Calories and Protein in Lemon Juice
Nutrition data for lemon juice, fresh, raw.
Quick answer: 1 tablespoon (15 g) of lemon juice has about 3 calories, 0.1 g of protein, 0 g of fat and 1.1 g of carbohydrate. Per 100 g it has 22 calories and 0.4 g of protein. These figures are for lemon juice that is fresh, raw.
- 3calories
- 0.1 gprotein
- 0 gfat
- 1.1 gcarbs
per 1 tablespoon (15 g)
Serving sizes for lemon juice
| Serving | Weight | Calories | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 grams | 100 g (3.5 oz) | 22 | 0.4 g | 0.2 g | 6.9 g |
| 1 tablespoon | 15 g (0.5 oz) | 3 | 0.1 g | 0 g | 1.1 g |
| 1 fluid ounce (2 tablespoons) | 31 g (1.1 oz) | 7 | 0.1 g | 0.1 g | 2.1 g |
| juice of 1 lemon | 48 g (1.7 oz) | 11 | 0.2 g | 0.1 g | 3.3 g |
| 1 cup | 244 g (8.6 oz) | 54 | 0.9 g | 0.6 g | 17 g |
USDA records the juice of one lemon at about 48 g, roughly 3 tablespoons, so it is easy to count by the lemon. A tablespoon of juice weighs about 15 g and a fluid ounce (2 tablespoons) about 31 g.
Full nutrition facts
| Nutrient | Per 100 g | Per 1 tablespoon (15 g) | % Daily Value* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calories | 22 | 3 | |
| Total fat | 0.2 g | 0 g | 0% |
| Saturated fat | 0 g | 0 g | 0% |
| Sodium | 1 mg | 0 mg | 0% |
| Total carbohydrate | 6.9 g | 1.1 g | 0% |
| Dietary fiber | 0.3 g | 0 g | 0% |
| Total sugars | 2.5 g | 0.4 g | |
| Protein | 0.4 g | 0.1 g | 0% |
| Potassium | 103 mg | 16 mg | 0% |
| Calcium | 6 mg | 1 mg | 0% |
| Iron | 0.1 mg | 0 mg | 0% |
| Magnesium | 6 mg | 1 mg | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 38.7 mg | 5.9 mg | 7% |
*Percent Daily Value uses the FDA reference amounts for a 2,000 calorie diet and is calculated for 1 tablespoon (15 g). Source: USDA FoodData Central, record 167747 (Lemon juice, raw).
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About lemon juice nutrition
Lemon juice is what you squeeze out of a fresh lemon. It is mostly water with a little sugar and a lot of citric acid, so a spoonful brightens a dish or a drink for very few calories.
How preparation changes the numbers
- Vitamin C is water soluble and sensitive to heat, and the NIH Office of Dietary Supplements notes that cooking can reduce it. Squeezing lemon juice in at the end of cooking keeps more of it.
- These figures are for plain fresh juice with nothing added. Sweetened lemonade, lemon cordial and bottled blends have different numbers, so check the label.
How lemon juice compares
Per 100 g, lemon juice ranks #28 of 30 foods on this site for protein and #2 for fewest calories.
Protein per 100 g
Calories per 100 g
Recipes with lemon juice
Questions about lemon juice
3 calories in 1 tablespoon (15 g) of lemon juice, or 22 calories per 100 g. These figures are for lemon juice that is fresh, raw.
0.1 g of protein in 1 tablespoon (15 g) of lemon juice, or 0.4 g per 100 g. Protein makes up about 6 percent of its calories.
About 11 calories, based on USDA's 48 g of juice per lemon. A single tablespoon has about 3 calories.
A small amount. Plain lemon juice has 2.5 g of natural sugar per 100 g, which works out to about 0.4 g in a tablespoon. Nothing is added to fresh juice.
About 5.9 mg, or roughly 7 percent of the 90 mg Daily Value, according to USDA data.
Related guides
Work out your own numbers
More in citrus fruits and juices
Sources and method
Nutrient values come from USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy), record 167747: Lemon juice, raw, retrieved 2026-09-30. Serving weights are USDA household measures, or a simple fraction of one. Brands, growing conditions and cooking method change real-world numbers, so treat every figure as a good estimate. Written and reviewed by Claudio; read how we develop and check our numbers.
