Understanding Your Diet: How many calories are in 1 full carrot?

November 3, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the USDA, a single medium-sized raw carrot (approximately 61g) contains just 25 calories. For anyone monitoring their nutritional intake, answering the question of how many calories are in 1 full carrot? is a useful first step toward appreciating this versatile and nutrient-dense root vegetable. This guide delves deeper into the caloric details and comprehensive health benefits of including carrots in your diet.

Quick Summary

A medium, raw carrot has approximately 25 calories, though the exact amount varies with size. Carrots are rich in essential nutrients like vitamin A, fiber, and potassium, and support health areas including vision, digestion, and heart health. They are a valuable component of a healthy, low-calorie diet, whether eaten raw or cooked.

Key Points

Medium Carrot Calories: A medium-sized raw carrot (61g) contains approximately 25 calories, while larger ones can have around 30-50 calories.
Rich in Vitamin A: Carrots are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A, vital for vision and immune health.
Excellent Source of Fiber: With about 1.7 to 2 grams of fiber per medium carrot, they promote feelings of fullness and aid digestion.
Good for Weight Loss: Their low calorie count, combined with high water and fiber content, makes carrots an ideal snack for appetite control and weight management.
Nutrient-Dense: Besides calories, carrots provide essential nutrients like potassium, vitamin K, and various antioxidants that contribute to heart and overall health.
Variety of Benefits: Different colored carrots, such as purple, yellow, and red, offer distinct health advantages from different phytonutrients.
Cooked vs. Raw: Cooking carrots can increase the bioavailability of some nutrients, though juicing removes fiber and can cause blood sugar spikes.

Calorie Breakdown of a Full Carrot

When calculating the calories in a carrot, the primary factor is its size. The USDA and other nutrition databases provide standard serving sizes, but carrots can range significantly in weight.

Small Carrot (50g): Roughly 20 calories.
Medium Carrot (61g): Approximately 25 calories.
Large Carrot (around 72-85g): Close to 30 calories.
Extra Large Carrot (125g average): Can contain over 50 calories.

It is also worth noting the caloric density per 100 grams, which is a standard metric used for food labeling. Raw carrots contain approximately 40.20 kcal per 100g, or about 41 calories. Cooking the carrots can slightly increase the calorie count due to changes in composition, especially if prepared with added fats. However, cooked carrots remain a low-calorie option.

Nutritional Profile: Beyond Calories

Beyond their low calorie count, carrots are packed with beneficial nutrients that contribute to a healthy diet. This rich nutritional profile is what makes them an excellent addition to almost any meal plan.

Vitamin A: Carrots are famously rich in beta-carotene, a compound that the body converts into vitamin A. This vitamin is crucial for maintaining good vision, supporting the immune system, and promoting healthy skin.
Fiber: The dietary fiber in carrots promotes satiety, aids digestion, and supports gut health by feeding beneficial bacteria. One medium carrot provides about 1.7 to 2 grams of fiber.
Potassium: An essential mineral for maintaining healthy blood pressure, carrots contain a notable amount of potassium.
Antioxidants: Carrots are a source of antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, which help protect against cellular damage and chronic diseases.

Raw vs. Cooked vs. Juiced: Nutritional Differences

The preparation method can influence a carrot's nutritional properties, though the changes are generally minor when cooked simply.

Raw Carrots: Retain all their fiber and have a lower glycemic index, meaning they cause a slower rise in blood sugar. Their crunchy texture promotes chewing, which can aid in satiety.
Cooked Carrots: Cooking, especially by roasting or steaming, can break down cell walls, making some carotenoids more available for the body to absorb. This can slightly increase the glycemic index, but it does not diminish the overall health benefits. Adding fats like olive oil during cooking further improves the absorption of fat-soluble vitamin A.
Carrot Juice: While convenient, juicing removes the fiber content. This results in the natural sugars being absorbed more quickly, which can cause blood sugar spikes. Health experts often recommend consuming whole carrots over juice to get the full benefits, including appetite control from the fiber.

Comparison: Carrots vs. Other Root Vegetables

Here is a comparison of the calorie and nutrient content of carrots versus other popular root vegetables based on a standard 100-gram serving.


Nutrient (per 100g)	Carrots (Raw)	Parsnips (Cooked)	Sweet Potatoes (Cooked, Mashed)	Radishes (Raw)
Calories	~40 kcal	111 kcal	~90 kcal	~16 kcal
Fiber	~2.7g	~4.9g	~3.3g	~1.6g
Carbohydrates	~7.6g	~26g	~21g	~3.4g
Vitamin A (Provitamin)	Excellent source	Moderate source	Excellent source	Trace amounts

As the table shows, carrots are significantly lower in calories than parsnips and sweet potatoes, though their natural sugars and fiber content are still quite favorable.

Beyond Orange: The Colorful World of Carrots

Different colored carrots contain unique phytonutrients, offering varied health benefits.

Orange Carrots: The classic variety, rich in beta-carotene, is most famous for promoting eye health.
Purple Carrots: These contain anthocyanins, powerful antioxidants that have anti-inflammatory properties and may help protect against heart disease.
Yellow Carrots: With lutein, yellow carrots are particularly beneficial for eye health and protecting against macular degeneration.
Red Carrots: Rich in lycopene (the same antioxidant found in tomatoes), red carrots are associated with a reduced risk of certain cancers and heart disease.

Potential Downsides and Considerations

While carrots are overwhelmingly beneficial, it is possible to overdo it, primarily related to their high beta-carotene content. Eating excessive amounts of carrots, or other carotene-rich foods, can lead to a harmless condition called carotenemia, where the skin develops a yellowish-orange tint. This effect is temporary and resolves once consumption is reduced. As with any food, moderation is key to a balanced diet.

Conclusion

So, how many calories are in 1 full carrot? A medium, raw carrot has a modest 25 calories, making it a powerful yet low-calorie choice for snacking and meal prep. Whether you prefer them raw for a crunchy snack, cooked to enhance their sweetness, or as a colorful addition to a salad, carrots provide a wealth of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support overall health, vision, and weight management. By understanding the nutritional value of this root vegetable, you can easily incorporate it into a balanced and healthy diet.

For more information on dietary needs and meal planning, you can consult resources like the CDC's recommendations for vegetable intake.

Ways to Incorporate Carrots into Your Diet

Snack on raw carrot sticks with a healthy dip like hummus.
Add grated carrots to salads for extra crunch and sweetness.
Roast them with olive oil and herbs as a flavorful side dish.
Blend into soups to add natural sweetness and nutrients.
Include chopped carrots in stir-fries and stews.
Use them in healthy baking, such as carrot muffins or cakes.

Frequently Asked Questions

A 100-gram serving of raw carrots contains approximately 40 to 41 calories, according to the USDA.

The calorie count of carrots changes only slightly with simple cooking methods like steaming or boiling. Adding oil or butter will increase the calorie count, but the vegetable itself remains low in calories.

Yes, carrots are excellent for weight loss. They are low in calories and high in fiber, which helps you feel full longer and reduces overall calorie intake.

While generally safe, eating too many carrots can lead to carotenemia, a harmless condition where the skin turns yellowish or orange due to high beta-carotene intake. This resolves by reducing consumption.

Yes, baby carrots are typically just regular carrots cut and shaped. They have a similar nutritional profile to their larger counterparts.

The primary benefit is their high content of beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A. This nutrient is crucial for maintaining healthy vision, especially night vision.

No, whole carrots are generally considered healthier than juice. Juicing removes the beneficial fiber, which is important for digestion and blood sugar regulation.