How many calories are in a banana?
A medium banana (118 g) has 105 calories. Per 100 grams, banana has 89 calories. That medium banana carries about 27 g of carbohydrate, 1.3 g of protein, and almost no fat, plus 422 mg of potassium. Most of the calories people blame on bananas actually come from what the banana is eaten with.
Banana nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per medium banana (118 g) | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 105 | 89 |
| Protein | 1.3 g | 1.1 g |
| Carbohydrate | 26.9 g | 22.8 g |
| Fiber | 3.1 g | 2.6 g |
| Sugar | 14.4 g | 12.2 g |
| Fat | 0.4 g | 0.3 g |
| Potassium | 422 mg | 358 mg |
| Vitamin C | 10 mg | 9 mg |
| Magnesium | 32 mg | 27 mg |
Values from Bananas, raw (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 173944). Figures vary with variety, ripeness, and preparation.
The calories you might not be counting
The banana itself is honest. Where the count slips is the vehicle. Two tablespoons of peanut butter on a banana add roughly 190 calories, often more than the fruit. A smoothie hides two or three bananas plus a scoop of nut butter and a sweetened base; banana bread buries oil and sugar around it. Sliced over cereal, most people pour a second helping. So the fruit is about 105 calories and the topping is where the day goes sideways. Photograph "a banana" and a plain tracker logs the fruit; Forkd flags the peanut butter, the granola, and the smoothie base it came with.
Calories by size
Size moves the number more than people expect. USDA lists an extra-small banana at 81 g (about 72 calories) and an extra-large at 152 g (about 135). The "medium" most labels assume is 118 g. Supermarket bananas often run large or extra-large, so a casual "one banana" can be 30 to 60 calories light before anything is added.
| Size | Weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Extra small (under 6") | 81 g | 72 |
| Small (6" to 6-7/8") | 101 g | 90 |
| Medium (7" to 7-7/8") | 118 g | 105 |
| Large (8" to 8-7/8") | 136 g | 121 |
| Extra large (9"+) | 152 g | 135 |
Scanning a banana with Forkd catches the exact portion and the hidden extras this page just described, the oil, the dressing, the topping a photo alone would miss.
Banana calories: common questions
Is a banana good for weight loss?
A medium banana is about 105 calories with 3 g of fiber and 422 mg of potassium, which help with fullness and fluid balance. Bananas fit a weight-loss diet in normal portions. The calories that stall progress usually come from add-ons like peanut butter or a smoothie base.
How many calories are in a large banana?
A large banana (136 g by USDA) has about 121 calories, and an extra-large (152 g) is around 135. Per 100 g, banana is 89 calories.
Are bananas high in sugar?
A medium banana has about 14 g of natural sugar, paired with 3 g of fiber that slows its absorption. It is whole-fruit sugar rather than added sugar, and the glycemic impact is moderate.
How many carbs are in a banana?
A medium banana has about 27 g of carbohydrate, of which roughly 3 g is fiber and 14 g is sugar.
Keep going
Sources: Bananas, raw (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 173944). Reviewed against USDA FoodData Central reference portions.
This page is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Nutrition values are estimates sourced from USDA FoodData Central and may vary by variety, preparation, and portion. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making significant changes to your diet.