Calories in a Slice of Pizza: Your Definitive Guide

How many calories are in 1 slice of pizza? We’re breaking down every single type of pizza to find the best estimate for 1 pizza slice. Since no two pizzas are identical, the best we can do is estimate, but this guide will take all of the guesswork out.

We’ll kick things off with an infographic here to summarize the calories in one pizza slice, but don’t worry, there is much more information below.

This guide was created for one reason: figuring out how many calories are in 1 slice of pizza is confusing.

When you take to the internet for answers, it is all over the place. Does your pizza slice contain 200 calories or 500 calories? How do you know if the number you found pertains to the size of the pizza you got? What about different types of pizza?

And most importantly, how can you even trust these nutrition facts you come across? Most of the time they are just blindly guessed with little data to back it up.

That’s why I’m here. This is your definitive guide for pizza slice calories.

I’ve gathered nutritional information from as many official sources as I could find to calculate the averages, so you’ll have a very accurate estimate of 1 pizza slice calories and nutrition facts.

And don’t worry, the idea of this guide is not to scare you away from eating pizza. Pizza may just be my favorite food on the planet, and I believe it has a place in any diet regardless of calorie content.

How Are Calories in Pizza Determined? (How To Use This Guide)

Every single pizza is going to be slightly different, and several factors will influence the calories in your pizza:

1. Type of Crust: A pizza may be made with a very thin crust, which will contain fewer calories. A Chicago or Detroit deep-dish pizza will have a much larger and denser crust, leading to more calories.
2. Pizza Size: Ordering a slice of cheese pizza might feel universal, but pizza comes in various sizes such as a 14 or 18-inch pie.
3. Amount of Cheese: Some pizzas will be served with heavy amounts of cheese, while other pizzas (like Neapolitan style) will contain minimal cheese. More cheese makes for a delicious (and beautiful) pizza, but it also leads to significantly more calories.
4. Toppings: Once you add toppings to your pizza, the calories will change quite a bit. Don’t worry, I have a full pizza topping breakdown below.

Luckily for you, you’re in the right place: we’re taking all of this into account in this guide.

Given all these factors, how in the world can you possibly know how many calories are in your slice of pizza?

We’re going to be estimating the calories in pizza, but we’re going to use a trusted method.

The number of calories is never going to be perfectly accurate even if you get the nutrition facts directly from the restaurant since there are so many variables at play when it comes to pizza.

For this guide, I have found restaurants that list their nutritional information online for their pizza, and used those to find the averages. Whenever I need to estimate calories, I rely on averages from trusted sources, and it has never steered me wrong.

While estimating will never give you a perfect calorie count, it’s called estimating for a reason. At least we can rest easy knowing we are not way off base!

As we go through this guide, here are a few notes to keep in mind:

1. A standard pizza is your typical chain restaurant pizza cut into 8 slices. The slice is based on a large pizza, roughly 14 inches in diameter, which is the most common pizza size ordered as takeout. If you order a medium or small pizza, the numbers will vary a tiny bit.
2. I’ve included NY-style pizza slices in this guide as well because as someone who grew up in NY, I am well aware that the slices are much larger than what you’d typically order from Domino’s. A large NY slice is based on an XL pizza, typically 18 inches.
3. All the calories listed are for cheese pizza, but don’t worry, I’ve included calorie counts for popular pizza toppings in this guide as well. So if you’ve come to this guide looking for pepperoni pizza slice calories, you’ll be able to easily figure it out.
4. Along with calories, I’ll also be listing the grams of protein, grams of fat, and grams of carbohydrates. I won’t be diving into things like saturated fat, trans fat, or sodium content.

Most importantly: don’t overthink it.

I did all of the research here so you don’t have to! Use this guide to find a close estimate for your slice of pizza and trust that you’ll be in the ballpark.

Calories in One Slice of Cheese Pizza

First up, let’s explore how many calories are in a standard slice of cheese pizza.

In this case, we’re defining standard pizza as a large 14-inch pizza cut into 8 slices. If you order pizza for takeout, this is typically what you’ll be getting.

Here’s how it breaks down…

Since most major pizza chains (like Pizza Hut and Domino’s) offer their standard crust and a thin crust option, I decided to factor both of these into these averages.

There’s not much differentiating a thin crust pizza and a standard crust, so if a restaurant doesn’t offer the option to choose, there’s a strong chance your pizza falls somewhere between the two.

So, for the most accurate estimate, we’ve included both types here.

Remember that this is just the average, but it will give us the best estimate for the calories in one slice of pizza.

Calories in a pizza slice typically range anywhere from 200 to 290 calories, so our 250-calorie estimate is a very safe bet.

If you’re ordering a slice of pizza that is very large, like Costco pizza, that will obviously be an outlier. A Costco pizza calories come in at over 500 because it is such a big slice, so if your single pizza slice is gigantic, you’ll likely need to double the estimated calories.

Calories in One Large NY-Style Slice of Pizza

If you live on the east coast, you know very well that ordering a slice of pizza usually means that you’re ordering a big slice of pizza.

In much of the country, ordering pizza by the slice is not an option, so you’re simply eating a slice out of a pizza pie.

But if you live in or around New York City, pizza by the slice is a daily ritual. And those slices are large (and amazing).

I grew up in New York, and I miss the pizza more than anything.

When you order a slice of NY-style pizza (or Brooklyn-style, which is very comparable) you’re getting a slice of pizza from an XL pizza pie, typically around 18 inches. The pizza crust is a thin crust that’s easily foldable, and a single slice is typically more than enough to make up a meal.

Here’s how the calories of New York pizza shake out…

Unfortunately, the nutrition facts for most of the best slices in New York City are not publicly available, so we have to look elsewhere for our nutrition facts.

But don’t worry, there are still plenty of sources available for us to get a good idea of the calories in a slice.

When it comes to New York pizza, the size of the slice can vary a bit more than a standard pizza pie, but you’ll typically see a NY-style slice landing between 300-400 calories.

Calories For Different Styles of Pizza (Like Deep-Dish Pizza)

If you want to switch things up and order different types of pizzas, the calories are going to change quite a bit.

There are countless styles of pizza available to order, so I won’t be able to touch upon them all. For example, there’s Roman-style pizza, Greek-style pizza, California-style pizza, and so many others.

For the purposes of this guide, we’re going to look at 4 different unique styles: small personal pan pizzas, Detroit-style pizza, Chicago-style deep dish, and Neapolitan pizza.

Here’s an infographic to give you an overview, and I’ll break each style of pizza down in a bit more detail below.

Personal Pizza Calories

One of my favorite quotes of all time is, “any pizza can be a personal pizza if you’re hungry enough.”

I saw it on a sticker once, so I have no idea where it comes from, but I agree with it 100%.

But in this case, we’re referring to a small personal pan pizza that’s roughly 6-8″. Pizza Hut is known for their personal pan pizza, so if you’re craving a tiny pizza, I recommend heading over there.

A small personal pizza is going to contain fewer calories than a regular because it’s very small, and the pizza will generally be cut into 4 slices.

I pulled the nutrition facts from three separate restaurants to get the nutritional value for 1 slice of pizza in a personal pan pizza: Pizza Hut, Johnny’s Pizza House, and Pie Five Pizza.

Detroit-Style Pizza Calories

If you want to switch things up from a traditional thin-crust pizza, a Detroit-style pizza is one of the best ways to do it.

On the surface, it may seem like an odd pizza with tomato sauce on top of the cheese, but the beauty of a Detroit pizza is in the crispy edges. By covering the pizza with mozzarella cheese and baking it in a pan, the edges get super crispy.

Detroit-style pizza is similar to Sicilian pizza, but the crispy edges from the mozzarella bring it to a whole new level.

I love NY pizza as much as anyone, but there’s nothing quite like a delicious slice of Detroit pizza. If you’ve never experienced it, you can easily make your own at home and I cannot recommend it enough.

The exact size of a Detroit-style pizza can vary, but I was able to get accurate calorie counts from Jet’s Pizza, Buddy’s Pizza, and Pizza Hut.

Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza Calories

I’ll be honest, I always thought I disliked Chicago deep dish pizza because it just seemed like way too much bread. It wasn’t until I traveled to Chicago and got a true deep dish pizza that I learned the true beauty of it.

Chicago deep dish has a thick and buttery crust that rises up the sides of a deep, round pan, creating a deep dish to hold the pizza sauce, mozzarella, and often lean meat.

The crust is typically crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside, providing a really satisfying texture. Much like Detroit-style, this pizza is assembled in reverse order, with the cheese placed at the bottom followed by the toppings such as Italian sausage, pepperoni, vegetables, and a chunky tomato sauce on top.

When it’s done right, it isn’t too bready at all. It all comes together perfectly.

Now, because it is a large crust that can hold a lot of extra cheese (and other toppings), it may not be the most appealing option if you’re trying to keep your calorie intake low.

To get an accurate sense of the calories in Chicago deep dish, I stuck with three Chicago staples: Uno, Lou Malnati’s, and Giordano’s.

Neapolitan Pizza Calories

When I make homemade pizza, my go-to is always a Neapolitan pizza.

To put a Neapolitan pizza in the simplest terms possible, it’s a smaller pizza, generally 10-12″ in diameter, that is pretty thin with a larger charred crust around the outside.

It’s most often served as margherita pizza using fresh and often healthier ingredients. If you travel to Italy and order pizza, you’ll likely be face-to-face with a Neapolitan pizza (unless you’re in Rome, that is).

In other words, it’s the pizza that looks the fanciest, and when it’s done right, it is truly delicious.

Hunting down the calorie count for Neapolitan-style pizza is more difficult than the other styles of pizza because large pizza chains don’t offer this style, but I was able to find reputable nutritional info from Famoso, Bertucci’s, and Grimaldi’s.

Pictured below is my own homemade Neapolitan pizza, which is why you see 4 slices, but you’ll generally find this type of pizza cut into 6 portions.

How Many Calories Are In Pizza Toppings?

The calories in pizza can vary quite a bit based on the toppings you choose. Popular pizza toppings can range from having a minimal caloric impact to being the difference in going over your daily calorie goals.

Use this visual guide to help you find the right pizza topping for your diet:

1. Anchovies: Add a mere 15 calories with a modest 1g of fat and protein each, keeping things light on carbs.
2. Bacon: A savory choice with 50 calories, contributing 3.5g of fat, 1g of carbs, and a satisfying 3g of protein.
3. Beef: Another hearty option providing 50 calories, 3.5g of fat, and a solid 3g of protein without any carbs.
4. Chicken: A lean protein selection that adds 25 calories, with 1g of fat and a substantial 4g of protein.
5. Chorizo: Spices up your slice with 15 calories, 1g of fat, and 2g of protein, maintaining zero carbs.
6. Ham: Offers a classic taste for an additional 15 calories, 1g of fat, and 2g of protein, carb-free.
7. Olives: Brings a hint of Mediterranean flair with 15 calories, 1.5g of fat, and minimal impact on protein and carbs.
8. Pepperoni: A long-time favorite at 50 calories, with 4.5g of fat, 0g of carbs, and a decent protein boost at 2g.
9. Philly Steak: Thinly sliced for just 15 calories, 0.5g of fat, and 2g of protein, no carbs included.
10. Pineapple: For a tropical (and polarizing) twist, it’s only 10 calories, with 2g of carbs.
11. Salami: A robust addition at 35 calories, packing 3g of fat, and 2g of protein, remaining carb-free.
12. Sausage: Packs flavor for 50 or 60 calories, with a higher fat content at 5g, but zero carbs and 2g of protein.
13. Feta Cheese: Crumbles on gently with 15 calories, 1g of fat, and 1g of protein, without affecting carb count.
14. Parmesan: Grates over with 20 calories, a light 1.5g of fat, and 2g of protein, carb-free.
15. Ranch: Drizzles on 50 calories and 5g of fat with a little carb (1g), but no protein.
16. BBQ Sauce: Glazes with 20 calories, less fat at 0g, higher carbs at 5g, and no protein.
17. Blue Cheese: Weighs in with 70 calories, a richer 7g of fat, 1g of carbs, and 1g of protein.

To determine the most popular pizza toppings, I used Papa John’s and Domino’s as my references, then used the nutrition facts of the two restaurants to list the averages here.

These calories and nutrition facts assume you are ordering a large pizza, as pizza slices can vary a bit. For example, if you order a deep-dish pizza, you’ll end up getting a lot more pepperoni than you will with a thin-crust pizza.

But this is all in the name of estimating, so this should give us a good enough idea!

It may seem odd to see black olives and chorizo containing the same amount of calories, but it’s strictly based on average pizza slice serving sizes.

Of course, you won’t always get the same amount of each topping, so take each of these with a grain of salt. Either way, these estimates should give you a great starting point.

Can Pizza Be Healthy?

Pizza is the heavenly delight that causes mouths to water and diets to crumble. Often classified as a ‘cheat meal’ by fitness enthusiasts, pizza gets a bad rap for being a high-calorie food. But can pizza be healthy?

If you’ve ever come across my content before, the answer here will not surprise you.

Yes, pizza can be a part of a healthy diet, but, as with most things in life, it’s all about moderation and making smart choices.

If you’re dieting and trying to lose weight, can pizza also be good for weight loss? Absolutely, with the proper modifications.

As we’ve seen in this guide, the nutritional profile of pizza varies greatly depending on the size, crust type, topping choices, and quantity consumed. For example, a thin-crust vegetable pizza contains fewer calories and a wider range of nutrients than a meat lover’s deep-dish pizza loaded with extra cheese.

Some pizza varieties are particularly high in calories due to their toppings and crust styles. For example, pizzas with thick or deep-dish crusts (like Chicago or Detroit-style) tend to have more calories compared to thin crust options. Additionally, specialty pizzas with rich and indulgent ingredients, such as fried toppings or creamy sauces like ranch or blue cheese, can also contribute to higher calories overall.

Here are a few quick tips to make your pizza night a tiny bit healthier, while also diving deeper into the impact of these choices on calorie content:

1. Go Light on Cheese: Cheese is a significant source of saturated fat and calories in pizza. Simply asking for less cheese or choosing part-skim mozzarella for your own homemade pizza can save you a considerable amount of calories and fat. By reducing the cheese content, you can enjoy a lighter pizza without compromising on flavor.

2. Load Up on Veggies: Veggie toppings not only lower the caloric density of your pizza but also add essential vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Bell peppers, onions, spinach, broccoli, mushrooms, and tomatoes are all great choices that can enhance the nutritional value of your pizza while keeping the calorie count in check. Incorporating a variety of colorful vegetables can make your pizza both delicious and nutritious.

3. Choose Lean Meats: Skip the high-fat, processed meats like pepperoni or sausage if you’re concerned about the caloric impact. Instead, opt for grilled chicken, turkey, or even seafood for a good source of protein to add to your delicious pizza. By choosing leaner meat options, you can create a healthier pizza that satisfies your cravings without adding unnecessary calories.

4. Go For Thin Crust: As you’ve seen in this guide, a thin crust pizza is going to contain fewer calories than the other options. If more nutrients and/or fiber are the goal, you can even go for a whole wheat crust. Opting for a thin crust not only reduces the overall calorie content of your pizza but also provides a satisfying crunch that complements your choice of toppings. Making this simple switch can make a significant difference in the nutritional profile of your pizza.

The idea here isn’t to demonize pizza, but to highlight how smart modifications can transform it from a guilty pleasure to a balanced meal next time you place an order.

So go ahead, enjoy your pizza, but make it work for your health, not against it. Remember, a well-balanced diet is all about variety & moderation.

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