MET 6.0 · Compendium code 03042

Calories burned cha-cha

Cha-Cha is classified in the Compendium of Physical Activities as “Ballroom Dance, Recreational (Waltz, Foxtrot, Cha-cha, Swing)”, with a MET value of 6.0 — about 443 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)	71	143	214	286	429	572
110 lb (50 kg)	79	157	236	314	472	629
120 lb (54 kg)	86	171	257	343	514	686
130 lb (59 kg)	93	186	279	371	557	743
140 lb (64 kg)	100	200	300	400	600	800
150 lb (68 kg)	107	214	321	429	643	857
155 lb (70 kg)	111	221	332	443	664	886
160 lb (73 kg)	114	229	343	457	686	914
170 lb (77 kg)	121	243	364	486	729	972
180 lb (82 kg)	129	257	386	514	772	1029
190 lb (86 kg)	136	271	407	543	814	1086
200 lb (91 kg)	143	286	429	572	857	1143
210 lb (95 kg)	150	300	450	600	900	1200
220 lb (100 kg)	157	314	472	629	943	1257
240 lb (109 kg)	171	343	514	686	1029	1372
260 lb (118 kg)	186	371	557	743	1114	1486
280 lb (127 kg)	200	400	600	800	1200	1600
300 lb (136 kg)	214	429	643	857	1286	1715

FAQ

How many calories does cha-cha burn per hour?

About 443 calories per hour for a 155-lb (70 kg) person, 357 for 125 lb and 529 for 185 lb, using a MET value of 6 (Ballroom dance, recreational (waltz, foxtrot, cha-cha, swing)).

Is cha-cha a good workout?

At 6 METs, cha-cha counts as vigorous-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.