The short answer: A raw boneless chicken breast typically weighs about 170 to 280 grams (6 to 10 ounces). Modern birds are bred larger, so breasts vary widely.
Chicken breast weight by type
Chicken breast weight varies a lot because today's birds are bred to be much larger than older market chickens.
| Type (example) | Typical weight |
|---|---|
| Small boneless (raw) | 120 to 170 g (4 to 6 oz) |
| Medium boneless (raw) | 170 to 230 g (6 to 8 oz) |
| Large boneless (raw) | 230 to 340 g (8 to 12 oz) |
| Cooked medium breast | 130 to 175 g (4.5 to 6 oz) |
What affects chicken breast weight
- Bird size. Modern broilers are much larger than older market chickens.
- Raw vs. cooked. Chicken breast loses roughly a quarter of its weight when cooked.
- Bone and skin. Bone-in, skin-on breasts weigh more than trimmed fillets.
- Trimming. Removing the tenderloin or fat lowers the weight.
- Brand and grade. Packaged breast sizes vary between producers.
How chicken breast weight compares
A medium raw chicken breast weighs about the same as a medium apple, or roughly as much as a deck of cards stacked two to three times.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a chicken breast weigh cooked?
A medium chicken breast that weighs about 200 grams raw usually drops to roughly 130 to 175 grams after cooking.
How many chicken breasts are in a pound?
A pound (454 grams) of boneless chicken breast is usually about two medium breasts, give or take depending on size.
How much weight does chicken lose when cooked?
Chicken breast typically loses roughly 20 to 25 percent of its raw weight during cooking as moisture cooks off.
