Every 100 kcal of sardines (canned) brings 11.8 g of protein. On that measure it ranks 93rd of the 121 seafood in this database and 208th of all 796 foods on the site. Measured by weight instead, its 24.6 g per 100 g ranks 36th in its group.
Protein accounts for roughly 47% of the calories in sardines (canned), making it very protein-dense. The rest comes from fat and carbohydrate, so it adds a solid amount of protein while still carrying real energy - useful when you are eating to a calorie target rather than under one.
Weight for weight, sardines (canned) has 2.2 g of protein for each gram of fat (24.6 g against 11.4 g per 100 g).
Set against shrimp, another seafood entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (shrimp has 20.4 g per 3 oz cooked).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving quoted here is measured by weight at 85 g, and it covers about 42% of the 50 g FDA Daily Value for protein.
Serving sizes
Protein in common portions of sardines (canned)
Protein and calories in Sardines (canned) for 100 g, the site serving and USDA household portions.
Portion
Weight
Protein
Calories
100 g
100 g
24.6 g
208 kcal
3 oz drained (serving used here)
85 g
20.9 g
177 kcal
1 cup, drained
149 g
36.7 g
310 kcal
1 oz
28.4 g
7 g
59 kcal
1 cubic inch
16 g
3.9 g
33 kcal
1 can (3.75 oz)
92 g
22.6 g
191 kcal
1 small (2-2/3" x 1/2" x 1/4")
12 g
3 g
25 kcal
Portion weights are the household measures listed on the USDA record; protein and calories scale from the per-100 g figures.
Amino acids
Essential amino acids in sardines (canned)
The nine essential amino acids in Sardines (canned), per 100 g, per serving and per gram of protein.
Amino acid
Per 100 g
Per serving
mg per g protein
leucine
2 g
1.7 g
81
lysine
2.26 g
1.92 g
92
valine
1.27 g
1.08 g
52
isoleucine
1.13 g
0.96 g
46
threonine
1.08 g
0.92 g
44
phenylalanine
0.961 g
0.82 g
39
methionine
0.729 g
0.62 g
30
histidine
0.725 g
0.62 g
29
tryptophan
0.276 g
0.23 g
11
Per-100 g values are the amino acid analysis on the USDA record. The serving and per-gram-of-protein columns are arithmetic on those values; they are not a protein quality score.
SampleWhat goal trends look like after a week
109 g
Average per logged day
4 of 7
Days goal met
71%
Complete-protein share
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Sample figures for one made-up week against a 110 g goal, not your data. Red bars met the goal. Your own log fills this in with Premium.
How much protein is in 100 g of sardines (canned)?
24.6 g. The 3 oz drained serving used on this page weighs 85 g and so carries 20.9 g.
How much protein do you get per 100 calories of sardines (canned)?
11.8 g. That figure divides its 24.6 g of protein per 100 g by its 208 kcal per 100 g, so it does not depend on serving size.
Is the protein in sardines (canned) complete?
Yes. The protein in sardines (canned) supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
What share of the protein Daily Value is one serving of sardines (canned)?
About 42%. One 3 oz drained serving has 20.9 g, and the FDA Daily Value for protein is 50 g.
Figures from USDA FoodData Central record #175139 (Fish, sardine, Atlantic, canned in oil, drained solids with bone), SR Legacy data. USDA data is in the public domain. Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.