edu/blog/belly-laugh-belly-fat/
^4^ https://evidencebasedliving.human.cornell.edu/blog/why-laughter-is-such-good-medicine/
^5^ https://www.bmj.com/content/347/bmj.f7274