How much potassium is in kidney beans?
Kidney beans has 247 mg of potassium per 1/2 cup (89 g) — about 5% of the 4,700 mg Daily Value. That's 277 mg per 100 g, roughly 0.6× a medium banana (~422 mg).
USDA FoodData Central · red, canned, drained · FDC 174285
Potassium by portion
| Portion | Potassium | % DV | Sodium | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/2 cup (89 g) | 247 mg | 5% | 206 mg | 110 |
| 100 g | 277 mg | 6% | 231 mg | 124 |
| 1 oz (28 g) | 79 mg | 2% | 65 mg | 35 |
% DV against the FDA Daily Value of 4,700 mg of potassium. Whole foods are naturally potassium-rich and low in sodium — the ratio heart guidelines (like DASH) favor. Values from USDA per-100 g data (FDC 174285, SR Legacy). red, canned, drained.
Kidney beans — the classic chili bean — bring a respectable amount of potassium: a 1/2-cup serving of canned, drained red kidney beans (89 g) delivers about 247 mg of potassium, which is roughly 5% of the 4,700 mg Daily Value and about 0.6× the potassium in a medium banana (~422 mg), a bit over half a banana from a standard side. Per 100 g that’s 277 mg, and a full chili-bowl cup (about 178 g) reaches roughly 493 mg, past a banana and a quarter. They sit a touch below black beans on potassium, but like every legume they pair that mineral with fiber and protein instead of fruit sugar.
Why the potassium matters — and the canned-sodium note
Potassium is the blood-pressure mineral because it works against sodium: it helps blood vessels relax and helps the kidneys flush excess sodium, the reason the DASH pattern for lowering blood pressure is built on potassium-rich, low-sodium foods. Kidney beans bring the potassium readily — but the canned version is where sodium needs watching. Straight from the tin, drained canned kidney beans carry about 231 mg of sodium per 100 g, far more than beans cooked from dry without salt. The fix takes ten seconds: drain and rinse the beans, which washes off a good share of the surface salt and tilts the potassium-to-sodium ratio back in your favor. A no-salt-added can, or dry beans simmered without salt, is lower still. (General nutrition information, not medical advice; people with kidney disease are often advised to limit potassium and should follow their clinician’s guidance.)
Potassium that travels with fiber and protein
The case for kidney beans as a potassium source, over a banana, is what comes with it. The same 1/2-cup serving brings about 5.5 g of fiber and roughly 7.1 g of plant protein, for around 110 calories — so a chili portion delivers potassium, fiber, and protein together in one scoop. Protein and fiber both slow digestion and keep you full, which a banana’s potassium-plus-sugar can’t do. Spooned into chili, a bean salad, or a rice-and-beans plate, a cup of kidney beans quietly adds close to 500 mg toward a potassium target most people fall short of — and rinsed first, it does it without dragging much sodium along.
For the protein side of kidney beans — including the famous rice-and-beans complete-protein pairing — see protein in kidney beans.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much potassium is in a serving of kidney beans?
About 247 mg of potassium in a 1/2-cup serving of canned, drained red kidney beans (89 g), which is 277 mg per 100 g (USDA FDC 174285). A full cup (about 178 g) brings roughly 493 mg — a chili-bowl portion that lands near a banana and a quarter.
What percent of the daily value for potassium is that?
Roughly 5% of the 4,700 mg Daily Value per 1/2 cup, and about 10% for a full cup. Most people don't hit 4,700 mg a day, so a chili portion of kidney beans contributing around a tenth of the target — with fiber and protein attached — is a respectable, easy win.
How does kidney bean potassium compare to a banana?
A 1/2 cup is about 0.6× a medium banana (~422 mg), so a bit over half a banana from a standard side, and a full cup gets you past a banana and a quarter. Kidney beans run a little lower in potassium than black beans, but they bring fiber and protein a banana doesn't have.
Why does potassium matter?
Potassium counterbalances sodium and supports healthy blood pressure by helping blood vessels relax and helping the body clear excess sodium — the basis of heart-focused eating patterns like DASH that favor potassium-rich, low-sodium foods. It also supports normal muscle and nerve function. This is general nutrition information, not medical advice.
Should I rinse canned kidney beans to cut sodium?
Yes, if you're watching sodium. Canned kidney beans carry about 231 mg of sodium per 100 g straight from the tin — meaningfully more than beans cooked from dry — so draining and rinsing washes off a good share of the surface salt, improving the potassium-to-sodium ratio. A no-salt-added can or dry beans cooked without salt is lower still.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-04, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 174285 (Beans, kidney, red, canned, drained solids; SR Legacy). We re-verify reference pages periodically and update when USDA revises the entry.
Whole-food values are USDA reference data, not a Labelgrade (that score is for branded packaged products). High-potassium diets aren't for everyone — people with kidney disease are often told to limit it; this is reference data, not medical advice. See our methodology.