Fruit

Lime nutrition, by the piece and by the cup.

1 lime lands at 20 calories and brings 0.5 g of protein with it. Specifically, this is the USDA record “Limes, raw”. Beyond the headline number, it is notable for vitamin C. Use the selector that follows to match your own portion; the panel and the nutrient table track it.

By Alen Yaco · Updated 20 September 2026

Source data is USDA FoodData Central (168155). The sums run on your device and nothing leaves it.

Calories in lime, serving by serving

At 30 calories per 100 g, 1 lime comes to 20. The weights shown for each portion come straight from the USDA record.

Lime and its protein content

Protein in 1 lime comes to 0.5 g. Against the 50 g Daily Value, that covers 1 percent. There is next to no protein in lime; nearly all of its energy is carbohydrate.

Its energy is 4 percent fat, 90 percent carbohydrate and 6 percent protein, meaning it behaves as mostly a carbohydrate in a meal.

What to know before you buy lime

Most shops sell Persian limes, though smaller, seedier Key limes appear occasionally. You can also buy kaffir lime leaves for South East Asian dishes. Look for fruits that feel heavy for their size, with smooth, thin skins. Avoid those with hard, thick, pale green rind, as they yield far less juice.

Heating lime juice destroys its bright, fresh character, so add it at the very end of cooking. The white pith is intensely bitter; grate only the green zest. The most common error is squeezing cold, hard fruit. Rolling the lime firmly against the counter before cutting loosens the juice-containing membranes.

Lime juice cuts through rich fats and balances salt. In Mexican kitchens, it brightens tacos and guacamole. In Thai curries, it provides essential acidity alongside fish sauce. The zest adds clean fragrance to marinades, dressings, and baked goods, while the leaves flavour aromatic broths.

The complete lime breakdown

1 lime delivers vitamin C (22 percent of the Daily Value). Everything else USDA reports for it is in the table, scaled to your serving.

It carries 2.8 g of fibre per 100 g, about 10 percent of a day.

Lime and your daily targets

1 lime: 1 percent of 2,000 calories, 1 percent of the protein Daily Value. Those are reference numbers; the TDEE calculator finds yours, and the macro calculator converts them to grams.

Three recipes built around lime

Written by the Calorie Counter Team. The nutrition under each one is not an estimate: every ingredient is matched to its USDA FoodData Central record and the totals are summed from those, then divided by the servings.

Snack · British

Lime Curd

A sharp spread made from lime juice, egg yolks, sugar, and butter.

25 min · serves 8

206kcal

1.8gprotein

14gfat

20gcarbs

Ingredients

• lime juice 100 g
• lime zest 5 g
• granulated sugar 150 g
• egg yolks 80 g
• unsalted butter 110 g

Method

1. Whisk the lime juice, lime zest, sugar, and egg yolks in a heatproof bowl.
2. Place the bowl over a pan of simmering water without letting the water touch the bowl.
3. Stir the mixture constantly for 10 minutes until it thickens to coat the back of a spoon.
4. Remove the bowl from the heat and whisk in the butter one cube at a time until melted.
5. Pour the curd into a clean jar and press greaseproof paper onto the surface to prevent a skin forming.
6. Leave to cool at room temperature, then refrigerate.

5 USDA records went into this total. It describes the ingredients as weighed, not the dish after cooking losses.

Dinner · Mexican

Lime Marinated Chicken

Chicken breast marinated in lime juice and spices, then pan-seared.

45 min · serves 2

262kcal

34gprotein

12gfat

3.8gcarbs

Ingredients

• boneless skinless chicken breast 300 g
• lime juice 60 g
• olive oil 15 g
• garlic cloves 6 g
• salt 3 g
• ground cumin 2 g

Method

1. Place the chicken breast between sheets of greaseproof paper and flatten to an even thickness of 2 centimetres.
2. Whisk the lime juice, olive oil, minced garlic, salt, and cumin in a bowl.
3. Submerge the chicken in the marinade and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
4. Heat a heavy frying pan over medium-high heat.
5. Cook the chicken for 6 minutes on each side until the internal temperature reaches 75 degrees Celsius.

Nutrition per serving, calculated across 6 USDA ingredient records. Expect small differences once cooked.

Side · South American

Lime and Avocado Salad

A green salad dressed with fresh lime juice, olive oil, and avocado.

10 min · serves 2

276kcal

2.7gprotein

26gfat

12gcarbs

Ingredients

• avocado 150 g
• lime juice 45 g
• olive oil 30 g
• cucumber 100 g
• romaine lettuce 120 g
• salt 2 g

Method

1. Whisk the lime juice, olive oil, and salt in a large bowl.
2. Peel and dice the avocado into 1-centimetre pieces.
3. Toss the avocado immediately in the lime dressing to prevent discolouration.
4. Chop the cucumber and tear the lettuce into bite-sized pieces.
5. Add the cucumber and lettuce to the bowl and toss gently to coat.

6 USDA records went into this total. It describes the ingredients as weighed, not the dish after cooking losses.

Calorie Counter Team, food critic

One meal, costed: lime

Here is lime as part of a plate, with each component taken from its own USDA record and the total added up.

Lime against other fruit

All figures are for 100 g. Check the form column before comparing a raw food with a cooked one.

What people ask about lime

How many calories does 1 lime have?

20 calories, according to USDA FoodData Central: the record is “Limes, raw”, FDC 168155. That works out at 30 per 100 g.

How much protein is in lime?

1 lime has 0.5 g of protein. By weight that is 0.7 g per 100 g, and the serving covers 1 percent of the Daily Value.

Does lime fit a calorie deficit?

It can fit any calorie target; no single food decides the outcome. What matters here is that 1 lime costs 20 calories and returns 0.5 g of protein, so 9 percent of its energy is protein — so pair it with something that carries more protein.

How many carbs are in lime?

Carbohydrate comes to 7.1 g per serving of 1 lime: 1.1 g as sugar and 1.9 g as fibre.

How do I get the most juice from a lime?

Bring the fruit to room temperature. Roll it firmly under your palm on a hard surface before cutting. Using a metal hand-press juicer extracts much more liquid than squeezing by hand alone.

Can I substitute lemon juice for lime juice?

You can, but the flavour profile will change. Lime is more acidic and has a distinct, sharp, herbal quality. Lemon is sweeter and milder. Use slightly less lime if replacing lemon in a recipe.

Sources

• Limes, raw — USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 168155
• Daily Values for nutrition labelling, 21 CFR 101.9