Dragon fruit — also called pitaya — is a low-calorie tropical fruit with a mildly sweet flavor and striking pink or yellow skin. If you're counting calories, knowing how much energy is in each slice helps you portion it into your day without guessing. This calculator estimates calories per slice of dragon fruit based on the variety, the weight of one slice, and the number of slices you plan to eat.
Simply choose your dragon fruit variety, pick a slice size (or enter a custom gram weight), and set how many slices you're having. The calculator returns calories per slice, total calories, and a full macronutrient breakdown, so you can use it for meal prep, smoothie bowls, or snack tracking. It's perfect for anyone following a weight-loss plan, a flexible diet, or just curious about the nutrition in tropical fruit.
Use the optional macros to plan carbs, fiber, and protein around your daily targets. All values are based on standard USDA nutrition data for raw pitaya.
🍽️ Enter Your Serving
📊 Results
Macros per slice
Step-by-Step Guide
Using this dragon fruit calorie calculator takes less than a minute. First, choose the variety of dragon fruit you're eating — white-fleshed, red-fleshed, or yellow. Next, select a slice size. The thin, medium, and thick presets correspond to approximate weights of 10 g, 15 g, and 20 g per slice, which is enough for most meal planning. If you have a food scale, choose 'Custom weight' and enter the exact grams for one slice. Finally, enter the number of slices you plan to eat and click the calculate button.
- Select the dragon fruit variety from the dropdown.
- Pick a slice size preset or choose custom weight.
- Enter the number of slices.
- Press Calculate Calories.
- Read your calories per slice, total calories, and macro breakdown.
If you want to start over, use the Reset button to clear all results.
How the Calculation Works
The calculator uses a simple proportion based on the fruit's calories per 100 grams. Once you know that value, the formula is:
Calories per slice = (slice weight in grams × calories per 100 g) ÷ 100
Total calories = calories per slice × number of slices
For example, if white dragon fruit contains 57 kcal per 100 g and your slice weighs 15 g, the slice provides about 8.6 kcal. The same math is used for carbohydrates, protein, fiber, and fat, using average values from standard food databases. Macros can vary slightly by ripeness, growing conditions, and variety, but the numbers are reliable for daily tracking. For more detailed nutrition data, the USDA FoodData Central is a good reference. You can also browse Wikipedia's pitaya page for background on the fruit.
Standard Nutrition Values
The table below shows typical values for raw dragon fruit per 100 g. Use these as a baseline whenever you don't have package info.
| Variety | Calories | Carbs | Fiber | Protein | Fat |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White-fleshed pitaya | 57 kcal | 14 g | 3 g | 1.2 g | 0.4 g |
| Red-fleshed pitaya | 60 kcal | 14 g | 3 g | 1.2 g | 0.4 g |
| Yellow dragon fruit | 66 kcal | 14 g | 3 g | 1.2 g | 0.4 g |
Worked Examples
Example 1: Medium white dragon fruit snack
You eat 3 medium slices, each about 15 g. With white dragon fruit at 57 kcal/100g, each slice gives (15 × 57) ÷ 100 = 8.6 kcal. Three slices give 25.7 kcal, with about 6.3 g carbs and 1.4 g fiber.
Example 2: Custom red-fleshed serving
You weigh one slice and it's 22 g, and you have 2 slices. Red dragon fruit at 60 kcal/100g gives 13.2 kcal per slice, so total is 26.4 kcal. That's a light addition to a yogurt bowl.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the whole fruit's weight instead of one slice. A whole dragon fruit can weigh 300–600 g, so one slice is much lighter.
- Forgetting to subtract the peel. Dragon fruit skin is not eaten, so only weigh the flesh.
- Confusing varieties. Yellow dragon fruit is noticeably higher in calories and sugar than white-fleshed pitaya.
- Ignoring added ingredients. Sprinkling sugar, honey, or condensed milk over dragon fruit adds significant calories.
- Overestimating slice weight. A thin slice may weigh closer to 10 g, not 20 g.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is dragon fruit good for weight loss? Yes. It is naturally low in calories, contains about 3 g of fiber per 100 g, and has a high water content, which helps with satiety. That said, portion control still matters if you're in a calorie deficit.
How many calories are in a whole dragon fruit? A medium whole fruit with edible flesh around 250 g provides roughly 140–165 kcal depending on variety. This calculator lets you break that down into slices.
Can I use this for dried dragon fruit? No. Dried dragon fruit is much more calorie-dense because water is removed, so you would need separate values. Use this tool for fresh, raw slices only.
Are the macros the same for every piece? Not exactly. Fruit from different batches can vary slightly in sugar and fiber content, but the averages are close enough for everyday calorie and macro tracking. For more fruit comparisons, see our blueberry carb calculator or kiwi protein calculator.