How many calories are in two slices of cheese pizza?

October 17, 2025 •

3 min read

A single slice of regular crust cheese pizza can contain between 270 and 300 calories, meaning the answer to how many calories are in two slices of cheese pizza? isn't a fixed number but rather a range, typically falling between 540 and 600 calories. This variation is due to factors like crust thickness, amount of cheese, and pizza size. Understanding these nutritional components is key for mindful eating and managing your calorie intake.

Quick Summary

The calorie count for two slices of cheese pizza ranges significantly, influenced by crust type, serving size, and cheese quantity. Two slices can total anywhere from 400 to over 700 calories, with standard regular crust slices averaging around 570 calories. Healthy choices include opting for thin crust, adding vegetables, and practicing portion control.

Key Points

Calorie Range Varies: For two slices of regular cheese pizza, expect around 540-600 calories, but this can change significantly based on crust and size.
Crust is Key: Thin crust options result in a lower calorie count (around 400-500 calories for two slices), while deep-dish can push the total over 700.
Toppings Add Calories: Adding meats like pepperoni and sausage increases the fat, sodium, and overall calories, whereas vegetables add nutrients with fewer calories.
Portion Control is Crucial: Mindfully limiting your intake to one or two slices is essential for fitting pizza into a healthy dietary plan.
Control Your Ingredients: Making pizza at home allows for better control over ingredients like cheese quantity and healthier crust options, like whole-wheat dough.
Watch the Add-ons: Extra items like dipping sauces, stuffed crusts, and extra cheese can dramatically increase the total calorie count.

Understanding the Calorie Count in Two Slices of Pizza

The calorie content of pizza can vary dramatically depending on several key factors. While a general estimate can be provided, knowing what influences the numbers is crucial for anyone monitoring their nutritional intake. The primary drivers are crust type, slice size, and the quantity of cheese.

The Impact of Crust on Calorie Count

The foundation of any pizza, the crust, plays a major role in its overall caloric value. Thinner crusts use less dough and therefore have fewer calories, while thicker or deep-dish options are more dough-heavy and calorically dense.

Thin Crust: A thin crust cheese pizza slice typically falls in the range of 200–250 calories. For two slices, you're looking at a total of 400–500 calories.
Regular Crust: A standard 14-inch regular crust cheese pizza averages around 285 calories per slice. This brings the total for two slices to approximately 570 calories.
Deep-Dish or Thick Crust: These can easily have 350–400 calories or more per single slice due to the increased dough and cheese. Two deep-dish slices could push the calorie count above 700.

Comparing Different Pizza Types

It's useful to see how a plain cheese pizza compares to other popular varieties. Toppings significantly increase the calorie and fat content, with processed meats being particularly high.


Pizza Type (Regular Crust)	Approximate Calories per Slice	Total Calories for Two Slices	Key Nutritional Differences
Cheese	270-300	540-600	Moderate fat and protein, lower sodium than meat options.
Pepperoni	290-350	580-700	Higher saturated fat and sodium from processed meat.
Veggie Lovers	200-280	400-560	Lower fat content, higher fiber, vitamins, and minerals.
Meat Lovers/Supreme	350-500+	700-1000+	Significantly higher fat, sodium, and calories due to multiple processed meats and extra cheese.

Beyond Calories: Other Nutritional Considerations

While calories are a primary concern for many, a holistic view of pizza's nutritional profile includes macronutrients like fat, carbohydrates, and protein, as well as sodium. Pizza, especially from chain restaurants, can be a major source of saturated fat and sodium. For instance, a single slice of cheese pizza can contain over 600mg of sodium, roughly 28% of the recommended daily value.

How to Make Healthier Pizza Choices

Enjoying pizza doesn't have to derail your nutritional goals. There are several ways to make smarter choices while still enjoying this beloved food:

Choose Thin Crust: Opting for a thin crust is one of the easiest ways to reduce your calorie and carbohydrate intake.
Pile on the Veggies: Load up on vegetable toppings like mushrooms, bell peppers, onions, and spinach. They are low in calories and boost the pizza's fiber, vitamin, and antioxidant content.
Go Light on the Cheese: Requesting less cheese or opting for part-skim mozzarella can significantly reduce the fat and calorie content.
Make it at Home: Preparing a pizza from scratch gives you complete control over the ingredients, from the whole-wheat flour for the crust to the amount of cheese and healthy toppings.
Practice Portion Control: Limiting yourself to one or two slices and pairing it with a large, fresh side salad is a great strategy. This ensures you still get to enjoy the flavor while balancing your meal.
Skip the Extra Sauces: Dipping sauces like garlic butter or ranch can add hundreds of extra calories and unhealthy fats. Avoid these for a healthier meal.

Conclusion

The calorie content of two slices of cheese pizza is not a fixed number, but a range influenced by several factors, including crust type, portion size, and ingredient quality. A typical estimate falls between 540 and 600 calories for a regular crust. By understanding these factors and making conscious choices, such as opting for thin crust or adding more vegetables, you can enjoy pizza as part of a balanced diet. Mindful portion control is the most effective strategy for integrating pizza into a healthy eating plan without negatively impacting your calorie goals.

For more specific nutritional data on various food items, including pizza from major chains, you can consult reliable resources like the USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions

To reduce the calories in your pizza, opt for a thin crust, load it with vegetable toppings, ask for less cheese or use part-skim mozzarella, and avoid extra sauces and processed meat toppings.

Yes, the size of the slice is a major factor. Slices from a large, deep-dish pizza will be significantly more calorie-dense than smaller slices from a thin-crust pie.

Pizza can fit into a weight-loss plan if consumed in moderation. The key is practicing portion control, choosing healthier options like thin crust with vegetable toppings, and balancing your overall daily calorie intake.

Two slices of thin-crust cheese pizza generally contain between 400 and 500 calories, making it a lighter alternative to regular or deep-dish varieties.

The most significant factors influencing a pizza's calorie content are the type of crust (thick vs. thin), the amount and type of cheese, and the choice of toppings.

The total fat in two slices of regular cheese pizza is typically around 20-21 grams. This includes saturated fat, which increases with more cheese or fatty meat toppings.

Yes, it is possible to eat pizza while managing your diet. Focus on overall calorie balance, choose lighter options, and pair it with healthy sides like a salad to maintain a balanced nutritional profile.