How Much Fruit Is in a Watermelon? Watermelon Yield per Pound
A pound of whole watermelon gives about 0.61 lb, roughly 1 1/2 cups, of diced fruit without the rind in the USDA Food Buying Guide, which works from melons of about 27 lb. That makes about 16 1/2 lb of fruit from one such melon. USDA Handbook 102 reports less, 52% flesh with a wide range of 29–63%, and the nutrient database uses the same 48% for rind, seeds and cutting loss.
USDA yields for watermelon
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: 0.61 lb per pound is 0.61 kg per kilogram.
| As purchased (USDA description) | Result, as USDA states it | Yield | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watermelon, fresh; Whole | 1 lb AP = 0.61 lb (about 1-1/2 cups) ready-to-serve raw, 1/2-inch diced watermelon without rind (ready to use, raw) | 61% | FBG table |
USDA preparation yields for watermelon (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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watermelon, whole | Flesh, raw | 52% | No. 2875, p. 129 |
How much is waste
USDA’s nutrient database (SR28, NDB 09326) lists 48% of “Watermelon, raw” as refuse: rind, seeds and cutting loss.
How much to buy
At 61% (diced watermelon without rind):
| Ready to use | Buy as purchased |
|---|---|
| 1.00 lb (0.45 kg) | 1.64 lb (0.74 kg) |
| 5.00 lb (2.27 kg) | 8.20 lb (3.72 kg) |
| 10.0 lb (4.54 kg) | 16.4 lb (7.44 kg) |
| 25.0 lb (11.3 kg) | 41.0 lb (18.6 kg) |
Cost per usable pound
At 61%, the price as purchased becomes, per pound and per kilogram:
| Price as purchased | Cost per usable pound |
|---|---|
| $0.40/lb ($0.88/kg) | $0.66/lb ($1.45/kg) |
| $0.50/lb ($1.10/kg) | $0.82/lb ($1.81/kg) |
| $0.70/lb ($1.54/kg) | $1.15/lb ($2.53/kg) |
Example prices. Put yours in the food yield calculator.
The MiseKit app
USDA says 61% for watermelon. 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
- USDA’s nutrient database weighs the edible part of a watermelon 15 inches long and 7 1/2 inches across at about 4.5 kg (10 lb), which puts the whole melon near 19 lb.
FAQ
How much fruit do you get from a watermelon?
About 61% of its weight as diced fruit without the rind, per the USDA Food Buying Guide: about 16 1/2 lb from a 27 lb melon.
How much watermelon do I need for 10 lb diced?
About 16.4 lb of whole melon (10 ÷ 0.61).
How much of a watermelon is rind?
About 39–48% in USDA data: the Food Buying Guide keeps 61% as diced fruit, while Handbook 102 and the nutrient database count 48% as rind, seeds and cutting loss (range 37–71%).
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.