💡 Quick Answer
100 g of cucumber has 15 kcal in USDA data and 17 to 20 kcal in IFCT 2017; a medium cucumber (200 g) has about 30 kcal. A large cucumber (301 g) has 45 kcal and a cup of slices 16 kcal. It is about 93 to 95 percent water, with 0.7 g of protein per 100 g.
- 1 small cucumber (150 g): 22 kcal.
- Salad of 500 g: 75 kcal.
- Fibre: 2.1 g per 100 g in IFCT 2017.
Portion calculator
100 g of cucumber, with peel, raw (USDA) ≈ 0.7 g protein · 15 kcal
Scaled from the figures on this page. Brands and recipes vary.
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Cucumber is the closest thing to a free food in the kitchen. Searches such as "1 cucumber calories" and "cucumber calories 100g" mostly come from people building salads or trying to lose weight. The answer is short: very few calories, a lot of water, a little fibre and potassium. This page gives the exact figures from USDA and the Indian tables, for every size, plus what to watch for in cucumber dishes like raita.
Cucumber Calories and Nutrition per 100 g
| Cucumber (100 g) | Weight | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fibre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cucumber, green, elongate (IFCT 2017) | 100 g | 20 kcal | 0.7 g | 5.6 g | 0.2 g | 2.1 g |
| Cucumber, green, short (IFCT 2017) | 100 g | 17 kcal | 0.8 g | 5.0 g | 0.2 g | 2.1 g |
| Cucumber, orange, round (IFCT 2017) | 100 g | 20 kcal | 1.0 g | 5.5 g | 0.2 g | 2.5 g |
| Cucumber, with peel, raw (USDA) | 100 g | 15 kcal | 0.7 g | 3.6 g | 0.1 g | 0.5 g |
Source: IFCT 2017 (ICMR-NIN), Cucumber codes D043 to D045 (carbohydrate shown is available carbohydrate plus fibre; energy converted from kJ); USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy), ID 168409.
USDA lists 15 kcal, 0.7 g of protein, 3.6 g of carbohydrate and 0.5 g of fibre per 100 g. IFCT 2017 is a little higher: 17 to 20 kcal for the green varieties and 20 kcal for the orange round type, with 2.1 g of fibre. The Indian samples show more fibre and protein. Both sources agree that fat is close to zero and that the rest of the cucumber is water: IFCT lists 93 g of water in 100 g.
Calories in 1 Cucumber, a Cup of Slices and a Salad
| Portion | Weight | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat | Fibre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cucumber, 100 g | 100 g | 15 kcal | 0.7 g | 3.6 g | 0.1 g | 0.5 g |
| Cucumber, 1/2 cup slices | 1/2 cup slices (52 g) | 8 kcal | 0.3 g | 1.9 g | 0.1 g | 0.3 g |
| Cucumber, 1 cup slices | 1 cup slices (104 g) | 16 kcal | 0.7 g | 3.8 g | 0.1 g | 0.5 g |
| Cucumber, 1 small | 1 small (150 g) | 22 kcal | 1.0 g | 5.4 g | 0.2 g | 0.8 g |
| Cucumber, 1 medium | 1 medium (200 g) | 30 kcal | 1.3 g | 7.3 g | 0.2 g | 1.0 g |
| Cucumber, 1 large | 1 large, 8 inch (301 g) | 45 kcal | 2.0 g | 10.9 g | 0.3 g | 1.5 g |
| Cucumber, 500 g | 500 g (a salad for 3 to 4) | 75 kcal | 3.2 g | 18.1 g | 0.6 g | 2.5 g |
Source: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy), ID 168409; whole-cucumber and cup weights are USDA's, the other sizes are our assumptions.
A small cucumber of 150 g has about 22 kcal, a medium of 200 g about 30 kcal and a large of 301 g about 45 kcal. A whole cucumber therefore costs less than a spoon of ghee. A cup of slices has 16 kcal and a half kilo of cucumber for a family salad about 75 kcal in total. Use the IFCT figures if you prefer a slightly higher estimate: a 200 g cucumber would be around 40 kcal.
Fibre, Potassium and Hydration
The main value of cucumber is volume for almost no calories. A bowl of it makes a meal feel bigger, and the water helps in hot weather. IFCT lists 183 mg of potassium per 100 g, so a medium cucumber gives over 350 mg, a useful but not large share of the 2,600 to 3,400 mg adults need. It has small amounts of vitamin C (6 mg per 100 g) and calcium. Keep the peel on after washing well, since the peel holds much of the fibre. Cucumber does not replace water, but it counts towards fluids.
Is Cucumber Good for Weight Loss?
It helps, because it fills the plate for little energy. Swap a packet of chips for a plate of cucumber with chaat masala and lemon and you save most of the calories. It will not burn fat by itself, and a cucumber diet that is too restrictive is not healthy. Keep the rest of the meal rich in protein: curd and paneer go well with cucumber raita and salads.
Choosing and Storing Cucumber
Pick firm, evenly green cucumbers without soft ends. Shop cucumbers are often waxed, so wash well and peel only if the skin is tough or bitter. Bitterness comes from compounds near the stem end; cutting off the end and rubbing the cut surfaces usually helps. Store in the fridge and use within a week. Pickled cucumber, kheera with salt and masala, and cucumber in packaged sandwiches carry extra sodium or oil, so the calories above apply to the plain vegetable.
Cucumber in Raita, Salad and Juice
- Raita: the cucumber adds almost no calories, but curd does. See protein in curd for its numbers.
- Salad with sprouts or chana: try the protein sprouts bhel for a crunchy high-protein version.
- Juice: loses the fibre; fine occasionally, but eating the whole vegetable is more filling.
- Sensitivity: some people find cucumber hard to digest or gassy; peeling or removing seeds may help.
Cucumber is a good example of a food that barely moves your calories. To plan the foods that do, use the protein calculator, see guava calories and nutrition for another low-calorie, high-fibre pick, and browse the nutrition hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in 1 cucumber?
A medium cucumber (200 g) has about 30 kcal. A small one (150 g) has 22 kcal and a large one (301 g) 45 kcal (USDA).
How many calories are in 100 g of cucumber?
15 kcal in USDA data, and 17 to 20 kcal in IFCT 2017.
How many calories are in a cup of cucumber slices?
About 16 kcal for a cup (104 g).
How much protein is in cucumber?
0.7 g per 100 g in USDA data and 0.7 g in IFCT 2017, so a medium cucumber has about 1.5 to 2 g.
How much water is in cucumber?
About 93 g in every 100 g, according to IFCT 2017.
Does cucumber help with weight loss?
It can, by adding volume and crunch for very few calories in place of snacks. It does not burn fat on its own.
Sources: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy): cucumber with peel, raw (ID 168409) and its portion weights; IFCT 2017 (ICMR-National Institute of Nutrition): cucumber codes D043, D044 and D045, including water, potassium and vitamin C. Potassium needs are the 2019 US adequate intakes. Values are typical, not lab results.
Hitting your protein target on an Indian diet is easier when you can see it: UltraFit360 logs meals from a photo and tracks protein against your goal. Work out your number with the protein calculator.
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