QUICK ANSWER
How many calories are in fresh basil?
The selected fresh-basil record provides 23 kcal per 100 g. Scale from the edible amount and keep other states separate.
23 kcal / 100 gNutrition values describe a reference food state, not every individual item. Variety, water content, preparation and portion weight can change the estimate.
THE NUMBERS
Fresh basil nutrition facts per 100 g
The values below use the reference state shown at the top of this page. Keeping one gram basis makes it easier to compare foods before translating the values to the portion you actually ate.
- Calories
- 23 kcal
- Protein
- 3.15 g
- Carbohydrate
- 2.65 g
- Fat
- 0.64 g
- Fibre
- 1.6 g
- Vitamin K
- 415 µg
- Vitamin A
- 264 µg RAE
- Manganese
- 1.15 mg
Source: USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy record 172232. Values may be rounded for readability.
SERVING SIZE
Calories by portion and serving weight
Words such as “small,” “medium,” “half” and “one piece” are convenient but imprecise. Grams make the estimate reproducible, particularly when natural foods vary in size.
MACROS
Carbohydrate, protein and fat explained
Protein
3.15 g per 100 g. From Basil, fresh.
Carbohydrate
2.65 g per 100 g. From Basil, fresh.
Fat
0.64 g per 100 g. From Basil, fresh.
MORE THAN CALORIES
Fibre, vitamins and minerals
One food does not need to provide every nutrient. These are the characteristics most useful for understanding where fresh basil fits in a varied eating pattern.
Vitamin K
415 µg per 100 g in the selected USDA record.
Vitamin A
264 µg RAE per 100 g in the selected USDA record.
Manganese
1.15 mg per 100 g in the selected USDA record.
Magnesium
64 mg per 100 g in the selected USDA record.
FOOD STATE MATTERS
How preparation changes the nutrition estimate
A reliable calorie entry should describe the food you actually ate—not merely a food with a similar name.
Fresh leaves
Selected reference.
Dried basil
Use the dried-spice record.
Pesto
Use the complete recipe or product label.
Infused oil
Log the oil product, not fresh leaves.
PRACTICAL CONTEXT
How fresh basil can fit different goals
There is no universal “good” or “bad” food. Portion, frequency, the rest of the meal, preferences and individual health needs all matter.
Portion math
At 23 kcal per 100 g, the 2.5 g example is 0.6 kcal.
Fibre check
The selected record lists 1.6 g fibre per 100 g.
Protein check
The selected record lists 3.15 g protein per 100 g.
Best logging move
Weigh fresh leaves; sauces and oils need their own entries.
QUALITY & SAFETY
How to choose, store and prepare it
Store
Keep fresh basil according to seller or package guidance.
After opening or cutting
Keep cut leaves clean and protected from contamination.
Prepare
Rinse as appropriate just before use and handle with clean utensils.
Safety boundary
Discard slimy, mouldy or strongly spoiled leaves; this nutrient record sets no storage duration.
PHOTO LOGGING
How to log fresh basil more accurately
A food photo can suggest the ingredient, but it cannot always reveal exact weight, hidden oil or preparation details. These checks turn an image guess into a better estimate.
- 01
Match the exact reference state: Basil, fresh.
- 02
Use edible grams. Calories are scaled from the selected per-100-g record; named portion weights come from the same local USDA record, while explicitly labelled gram examples are calculated.
- 03
Log oil, sauce, sweetener, salt and recipe ingredients separately.
- 04
Use a separate record when preparation changes the food state.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Fresh basil calorie and nutrition questions
How many calories are in 100 g of basil?
23 kcal in the selected Basil, fresh record.
How much fibre is in basil?
1.6 g per 100 g in the selected record.
Which basil state does this page use?
Basil, fresh. State and preparation are part of the answer.
Can dried basil use these values?
No. Drying changes water concentration, so use a dried-basil record.
How are the portion calories calculated?
Each portion is scaled from 23 kcal per 100 g. Named weights come from the selected source record; calculated gram examples are labelled.
KEEP EXPLORING
Related food guides
SOURCES & METHOD
Where these numbers come from
Basil, fresh, per 100 g edible portion. Numeric nutrition claims use the nutrition-reviewed local USDA record. Named portion claims use source-held weights; explicitly labelled gram examples are calculations from the per-100-g record. The nutrient record does not establish storage duration, clinical advice or food-safety limits; use package directions and current authoritative guidance where relevant.
Open USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy record 172232 ↗Page reviewed 26 August 2026. We show the food state, gram basis and source record so readers can check the estimate instead of treating one number as universally exact.