How many calories are in egg?
Egg has 72 calories per 1 large egg (50 g) — that's 143 calories per 100 g, roughly 4% of a 2,000-calorie day. Most of those calories come from fat.
USDA FoodData Central · whole, large, raw · FDC 171287
Calories by portion
| Portion | Calories | Protein | Carbs | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 large egg (50 g) | 72 | 6.3 g | 0.4 g | 4.8 g |
| 100 g | 143 | 12.6 g | 0.7 g | 9.5 g |
| 1 oz (28 g) | 41 | 3.6 g | 0.2 g | 2.7 g |
Where the calories come from
Protein 36% Carbs 2% Fat 62%
Calories computed from USDA per-100 g data (FDC 171287, SR Legacy). whole, large, raw. The macro split uses general Atwater factors (protein and carbs ≈ 4 cal/g, fat ≈ 9 cal/g) and is approximate.
A large egg is one of the most calorie-efficient whole foods on your plate: about 72 calories in a 50-gram egg, which is 143 calories per 100 g — roughly 4% of a 2,000-calorie day. For that small calorie cost you get 6.3 g of complete protein, all nine essential amino acids, plus choline and the fat-soluble vitamins packed into the yolk. Few foods deliver that much nutrition for so few calories.
Where the calories come from
The calories in an egg split almost entirely between protein and fat, with fat slightly ahead. Run the numbers through the standard Atwater factors (protein and carbs ≈ 4 cal/g, fat ≈ 9 cal/g) and a large egg lands around 62% fat calories and 36% protein, with under 1 g of carbohydrate barely registering. That fat is not a flaw — it all lives in the yolk, alongside the egg’s choline and vitamins, and it’s what makes a whole egg satisfying. The white, by contrast, is almost pure protein and carries very few calories on its own, which is why cartoned egg whites are a go-to for cutting calories while protecting protein.
The efficient protein
The practical takeaway is protein efficiency. At roughly 11 calories per gram of protein, a whole egg gives you high-quality, highly usable protein without the calorie weight of a fat-forward snack — an ounce of almonds, by comparison, costs about 162 calories for fewer grams. That’s the case for the egg as a cheap, complete protein staple: two eggs (~143 cal) or a three-egg scramble (~215 cal) anchor a meal at a modest calorie cost, and the math is easy to do in your head because each egg is a tidy ~72 calories.
For the protein side of the picture — how those 6.3 g per egg add up toward a daily target — see protein in eggs.
Packaged eggs & egg whites options, graded
Prefer something off the shelf? Here are the best-graded eggs & egg whites in our catalog — each scored on our transparent Labelgrade. Check the calorie line on each label for your goal.
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Labelgrade 81/100 · 25 cal · 5 g protein
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Labelgrade 78/100 · 24.8 cal · 5 g protein
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Labelgrade 77/100 · 60 cal · 6 g protein
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Buy links are affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. The Labelgrade is independent of any affiliate relationship. More.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many calories are in one large egg?
About 72 calories in a large egg (50 g), based on 143 calories per 100 g (USDA FDC 171287). That's roughly 4% of a 2,000-calorie day — one of the cheapest, most nutrient-dense whole-food proteins per calorie you can buy.
How many calories are in an egg per 100 g or per ounce?
143 calories per 100 g, which works out to about 41 calories per ounce (28 g). A large egg is roughly 50 g, so it lands near 72 calories; medium eggs run a little lower and extra-large a little higher, since calories scale with the egg's weight.
Where do the calories in an egg come from?
Protein and fat, with fat edging ahead — by Atwater factors a large egg is about 62% fat calories and 36% protein, with only a trace from carbs (under 1 g). All of the fat sits in the yolk; the white is almost pure protein and carries very few calories on its own.
How many calories per gram of protein does an egg give you?
A large egg packs about 6.3 g of protein into roughly 72 calories — close to 11 calories per gram of protein. That's efficient for a whole food: you get top-quality complete protein, choline, and fat-soluble vitamins without the calorie load of a fat-forward snack like nuts.
How many calories are in 2 or 3 eggs?
Two large eggs are about 143 calories and three are about 215 — before butter, oil, or cheese. A plain three-egg scramble clears roughly 19 g of protein for around 215 calories, which is why eggs anchor so many high-protein, calorie-conscious breakfasts.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-04, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 171287 (Egg, whole, raw, fresh; SR Legacy). We re-verify reference pages periodically and update when USDA revises its data.
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.