How Much Sugar Is in Cherries?
A cup of pitted cherries has about 18 g of natural sugar — sweet and easy to eat by the handful, so portion is the main thing to watch.
in 1 cup, pitted (154 g) · about 4.3 teaspoons
- Per serving
- 18 g
- Per 100 g
- 13 g
- Type
- Natural sugar
- In teaspoons
- ≈ 4.3 tsp
A big chunk of a day's sugar in one serving.
A cup of pitted cherries carries about 18 g of sugar. They're one of the sweeter stone fruits, and because they're small and easy to pop one after another, it's simple to eat well past a single cup without noticing.
Cherries also bring fibre, potassium, and anthocyanins — the compounds behind their deep red colour. A measured cup is a genuinely good fruit choice; grazing straight from the bag is where the sugar adds up fast.
Lower-sugar swaps
- Measure a cup instead of snacking from the bag
- Mix with plain Greek yogurt to stretch the portion further
Frequently asked questions
- Are cherries high in sugar?
- Relatively, yes — about 13 g per 100 g, higher than most berries. A measured cup keeps a serving reasonable.
- Are dried cherries higher in sugar than fresh?
- Much higher, similar to other dried fruit — drying concentrates the sugar and many brands add more on top, so treat dried cherries like a dessert, not a snack.
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Sugar values from USDA FoodData Central; actual amounts vary by brand, ripeness, and recipe. Last updated 2026-08-09.