Cilantro Yield: Chopped Cilantro per Pound
A pound of fresh cilantro gives about 0.84 lb of trimmed, chopped cilantro, about 18 cups (USDA Food Buying Guide). USDA Handbook 102 puts trimmed leaves and stems at 87% of the weight (84–90%), and USDA’s nutrient database lists 15% of raw cilantro as refuse: roots and old or bruised leaves.
USDA yields for cilantro
From the USDA Food Buying Guide: how much ready-to-use or cooked product one pound as purchased gives. The figures work the same in metric: 0.84 lb per pound is 0.84 kg per kilogram.
| As purchased (USDA description) | Result, as USDA states it | Yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cilantro, fresh; Coriander | 1 lb AP = 0.84 lb (about 18-1/4 cups) trimmed, chopped, ready-to-serve cilantro (ready to use, raw) | 84% | FBG table |
USDA preparation yields for cilantro (Handbook 102)
From USDA Agriculture Handbook No. 102, Food Yields Summarized by Different Stages of Preparation (1975): the weight left after each step, as a percentage of the weight before it. Percentages work the same in pounds and kilograms.
| Before preparation (USDA description) | After preparation | Yield | Item, page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coriander, raw | Leaves and stems, trimmed | 87% | No. 916, p. 44 |
How much is waste
USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 11165) lists 15% of “Coriander (cilantro) leaves, raw” as refuse: roots, old and bruised leaves.
How much to buy
At 84% (trimmed, chopped cilantro):
| Ready to use | Buy as purchased |
|---|---|
| 1.00 lb (0.45 kg) | 1.19 lb (0.54 kg) |
| 5.00 lb (2.27 kg) | 5.95 lb (2.70 kg) |
| 10.0 lb (4.54 kg) | 11.9 lb (5.40 kg) |
| 25.0 lb (11.3 kg) | 29.8 lb (13.5 kg) |
Cost per usable pound
At 84%, the price as purchased becomes, per pound and per kilogram:
| Price as purchased | Cost per usable pound |
|---|---|
| $2.00/lb ($4.41/kg) | $2.38/lb ($5.25/kg) |
| $3.00/lb ($6.61/kg) | $3.57/lb ($7.87/kg) |
| $4.00/lb ($8.82/kg) | $4.76/lb ($10.50/kg) |
Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.
Run your own numbers
Good to know
- Cilantro sold with roots attached loses more in trimming than bunches already cut above the root.
FAQ
How much chopped cilantro is in a pound?
About 0.84 lb, roughly 18 cups, of trimmed, chopped cilantro per pound as purchased (USDA Food Buying Guide).
How much cilantro do I need for 1 lb chopped?
About 1.2 lb as purchased (1 ÷ 0.84).
How much of cilantro is waste?
USDA’s nutrient database lists 15% as roots and old or bruised leaves, and Handbook 102 lists 13% as rootlets.
Sources
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (yield tables; public domain)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 102: Food Yields Summarized by Different Stages of Preparation (1975; public domain)
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 28 (refuse)
USDA figures are averages; size, grade, trim, ripeness and cooking change them. Weigh your own main items before you cost a menu on them.
Last reviewed October 11, 2026.