Shrimp Yield: Shell-On, Peeled and Cooked
A pound of headless, shell-on raw shrimp gives about 0.54 lb of cooked shrimp, and a pound of peeled and deveined raw shrimp about 0.62 lb (USDA Food Buying Guide). Cooked, frozen, peeled shrimp give about 0.83 lb once thawed. Tail and shell are about 13% of raw shrimp that were never frozen (USDA nutrient database).
USDA yields for shrimp
From the USDA Food Buying Guide: how much ready-to-use or cooked product one pound as purchased gives.
| As purchased (USDA description) | Result, as USDA states it | Yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seafood, fresh or frozen, Shrimp; In shell, Deheaded, Undeveined | 1 lb AP = 0.54 lb cooked shrimp (cooked) | 54% | FBG table |
| Seafood, fresh or frozen, Shrimp; Peeled, Undeveined, 60/70 count/lb, (medium) | 1 lb AP = 0.72 lb cooked shrimp (cooked) | 72% | FBG table |
| Seafood, fresh or frozen, Shrimp; Peeled, Deveined | 1 lb AP = 0.62 lb cooked shrimp (cooked) | 62% | FBG table |
| Seafood, cooked, frozen, Shrimp; Peeled, Deveined, All sizes except for salad size | 1 lb AP = 0.83 lb thawed, ready-to-eat shrimp (thawed) | 83% | FBG table |
How much is waste
USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 15270) lists 13% of “Crustaceans, shrimp, raw (not previously frozen)” as refuse: tail and shell.
How much to buy
At 54% (cooked shrimp (from headless, shell-on)), for 4 oz portions:
| Portions | Cooked | Buy as purchased |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 2.50 lb | 4.63 lb |
| 25 | 6.25 lb | 11.6 lb |
| 50 | 12.5 lb | 23.1 lb |
| 100 | 25.0 lb | 46.3 lb |
Cost per usable pound
At 54%, the price per pound as purchased becomes:
| Price as purchased | Cost per usable pound |
|---|---|
| $8.00/lb | $14.81/lb |
| $10.00/lb | $18.52/lb |
| $12.00/lb | $22.22/lb |
Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.
Run your own numbers
Good to know
- The Food Buying Guide lists peeled, undeveined shrimp at 0.72 lb cooked per pound and peeled and deveined at 0.62 lb. Both are shown as published.
FAQ
How much shrimp should I buy per person?
For 4 oz of cooked shrimp each, buy about 7.4 oz of headless, shell-on raw shrimp or about 6.5 oz of peeled and deveined raw shrimp, based on USDA Food Buying Guide yields.
How much of a shrimp is shell?
For raw shrimp that were never frozen, USDA’s nutrient database lists tail and shell as 13% of the weight.
How much do cooked frozen shrimp weigh after thawing?
About 0.83 lb of ready-to-eat shrimp per pound of cooked, frozen, peeled and deveined shrimp, per the USDA Food Buying Guide.
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.