Citrus juice calculator
Quick answer. A medium lemon gives about 2 to 3.1 tbsp of juice, a medium lime about 2.9 tbsp and a medium orange about 5.5 to 8 tbsp. Use the calculator for other sizes, counts and units.
1 medium lemon gives about 2 to 3.1 tbsp of juice.
For 1/2 cup you need about 3 to 4 medium lemons.
Two sources USDA FoodData Central and NDSU Extension together give this range.
| Unit | Juice |
|---|---|
| tsp | 6 to 9.44 |
| tbsp | 2 to 3.15 |
| fl oz | 1 to 1.57 |
| cup | 0.13 to 0.2 |
| ml | 30 to 47 |
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Grapefruit. Grapefruit juice can interact with some medicines. Source: FDA, Grapefruit Juice and Some Drugs Don't Mix.
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Prices and availability were accurate when retrieved from Amazon and may change. Retrieved Nov 14, 2026.
Conversion table: medium fruit
Lemons
| Lemons | Tablespoons | Fl oz | Cups | ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 to 3.1 | 1 to 1.6 | 0.13 to 0.2 | 30 to 47 |
| 2 | 4 to 6.3 | 2 to 3.1 | 0.25 to 0.39 | 59 to 93 |
| 3 | 6 to 9.4 | 3 to 4.7 | 0.38 to 0.59 | 89 to 140 |
| 4 | 8 to 12.6 | 4 to 6.3 | 0.5 to 0.79 | 118 to 186 |
| 6 | 12 to 18.9 | 6 to 9.4 | 0.75 to 1.18 | 177 to 279 |
Limes
| Limes | Tablespoons | Fl oz | Cups | ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 0.18 | 43 |
| 2 | 5.8 | 2.9 | 0.36 | 86 |
| 3 | 8.7 | 4.4 | 0.55 | 129 |
| 4 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 0.73 | 172 |
| 6 | 17.5 | 8.7 | 1.09 | 258 |
Oranges
| Oranges | Tablespoons | Fl oz | Cups | ml |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 5.5 to 8 | 2.8 to 4 | 0.35 to 0.5 | 82 to 118 |
| 2 | 11.1 to 16 | 5.5 to 8 | 0.69 to 1 | 164 to 237 |
| 3 | 16.6 to 24 | 8.3 to 12 | 1.04 to 1.5 | 246 to 355 |
| 4 | 22.2 to 32 | 11.1 to 16 | 1.39 to 2 | 328 to 473 |
| 6 | 33.3 to 48 | 16.6 to 24 | 2.08 to 3 | 492 to 710 |
How sure are the numbers?
Two sources cover lemons and oranges. Limes and grapefruit each rest on one published figure, so the calculator says "single source" when you pick them. If a recipe is fussy, squeeze one fruit and measure it.
| Fruit | Evidence | One medium fruit | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemon | Two sources | 2 to 3.1 tbsp | USDA FDC + NDSU Extension |
| Lime | Single source | 2.9 tbsp | USDA FDC |
| Orange | Two sources | 5.5 to 8 tbsp | NDSU Extension + USDA FDC |
| Grapefruit | Single source | 12.7 tbsp | USDA FDC |
- Lemon: USDA FoodData Central, Lemon juice, raw (FDC 167747): 1 lemon yields 48 g; 244 g per cup.
- Lemon: NDSU Extension FN198, Ingredient Substitutions (reviewed Jan 2023): 1 medium lemon = 2 to 3 tablespoons juice.
- Lime: USDA FoodData Central, Lime juice, raw (FDC 168156): 1 lime yields 44 g; 242 g per cup.
- Orange: NDSU Extension FN198, Ingredient Substitutions (reviewed Jan 2023): 1 medium orange = 6 to 8 tablespoons juice.
- Orange: USDA FoodData Central, Orange juice, raw (FDC 169098): 1 fruit yields 86 g; 248 g per cup.
- Orange: FDC, Orange juice, chilled (FDC 169100): 249 g per cup.
- Grapefruit: USDA FoodData Central, Grapefruit juice, pink, raw (FDC 167774): 1 fruit yields 196 g; 247 g per cup.
- Key lime: No juice yield in FDC portion data or NDSU FN198. We do not give a number.
- Meyer lemon: No juice yield in FDC portion data or NDSU FN198. We do not give a number.
All values read on 2026-11-14, logged in content/data/sources.json. The official USDA Food Buying Guide could not be opened from our build machine (it blocks automated requests), so no figure is taken from it. Size rows scale the medium figure by USDA edible fruit weight; that scaling is our assumption, not a published yield.
Grapefruit and medicines
Grapefruit is in the calculator for cooking amounts only.
Grapefruit. Grapefruit juice can interact with some medicines. Source: FDA, Grapefruit Juice and Some Drugs Don't Mix.
Frequently asked questions
Why does the calculator show a range?
Juice per fruit depends on size, ripeness and how you juice it. Where two sources differ, we show the span between them rather than pick one.
Are key limes and Meyer lemons included?
No. Neither USDA FoodData Central nor the NDSU guide gives a juice yield for them, and we do not guess a number.
How are small and large fruit worked out?
The medium figure is scaled by USDA's edible weight for that size. That is our assumption, so treat small and large rows as a guide.
This article reflects independent editorial research and disclosed buying criteria. This is not medical, nutritional, or professional advice. Some links on this page are Amazon Associates affiliate links; see our affiliate disclosure for details.