Calories in bread: per slice and per 100 g
October 12, 2026 · 3 min read
One slice of white bread (about 28 g) has roughly 75 calories. Per 100 g, most breads land between 240 and 280 calories. The difference between types is smaller than most people expect; slice size and what you put on top matter much more.
Bread calories by type
| Bread | Per 100 g | Typical piece |
|---|---|---|
| White sandwich bread | about 265 kcal | 1 slice (28 g): 75 kcal |
| Whole wheat bread | about 250 kcal | 1 slice (32 g): 80 kcal |
| Rye bread | about 260 kcal | 1 slice (32 g): 83 kcal |
| Sourdough | about 270 kcal | 1 large slice (50 g): 135 kcal |
| Baguette | about 275 kcal | 1/4 baguette (60 g): 165 kcal |
| Bagel, plain | about 260 kcal | 1 bagel (100 g): 260 kcal |
| Pita | about 275 kcal | 1 pita (60 g): 165 kcal |
These are averages. Bakery loaves and thick-cut slices are often twice the weight of a supermarket slice, so one "slice" can be 150 calories.
Is whole wheat lower in calories?
Not really. Whole wheat and white bread have nearly the same calories per 100 g. The difference is in what comes with them: whole wheat has two to three times the fiber (about 6–7 g per 100 g against 2–3 g) and a little more protein, so it keeps you full longer and raises blood sugar more slowly. Choose it for that reason, not for the calories.
Macros (100 g of white bread)
- Carbohydrate: about 49 g
- Protein: about 9 g
- Fat: about 3 g
- Fiber: about 2.5 g
The toppings count more than the bread
| Added to one slice | Calories |
|---|---|
| Butter, 1 teaspoon (5 g) | about 35 kcal |
| Peanut butter, 1 tablespoon (16 g) | about 95 kcal |
| Jam, 1 tablespoon (20 g) | about 50 kcal |
| Cheddar, 1 slice (20 g) | about 80 kcal |
| Olive oil, 1 tablespoon | about 120 kcal |
A slice of toast with butter and jam is around 160 calories, more than double the bread alone.
Can you eat bread and lose weight?
Yes. No single food causes weight gain; a surplus over the whole day does. If you are in a calorie deficit, bread fits. Some ways to make it work:
- Count slices honestly, including the bread basket at a restaurant.
- Prefer whole grain or rye for fullness.
- Build the sandwich around protein such as chicken breast, eggs or tuna.
- Watch spreads and oils, which add calories faster than the bread does.
Logging a sandwich
A sandwich is hard to log by hand because every layer is a separate entry. In Cal Crew you take one photo and AI identifies the bread and the filling and estimates calories and macros for the whole thing. Check the result and adjust the portion if you used a thicker slice or extra spread.