How Many Potatoes in a Pound? Potato Yield, Peeled and Baked

A pound is 2 russet potatoes of the 100-count size, which the USDA Food Buying Guide puts at about 8 oz each, about 2 2/3 of the 6-oz 120-count size or about 1 1/2 of the 10-oz 80-count size. Peeled, a pound of whole russet or white potatoes gives about 0.81 lb ready to cook; baked, it gives 0.82 lb with the skin or 0.74 lb without it. USDA’s nutrient database puts parings and trimmings at 25%.

USDA yields for potato

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: 0.81 lb per pound is 0.81 kg per kilogram.

As purchased (USDA description)	Result, as USDA states it	Yield	Source
Potatoes, fresh; White or Russet, All sizes, Whole, Includes USDA Foods	1 lb AP = 0.81 lb ready-to-cook pared potatoes (ready to use, raw)	81%	FBG table
Potatoes, fresh; White or Russet, All sizes, Whole, Includes USDA Foods	1 lb AP = 0.74 lb baked potato without skin (cooked)	74%	FBG table
Potatoes, fresh; White or Russet, All sizes, Whole, Includes USDA Foods	1 lb AP = 0.99 lb (about 2-3/8 cups) cooked, unpeeled, diced potatoes (cooked)	99%	FBG table
Potatoes, fresh; White or Russet, 100 Count (approx. 8 oz each), Whole	1 lb AP = 0.82 lb (about 1-2/3 cups) baked potato with skin (cooked)	82%	FBG table
Potatoes, fresh; Red, Whole	1 lb AP = 0.97 lb (about 2-3/8 cups) cooked potatoes (cooked)	97%	FBG table

How much is waste

USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 11353) lists 25% of “Potatoes, russet, flesh and skin, raw” as refuse: parings and trimmings.

How much to buy

At 81% (peeled, ready-to-cook potatoes):

Ready to use	Buy as purchased
1.00 lb (0.45 kg)	1.23 lb (0.56 kg)
5.00 lb (2.27 kg)	6.17 lb (2.80 kg)
10.0 lb (4.54 kg)	12.3 lb (5.60 kg)
25.0 lb (11.3 kg)	30.9 lb (14.0 kg)

Cost per usable pound

At 81%, the price as purchased becomes, per pound and per kilogram:

Price as purchased	Cost per usable pound
$0.60/lb ($1.32/kg)	$0.74/lb ($1.63/kg)
$0.80/lb ($1.76/kg)	$0.99/lb ($2.18/kg)
$1.00/lb ($2.20/kg)	$1.23/lb ($2.72/kg)

Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.

The MiseKit app

USDA says 81% for potato. 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

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Run your own numbers

Food yield calculator, set to 81%

Good to know

Diced with the skin on, a pound of potatoes cooks to about 0.99 lb, so most of the loss in the peeled figure is the peel itself.
Red potatoes cooked whole give about 0.97 lb per pound in the Food Buying Guide.

FAQ

How many potatoes are in a pound?

2 russets of the 100-count size, which the USDA Food Buying Guide puts at about 8 oz each. Smaller 120-count potatoes (about 6 oz) run about 2 2/3 to the pound and larger 80-count ones (about 10 oz) about 1 1/2.

How much does a potato lose when peeled?

About 19%: a pound of whole russet or white potatoes gives 0.81 lb of peeled, ready-to-cook potatoes (USDA Food Buying Guide).

How many pounds of potatoes do I need for 10 lb peeled?

About 12.3 lb of whole potatoes (10 ÷ 0.81).

How much does a potato weigh after baking?

About 82% of its raw weight with the skin and 74% without it, per the Food Buying Guide, so an 8 oz potato bakes to about 6.6 oz.

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.