How Many Calories Are In A Pear? | What Dietitians Say

You grab a pear thinking it’s a healthy snack, then wonder if the sweetness means hidden calories. Most fruits get lumped together as “sugary,” but pears have a different nutritional profile than candy or juice. Their fiber changes how your body handles the sugar.

The honest answer depends on the size of the fruit. A medium pear comes in around 101 calories as of 2025. Small varieties land closer to 75-80 calories, while large ones can reach 130-150. This article breaks down the calories, carbs, and fiber so you know exactly what you’re eating.

The Calorie Answer By Pear Size

A medium Bartlett or Anjou pear weighing about 178 grams is the reference most sources use. That size delivers roughly 101 calories as of 2025, zero grams of fat, and a solid amount of dietary fiber. The calorie count is low for the volume you get.

A small pear weighing around 130 grams may contain roughly 75-80 calories as of 2025. A large pear over 200 grams could push 130-150 calories as of 2025. Weight is the biggest factor — heavier fruit simply brings more water and carbs.

For comparison, 101 calories as of 2025 puts a pear in the same low-calorie-density group as an apple (95 calories) or an orange (62 calories for a small navel). It’s a filling snack for a small energy cost.

Why The Sugar Count Worries People

When people see a medium pear has 17 to 21 grams of sugar, alarm bells sometimes go off. The reflex is to compare it to a candy bar. Physiologically, the processing is different because of the fiber and water content.

• Natural vs. Added Sugar: The sugar in a pear is naturally occurring fructose and glucose, packaged with fiber and water. There is no added or processed sugar involved.
• Fiber Slows Digestion: A medium pear has about 5.5 grams of fiber. That fiber slows the release of sugar into the bloodstream, preventing sharp spikes compared to fruit juice.
• Low Glycemic Load: Pears have a glycemic index between 20 and 49, placing them firmly in the low category. The load per serving stays manageable for most people.
• Satiety Per Calorie: A whole cup of sliced pear costs about 100 calories. The water and fiber take up space in your stomach, helping you feel full longer than sweeter, low-fiber snacks.

The net digestible carbs — total carbohydrates minus fiber — end up around 21 to 22 grams. For most dietary patterns, that fits neatly into a single snack or side portion.

Full Nutrition Breakdown For A Medium Pear

A close look at the 178-gram pear shows zero fat, zero cholesterol, and only trace sodium. The USDA’s medium pear calories entry confirms the 101-calorie baseline that most dietitians use.

The carbohydrate profile includes 27 grams of total carbs, but over 5 grams of that is dietary fiber. That leaves roughly 21 to 22 grams of net carbs — a very moderate number for most eating plans. It also provides about 1 gram of protein.

Beyond macros, pears contribute small amounts of vitamin C and potassium. They’re not the most vitamin-dense fruit, but they offer solid nutrition for the calorie cost.

Nutrient	Amount	% Daily Value
Calories	101	~5%
Total Fat	0g	0%
Carbohydrates	27g	10%
Fiber	5.5g	20%
Sugars	17 — 21g	—
Protein	1g	2%

The fiber content is the standout feature. Twenty percent of your daily fiber target from a single piece of fruit is hard to beat, especially for a snack that travels well and doesn’t need refrigeration.

How A Pear Fits Into Your Daily Goals

Whether you’re tracking calories for weight management or counting carbs for blood sugar, pears fit without much guesswork. Here is what the numbers mean for common goals.

1. Weight Management: The high water content (roughly 84%) and 5.5g of fiber create a strong satiety signal for about 100 calories. You get volume without density.
2. Blood Sugar Control: Pair a pear with a small handful of almonds or a slice of cheese. The protein and fat further slow digestion and smooth out the glycemic response.
3. Gut Health Support: Pears contain pectin, a type of soluble fiber that acts as a prebiotic. It feeds beneficial bacteria in the colon, supporting digestion and regularity.
4. Daily Fruit Targets: One medium pear counts as one full serving toward the typical “2 cups of fruit per day” recommendation. Eat the skin to maximize the fiber payoff.

If you peel the pear, you lose roughly half the fiber but keep most of the natural sugar and water. For best results, wash the skin thoroughly and eat it whole.

Comparing Pears To Other Common Fruits

How does the calorie count of a pear stack up against the other fruits you probably keep on the counter? Pretty favorably, especially when fiber is the metric.

An apple has about 95 calories and 4.5 grams of fiber. A medium banana comes in around 105 calories but only 3 grams of fiber. WebMD highlights that small pear fiber content can reach 7 grams in a smaller fruit, making the fiber-to-calorie ratio especially strong.

Pears also contain antioxidant flavonoids that may support heart health over time. Combined with the low glycemic index, the fruit is a consistent staple for dietitians recommending blood-sugar-friendly foods.

Fruit (Medium)	Calories	Fiber (g)	Sugar (g)
Pear	101	5.5	17 — 21
Apple	95	4.5	19
Banana	105	3.1	14

For anyone focused on maximizing fiber per calorie, the pear edges out both apples and bananas. It is a simple swap that moves the needle on daily fiber intake without changing the calorie budget much.

The Bottom Line

A medium pear provides about 101 calories as of 2025 of mostly good carbohydrates, backed by 5.5 grams of fiber that supports digestion and helps steady blood sugar. The exact count varies by size and variety, but it consistently lands as a low-calorie, high-volume snack. Pears are a nutrient-dense fruit that earns a spot in most balanced eating patterns without much math required.

If you follow a very low-carb or ketogenic diet, the 27 grams of total carbs per pear may need to be accounted for within your daily limit — your dietitian or continuous glucose monitor can help you decide how it fits.