Calories in a Lemon

How Many Calories Are in a Lemon?

Lemons are about as low-calorie as food gets. A whole medium lemon (about 58 grams of flesh, without the peel) has roughly 17 calories, but since most people use only the juice, the practical numbers are even smaller. One tablespoon of lemon juice has about 3 calories, and the juice from a whole lemon is about 11 calories. By weight, raw lemon flesh is around 29 calories per 100 grams.

Lemons are tart rather than sweet, so they have less natural sugar than most fruit. Nearly all of their tiny calorie count comes from carbohydrate, alongside a generous helping of vitamin C.

Lemon Calories by Serving

Serving	Amount	Calories	Carbs (g)	Sugar (g)	Vitamin C
1 lemon wedge	~8g	~2	0.8	0.2	~5 mg
1 tbsp lemon juice	~15g	~3	1	0.4	~7 mg
Juice of 1 lemon	~45g	~11	3.5	1	~18 mg
Whole lemon (flesh)	~58g	~17	5	1.5	~30 mg
100 grams	100g	~29	9	2.5	~53 mg

These figures are for fresh lemon. A glass of plain lemon water uses only the juice of half a lemon or so, landing around 5 to 6 calories — essentially nothing unless you sweeten it.

Macros and Nutrition in a Lemon

Lemons are best known for vitamin C, providing about 30 to 40 mg in a whole fruit, which covers a third or more of the daily value. They also supply citric acid, small amounts of potassium and folate, and antioxidant flavonoids concentrated in the peel and pith. The fiber in the whole fruit (about 1.6 grams) is mostly pectin.

Because they are so low in calories and sugar, lemons are a flavoring rather than a meaningful source of energy. Their acidity brightens dishes and drinks, which is why a squeeze of lemon can make low-calorie foods like fish, vegetables and water far more appealing.

Whole Lemon vs Juice vs Lemon Water

How you use a lemon barely changes the calorie picture because all forms are so low. A whole lemon’s flesh is about 17 calories, the juice alone is around 11, a single wedge is roughly 2, and lemon water made with half a lemon is about 5 to 6 calories. The only thing that meaningfully adds calories is sweetener — a tablespoon of sugar or honey adds far more calories than the lemon itself.

Does Lemon Help With Weight Loss?

Lemons will not melt fat or boost metabolism in any dramatic way, but they are a smart tool for weight management. Being nearly calorie-free, they let you flavor water, dressings, marinades and dishes without sugar or fat. Swapping a sugary soda or juice for lemon water is an easy way to cut hundreds of calories a day. Used this way, lemon supports a lower-calorie diet by making healthy choices taste better.