Scale to GramsHow Much Does a Potato Weigh? Every Size & Variety
Potato Weight by Size
Potatoes come in a wider weight range than most vegetables. A small potato (about the size of a computer mouse) weighs approximately 110-140 grams (4-5 oz). A medium potato (about the size of a fist) weighs approximately 170-200 grams (6-7 oz). A large potato (bigger than your fist) weighs approximately 225-280 grams (8-10 oz). An extra-large baking potato can weigh 300-370 grams (10.5-13 oz) or more. When a recipe says "one medium potato," it typically means 170 grams. Potatoes sold in 5-pound bags usually contain 8-12 medium potatoes.
Weight by Variety
Russet potatoes (the classic baking potato) are the largest common variety, with medium russets weighing 170-200 grams and large ones reaching 300+ grams. Red potatoes are generally smaller, with a medium red potato weighing about 150-170 grams. Yukon Gold potatoes fall in between, with mediums at about 150-180 grams. Fingerling potatoes are small and elongated, weighing just 55-85 grams each. New potatoes (baby potatoes) weigh 40-70 grams each. Sweet potatoes are similar in size to russets, with a medium sweet potato weighing about 130-150 grams — slightly less than a regular potato of the same visual size because they are less dense.
Potato Calories by Weight
Raw potato contains approximately 77 calories per 100 grams, regardless of variety. A medium 170-gram potato has about 131 calories before any toppings or cooking oil. Sweet potatoes are slightly higher at 86 calories per 100 grams (a medium sweet potato has about 112 calories). The calorie count changes dramatically based on preparation. Baked with no toppings adds no calories. But a loaded baked potato with butter (100 cal), sour cream (60 cal), cheese (110 cal), and bacon (80 cal) can reach 480 calories — nearly four times the plain potato. French fries contain about 312 calories per 100 grams because of the frying oil. Mashed potatoes with butter and milk run about 113 calories per 100 grams.
How Cooking Changes Potato Weight
Boiling potatoes causes them to absorb water, increasing weight by about 10-15%. A 200-gram raw potato becomes approximately 220-230 grams after boiling. Baking has the opposite effect — potatoes lose moisture and decrease in weight by about 15-25%. A 200-gram raw potato becomes approximately 150-170 grams after baking. Frying causes significant water loss: french fries weigh about 40-50% less than the raw potato they came from, but the oil absorbed partially replaces the lost water weight. For calorie tracking, always note whether you are using raw or cooked weight and use the corresponding nutritional data. If a recipe calls for "2 pounds of potatoes," it means raw weight before any cooking.
Estimating Potato Weight Without a Scale
Potatoes are one of the easier foods to estimate by sight because they come in relatively standard sizes. A potato the size of a computer mouse or bar of soap is small (about 130g). A potato the size of your closed fist is medium (about 170g). A potato noticeably larger than your fist is large (about 250g). If it looks like it could be a baseball, it is extra-large (300g+). For fingerlings and baby potatoes, five fingerlings or six baby potatoes weigh approximately the same as one medium potato. You can also use the AI photo estimation approach — photograph your potatoes next to a known reference object and use Scale to Grams for an instant weight estimate.
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