Olive oil: how many calories?

Olive oil carries 884 calories per 100 grams; a typical portion (10 g) comes to 88 calories. The tables below give the same figure in cups, spoons and slices.

100 g884kcal
  • Protein0.0 g
  • Carbs0.0 g
  • Fat100.0 g
  • Fibre0.0 g
1 portion · 10 g88kcal
  • Protein0.0 g
  • Carbs0.0 g
  • Fat10.0 g
  • Fibre0.0 g

Where do the calories come from?

  • Protein 0%
  • Carbs 0%
  • Fat 100%

Each macro's grams are multiplied by its own calorie value: 4 for protein and carbohydrate, 9 for fat. Fibre sits inside the carbohydrate figure and alcohol is not in the list at all, which is why the three shares add up to exactly one hundred.

What do these numbers mean on the plate?

Olive oil carries 8.8 calories per gram: 100 calories come out of just 11 grams. In this band the total is set not by the portion but by how far the container is tipped.

A typical portion is 10 g. Because tables are written per 100 grams, counting the portion as 100 grams too is a common mistake; for Olive oil that means overstating the calories by 900%.

One portion every day adds up to 32,266 calories a year — roughly a 4.2 kg difference. This is a linear estimate and an upper bound: as weight changes, daily needs change with it. Build your own timeline

For oils the calories per gram are almost constant; the only thing that changes is how full the spoon is. And part of what goes into the pan stays in the food.

Household measure equivalents

MeasureGramCaloriesProtein
Teaspoon (5 ml)4.5 g40 kcal0.0 g
Dessert spoon (10 ml)9.0 g80 kcal0.0 g
Tablespoon (15 ml)14 g119 kcal0.0 g
Glass (200 ml)180 g1,591 kcal0.0 g
1 serving10 g88 kcal0.0 g

A cup measures 200 millilitres, not 200 grams; the grams in the table therefore come from the food's own bulk density rather than from volume. Packing the cup down or chopping more finely shifts the figure by 10-20%. Convert your own measure

How much of the daily reference intake?

NutrientDaily reference100 g1 portion · 10 g
Calories2,000 kcal44%4%
Fat70 g143%14%
Carbs260 g0%0%
Protein50 g0%0%
Fibre25 g0%0%

The reference values are the figures EU Regulation 1169/2011 gives for an average adult — the %RI column on labels rests on the same numbers. They are not a personal target; the fibre row is not in the regulation, the 25 grams there is EFSA's adequate intake for adults. Work out your own calorie needs

Where does it sit within its group?

It is number 9 of the 10 foods in the Oils, sauces and sweeteners group by calories per 100 grams. The group averages 490 kcal; Olive oil is 81% above that average.

Lighter options at the same 10 grams

FoodCaloriesDifferenceProtein
MustardGood swap7 kcal−82 kcal0.4 g
KetchupGood swap10 kcal−78 kcal0.1 g
JamGood swap28 kcal−61 kcal0.0 g

The “good swap” mark only appears when an option lowers the calories without also lowering protein and fibre per 100 calories. Unmarked rows save calories but give up nutrient density. Try it with your own portion

How long does it take to burn one portion (10 g)?

  • Walking — brisk (5.6 km/h)22 min
  • Running — 8 km/h (7:30 min/km)10 min
  • Cycling — 16-19 km/h12 min

These minutes are the NET burn for a 70 kg body: the resting calories that would have been spent sitting on the sofa anyway are already taken out of the total. A heavier body gets the same work done in less time. Calculate with your own weight

Which claims could its label carry?

EU Regulation 1924/2006 ties every label claim to a numeric threshold. Olive oil meets none of them; the closest one is “Protein source” (0% of its calories come from protein · threshold: at least 12%).

A claim on a label rests on that product's OWN laboratory analysis, whereas the numbers here come from average composition tables. The list is therefore not a permit but an estimate of which side of the threshold a product sits on. For drinks, the calorie and fat thresholds are set per 100 millilitres and are lower. Interpret your own label

Apply these numbers to your own portion

The values are averages taken from standard composition tables; a 10-15% difference between two products with the same name is normal, and the cooking method can double that gap. This page is for information and is not medical advice.