How many calories are in a mandarin orange?
One medium mandarin contains about 47 calories. Per 100 grams, mandarins provide roughly 53 calories, 13.3 g of carbohydrate, 1.8 g of fiber and 26.7 mg of vitamin C.
Quick answer
A medium mandarin (about 88 g of edible fruit) has roughly 47 calories, a clementine about 35 and 100 g about 53. One medium mandarin supplies about 23 mg of vitamin C, roughly a quarter of the US Daily Value.
| Serving | Approximate weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| 1 clementine | 74 g | 35 kcal |
| 1 small mandarin | 76 g | 40 kcal |
| 1 medium mandarin | 88 g | 47 kcal |
| 1 large mandarin | 120 g | 64 kcal |
| 1 cup sections | 195 g | 103 kcal |
| 100 g | 100 g | 53 kcal |
| Canned in juice | 1 cup (249 g) | 92 kcal |
| Canned in light syrup | 1 cup (252 g) | 154 kcal |
See also: Calories in grapes
Mandarin nutrition facts per 100 g
Mandarins are a low-calorie fruit with about 1.8 g of fiber against 10.6 g of sugar per 100 g. That is twice the fiber of grapes with less sugar, which helps one fruit feel more substantial than its calorie count suggests.
Vitamin C is the headline nutrient. A 100 g portion carries about 26.7 mg, so a medium fruit supplies roughly 23 mg — around 26% of the 90 mg US Daily Value. Two mandarins cover more than half a day's reference amount.
Values are representative estimates. Brand, recipe, portion size, trimming, cooking method and moisture loss can change the final numbers; use the package label when one is available.
| Nutrient | Amount |
|---|---|
| Calories | 53 kcal |
| Protein | 0.8 g |
| Carbohydrate | 13.3 g |
| Total sugars | 10.6 g |
| Fiber | 1.8 g |
| Fat | 0.3 g |
| Vitamin C | 26.7 mg |
| Vitamin A | 34 µg RAE |
| Potassium | 166 mg |
Related: BMR and TDEE calculator — where a 47-calorie fruit fits your day · healthy lunch ideas — mandarins as the fruit slot in a packed lunch
Clementines, tangerines and satsumas
The small easy-peel citrus sold in mesh bags are usually clementines or satsumas, both mandarin varieties. Clementines are smaller — around 74 g and 35 calories — which is why a bag of them disappears faster than the calorie count would predict.
Tangerines are a mandarin type too, generally slightly larger and more tart, and their nutrition is close enough that the USDA lists them together. Practically, the difference that matters is size: a large tangerine can be nearly twice the fruit of a clementine.
| Fruit | Typical weight | Calories | Vitamin C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clementine | 74 g | 35 kcal | 36 mg |
| Satsuma | 80 g | 42 kcal | ~21 mg |
| Mandarin, medium | 88 g | 47 kcal | 23 mg |
| Tangerine, large | 120 g | 64 kcal | 32 mg |
Canned mandarin oranges and juice
Canned mandarin segments are convenient and the packing liquid decides the number. In 100% juice, a cup runs about 92 calories — close to the fresh equivalent. In light syrup, the same cup is around 154, and heavy syrup goes higher still.
Draining helps but does not undo it, because the segments absorb sweetened liquid during storage. If you want the canned convenience without the added sugar, buy the ones packed in juice and drain them; if only syrup is available, a rinse removes a useful part of what is on the surface.
| Form | Serving | Calories | Sugar |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fresh mandarin | 1 medium (88 g) | 47 kcal | 9 g |
| Canned in juice | 1 cup (249 g) | 92 kcal | 22 g |
| Canned in light syrup | 1 cup (252 g) | 154 kcal | 38 g |
| Mandarin or orange juice | 1 cup (248 g) | 112 kcal | 21 g |
Related: low-fat foods — how fruit fits alongside the rest of the plate · calories in grapes — the other easy-eating fruit, with more sugar
How many mandarins is a sensible portion?
USDA MyPlate counts one cup of fruit as a serving, which is about two medium mandarins or roughly 95 calories. Most adults are advised to eat one and a half to two and a half cups of fruit a day, so two mandarins cover roughly half of a typical day's fruit.
The practical trap is that they are effortless. Peeling one takes ten seconds and there is nothing to clean up, so four or five in an afternoon is common and quietly adds up to about 200 calories — still fruit, but no longer a small snack.
- Two medium mandarins is roughly one MyPlate cup of fruit.
- Take the number you want out of the bag before you start.
- Pair with nuts, yogurt or cheese to make it hold longer.
- Choose whole fruit over juice: it keeps the fiber, while a cup of juice carries the sugar of two or three mandarins.
Mandarins as a snack
At around 47 calories, a mandarin is one of the lowest-calorie portable snacks available, and it comes in its own wrapper. For a lunchbox or a desk drawer it is hard to beat.
It is a light snack rather than a filling one — under a gram of protein and no fat. Two mandarins with a small handful of almonds comes to about 260 calories and is far more filling than the fruit on its own.
Related: high-protein snacks — what to eat alongside them · carrot calories — the vegetable version of a no-prep snack
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.
- USDA MyPlate: Fruits
USDA guidance on daily fruit amounts and what counts as a cup of fruit.
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans
US government evidence-based guidance for healthy dietary patterns and nutrient-dense food choices.
More nutrition guides
Frequently asked questions
- How many calories are in one mandarin?
- About 47 calories for a medium fruit of roughly 88 g of edible flesh. A small clementine is closer to 35 and a large tangerine around 64.
- How many calories are in a clementine?
- About 35 calories for a typical 74 g clementine, along with roughly 36 mg of vitamin C — around 40% of the US Daily Value from one small fruit.
- How much vitamin C is in a mandarin?
- Roughly 23 mg in a medium fruit, or 26.7 mg per 100 g. That is about a quarter of the 90 mg US Daily Value per mandarin.
- Are canned mandarin oranges as good as fresh?
- Canned mandarins packed in 100% juice are close to fresh in calories: about 92 calories a cup, against about 95 for two medium fresh fruit. Light syrup raises the same cup to around 154 calories and roughly 38 g of sugar.
- How many mandarins can I eat in a day?
- There is no fixed limit. USDA MyPlate counts two medium mandarins as about one cup of fruit, and most adults are advised to eat one and a half to two and a half cups of fruit daily. They are easy to eat quickly, so serving a set number is more reliable than eating from the bag.