Tortilla Calories and Nutritional Information

Tortillas are a staple in households across both Mexico and the USA, because they’re an absolute necessity when it comes to cooking tacos, building burritos, and preparing fajitas! But just how many tortilla calories are there in a single tortilla?

And what about how many carbs in a tortilla? Total fat? Dietary fiber?  We’ve got your covered! 

There’s no one answer to these questions because tortillas come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. There are corn tortillas, white flour tortillas, and whole wheat tortillas. There are large tortillas and small tortillas, store-bought tortillas, and tortillas lovingly prepared at home with a tortilla press.

Learn how to make you own homemade tortillas - check out this FREE step-by-step guide:

In this article, we break down the facts and figures and take a detailed look at tortilla calories and nutritional information!

How Many Calories in a Tortilla? 

Before we can examine the number of calories in a tortilla, we need to look at the different types of tortillas, because flour tortilla calories are very different from corn tortilla calories!

Tortillas have been made for thousands of years by the people of America, but they have evolved in different regions into a myriad number of varieties. In Mexico, corn tortillas are the classic choice for tacos, while in the USA, you’re more likely to find a white flour tortilla on the menu. 

Increasingly, whole wheat tortillas are becoming a popular alternative too, given their perceived health benefits.

Let’s break down the nutritional information, tortilla by tortilla. 

Flour tortilla nutrition facts

Flour tortillas are a common component of Tex-Mex food and are the main tortilla that’s used for dishes such as burritos, fajitas, and enchiladas. Store-bought white flour tortillas are considered to be the “unhealthiest” of our three major tortilla types. They are full of preservatives and tend to be highest in calories, carbs, and fat. 

Here’s the basic nutritional information (including the number of carbs) in flour tortillas.

Medium 8-inch white flour tortilla:

• 144 calories
• 4 grams of protein
• 24 grams of carbs
• 4 grams of fat

Whole wheat tortilla nutrition facts

Whole wheat tortillas are considered to be a healthier alternative to white flour tortillas. They are made from whole grain wheat flour, which hasn’t been refined as much as white flour. Whole wheat tortillas are not only lower in calories and fats, but they are also higher in fiber content. 

Medium 8-inch whole wheat tortilla:

• 105 calories
• 4 grams of protein
• 22 grams of carbs
• 0.5 grams of fat

Corn tortilla nutrition facts

Corn tortillas are the original tortilla. Made from maize flour, these are the tortillas of the Mayans and Aztecs. There are a number of health benefits of corn tortillas, chief of which is their high fiber content. The amount of carbohydrate found in corn tortillas is also significantly lower than other tortillas. 

Medium 8-inch corn tortilla:

• 101 calories
• 2.5 grams of protein
• 18 grams of carbs
• 2 grams of fat

Tortilla Calories FAQ

What are tortillas made of?

Tortillas are a type of flatbread made with unleavened flours. That flour can be white flour, whole wheat flour, or corn flour. 

Each type of flour has its own unique taste and distinct nutritional information. 

Are tortillas healthy?

That's the question we get a lot. So, are tortillas healthy? Different types of tortillas offer different health benefits. For example, a corn or whole wheat tortilla can be considered healthier than a white flour tortilla, as both are lower in fat, carbs, and calories while being higher in fiber.

However, how “healthy” a tortilla is depends on other factors too. Larger 12-inch tortillas made for burritos are going to contain more calories than smaller 8-inch tortillas designed for tacos. Plus, both of these are only as healthy as the toppings you fill the tortillas with!

You can prepare the healthiest tortillas in your home kitchen. Make the tortillas to the size you prefer and avoid using any preservatives, and your tortillas will be much healthier than store-bought tortillas!

Tortilla vs bread

Tortillas are made from similar ingredients to bread but use no leavening product, so aren’t raised. Loaves of bread tend to contain more calories, fat, and carbs than tortillas, making tortillas a healthier option to consider!

Do corn tortillas have carbs?

Corn tortillas are often considered to be a “low carb” option. How many carbs are in a tortilla, you might be asking? You can refer to our nutritional information above for details, but corn tortillas are lower in carbs than flour and whole wheat tortillas.