How Much Corn Is on an Ear? Kernels per Ear and per Pound
A medium ear of sweet corn, 6 3/4 to 7 1/2 inches long, gives about 102 g (3.6 oz) of kernels and a large ear about 143 g (5 oz), in USDA’s nutrient database, which counts 35% of the ear as husk, silk and trimmings and 29% as cob. By the pound, the USDA Food Buying Guide gives 0.34 lb of raw cut corn from ears with husks and 0.54 lb from husked ears.
USDA yields for corn
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: 0.34 lb per pound is 0.34 kg per kilogram.
| As purchased (USDA description) | Result, as USDA states it | Yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn, fresh; With husks (5 to 6-inch length), Medium, (Similar to Native White Corn and Native Whole Blue Corn) | 1 lb AP = 0.34 lb raw cut corn (ready to use, raw) | 34% | FBG table |
| Corn, fresh; Without husks (5 to 6-inch length), Medium, (Similar to Native White Corn and Native Whole Blue Corn) | 1 lb AP = 0.54 lb raw cut corn (ready to use, raw) | 54% | FBG table |
How much is waste
USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 11167) lists 64% of “Corn, sweet, yellow, raw” as refuse: 35% husk, silk and trimmings, 29% cob.
How much to buy
At 34% (raw cut corn from ears with husks):
| Ready to use | Buy as purchased |
|---|---|
| 1.00 lb (0.45 kg) | 2.94 lb (1.33 kg) |
| 5.00 lb (2.27 kg) | 14.7 lb (6.67 kg) |
| 10.0 lb (4.54 kg) | 29.4 lb (13.3 kg) |
| 25.0 lb (11.3 kg) | 73.5 lb (33.4 kg) |
Cost per usable pound
At 34%, the price as purchased becomes, per pound and per kilogram:
| Price as purchased | Cost per usable pound |
|---|---|
| $0.80/lb ($1.76/kg) | $2.35/lb ($5.19/kg) |
| $1.00/lb ($2.20/kg) | $2.94/lb ($6.48/kg) |
| $1.50/lb ($3.31/kg) | $4.41/lb ($9.73/kg) |
Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.
The MiseKit app
USDA says 34% for corn. What does your last case say?
Book yields are averages. Your supplier, your cutter and your spec decide the real one. Run a yield test in MiseKit and it keeps every result, flags the cases that come in under your standard and costs each cut from what you actually got.
- Every test kept, by supplier and date
- Short cases flagged in dollars, not just percent
- Cut costs flow straight into recipe costs
Free for one location and one person. No card needed. Works on the phones your cooks already carry.
Run your own numbers
Good to know
- Corn is often priced by the ear. A medium ear with its husk weighs about 10 oz (0.6 lb) in USDA data, so divide the price per ear by 0.6 to compare it with a price per pound.
FAQ
How much corn is on one ear?
About 102 g (3.6 oz, roughly 2/3 cup) of kernels from a medium ear and 143 g (5 oz) from a large ear, per USDA’s nutrient database.
How many ears of corn do I need for 1 lb of kernels?
About 4 to 5 medium ears (454 g ÷ 102 g = 4.4).
How much of an ear of corn is waste?
About 64% of an ear with husks: 35% husk, silk and trimmings and 29% cob, in USDA’s nutrient database. The Food Buying Guide gives a similar 0.34 lb of cut corn per pound of ears with husks.
Sources
- USDA Food and Nutrition Service, Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs (yield tables; 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.
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