One cantaloupe slice (a wedge) usually lands around 20–35 calories, depending on size and thickness.
Thin Slice
Standard Wedge
Thick Cut
Light Snack
- 1 thin wedge
- Pair with yogurt
- Keep skins on for grip
Low calorie
Balanced Bowl
- 2 medium wedges
- Add nuts or seeds
- Finish with mint
Everyday pick
Hydration Boost
- 3 thick wedges
- Chill well
- Squeeze of lime
High volume
Cantaloupe brings sweet flavor, plenty of water, and a tidy calorie count. The only wild card is slice size. A slim wedge weighs a lot less than a thick cut, so the number shifts. The math is simple, though: raw melon averages about 34 calories per 100 grams, so a small wedge falls near 20 calories, a medium wedge around the mid-20s, and a larger slice closer to the mid-30s.
Cantaloupe Slice Calories By Size (Quick Range)
To keep things practical, think in wedges. Many home cooks cut a round melon into 8 pieces. Those wedges aren’t identical, but typical weights are well known from nutrition datasets. Use the table below as your early guide, then fine-tune with your own knife style.
| Wedge Size | Approx. Weight (g) | Calories (kcal) |
|---|---|---|
| Small Wedge (1/8 small melon) | ~55 | ~19 |
| Medium Wedge (1/8 medium melon) | ~69 | ~23 |
| Large Wedge (1/8 large melon) | ~102 | ~35 |
| Quarter Of Medium Melon (flat cut) | ~134 | ~50 |
| 100 g (reference) | 100 | 34 |
Numbers above come from standard portion entries and the 34-per-100-gram rule for raw melon. Real slices shift a bit with ripeness and thickness, so treat the range as a guide rather than lab-grade precision.
Planning snacks gets easier once you’ve set your daily calorie needs. That one step keeps fruit portions from creeping up during hot afternoons.
How To Estimate A Slice Without A Scale
No kitchen scale? Use quick cues. A wedge that spans from rind to tip about the width of two fingers tends to weigh near 60–70 grams. A thicker wedge closer to three fingers often lands around 90–110 grams. Chill the melon first; colder fruit cuts cleaner, which helps you match the same thickness from slice to slice.
Use The 34-Per-100-Gram Shortcut
Grab the weight in grams (your best guess is fine), multiply by 0.34, and round to the nearest whole number. That gives you a tight estimate. If you’re tracking closely, weigh one wedge once, learn the feel, then cut the rest to match that thickness.
What Counts As A “Slice” In Real Life
At the table, most people serve a wedge with the rind attached. For salads, cubes and balls are more common. The calories work out the same for the same grams. The slice just feels larger because of the triangular shape and that edge of rind you hold while you eat.
How Slice Size Compares With Cups And Balls
Sometimes a recipe calls for cups. One heaping cup of melon balls hovers near 60 calories, which lines up cleanly with the 34-per-100-gram rule. If you prefer cubes, you’ll see a similar range per level cup. The only real swing comes from how tightly you pack the cup.
Portion Cheats You Can Trust
- One heaping cup of balls ≈ 60 kcal.
- Level cup of cubes ≈ mid-50s kcal.
- Quarter of a medium melon ≈ about 50 kcal.
Picking And Storing For The Best Bite
Good melon tastes sweeter, which can trick the brain into bigger cuts. You’ll get consistent slices if you cut when the fruit is cold and firm. Look for a creamy beige rind and a sweet, gentle aroma at the stem end. Store cut pieces in a sealed box in the fridge and eat within a couple of days for top texture.
Food Safety Notes
Wash the rind before cutting to keep surface germs off the flesh. Dry the knife and board between tasks if you’re prepping other foods. Chilled melon also keeps better color and texture in the fridge.
How Cantaloupe Fits A Day Of Eating
Fruit brings carbs, water, and micronutrients. Melon is no exception. A cup delivers vitamin C and vitamin A with only a modest calorie bump. The water content helps with hydration goals, and the mild sweetness pairs well with protein at breakfast or a salty element in a salad.
Smart Pairings For Balanced Snacks
- Wedge + 2 tablespoons cottage cheese.
- Cubes + a small handful of roasted pumpkin seeds.
- Melon balls + crushed mint and a squeeze of lime.
Recipe Swaps That Keep Calories Predictable
If a recipe calls for two cups of melon balls, you’re in the neighborhood of 120 calories for the fruit. Swap in equal grams of cubes and the number won’t change. Add yogurt or cheese for protein if you need staying power. Use the 0.34 factor when you scale recipes up or down.
| Portion | Approx. Weight (g) | Calories (kcal) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Cup Melon Balls | ~177 | ~60 |
| 1 Cup Cubes (level) | ~156 | ~54 |
| Half Cup Cubes | ~78 | ~27 |
| Quarter Of Medium Melon | ~134 | ~50 |
| 100 Grams (reference) | 100 | 34 |
Frequently Asked, Straight Answers
Does Rind Matter For Calories?
You don’t eat the rind, so it doesn’t count toward calories. If you weigh slices with rind on, subtract a bit if you’re logging only the edible portion. The wedge estimates above already assume edible weight.
Why Do Some Charts Show 50 Calories For A Larger Piece?
Some posters list a quarter of a medium melon near 50 calories. That cut is flatter and wider than a classic wedge, and it weighs more, which raises the number. Think of it as a bigger serving.
What About Sugar?
Natural sugars make up most of the carbs here. Pair the fruit with protein or fats if you’re aiming for steadier energy. Fresh melon keeps sodium low and potassium up.
How To Slice For Consistent Counts
Step-By-Step Quick Method
- Chill the whole melon for an hour.
- Cut in half through the stem end; scoop out seeds.
- Place cut side down; slice into 8 even wedges.
- Decide on thickness; trim tips to match weight across wedges.
- Peel or keep rind on, based on how you plan to serve.
Make A Personal Reference Slice
Weigh one wedge once. Note its look and feel in your hand. Match that size next time and you’ll hit the same calorie ballpark without thinking.
Nutrition Snapshot (Why This Fruit Shows Up A Lot)
A single cup delivers vitamin C in serious amounts and a boost of vitamin A, along with fluid and a touch of fiber. That’s a friendly profile for breakfast bowls, picnic plates, or post-workout snacks. Nutrient charts from major health systems match this picture and are easy to cross-check when you plan meals.
Where These Numbers Come From
Calorie math here leans on large datasets used by dietitians. Fruit posters from the U.S. food agency pin a quarter of a medium melon at about 50 calories with the listed gram weight, and hospital-hosted nutrition pages list cups of melon near the 55–60-calorie mark. Those two sources line up cleanly with the 34-per-100-gram calculation.
Looking to fine-tune hydration along with fruit? Want a fuller read? Try our daily water target.