Parsley Yield: Usable Parsley per Pound
A pound of fresh curly parsley gives about 0.92 lb ready to use (USDA Food Buying Guide). USDA Handbook 102 puts trimmed parsley at 95% of the weight, on limited data, and USDA’s nutrient database lists 5% as tough stems. Those figures trim only the tough stems; picking leaves only leaves less.
USDA yields for parsley
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: 0.92 lb per pound is 0.92 kg per kilogram.
| As purchased (USDA description) | Result, as USDA states it | Yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parsley, fresh; Curly | 1 lb AP = 0.92 lb ready-to-serve raw parsley (ready to use, raw) | 92% | FBG table |
USDA preparation yields for parsley (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parsley, common garden and curled leaf cultivars, raw | Trimmed | *95% | No. 1639, p. 76 |
* USDA based this figure on limited data.
How much is waste
USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 11297) lists 5% of “Parsley, fresh” as refuse: tough stems.
How much to buy
At 92% (ready-to-use parsley):
| Ready to use | Buy as purchased |
|---|---|
| 1.00 lb (0.45 kg) | 1.09 lb (0.49 kg) |
| 5.00 lb (2.27 kg) | 5.43 lb (2.47 kg) |
| 10.0 lb (4.54 kg) | 10.9 lb (4.93 kg) |
| 25.0 lb (11.3 kg) | 27.2 lb (12.3 kg) |
Cost per usable pound
At 92%, the price as purchased becomes, per pound and per kilogram:
| Price as purchased | Cost per usable pound |
|---|---|
| $2.00/lb ($4.41/kg) | $2.17/lb ($4.79/kg) |
| $3.00/lb ($6.61/kg) | $3.26/lb ($7.19/kg) |
| $4.00/lb ($8.82/kg) | $4.35/lb ($9.59/kg) |
Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.
Run your own numbers
Good to know
- If your recipe uses picked leaves only, do a quick yield test: weigh a bunch, pick it and weigh the leaves.
FAQ
How much of a bunch of parsley is usable?
About 92% by weight, per the USDA Food Buying Guide, when only tough stems are trimmed. Picking leaves only leaves less.
How much parsley do I need for 1 lb chopped?
About 1.1 lb as purchased (1 ÷ 0.92).
Do these figures cover flat-leaf parsley?
The Food Buying Guide row is for curly parsley and Handbook 102 covers common garden and curled-leaf types, so weigh your own flat-leaf parsley to check.
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.