How Many Calories Are in Celery?
One medium celery stalk has about 6 calories. See calories per stalk, per cup and per 100g, plus a macros table and why celery is so low in calories.
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Quick answer
One medium celery stalk (about 40 g) has roughly 6 calories. Per 100 g, celery has about 14 calories. It is one of the lowest-calorie vegetables, made up of about 95% water with very few carbs and almost no fat or protein.
How Many Calories Are in Celery?
Celery is one of the lowest-calorie foods you can eat. A single medium stalk (about 40 g) has only about 6 calories, and a full 100 g serving comes in around 14 calories. This is because celery is roughly 95% water, with just a small amount of fiber and carbohydrate and almost no fat or protein. That makes it a favorite for snacking, dieting, and adding crunch and bulk to meals without the calories.
Calories by serving size
| Serving | Weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|
| Small stalk | ~17 g | ~2–3 cal |
| Medium stalk | ~40 g | ~6 cal |
| Large stalk | ~64 g | ~9 cal |
| 1 cup, chopped | ~101 g | ~14 cal |
| Per 100 g | 100 g | ~14 cal |
Macronutrients in celery
The table below shows the approximate nutrition in 100 g of raw celery (about two and a half medium stalks). Notice how little of everything is present — celery’s calories come from a tiny amount of carbohydrate.
| Nutrient | Amount (per 100 g) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | ~14 cal | — |
| Water | ~95% | Why it’s so low-cal |
| Carbohydrates | ~3 g | Mostly fiber |
| — Fiber | ~1.6 g | Aids digestion/fullness |
| — Sugars | ~1.3 g | Natural |
| Protein | ~0.7 g | Minimal |
| Fat | ~0.2 g | Negligible |
| Potassium | ~260 mg | ~6% DV |
| Vitamin K | ~29 mcg | ~24% DV |
Is celery really a “negative-calorie” food?
You will often hear that celery burns more calories to digest than it contains. This is mostly a myth. The “thermic effect of food” — the energy used to chew and digest — accounts for only about 10% of a food’s calories. So eating a 6-calorie stalk burns just a fraction of a calorie to process. Celery is extremely low in calories, but not technically negative. The practical takeaway is the same, though: you can eat a lot of celery for almost no calories.
Why celery is great for diets
Celery’s huge water and fiber content gives it very low energy density — you get a large, crunchy, satisfying volume of food for almost no calories. The act of chewing it is itself filling, and the fiber supports digestion. It is ideal for adding bulk to salads, soups and stir-fries, or for snacking when you want something crisp without breaking your calorie budget.
Watch the toppings
Celery’s calorie count stays tiny only if you keep it plain. Popular toppings can multiply the calories quickly:
| Snack | Approx. calories |
|---|---|
| Celery stalk (plain) | ~6 cal |
| Celery + 1 tbsp peanut butter | ~100 cal |
| Celery + 1 tbsp cream cheese | ~50 cal |
| Celery + 1 tbsp ranch dressing | ~70 cal |
| Celery + hummus (2 tbsp) | ~55 cal |
Tips for enjoying celery
- Snack on plain sticks for a near-zero-calorie crunch
- Add to soups and stocks for flavor and volume
- Use it as a low-calorie scoop for dips (mind the dip’s calories)
- Blend into green juices and smoothies
- Chop into salads and tuna or chicken salad for crunch
In short, celery has about 6 calories per stalk and 14 per 100 g, making it one of the most diet-friendly vegetables — just keep an eye on what you put on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in one stalk of celery?
One medium celery stalk (about 40 grams, roughly 7–8 inches long) has about 6 calories. A large stalk has around 9 calories. Celery is so low in calories because it is about 95% water with very little carbohydrate, which is why it is a popular snack for people watching their calorie intake.
How many calories are in 100g of celery?
Per 100 grams, celery has about 14 calories. That portion (roughly two and a half medium stalks) provides about 3 g of carbohydrates, including 1.6 g of fiber, less than 1 g of protein, and almost no fat. It also delivers potassium, vitamin K and folate for very few calories.
Is celery a negative calorie food?
Celery is often called a negative-calorie food, but this is mostly a myth. While chewing and digesting celery does burn a few calories, it does not burn more than the roughly 6 calories the stalk contains. The 'thermic effect' uses only about 10% of a food's calories, so celery is extremely low in calories but not truly negative.
How many calories are in celery with peanut butter?
Celery itself adds only about 6 calories per stalk, so the calories in 'ants on a log' come mostly from the topping. One tablespoon of peanut butter adds about 95 calories. A stalk of celery with one tablespoon of peanut butter totals roughly 100 calories, making it a filling, protein-rich snack.
Does cooking celery change its calories?
Cooking celery (steaming, sautéing or boiling) does not meaningfully change its calorie count — it stays around 14 calories per 100 g. However, adding oil, butter or sauce when cooking will increase the total calories significantly. Plain cooked celery remains a very low-calorie vegetable.
Sources
- FoodData Central — food composition database — U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)