How wide is a medium cantaloupe?
A medium cantaloupe is about 12.7 cm (5 in) across.
Size source: fdc.nal.usda.gov
Compared with things you know
- About 5.2 times as wide as a US quarter coin (2.43 cm)
- About 1.5 times as wide as a credit card (8.56 cm)
- About 53% as wide as a basketball (24 cm)
Cantaloupe dimensions
| Measurement | Metric | Imperial | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diameter (medium melon) | 12.7 cm | 5 in | [1] |
USDA cantaloupe reference sizes (diameter)[1]
| Small | 10.8 cm (4.25 in)about 4 1/4 in, about 441 g |
|---|---|
| Medium | 12.7 cm (5 in)about 5 in, about 552 g |
| Large | 16.5 cm (6.5 in)about 6 1/2 in, about 814 g |
What is measured
Cantaloupe size here is the diameter, the distance straight across the round melon. USDA nutrition data lists three reference melons: small at about 4 1/4 in (10.8 cm), medium at about 5 in (12.7 cm) and large at about 6 1/2 in (16.5 cm) across. They weigh about 441 g, 552 g and 814 g. A wedge cut as one eighth of a medium melon weighs about 69 g.[1]
How growers size cantaloupes
Commercially, melons are graded by how many fit in a carton. Grade six fits six melons per carton and is considered large fruit. Grades 18 and 25 are considered small and may be left unharvested. Size grades printed on cartons most often include 6, 9, 12, 18 and 23. Packers sort the fruit by feel and mark the matching grade on the carton. Fewer melons per carton means bigger fruit.[2]
Commercial melons are larger than the USDA medium
A University of Arizona study matched carton grades to circumference. Grade 12 melons measured 16.9 to 18.44 in (43 to 47 cm) around, and grade 9 melons 18.47 to 20.42 in (47 to 52 cm). Dividing circumference by pi gives a diameter of about 13.7 to 14.9 cm for grade 12 and 14.9 to 16.5 cm for grade 9. This page uses the USDA medium size of 12.7 cm, which is smaller than these commercial grades.[2]
Did you know?
Cantaloupes are named after Cantalupo, a Vatican summer estate in Italy where these melons were grown in the 18th century.
Questions people ask
What size is a cantaloupe?
A medium cantaloupe is about 5 in (12.7 cm) across, according to USDA. USDA lists small melons at about 4 1/4 in (10.8 cm) and large ones at about 6 1/2 in (16.5 cm).[1]
How big is a cantaloupe in cm?
USDA's three reference sizes run from 10.8 cm (small) to 16.5 cm (large) across, with a medium melon at 12.7 cm. Melons packed as grade 12 or grade 9 work out to roughly 13.7 to 16.5 cm across, calculated from circumference.[1][2]
What does 9 or 12 on a cantaloupe box mean?
It is the number of melons packed in the carton. A grade 9 melon is larger than a grade 12 melon: 47 to 52 cm around versus 43 to 47 cm around in University of Arizona data.[2]
