How Many Oranges in a Pound? Orange Yield, Peeled and Juiced

A pound is about 3 oranges: the USDA Food Buying Guide counts 2.8 oranges per pound for 113-count fruit, 2.9 for 125-count and 3.4 for 138-count. Peeled, a pound of 72- to 88-count oranges gives about 0.73 lb ready to serve, and squeezed, a pound gives about 0.48 lb, roughly 7/8 cup, of juice. USDA’s nutrient database puts peel and seeds at 27%.

USDA yields for orange

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: 0.73 lb per pound is 0.73 kg per kilogram.

As purchased (USDA description)	Result, as USDA states it	Yield	Source
Oranges, fresh; 72-88 count (approx. 3-inch diameter), Arizona or California, Whole	1 lb = 0.73 lb (about 2-1/2 cups) ready-to-serve oranges (ready to use, raw)	73%	FBG table
Oranges, fresh; 125 count, Florida or Texas, Whole	1 lb AP = about 0.76 lb (1-3/4 cups) ready-to-serve peeled oranges (ready to use, raw)	76%	FBG table
Oranges, fresh; All sizes, Whole, Includes USDA Foods	1 lb AP = 0.40 lb ready-to-serve oranges (ready to use, raw)	40%	FBG table
Oranges, fresh; All sizes, Whole, Includes USDA Foods	1 lb AP = 0.48 lb (7/8 cup) juice	48%	FBG table

How much is waste

USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 09200) lists 27% of “Oranges, raw, all commercial varieties” as refuse: peel and seeds.

How much to buy

At 73% (peeled, ready-to-serve oranges):

Ready to use	Buy as purchased
1.00 lb (0.45 kg)	1.37 lb (0.62 kg)
5.00 lb (2.27 kg)	6.85 lb (3.11 kg)
10.0 lb (4.54 kg)	13.7 lb (6.21 kg)
25.0 lb (11.3 kg)	34.2 lb (15.5 kg)

Cost per usable pound

At 73%, the price as purchased becomes, per pound and per kilogram:

Price as purchased	Cost per usable pound
$1.00/lb ($2.20/kg)	$1.37/lb ($3.02/kg)
$1.25/lb ($2.76/kg)	$1.71/lb ($3.78/kg)
$1.50/lb ($3.31/kg)	$2.05/lb ($4.53/kg)

Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.

The MiseKit app

USDA says 73% for orange. 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

Start free Plans and pricing

Free for one location and one person. No card needed. Works on the phones your cooks already carry.

Run your own numbers

Food yield calculator, set to 73%

Good to know

The Food Buying Guide’s 0.40 lb per pound is for sections with the membranes removed and drained, so use it for supremes, not for peeled wedges.

FAQ

How many oranges are in a pound?

About 3. The USDA Food Buying Guide counts 2.8 oranges per pound for 113-count fruit, 2.9 for 125-count and 3.4 for 138-count, the sizes sold by the carton.

How much juice is in a pound of oranges?

About 0.48 lb, roughly 7/8 cup, per the USDA Food Buying Guide.

How many oranges do I need for 1 cup of juice?

About 1.1 lb of oranges, 3 to 4 oranges, at the Food Buying Guide’s 7/8 cup of juice per pound.

How much of an orange is peel?

About 27% with the seeds, per USDA’s nutrient database, which matches the Food Buying Guide’s peeled yield of 0.73 lb per pound.

Sources

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.