How many calories are in a carrot?
One medium raw carrot contains about 25 calories. Per 100 grams, raw carrots provide roughly 41 calories, 9.6 g of carbohydrate, 2.8 g of fiber and almost no fat.
Quick answer
A medium raw carrot (about 61 g) has roughly 25 calories. One cup of chopped raw carrots (128 g) has about 52 calories, and 100 g has about 41 calories. Carrots are mostly water and carbohydrate, with fiber and substantial provitamin A carotenoids.
| Serving | Approximate weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 baby carrot | 10 g | 4 kcal |
| 1 small carrot | 50 g | 20 kcal |
| 1 medium carrot | 61 g | 25 kcal |
| 1 large carrot | 72 g | 30 kcal |
| 1 cup, chopped | 128 g | 52 kcal |
| 1 cup, grated | 110 g | 45 kcal |
| 100 g, raw | 100 g | 41 kcal |
| 100 g, boiled | 100 g | 35 kcal |
Carrot nutrition facts per 100 g
Carrots are low in calories and rich in provitamin A. A 100 g portion provides about 835 µg RAE from provitamin A carotenoids — roughly a full day's reference amount for an adult and about 93% of the US Daily Value.
Values are representative estimates. Brands, recipes, egg sizes, trimming, cooking method and moisture loss can change the final numbers; use the package label when available.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 41 kcal |
| Protein | 0.9 g |
| Carbohydrate | 9.6 g |
| Total sugars | 4.7 g |
| Fiber | 2.8 g |
| Fat | 0.2 g |
| Vitamin A | 835 µg RAE |
| Vitamin K | 13.2 µg |
| Vitamin C | 5.9 mg |
| Potassium | 320 mg |
Raw vs cooked carrots
Boiled carrots come in slightly lower per 100 g — around 35 calories — largely because they take on water during cooking. The carrot has not lost meaningful energy; the same weight simply contains more water and less carrot.
Cooking does change what you absorb. Heat breaks down cell walls and makes beta-carotene more available, and because it is fat-soluble, a little olive oil or butter improves absorption further. Added fat also changes the calorie count: adding two teaspoons of oil to a tray of roasted carrots contributes roughly 80 calories.
Related: low-fat foods — where carrots sit among naturally low-fat choices · healthy lunch ideas — using carrots as the produce slot
Baby carrots, carrot juice and carrot cake
Baby-cut carrots are ordinary carrots machine-shaped into smaller pieces, so they are nutritionally close to the whole vegetable at roughly 35 calories per 100 g, or about 4 per piece.
Juicing is where the numbers separate. A cup of carrot juice runs about 94 calories because it concentrates several carrots and leaves most of the fiber behind. Carrot cake belongs to a different category entirely — the carrot is a minor ingredient next to the flour, sugar, oil and frosting.
| Form | Serving | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Baby carrots | 100 g | 35 kcal |
| Carrot juice | 1 cup (236 g) | 94 kcal |
| Roasted carrots with 2 tsp oil | 1 cup | ~130 kcal |
| Carrot cake with frosting | 1 slice | 300–500 kcal |
Do carrots have a lot of sugar?
Per 100 g, carrots contain about 4.7 g of naturally occurring sugar and 2.8 g of fiber. One cup of chopped carrots (128 g) contains about 6 g of sugar — roughly 1½ teaspoons by weight — and 3.6 g of fiber.
Glycemic index tests typically use a portion containing 50 g of available, or digestible, carbohydrate. Reaching that amount from raw carrots takes roughly 1.6 pounds, so the glycemic load of a usual serving is small.
Related: high-protein foods — what to pair carrots with for a fuller meal · BMR and TDEE calculator — see how a 25-calorie snack fits the day
Carrots as a snack
Carrots work well as a snack because they require plenty of chewing and provide water, fiber and volume for relatively few calories. Pairing them with protein or fat — such as hummus, nut butter or yogurt dip — can make the snack more satisfying.
- Raw carrot sticks with hummus add protein and fiber.
- Grated carrot adds volume and sweetness to salads and wraps.
- Roast carrots with olive oil and spices to improve beta-carotene absorption.
- Compare raw weight to raw entries and cooked weight to cooked entries.
Sources
Nutrition values are estimates based on authoritative food-composition data and public-health guidance. Product labels and serving sizes vary.
- USDA FoodData Central
US Department of Agriculture food-composition database used for representative nutrient values.
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans
US government evidence-based guidance for healthy dietary patterns and nutrient-dense food choices.
Frequently asked questions
- How many calories are in one carrot?
- A medium raw carrot of about 61 g contains roughly 25 calories. A large carrot is closer to 30, and a baby carrot is about 4.
- How many calories are in 100 g of carrots?
- Raw carrots have about 41 calories per 100 g. Boiled carrots come in around 35 calories per 100 g because they absorb water.
- How many carbs are in carrots?
- About 9.6 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, of which 2.8 g is fiber and 4.7 g is naturally occurring sugar.
- Are carrots good for weight management?
- They can be a useful part of the diet. They are low in calories for their volume and provide fiber and water, which many people find filling.
- Do cooked carrots have more calories than raw?
- Not by themselves — boiled carrots are slightly lower per 100 g because of added water. Any oil or butter used in cooking is what raises the calories.