How much sugar is in corn?
Corn has 5.7 g of sugar per 1 ear (90 g) — about 1.4 teaspoons. That's 6.3 g per 100 g, and it's all naturally occurring — whole corn has no added sugar.
USDA FoodData Central · raw · FDC 169998
Sugar by portion
| Portion | Sugar | ≈ teaspoons | Total carbs | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 ear (90 g) | 5.7 g | 1.4 tsp | 16.8 g | 77 |
| 100 g | 6.3 g | 1.5 tsp | 18.7 g | 86 |
| 1 oz (28 g) | 1.8 g | 0.4 tsp | 5.3 g | 24 |
Teaspoon figure converts grams of sugar at ~4.2 g per level teaspoon, for scale only. This is the total sugar naturally present — whole corn carries no added sugar. Values from USDA per-100 g data (FDC 169998, SR Legacy). raw.
Despite the name, “sweet” corn isn’t very sugary. One ear has only about 5.7 g of sugar — roughly 1.4 teaspoons — for around 77 calories. That’s 6.3 g per 100 g, and it’s all naturally occurring, with no added sugar in corn on the cob. The “sweet” in sweet corn describes how it was bred to taste, not a sugar overload: an ear carries less than one and a half teaspoons, which is far less than most people assume when they picture this vegetable.
More starch than sugar
Here’s the part the name hides. Corn is a starchy vegetable, and starch — not sugar — is most of its carbohydrate. Of roughly 16.8 g of total carbs in an ear, only about a third is sugar; the rest is starch plus around 2 g of fiber. So when someone asks “is corn sugary,” the honest answer is that it’s mostly starch that your body digests into glucose, with a modest amount of actual sugar on top. And that sugar is 100% natural — there’s nothing on the “added sugar” line of a plain cob. Where the number jumps is in the processed versions: creamed corn, canned corn in sweetened liquid, and anything made with corn syrup are different foods entirely.
A fair way to read the number
The useful framing is compare, don’t scare. By sugar, an ear of corn sits below a cup of fruit and isn’t far from a couple of carrots. What makes corn count on a low-carb plan isn’t its sugar — it’s the total carbohydrate, since the starch adds up even though the sugar stays modest. For most people an ear fits comfortably into a balanced or diabetic-friendly meal, especially alongside protein and fat; it’s only on strict keto that corn’s starch usually pushes it off the plate. None of that makes corn “sugary” in the way the name implies. This is general guidance, not medical advice — but the fear that sweet corn is a sugar bomb doesn’t survive the actual numbers.
For the rest of the macro picture, see protein in corn — and on any canned or creamed corn product, read the label’s own added sugar line, which is where syrup and sweeteners show up.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much sugar is in an ear of corn?
About 5.7 g of sugar in one ear of sweet yellow corn (90 g), which is 6.3 g per 100 g (USDA FDC 169998). Despite the name 'sweet corn,' that's less sugar than many people expect — and it's all naturally occurring, with no added sugar.
How many teaspoons of sugar is that?
Roughly 1.4 teaspoons per ear, using 4.2 g of sugar per level teaspoon. For a vegetable people assume is loaded with sugar, an ear of corn carries less than one and a half teaspoons.
Is sweet corn actually sugary?
Less than its name suggests. 'Sweet' corn is bred for taste, but an ear is only about 5.7 g of sugar — most of corn's carbohydrate is starch, not sugar. Of roughly 16.8 g of total carbs in an ear, only about a third is sugar; the rest is starch and around 2 g of fiber.
Is the sugar in corn natural or added?
Entirely natural. Fresh corn on the cob contains only the plant's own sugar and nothing added. The sugar climbs in processed forms — creamed corn, canned corn packed in sweetened liquid, and especially anything made with corn syrup — so the cob itself is the low-sugar way to eat it.
Is corn OK on a low-carb or diabetic diet?
It's more about total carbs than sugar. An ear is about 16.8 g of total carbs, mostly starch, so it's heavier on the carb budget than a leafy vegetable even though its sugar is modest. Many people fit an ear into a balanced or diabetic-friendly meal, especially paired with protein and fat; on strict keto it's usually limited. This is general information, not medical advice.
When was this data last verified?
2026-06-04, against USDA FoodData Central FDC 169998 (Corn, sweet, yellow, raw; SR Legacy). We re-verify reference pages periodically and update when USDA revises its underlying data.
Whole-food values are USDA reference data, not a Labelgrade (that score is for branded packaged products, where we penalize added sugar). See our methodology and the added-sugar calculator.