How many calories are in shrimp?
Shrimp has 84 calories per 3 oz cooked (85 g) — that's 99 calories per 100 g, roughly 4% of a 2,000-calorie day. Most of those calories come from protein.
USDA FoodData Central · cooked · FDC 175180
Calories by portion
| Portion | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 oz cooked (85 g) | 84 | 20.4 g | 0.2 g | 0.3 g |
| 100 g | 99 | 24 g | 0.2 g | 0.3 g |
| 1 oz (28 g) | 28 | 6.8 g | 0.1 g | 0.1 g |
Where the calories come from
Protein 96% Carbs 1% Fat 3%
Calories computed from USDA per-100 g data (FDC 175180, SR Legacy). cooked. The macro split uses general Atwater factors (protein and carbs ≈ 4 cal/g, fat ≈ 9 cal/g) and is approximate.
Shrimp is one of the most calorie-efficient proteins you can put on a plate. A 3 oz cooked serving (85 g) carries just about 84 calories, and per 100 g it’s only 99 calories — and that comes with roughly 20 g of protein. There’s almost nothing else in shrimp competing for those calories, which is exactly what makes the ratio so good. By protein-per-calorie, shrimp sits right alongside white fish, egg whites, and skinless chicken breast at the very top of the list, and the reason is sitting in what isn’t there.
Why the calorie count is so low
Strip shrimp down to its macros and the low number explains itself. Per 100 g there’s only about 0.3 g of fat and 0.2 g of carbohydrate — essentially a rounding error in both columns. With fat (9 calories a gram) and carbs (4) nearly absent, almost every one of shrimp’s 99 calories is doing protein’s work. It’s close to pure protein and water, which is why you can eat a satisfying serving for a calorie cost that barely registers. That also makes shrimp unusually friendly to anyone counting macros, eating low-carb, or trying to keep calories down without skimping on protein: a 3 oz portion is ~84 calories, and a generous 5–6 oz dinner portion still lands at only about 140–168 calories while delivering 34–41 g of protein — a third or more of many people’s daily target with almost nothing to budget around.
The number that swings: how it’s cooked
The one thing that breaks shrimp’s lean math isn’t the shrimp — it’s the preparation. Every figure here is for plain cooked shrimp: grilled, boiled, steamed, or sautéed, it stays right around 99 calories per 100 g. Breaded and deep-fried shrimp is a different food: the flour coating and frying oil can double or triple the calories, which is how a naturally lean protein turns into a heavy plate. Coconut shrimp, popcorn shrimp, and tempura all carry that surcharge. If you want the calorie count this page describes, keep the cooking method dry or light. (Worth a side note: shrimp is high in dietary cholesterol but very low in saturated fat, the nutrient that actually drives blood cholesterol for most people — the calorie story and the cholesterol story are separate, and on calories shrimp is about as lean as protein gets.)
For another lean, low-calorie seafood protein on the same lane, see calories in canned tuna.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in a 3 oz serving of shrimp?
About 84 calories in a 3 oz cooked serving (85 g), based on 99 calories per 100 g (USDA FDC 175180). That comes with roughly 20 g of protein, making shrimp one of the most protein-dense, low-calorie foods you can eat.
How many calories are in shrimp per 100 g?
99 calories per 100 g for cooked shrimp (USDA FDC 175180). With about 24 g of protein, under 1 g of fat, and almost no carbohydrate per 100 g, nearly all of those calories come from protein.
Why is shrimp so low in calories?
Because it's almost pure protein and water. Shrimp has only about 0.3 g of fat and 0.2 g of carbohydrate per 100 g, so there's very little besides protein contributing calories — which is why a full 3 oz serving lands at just ~84.
How many calories are in a dinner portion of shrimp?
A typical 5–6 oz dinner portion runs about 140–168 calories, using 99 calories per 100 g (USDA FDC 175180), and delivers roughly 34–41 g of protein. Few foods give you that much protein for so few calories.
Does breaded or fried shrimp have the same calories?
No — far more. The 99-calorie figure is for plain cooked shrimp. Breading and deep-frying add flour and oil that can double or triple the calories, turning a lean protein into a heavy dish. Grilled, boiled, or sautéed shrimp stays near these numbers.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-18, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 175180 (Crustaceans, shrimp, cooked; SR Legacy). We re-verify reference pages periodically.
Whole-food values are USDA reference data, not a Labelgrade (that score is for branded packaged products). See our methodology and the TDEE calculator to turn this into a daily target.