Calories in garlic
Raw. 149 kcal (623 kJ) per 100 g. Choose a portion below and every figure on the page updates.
Raw garlic has 149 kcal (623 kJ) per 100 g, which is high for a vegetable because it is denser and drier than most, with 33 g of carbohydrate per 100 g. In practice it is eaten by the clove, so its contribution to a meal's energy is tiny. Per 100 g it is rich in vitamin B6, manganese and vitamin C, but typical amounts eaten are small.
Where the energy comes from
Share of total energy contributed by each macronutrient, using the standard 4/4/9 kcal per gram factors:
Full nutrition breakdown
Values shown for 3 g.
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 4 kcal | – |
| Energy | 19 kJ | – |
| Protein | 0.2 g | <1% |
| Total fat | 0 g | <1% |
| Saturated | 0 g | <1% |
| Monounsaturated | 0 g | – |
| Polyunsaturated | 0.01 g | – |
| Trans | 0 g | – |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Total carbohydrate | 1 g | <1% |
| Sugars | 0.03 g | – |
| Fibre | 0.1 g | <1% |
| Water | 1.8 g | – |
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin A | 0 µg | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 0.9 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin E | 0.002 mg | <1% |
| Vitamin K | 0.1 µg | <1% |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.006 mg | <1% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.003 mg | <1% |
| Niacin (B3) | 0.021 mg | <1% |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 0.018 mg | <1% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0 mg | 2% |
| Folate | 0.1 µg | <1% |
| Choline | 0.7 mg | <1% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 5.4 mg | <1% |
| Iron | 0.1 mg | <1% |
| Magnesium | 0.8 mg | <1% |
| Phosphorus | 4.6 mg | <1% |
| Potassium | 12 mg | <1% |
| Sodium | 0.5 mg | <1% |
| Zinc | 0 mg | <1% |
| Copper | 0.009 mg | <1% |
| Manganese | 0.1 mg | 2% |
| Selenium | 0.4 µg | <1% |
Daily Values are the FDA reference intakes for adults and children aged 4 and over, based on a 2,000 kcal diet. They are a labelling standard, not a personal target.
Common portions
| Portion | Grams | kcal | kJ | Protein g | Carbs g | Fat g |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 clove | 3 | 4 | 19 | 0.2 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 cloves | 9 | 13 | 56 | 0.6 | 3 | 0 |
| 1 tsp, chopped | 2.8 | 4 | 17 | 0.2 | 0.9 | 0 |
Things worth knowing
- One clove (3 g) has about 4 kcal (19 kJ), three cloves about 13 kcal (56 kJ), and a teaspoon of chopped garlic about 4 kcal (17 kJ).
- Garlic powder is concentrated, at about 331 kcal per 100 g, but a teaspoon (3.1 g) still comes to only around 10 kcal.
- The calories in garlicky dishes come from what the garlic is cooked in. Garlic butter or garlic confit is mostly fat; a tablespoon of olive oil alone adds about 119 kcal.
- Garlic's sharp flavour develops when it is crushed or chopped, as enzymes form allicin and related sulfur compounds. Cooking mellows that flavour without meaningfully changing the calorie count.
Converting these figures
One 1 clove of garlic is 4 kcal, which is 19 kJ. To convert any other figure, divide kilojoules by 4.184 for calories, or use the converter on the home page.
It takes 160 g of garlic to reach 1,000 kJ (239 kcal). See how that compares with other foods on the 1000 kJ to calories page.
Similar foods
Compare all 39 vegetables in one table →
Source: USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy 11215. Values are averages; individual samples vary with variety, growing conditions, and preparation.