Chicken eggs come in a variety of sizes which means their weights can vary quite a bit. If you’ve ever cooked with eggs you know that most recipes simply call for “large eggs” without specifying the exact weight. So how much does a chicken egg actually weigh? Let’s take a closer look at the different egg sizes and weights.
Average Weight of a Chicken Egg
The most common size of chicken egg sold in grocery stores is large. On average, a large chicken egg weighs around 50 grams or 1.75 ounces. The egg shell accounts for around 9% of the total egg weight.
Within the shell a large egg contains about
- 30 grams (1 ounce) of egg white
- 18 grams (0.6 ounces) of yolk
So when a recipe calls for a “large egg”, you can expect it to weigh about 50 grams or 1.75 ounces on average. This is a good baseline weight to keep in mind.
Official USDA Egg Weight Classes
While 50 grams is the average, egg sizes and weights can vary. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) actually has specific weight classes for different egg sizes:
- Jumbo – 70.9 grams (2.5 ounces)
- Extra Large – 63.8 grams (2.25 ounces)
- Large – 56.7 grams (2 ounces)
- Medium – 49.6 grams (1.75 ounces)
- Small – 42.5 grams (1.5 ounces)
- Peewee – 35.4 grams (1.25 ounces)
If you really want to be exact, you can choose eggs based on these weight groups. For every egg, a jumbo egg weighs about 71 grams, a peewee egg weighs about 35 grams, and so on.
Many egg cartons will indicate the USDA size on them, making it easy to find the size you need. Paying attention to these size labels can help ensure your recipe turns out right, especially for baking.
Factors Affecting Egg Size and Weight
Several factors influence the size and weight of chicken eggs, including:
-
breed of chicken—Some breeds naturally lay bigger or smaller eggs. Like, Plymouth Rocks and Orpingtons tend to lay bigger eggs that weigh about 60 grams each.
-
Chicken’s age – Younger chickens under one year lay smaller eggs as they mature. Older chickens over 2 years lay larger eggs.
-
Season – Egg size fluctuates across seasons, with largest eggs laid in spring and summer.
-
Diet – Chickens fed a high quality, high protein, balanced diet produce larger, heavier eggs.
Egg weight is affected by breed, age, season, and diet. Every day, eggs from the same chicken can be a little different sizes.
Does Egg Size Matter for Cooking?
When you cook or bake, the size of the egg can change some recipes. Here are some ways it impacts results:
-
Baking – For baked goods leavened mainly by eggs like cakes, soufflés, and custards, use the recommended egg size for best results. Jumbo eggs may causeoverflows.
-
Frying – Larger eggs hold their shape better when fried. Smaller eggs spread out more in the pan.
-
Poaching – Medium or large eggs work best for poaching. Small eggs can overcook quickly, while extra large eggs may not hold their shape.
-
Nutrition – There are negligible differences in nutritional value based on egg size.
So weigh your ingredients including eggs when precision matters! But for omelets, scrambles, and other flexible cooking methods, egg size doesn’t make a huge difference.
Estimating Egg Size Without a Scale
Don’t have a scale handy? Here are some ways to estimate egg size:
- Compare the egg to common objects like golf balls, tennis balls, or baseballs
- Consider the egg’s circumference – jumbo eggs may reach 9-10 inches around
- Check the package labels for the USDA size
- Large eggs fit comfortably in the palm of an average hand
- Jumbo eggs are noticeably larger than large eggs
With practice, you can visually identify the different egg sizes. Just remember the average large egg is about 2 inches long by 1.5 inches wide.
Key Takeaways on Chicken Egg Weights
To summarize chicken egg weights:
- A large egg weighs 50 grams or 1.75 ounces on average
- USDA egg weight classes range from 35 grams for Peewee to 71 grams for Jumbo
- Many factors impact egg size including chicken breed, age, diet, and season
- Egg size can affect results for baking, frying, and poaching
- You can estimate size by comparing to objects or hand spans
So now you know exactly how much a chicken egg weighs! Keep this information in mind next time you cook or bake with eggs for best results.
Are bigger eggs better?
Bigger eggs aren’t necessarily better. For many chicken keepers, consistent egg production is more important than the size of the eggs. Larger eggs also have weaker shells, which can lead to more lost eggs due to cracking and breakage.
Large eggs naturally have weaker shells. If your hens lay big eggs, either because they are old or because of their breed, giving them extra calcium can help the egg shell stay strong.
Weak egg shells can be improved with a Calcium supplement.
Free-choice minerals for calcium include:
- Nutri-grit
- Oyster shell
- Limestone
- Ground-up egg shells
At a minimum, shell-grit should be available at all times. When chickens are making weak egg shells, like when they lay big eggs, other mineral options are suggested, but they shouldn’t be used instead of a supplement. These minerals should always be provided separately from feed and never force-fed.
What influences chicken egg weight?
Chicken egg weight is influenced by a range of factors.
Different chicken breeds lay different-sized eggs. Obviously, the egg of a bantam is much smaller than that of a Rhode Island Red.
But the size of a chicken breed doesn’t necessarily mean it will lay small eggs. Even similar sized breeds can lay different sized eggs and vice versa. For instance, our leghorns are much smaller than our ISA Browns, but the eggs they lay are about the same size.
Also, different genetic lines of a breed can produce different sized eggs. For example, leghorns from a commercial hatchery lay large eggs for their size (but still smaller than most large breeds) whereas heritage breeder lines may lay smaller eggs.
For bigger eggs:
- Choose larger breeds known for producing larger eggs. Large-bodied heritage breeds are known for laying large eggs. Pick from Sussex, Wilsummers, Rhode Island Reds, Plymouth Rocks, Barnvelders, Marans, Wyandotes, and Rhode Island Reds.
- Find out what kinds of eggs different genetic lines of the chicken breeds you want to buy lay.
- Ask breeders about egg size
The characteristics of a chicken breed are the result of the choices breeders make over time. If a breeder is not selecting for large eggs, then their flock will not produce particularly large eggs.
Today, few breeders select for egg size. Commercial breeds usually preference uniform egg quality and the ability to endure commercial conditions. Heritage breeders are often looking for breed characteristics related to appearance. Backyard breeders may select for mothering ability or egg production.
In addition to genetic traits, some chickens just naturally lay smaller eggs even when they come from large-egg breeds. That’s genetics and, except avoiding breeding from them, there is nothing you can do.
For bigger eggs:
- Choose birds that naturally lay bigger eggs than other birds of the same age and breed.
- Ask the breeders about egg size and whether they strive for it.
Eggs become progressively bigger and heavier as chickens age.
Chickens begin laying around 20 weeks of age and produce smaller eggs, usually weighing less than 53 g, for the first 5-10 weeks of laying.
After 30 weeks, most hens produce eggs in the range of 53-73 g. For average laying hens, a 60 g egg is produced by around 26 weeks and egg size will continue to increase at a rate of 0.1 g per week thereafter.
For modern hybrid layers such as ISA Browns, a 65 g egg is average after 50 weeks of age.
Of course, egg size doesn’t increase indefinitely. After 2-3 years of laying, or perhaps more for long-lived heritage chicken breeds, egg production will decrease but chickens will continue to lay relatively large eggs until near the end of their laying life.
For bigger eggs:
- Keep your chickens until they are 2-3 years of age
- Choose long-lived heritage breeds
Dietary deficiencies definitely impact egg production and egg weight. In particular, protein, calcium and amino acids are key to egg production. Deficiencies will decrease egg weight and lower overall production.
In particular, methionine and linoleic acid in feed increase egg weight.
For bigger eggs:
- Your chickens should be able to freely access a complete, premium layers feed that has at least a minimum of protein.
- Don’t give your birds too many treats or scraps that will make them eat less food.
- If you don’t want your horse to get deficient from selective eating, choose a mash or pellet feed.
- Ensure sufficient calcium intake
- Methionine and linoleic acid can be added to the diet, for example with dried mealworms.
Studies have shown that the weight of a chicken when it first begins laying will affect egg weight for the hen’s entire laying life. Pullets that are small and/or begin laying early will always lay smaller eggs.
You cant control when pullets begin laying, but you can influence it. You can also ensure your pullets attain good weight gain, which will lead to bigger eggs when your pullets begin laying:
- Give them free access to a premium feed that is appropriate for their age (Chick Starter/Grower Feed)
- Manage coccidiosis and other parasites
- If you can, time the hatch so that the pullets are fully grown before spring. This is because longer days and warmer temperatures often cause chickens to start laying eggs, though this isn’t as noticeable in many Australian climates.
Any sort of stress, from environmental changes and disease, to feather-pecking and predation, can cause hens to lay fairy eggs (fart eggs) or to produce eggs that are smaller than normal.
For bigger eggs:
- Manage environmental stressors
- Practice good biosecurity
- Monitor and treat for parasites regularly
- If the eggs are smaller than usual for the age and breed of the birds, check to see if they are sick.
How Much Does Your Average Chicken Egg Weigh?
FAQ
What is the average weight of a chicken egg?
The weight of an egg varies between 50 and 70 g depending mainly on the age of the hen and, to a lesser extent, on its genotype. Egg weight increases with hen age, thereby increasing the heterogeneity of this product.
How much do 1 large egg weigh?
One large egg weighs around 2 ounces (57 grams), and the other approximate weights by egg size are: Small egg: Roughly 1. 5 ounces (43 grams) Medium egg: Around 1. 75 ounces (50 grams).
How heavy is an egg without shell?
Boulangere explains that all baking recipes are based on grade AA large eggs, which weigh 1. 66 ounces without the shell. Since the weight of an egg is equal to its liquid volume, you can guess that you need about 3 eggs if a recipe calls for 2. 5 ounces (it’s okay to round up).
How much do 2 eggs weigh in ounces?
| Qty | EXTRA LARGE | LARGE |
|---|---|---|
| Whole Egg | g | oz |
| 1 | 58 | 2 |
| 2 | 116 | 3 |
| 3 | 174 | 5 |
How much do chicken eggs weigh?
Chicken eggs come in many sizes. They’re categorized into five main groups: Small eggs weigh about 1. 5 ounces or 43 grams. Medium eggs are just a bit bigger, weighing about 1. 75 ounces or 50 grams. Large eggs, the size we’re most familiar with, weigh about 2 ounces or 57 grams. Extra-large eggs tip the scale at about 2. 25 ounces or 64 grams.
How many ounces are in a chicken egg?
Eggs come in different sizes, and according to USDA are sized based on their weight per dozen. The average sized egg (medium) is 49. 6 grams or 1. 75 ounces. The egg shell is 8 to 9 percent of the weight of the egg. The eggs talked about in this article will be chicken eggs unless they are talking about a certain country or type of egg.
How much does a medium sized egg weigh?
The average sized egg (medium) is 49. 6 grams or 1. 75 ounces. The egg shell is 8 to 9 percent of the weight of the egg. Unless referencing a specific country or a specific type of egg, the eggs mentioned in this article will be chicken eggs. USDA has set standards for chicken egg weights and grade.
How big is a medium chicken egg?
These eggs are typically between 1. 75 and 2 ounces in weight, with a measuring accuracy of plus or minus 0. 05 ounces. While they may not be as impressive in size as larger eggs, medium chicken eggs still offer a great source of protein, vitamins, and minerals.
How are eggs sorted based on their weight?
Eggs are sorted into different size categories based on their weight. These categories help us know what to expect when we buy eggs at the store. In the United States, the USDA has six size categories: Peewee, Small, Medium, Large, Extra-Large, and Jumbo. Each category has a specific weight range.
How much does an egg shell weigh?
This means that for large eggs weighing between 50-55 grams, the shell weighs approximately 6-6. 6 grams. Understanding shell weight is crucial, especially if you plan to use eggshells as calcium supplements or need precise measurements for culinary purposes.