How much protein is in banana?
Banana has 1.3 g of protein per 1 medium (118 g) — that's 1.1 g per 100 g, or about 0.3 g per ounce. One 1 medium is roughly 3% of the 50 g Daily Value for protein.
USDA FoodData Central · raw · FDC 173944
Protein & macros by portion
| Portion | Protein | Calories | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 medium (118 g) | 1.3 g | 105 | 0.4 g | 26.9 g |
| 100 g | 1.1 g | 89 | 0.3 g | 22.8 g |
| 1 oz (28 g) | 0.3 g | 25 | 0.1 g | 6.5 g |
Values computed from USDA per-100 g data (FDC 173944, SR Legacy). raw.
People search “protein in banana” constantly, and the honest answer is that there’s barely any. One medium banana (118 g) carries about 1.3 g of protein — that’s 1.1 g per 100 g — for roughly 105 calories. To put that in perspective, a single egg has about four times the protein of a whole banana. If you came here hoping the banana was a sneaky protein source, it isn’t, and no realistic number of them will make it one: two bananas is still only about 2.6 g of protein, but already ~210 calories and close to 29 g of sugar.
Why a banana isn’t a protein food
A banana is a carbohydrate food, plain and simple. A medium one is about 27 g of carbohydrate, of which roughly 14 g is sugar, against that lonely ~1.3 g of protein and almost no fat. That macro split is exactly why bananas are the classic grab-and-go energy snack — the body turns those carbs into fuel quickly, which is great before a run and useless for hitting a protein target. The protein is so low that its amino-acid quality doesn’t even matter; you’d never eat a banana for its protein in the first place.
What a banana is genuinely great for
The banana earns its place on the strength of two things, and neither is protein. The first is potassium: about 420 mg in one medium banana, one of the best easy sources around, which is why it’s the fruit tied to cramp prevention and heart health. The second is fast, convenient energy — that built-in sugar-and-carb package, plus about 3 g of fiber and a useful hit of vitamin B6 and vitamin C, makes it an excellent pre- or post-workout snack with zero prep and its own wrapper.
So treat the banana as the carbohydrate base, not the protein. The simplest fix is to pair it with a real protein source: spread it with peanut butter for a few grams plus healthy fat, slice it into Greek yogurt for a snack that finally has 15-plus grams of protein, or blend it into a shake built on whey or milk. If you’re tracking a daily protein goal, our guide on how much protein per day shows how to set the number — then let the banana fuel the workout while protein-dense foods do the muscle-building work. Other fruits people ask the same question about: apple and orange.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much protein is in a banana?
About 1.3 g of protein in one medium banana (118 g), which is 1.1 g per 100 g (USDA FDC 173944). That medium banana is roughly 105 calories, and almost all of it comes from carbohydrate, not protein.
Is a banana a good source of protein?
No. At about 1.3 g per banana, it's one of the lowest-protein snacks you can pick up — a single egg has roughly four times as much. Bananas are a carbohydrate-and-potassium food for quick energy, not a protein source. If you want protein, the banana is the thing you add protein to, not the protein itself.
How much protein is in two bananas?
Two medium bananas come to about 2.6 g of protein and roughly 210 calories. Even doubling up barely moves the protein needle, which is the honest takeaway: you can't eat your way to a protein goal with bananas without a large pile of sugar and calories first.
Is banana protein complete?
The question doesn't really apply at this scale — there's so little protein in a banana (~1.3 g) that its amino acid profile is nutritionally irrelevant. Like most fruit, what protein it has is incomplete, but you'd never lean on a banana for amino acids in the first place.
What is a banana actually good for nutritionally?
Fast-digesting carbohydrate for energy and a standout dose of potassium — about 420 mg in one medium banana, which is why athletes reach for them. You also get roughly 3 g of fiber and some vitamin B6 and vitamin C. It's a genuinely useful pre- or post-workout carb; it's just not where your protein comes from.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-04, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 173944 (Bananas, raw; SR Legacy). We re-verify reference pages periodically and update when the underlying USDA entry changes.
Whole-food values are USDA reference data and are not assigned a Labelgrade — that score is for branded packaged products, where ingredients and added sugar/sodium actually vary. See our methodology and how much protein you need per day.