How many calories are in a tomato?
A medium tomato (123 g) has 22 calories. Per 100 grams, tomato has 18 calories. A medium tomato has under 5 g of carbohydrate, 1.5 g of fiber, and negligible fat. Tomatoes are among the lowest-calorie vegetables per gram, with useful amounts of potassium (237 mg per 100 g), vitamin C, and vitamin A.
Tomato nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per medium tomato (123 g) | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 22 | 18 |
| Protein | 1.1 g | 0.9 g |
| Carbohydrate | 4.8 g | 3.9 g |
| Fiber | 1.5 g | 1.2 g |
| Sugar | 3.2 g | 2.6 g |
| Fat | 0.2 g | 0.2 g |
| Potassium | 292 mg | 237 mg |
| Vitamin C | 17 mg | 14 mg |
| Vitamin A | 52 IU | 42 IU |
Values from Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 170457). Figures vary with variety, ripeness, and preparation.
The calories you might not be counting
A raw tomato is 22 calories. The calorie explosion happens when the tomato is processed, concentrated, or cooked in fat. Tomato sauce reduces pounds of tomatoes into a dense paste and typically adds olive oil, so a half-cup of marinara runs 60 to 90 calories depending on how much oil went in. Sun-dried tomatoes lose their water and concentrate everything; a quarter-cup of sun-dried packed in oil is about 60 calories versus 3 for a single fresh cherry tomato. Fried green tomatoes coat thick slices in flour and egg, then pan-fry them, and a three-slice serving easily reaches 200 calories. Ketchup adds sugar to concentrated tomato, so a tablespoon is about 20 calories of mostly sugar. Caprese salad layers fresh tomato with mozzarella and olive oil, and the cheese and oil carry ten times the calories of the tomato they sit beside. Forkd sees the oil, the cheese, and the breading separately so the 22-calorie tomato does not absorb the count of everything around it.
Calories by size
Tomato sizes range widely. A small tomato (91 g) is about 16 calories, a medium (123 g) about 22, and a large (182 g) about 33. A cup of chopped tomato (180 g) runs about 32 calories. Cherry tomatoes are roughly 3 calories each (17 g). Even a large serving of raw tomato barely registers on a calorie budget, which is why it is a go-to volume food.
| Size | Weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Small (2-2/5" dia) | 91 g | 16 |
| Medium (2-3/5" dia) | 123 g | 22 |
| Large (3" dia) | 182 g | 33 |
| Cup, chopped | 180 g | 32 |
| Cherry tomato | 17 g | 3 |
| Plum/Italian tomato | 62 g | 11 |
Scanning a tomato 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.
Tomato calories: common questions
How many calories are in a medium tomato?
A medium tomato (123 g) has about 22 calories, with roughly 4.8 g of carbohydrate, 1.5 g of fiber, and 3.2 g of natural sugar.
Are tomatoes good for weight loss?
Tomatoes are excellent for volume eating. At 18 calories per 100 g, you can eat a lot of tomato for very few calories. They also deliver potassium, vitamin C, and vitamin A. The calories that accumulate come from oil-based sauces, cheese pairings, and fried preparations.
How many calories are in a cherry tomato?
One cherry tomato (about 17 g) has roughly 3 calories. A cup of cherry tomatoes (about 149 g) has about 27 calories.
Does cooking tomatoes change the calories?
Cooking alone does not significantly change the calorie content per gram of tomato. What changes the count is the oil or fat added during cooking. A tablespoon of olive oil in a sauce adds about 120 calories to whatever tomatoes are in the pan.
Keep going
Sources: Tomatoes, red, ripe, raw, year round average (USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 170457). 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.