Flutter kicks calories burned per minute typically ranges from 8-12 calories for most adults, making this exercise an effective calorie-burning movement for weight loss and fitness goals.
Flutter kicks are one of the most effective core exercises for burning calories while strengthening your abdominal muscles. Understanding exactly how many calories you burn during flutter kicks helps you plan better workouts and track your fitness progress. This exercise combines cardio benefits with muscle strengthening, making it popular among fitness enthusiasts.
The number of calories burned by flutter kicks depends on several factors including your body weight, exercise intensity, and duration. Heavier individuals typically burn more calories per minute compared to lighter people. Your heart rate during the exercise also plays a crucial role in determining total calorie expenditure. Learning about flutter kicks calories burned per minute helps you make informed decisions about incorporating this exercise into your fitness routine. Whether you’re doing a quick 20-second burst or longer sessions, knowing the calorie burn helps optimize your workout planning and weight management goals.
Table of Contents
Understanding Flutter Kicks Calories Burned Per Minute
Calculating flutter kicks calories burned per minute requires understanding the metabolic demands of this exercise. Different body weights and intensity levels create varying calorie burn rates, making it essential to know how these factors affect your personal calorie expenditure during workouts.
Body Weight (kg) | Low Intensity (cal/min) | Moderate Intensity (cal/min) | High Intensity (cal/min) |
---|---|---|---|
50-60 kg | 6-7 | 8-9 | 10-12 |
60-70 kg | 7-8 | 9-10 | 12-14 |
70-80 kg | 8-9 | 10-11 | 13-15 |
80-90 kg | 9-10 | 11-12 | 14-16 |
90+ kg | 10-11 | 12-13 | 15-18 |
The flutter kicks calories burned per minute increases with higher intensity and faster movement speed. Beginners often start with lower intensity, burning around 6-8 calories per minute, while experienced exercisers can achieve 12-16 calories per minute. Your fitness level directly impacts how efficiently you perform the movement and maintain proper form throughout the exercise.

Flutter Kicks Calories Burned
Understanding the total calories burned by flutter kicks during complete workout sessions helps with fitness planning and weight management goals. Different workout durations and intensities create varying calorie expenditure totals that you can use to design effective exercise routines.
Flutter kicks calories burned during typical workout sessions range from 30-120 calories depending on duration and intensity. A 5-minute session at moderate intensity burns approximately 40-60 calories, while a 10-minute high-intensity session can burn 100-120 calories. These totals make flutter kicks an efficient exercise for calorie burning goals.
Your individual flutter kicks calories burned will vary based on body weight, fitness level, and exercise intensity. Heavier individuals typically burn more calories during the same workout duration, while improved fitness allows for higher intensity sessions that increase total calorie expenditure significantly.
Flutter Kicks 20 Second Calories
Short burst sessions of flutter kicks provide quick calorie burning opportunities that fit easily into busy schedules. Understanding flutter kicks 20 second calories helps with high-intensity interval training planning and quick workout sessions throughout your day.
Body Weight (kg) | Low Intensity | Moderate Intensity | High Intensity | 5 Sessions | 10 Sessions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
50-60 kg | 1.5-2 calories | 2-2.5 calories | 2.5-3 calories | 10-15 calories | 20-30 calories |
60-70 kg | 2-2.5 calories | 2.5-3 calories | 3-3.5 calories | 12.5-17.5 calories | 25-35 calories |
70-80 kg | 2.5-3 calories | 3-3.5 calories | 3.5-4 calories | 15-20 calories | 30-40 calories |
80-90 kg | 3-3.5 calories | 3.5-4 calories | 4-4.5 calories | 17.5-22.5 calories | 35-45 calories |
90+ kg | 3.5-4 calories | 4-4.5 calories | 4.5-5 calories | 20-25 calories | 40-50 calories |
Flutter kicks 20 second calories typically range from 1.5-5 calories depending on your body weight and exercise intensity. While individual sessions seem small, multiple 20-second intervals throughout the day can accumulate significant calorie expenditure for effective weight management and fitness goals.
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Determining your personal flutter kicks calories burned requires using specific formulas that account for body weight, exercise duration, and intensity level. The most accurate calculations consider your metabolic equivalent (MET) value for this particular exercise, which typically ranges from 4-6 METs depending on intensity. The basic formula for calculating calories burned is: Calories = MET value × body weight in kg × duration in hours. For flutter kicks, use a MET value of 5 for moderate intensity. If you weigh 70 kg and perform flutter kicks for 10 minutes, the calculation would be: 5 × 70 × (10/60) = 58 calories total, or about 5.8 calories per minute.
Flutter kicks 20 second calories burned can be calculated by dividing your per-minute rate by 3. For example, if you burn 12 calories per minute, a 20-second session would burn approximately 4 calories. These short bursts are excellent for high-intensity interval training and can be repeated multiple times throughout your workout.

Flutter Kicks: A Step-By-Step Technique
Proper form is essential for maximizing flutter kicks calories burned per minute while preventing injury. The correct technique ensures you’re engaging the right muscles and maintaining the intensity needed for optimal calorie burn throughout your exercise session.
Step | Action | Duration | Focus Point |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Starting Position | 10 seconds | Lie flat, hands under lower back |
2 | Leg Elevation | 5 seconds | Lift legs 15-20 cm off ground |
3 | Flutter Movement | Variable | Alternate leg movements up and down |
4 | Breathing Pattern | Continuous | Maintain steady breathing rhythm |
5 | Core Engagement | Throughout | Keep abs tight and lower back pressed |
6 | Ending Position | 5 seconds | Lower legs slowly to starting position |
Step 1: Starting Position Setup
Setting up the proper starting position is crucial for maximizing flutter kicks calories burned per minute during your workout session. This foundation determines how effectively you’ll engage your core muscles throughout the entire exercise duration.
Lie flat on your back on an exercise mat with your legs extended straight. Place your hands underneath your lower back for support, keeping your shoulders relaxed against the floor. This position creates the stability needed for optimal calorie burning.
Step 2: Leg Elevation Technique
Proper leg elevation initiates the muscle engagement pattern that drives flutter kicks calories burned per minute effectiveness. The correct height and positioning ensure maximum core activation while maintaining exercise sustainability throughout your workout session.
Slowly lift both legs approximately 15-20 centimeters off the ground, keeping them straight and together initially. This height provides optimal resistance against gravity while allowing sustained movement patterns that maximize calorie burn during exercise.
Step 3: Flutter Movement Pattern
The flutter movement pattern creates the primary calorie-burning action that makes this exercise so effective per minute. Controlled alternating leg movements maintain constant muscle tension while elevating heart rate for optimal energy expenditure throughout your session.
Begin alternating your legs up and down in small, controlled movements, keeping legs straight throughout. One leg moves up while the other moves down, creating a scissor-like action that maximizes flutter kicks calories burned per minute.
Step 4: Breathing Pattern Maintenance
Proper breathing patterns support sustained performance and help maintain flutter kicks calories burned per minute at optimal levels. Consistent oxygen delivery to working muscles prevents early fatigue and maintains exercise intensity throughout your workout session.
Breathe naturally and steadily throughout the movement, avoiding breath-holding which can reduce performance. Exhale during the effort phase and inhale during the return, maintaining rhythm that supports continuous calorie burning during flutter kicks.
Step 5: Core Engagement Focus
Maintaining core engagement throughout flutter kicks maximizes calories burned per minute while protecting your lower back from strain. Consistent abdominal tension ensures optimal muscle activation and energy expenditure during the entire exercise session.
Keep your abdominal muscles tight and your lower back pressed firmly against the floor throughout all movements. This engagement pattern ensures maximum muscle activation and optimal flutter kicks calories burned per minute during exercise.
Step 6: Safe Exercise Completion
Properly ending your flutter kicks session helps maintain the calorie-burning benefits while preventing muscle strain or injury. A controlled conclusion preserves the metabolic benefits achieved during your workout while preparing your body for recovery.
Slowly lower both legs back to the starting position, maintaining control throughout the descent. Rest briefly before starting your next set, allowing heart rate to stabilize while preserving the elevated metabolism from calories burned.

Benefits Of Flutter Kicks
Understanding the benefits of flutter kicks helps explain why this exercise is so effective for burning calories per minute. Beyond calorie expenditure, this movement provides numerous fitness advantages that support overall health and weight management goals.
Flutter kicks offer multiple benefits that extend beyond simple calorie burning:
- High Calorie Burn Rate – Burns 8-12 calories per minute, making it efficient for weight loss and fitness goals
- Core Strengthening – Targets deep abdominal muscles while maintaining continuous calorie expenditure throughout the exercise
- Improved Cardiovascular Health – Elevates heart rate significantly, contributing to better cardio fitness and increased calorie burn
- No Equipment Required – Can be performed anywhere without additional equipment, making calorie burning accessible anytime
- Time Efficient – Short sessions still provide substantial calorie burn, perfect for busy schedules and quick workouts
- Scalable Intensity – Easy to modify difficulty level, allowing progression in both form and calories burned per minute
- Full Core Activation – Engages multiple muscle groups simultaneously, increasing overall calorie expenditure during exercise
5 Day Flutter Kicks Workout Routine
A structured workout routine maximizes flutter kicks calories burned per minute while ensuring proper progression and recovery. This five-day plan gradually increases intensity and duration to optimize calorie burning potential and fitness improvements.
Day | Duration | Sets | Rest Between Sets | Estimated Calories Burned |
---|---|---|---|---|
Day 1 | 30 seconds | 3 | 30 seconds | 15-20 calories |
Day 2 | 45 seconds | 3 | 30 seconds | 20-25 calories |
Day 3 | 60 seconds | 3 | 45 seconds | 25-35 calories |
Day 4 | 30 seconds | 5 | 30 seconds | 25-30 calories |
Day 5 | 45 seconds | 4 | 45 seconds | 30-40 calories |
This progressive routine ensures steady improvement in both endurance and flutter kicks calories burned per minute. Start with shorter durations and gradually increase as your fitness level improves. The rest periods allow for recovery while maintaining workout intensity for optimal calorie burning results.
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The Different Variations of Flutter Kicks
Exploring different flutter kick variations helps prevent workout monotony while maintaining high calorie burn rates per minute. Each variation targets muscles slightly differently and can increase or modify the calorie expenditure based on difficulty level and intensity.
Various flutter kick modifications can enhance your calorie burning potential:
- Vertical Flutter Kicks – Performed with legs pointing toward ceiling, increases difficulty and calories burned per minute significantly
- Scissor Kicks – Alternating leg movements in horizontal plane, similar calorie burn with different muscle emphasis patterns
- Bicycle Flutter Kicks – Adding cycling motion increases coordination demands and overall calorie expenditure per minute
- Weighted Flutter Kicks – Adding ankle weights increases resistance and can boost calorie burn by 20-25% per minute
- Pulse Flutter Kicks – Small, rapid movements maintain constant tension and sustained calorie burning throughout the exercise
- Single Leg Flutter – Isolating one leg increases intensity and calorie burn while improving unilateral strength development
- Elevated Flutter Kicks – Performing on incline increases difficulty and calories burned per minute compared to flat surface

What Muscles Do Flutter Kicks Work?
Understanding which muscles flutter kicks target explains why this exercise burns calories so effectively per minute. The multi-muscle engagement creates higher energy demands, resulting in increased calorie expenditure compared to single-muscle isolation exercises.
Flutter kicks engage multiple muscle groups simultaneously, contributing to higher calorie burn rates:
Muscle Group | Primary/Secondary | Activation Level | Contribution to Calorie Burn |
---|---|---|---|
Rectus Abdominis | Primary | High | 35-40% |
Hip Flexors | Primary | High | 25-30% |
Lower Abs | Primary | Very High | 30-35% |
Transverse Abdominis | Secondary | Medium | 10-15% |
Obliques | Secondary | Medium | 8-12% |
Glutes | Secondary | Low | 5-8% |
The high activation of multiple muscle groups simultaneously explains why flutter kicks calories burned per minute is relatively high compared to other core exercises. The continuous movement pattern maintains elevated heart rate and energy expenditure throughout the exercise duration.
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Perfecting Your Form
Maintaining proper form throughout flutter kicks ensures you achieve maximum calories burned per minute while minimizing injury risk. Poor technique reduces exercise effectiveness and can lead to lower calorie expenditure than expected. Focus on controlled movements and consistent breathing patterns.
Common form mistakes include lifting legs too high, which reduces core engagement and decreases calorie burn potential. Keep legs low to the ground, maintaining constant tension in your abdominal muscles. This position maximizes muscle activation and sustains higher calorie burning rates throughout your workout session.
Breathing rhythm plays a crucial role in maintaining intensity and calorie burn during flutter kicks. Avoid holding your breath, as this reduces oxygen delivery to working muscles and can decrease performance. Instead, maintain steady breathing that supports sustained effort and optimal calories burned per minute throughout your exercise routine.
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Factors Affecting Calorie Burn
Multiple variables influence flutter kicks calories burned per minute during your workout sessions. Understanding these factors helps optimize your exercise approach and set realistic expectations for calorie expenditure based on your individual characteristics and workout conditions.
1. Individual Metabolic Rate
Your personal metabolic rate significantly influences flutter kicks calories burned per minute during exercise sessions. People with higher metabolic rates naturally burn more calories during the same exercise intensity and duration compared to those with slower metabolisms.
Age, gender, and overall fitness level all contribute to your metabolic rate and calorie burning potential. Younger individuals typically have faster metabolisms, while muscle mass also plays a role in determining how many calories you burn during flutter kicks per minute.
2. Exercise Intensity and Speed
The speed and intensity at which you perform flutter kicks directly correlates with calories burned per minute. Faster leg movements and higher intensity create greater energy demands, resulting in increased calorie expenditure throughout your workout session.
Maintaining consistent intensity throughout your flutter kick session optimizes calorie burn. Avoid slowing down as fatigue sets in, as this reduces the overall calories burned per minute and diminishes the exercise’s effectiveness for weight management goals.
3. Body Weight and Composition
Body weight significantly affects flutter kicks calories burned per minute, with heavier individuals typically expending more energy during exercise. Muscle mass also contributes to calorie burn, as muscle tissue requires more energy to maintain and use during physical activity.
People with higher muscle-to-fat ratios generally burn more calories per minute during flutter kicks due to increased metabolic demands. Body composition changes over time can lead to variations in calorie burning efficiency during the same exercise routine.
4. Environmental Temperature
Temperature conditions can influence flutter kicks calories burned per minute through changes in metabolic rate and exercise efficiency. Warmer environments may increase calorie burn slightly due to additional energy needed for thermoregulation during physical activity.
Cold environments might also affect calorie expenditure as your body works to maintain core temperature during exercise. However, the primary calorie burn still comes from the muscle work involved in performing flutter kicks rather than temperature regulation.
5. Fitness Level and Experience
Your current fitness level directly impacts flutter kicks calories burned per minute and exercise efficiency. Beginners often burn more calories initially due to higher relative effort, while experienced exercisers may burn fewer calories as their bodies become more efficient.
As fitness improves, you may need to increase intensity or duration to maintain the same calorie burn rate per minute. However, improved fitness allows for longer exercise sessions and higher intensities, ultimately leading to greater total calorie expenditure.
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Maximizing Calorie Burn
Optimizing flutter kicks calories burned per minute requires strategic approaches to exercise intensity, timing, and recovery. Implementing specific techniques before, during, and after your workout sessions can significantly increase your overall calorie expenditure and exercise effectiveness.
Pre-Exercise Preparation
Proper warm-up before flutter kicks helps maximize calories burned per minute by preparing your muscles for higher intensity work. A good warm-up increases heart rate and muscle temperature, setting the stage for optimal calorie burning during your exercise session.
Spend 3-5 minutes doing light cardio or dynamic stretching before beginning flutter kicks. This preparation helps you maintain higher intensity throughout the exercise, ultimately leading to more calories burned per minute than starting cold.
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Post-Exercise Recovery
Recovery strategies can influence your overall calorie burn and exercise performance. Proper cool-down and stretching help maintain metabolic rate elevation after flutter kicks, extending the calorie-burning period beyond your actual exercise time.
Active recovery between sets maintains elevated heart rate and contributes to total calories burned during your workout session. Instead of complete rest, try light movement or stretching to keep your metabolism elevated throughout your training.
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Tracking Your Progress
Monitoring flutter kicks calories burned per minute helps maintain motivation and ensures continuous improvement in your fitness routine. Accurate tracking provides valuable data for adjusting workout intensity, duration, and frequency to optimize your calorie-burning goals effectively.
Monitoring Calorie Burn
Accurate tracking of flutter kicks calories burned per minute helps you monitor progress and adjust workout intensity as needed. Use fitness apps or heart rate monitors to get more precise measurements of your actual calorie expenditure during exercise sessions.
Keep a workout log recording duration, intensity, and estimated calories burned for each flutter kick session. This data helps you identify patterns and optimize your routine for maximum calorie burning efficiency over time.
Setting Realistic Goals
Setting achievable calorie burn goals for flutter kicks helps maintain motivation and ensures consistent progress. Start with realistic targets based on your current fitness level and gradually increase expectations as your endurance and strength improve.
Consider both short-term and long-term goals for calories burned per minute during flutter kicks. Short-term goals might focus on maintaining intensity for longer periods, while long-term goals could target higher calorie burn rates through improved fitness.
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Common Mistakes and Solutions
Avoiding common errors during flutter kicks ensures you achieve maximum calories burned per minute while preventing injury and maintaining proper form. Recognizing these mistakes and implementing corrections helps optimize your workout effectiveness and long-term progress.
Common flutter kicks mistakes that reduce calories burned per minute include:
- Allowing Legs to Drop Too Low – This disengages core muscles and reduces calorie burn; keep legs consistently elevated 15-20 cm above ground
- Moving Too Fast Without Control – Rapid, uncontrolled movements reduce muscle activation; focus on controlled movements for optimal calorie expenditure
- Holding Your Breath – Restricts oxygen delivery and reduces performance; maintain steady breathing rhythm throughout the exercise session
- Starting Too Intensely – Beginning at maximum intensity leads to early fatigue; start at sustainable pace to maintain calorie burn throughout workout
- Poor Core Engagement – Relaxed abdominal muscles reduce effectiveness; keep core tight throughout entire exercise duration for maximum results
- Inconsistent Movement Pattern – Irregular leg movements reduce muscle activation; maintain steady alternating pattern for consistent calorie burning
- Neglecting Proper Warm-Up – Cold muscles burn fewer calories and risk injury; always warm up before intense flutter kick sessions
- Ignoring Form When Tired – Fatigue leads to poor technique; maintain proper form even when tired to maximize calories burned per minute
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Conclusion
Flutter kicks calories burned per minute makes this exercise an excellent choice for efficient calorie burning and core strengthening. With proper form and consistent practice, you can burn 8-12 calories per minute while building functional strength and improving cardiovascular fitness effectively.
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Flutter Kicks Calories Burned Per Minute – FAQs
How many calories do flutter kicks burn per minute?
Flutter kicks typically burn 8-12 calories per minute for most adults, depending on body weight and exercise intensity.
Do flutter kicks burn more calories than regular crunches?
Yes, flutter kicks generally burn more calories per minute than crunches due to continuous movement and higher heart rate elevation.
How long should I do flutter kicks to burn 100 calories?
To burn 100 calories with flutter kicks, you would need approximately 8-12 minutes of continuous exercise at moderate intensity.
Can I increase flutter kicks calories burned per minute?
Yes, increase calorie burn by adding ankle weights, increasing speed, or combining with other exercises in circuit training.
What factors affect flutter kicks calories burned per minute?
Body weight, exercise intensity, fitness level, and proper form all significantly influence calories burned during flutter kicks.
Are flutter kicks effective for weight loss?
Flutter kicks are highly effective for weight loss due to their high calorie burn rate and ability to strengthen core muscles.
How do flutter kicks 20 second calories compare to longer sessions?
A 20-second session burns approximately 2-4 calories, making longer sessions more efficient for total calorie expenditure.
Should beginners expect lower flutter kicks calories burned per minute?
Yes, beginners typically burn fewer calories per minute initially due to lower intensity and developing proper form technique.
Can I do flutter kicks daily for maximum calorie burn?
While possible, alternating with rest days allows muscle recovery and may lead to better long-term calorie burning results.
How accurate are flutter kicks calories burned calculators?
Calculators provide estimates; actual calories burned per minute may vary based on individual metabolic rate and exercise form.