How heavy is one small banana? Your complete weight and nutrition guide

December 2, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the USDA's standard serving sizes, a small banana, which measures between 6 and 7 inches, has an average weight of about 101 grams. Knowing exactly how heavy is one small banana is essential for anyone tracking their dietary intake, following a recipe, or managing portion sizes for a healthy lifestyle.

Quick Summary

A small banana typically weighs 101 grams, but its weight fluctuates with ripeness, variety, and growing conditions. This detailed breakdown covers standard weights for various sizes, nutritional content, and tips for accurate measurement.

Key Points

Standard Weight: A standard small banana, measuring 6–7 inches, weighs approximately 101 grams (about 3.5 ounces).
Weight Variation: Factors like ripeness (water loss), variety, and growing conditions can cause a banana's weight to differ from the standard.
Calorie Count: A 101-gram small banana contains around 90 calories, making it a relatively low-calorie snack.
Nutrient Source: A small banana is a good source of potassium and dietary fiber, both of which are beneficial for a healthy diet.
Accurate Measurement: Using a digital kitchen scale is the most precise way to measure a banana's weight for nutritional tracking or baking recipes.

Understanding Standard Banana Weights

While produce can vary widely, nutritional databases and health organizations use standardized classifications to make tracking and comparison easier. For bananas, size is typically defined by length, which in turn corresponds to an average weight. A 'small' banana is officially defined as measuring 6 to 7 inches long and weighing approximately 101 grams, which is about 3.5 ounces. This makes it a perfect, portable snack that is lighter in calories than its larger counterparts.

Factors Influencing a Banana's Weight

Several natural factors can cause the weight of a seemingly small banana to differ from the standard. These variations are a testament to the fruit's organic nature and can be important for precision-conscious cooks and nutritionists to consider.

Ripeness: As a banana ripens, it loses moisture through its peel, which causes a slight decrease in overall mass. The conversion of starches into sugars also impacts its physical properties, though the weight change is primarily due to water loss.
Variety: The widely available Cavendish banana, which most people envision, is just one of many varieties. Other types, such as baby bananas or different cultivars grown worldwide, have naturally different size and weight characteristics.
Growing Conditions: The conditions under which a banana plant is grown, including nutrient availability in the soil (like potassium and magnesium) and local climate factors (such as temperature and humidity), can significantly impact the size and density of the fruit.
Handling and Storage: Post-harvest handling and storage practices, including temperature and humidity, can affect the fruit's moisture content and, consequently, its weight over time.

Nutritional Breakdown and Comparison

Understanding the weight of a small banana provides a solid baseline for assessing its nutritional value. For a 101-gram serving, the nutritional content is proportionally lower than for a medium or large banana. Here is a typical nutritional profile for a 100-gram serving, which is very close to the weight of a small banana:

Calories: 89 kcal
Carbohydrates: 22.8 g
Dietary Fiber: 2.6 g
Protein: 1.1 g
Total Fat: 0.3 g
Potassium: 358 mg

This makes a small banana a low-calorie, high-potassium snack, perfect for a quick energy boost. It is also a good source of dietary fiber, which aids in digestion and can help keep you feeling full longer.

Comparison Table: Small vs. Larger Bananas

To put the small banana's weight into perspective, here is a comparison of standard weights and calories for different sizes:


Banana Size	Length	Approximate Weight	Approximate Calories
Extra Small	< 6 inches	81 grams	72 kcal
Small	6–7 inches	101 grams	90 kcal
Medium	7–8 inches	118 grams	105 kcal
Large	8–9 inches	136 grams	121 kcal
Extra Large	> 9 inches	152 grams	135 kcal

Accurate Weighing for Cooking and Tracking

For those who need to be precise, whether for a detailed nutritional log or a baking recipe, a kitchen scale is the most reliable tool. Digital kitchen scales are highly accurate and often measure to the nearest gram. This eliminates the guesswork that comes with estimating based on size. Using a scale is especially helpful when baking, where exact ingredient ratios are crucial for consistent results. Remember to use the 'tare' function to zero out the weight of any container you are using, ensuring you only measure the weight of the banana itself. For more tips on accurate measuring for baking, consult a trusted resource like King Arthur Baking's blog post on using a scale.

Conclusion: Making Informed Choices

In summary, the weight of one small banana is officially recognized as 101 grams, or about 3.5 ounces. This standard figure is a useful reference for meal planning, nutritional tracking, and portion control. While natural variation exists due to factors like ripeness and variety, using a digital kitchen scale can provide the most accurate measurement for your specific needs. Armed with this information, you can make more informed decisions about your diet and enjoy this healthy, versatile fruit with confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

The average weight of a standard small banana (6–7 inches) is 101 grams, which is equivalent to about 3.5 ounces.

Yes, standard nutritional information for a banana's size and weight is typically based on the entire fruit, including the peel, before consumption. Only the edible part is factored into nutrient content.

As a banana ripens, its weight can decrease due to moisture loss from the peel. The conversion of starches to sugars also occurs, but the physical mass reduction is primarily from water evaporation.

One small banana, weighing 101 grams, is equivalent to approximately 3.5 ounces.

A small banana contains approximately 90 calories. This is less than a medium (105 kcal) or large (121 kcal) banana.

Using a digital kitchen scale ensures accuracy, which is particularly important for precise calorie counting, portion control, and recipes where exact measurements are needed.

Yes, there is a noticeable weight difference. An extra small banana (less than 6 inches) weighs about 81 grams, while a small banana (6–7 inches) weighs about 101 grams.