Calories in pickles (gherkins)
Cucumber, dill. 12 kcal (50 kJ) per 100 g. Choose a portion below and every figure on the page updates.
Dill pickles, known as gherkins in the UK and Australia, are cucumbers preserved in a salted, vinegar-based brine. They are about 94% water and have just 12 kcal (50 kJ) per 100 g, so calories are rarely a concern. Sodium is the number to watch, at 809 mg per 100 g, from the brine.
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 35 g.
| Nutrient | Amount | % Daily Value |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 4 kcal | – |
| Energy | 18 kJ | – |
| Protein | 0.2 g | <1% |
| Total fat | 0.1 g | <1% |
| Saturated | 0.03 g | <1% |
| Monounsaturated | 0 g | – |
| Polyunsaturated | 0.04 g | – |
| Trans | 0 g | – |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 0% |
| Total carbohydrate | 0.8 g | <1% |
| Sugars | 0.37 g | – |
| Fibre | 0.4 g | 1% |
| Water | 33 g | – |
| Vitamins | ||
| Vitamin A | 2.1 µg | <1% |
| Vitamin C | 0.8 mg | <1% |
| Vitamin E | 0.011 mg | <1% |
| Vitamin K | 6.1 µg | 5% |
| Thiamin (B1) | 0.016 mg | 1% |
| Riboflavin (B2) | 0.02 mg | 2% |
| Niacin (B3) | 0.038 mg | <1% |
| Pantothenic acid (B5) | 0.07 mg | 1% |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.012 mg | <1% |
| Folate | 2.8 µg | <1% |
| Choline | 1.2 mg | <1% |
| Minerals | ||
| Calcium | 20 mg | 2% |
| Iron | 0.091 mg | <1% |
| Magnesium | 2.5 mg | <1% |
| Phosphorus | 5.6 mg | <1% |
| Potassium | 40.9 mg | <1% |
| Sodium | 283.2 mg | 12% |
| Zinc | 0.035 mg | <1% |
| Copper | 0.01 mg | 1% |
| Manganese | 0.022 mg | <1% |
| Selenium | 0 µg | 0% |
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 small spear | 35 | 4 | 18 | 0.2 | 0.8 | 0.1 |
| 1 large pickle (4 in) | 135 | 16 | 68 | 0.7 | 3.3 | 0.4 |
| 1 slice | 7 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0.2 | 0 |
Things worth knowing
- A small spear (35 g) has 4 kcal / 18 kJ, and a large 4-inch pickle (135 g) 16 kcal / 68 kJ.
- That large pickle carries about 1090 mg of sodium, nearly half the 2300 mg Daily Value.
- Sweet pickles, including bread-and-butter pickles, are a different story: 91 kcal per 100 g with 18 g of sugar, though somewhat less sodium (457 mg).
- Strictly, a gherkin is a small cucumber variety, but in everyday British and Australian use the word covers most pickled cucumbers.
Converting these figures
One 1 small spear of pickles is 4 kcal, which is 18 kJ. To convert any other figure, divide kilojoules by 4.184 for calories, or use the converter on the home page.
It takes 1,992 g of pickles 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 11937. Values are averages; individual samples vary with variety, growing conditions, and preparation.