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Fruits low in potassium matter mainly to people whose clinician or dietitian has told them to limit potassium, often because of chronic kidney disease (CKD), as NIDDK explains. The National Kidney Foundation (NKF) generally counts a food as high-potassium at 200 milligrams or more per serving, and its lower-potassium fruit list includes apples, applesauce, berries, cherries, grapes, mandarin oranges, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums, tangerines and watermelon, with serving sizes. The table below ranks those fruits by USDA potassium per serving, from lowest to higher, with FDC IDs and the FDA percent Daily Value. It is a reference list, not a diet plan: follow your care team’s advice on how much potassium is right for you.
Peptide Labs does not sell foods. This article is general nutrition information, not medical advice.
Key Takeaways
- NKF generally counts a food as high-potassium at 200 milligrams or more per serving, and its fruit list uses half-cup servings unless it names a whole fruit.
- In USDA data, a half cup of raw cranberries has about 40 milligrams of potassium and a half cup of blueberries about 57 milligrams; a medium apple with skin has about 195 milligrams.
- Serving size matters: NKF warns that a large amount of a low-potassium food can easily turn it into a high-potassium food, and it limits watermelon to 1 cup.
- USDA and NKF do not always agree: USDA's small raw peach computes to about 247 milligrams, above the NKF line.
- NKF notes that people with low blood potassium may be told the opposite, to eat more, so this list applies only when your care team has advised limiting potassium.
Fruits low in potassium ranked by USDA potassium per serving
The table uses USDA FoodData Central SR Legacy entries. Serving sizes follow the NKF fruit list, which counts half a cup as one serving unless it names a whole fruit, such as one medium apple, one small pear, one plum, one tangerine or half a grapefruit; where USDA gives only a 1-cup portion, the half cup is half of that weight. The percent Daily Value (%DV) uses the FDA Daily Value for potassium on Nutrition Facts labels, and every fruit here appears on the NKF list of lower-potassium choices.
| Fruit (USDA FDC ID) | Serving | Potassium | % DV | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cranberries, raw (171722) | 1/2 cup | 40 mg | 1% | 80 mg |
| Blueberries, raw (171711) | 1/2 cup | 57 mg | 1% | 77 mg |
| Watermelon, diced (167765) | 1/2 cup | 85 mg | 2% | 112 mg |
| Pineapple chunks, raw (169124) | 1/2 cup | 90 mg | 2% | 109 mg |
| Applesauce, unsweetened (171695) | 1/2 cup | 90 mg | 2% | 74 mg |
| Raspberries, raw (167755) | 1/2 cup | 93 mg | 2% | 151 mg |
| Plum, raw (169949) | 1 fruit | 104 mg | 2% | 157 mg |
| Pineapple, canned in juice, drained (167767) | 1/2 cup chunks | 112 mg | 2% | 124 mg |
| Fruit cocktail, canned in juice (174668) | 1/2 cup | 113 mg | 2% | 95 mg |
| Strawberry halves, raw (167762) | 1/2 cup | 116 mg | 2% | 153 mg |
| Blackberries, raw (173946) | 1/2 cup | 117 mg | 2% | 162 mg |
| Pears, canned in juice (169936) | 1/2 cup halves | 119 mg | 3% | 96 mg |
| Mandarin oranges, canned in juice, drained (168184) | 1/2 cup | 129 mg | 3% | 136 mg |
| Clementine, raw (168195) | 1 fruit | 131 mg | 3% | 177 mg |
| Cherries, sour, raw (173954) | 1/2 cup pitted | 134 mg | 3% | 173 mg |
| Grapes, raw (174683) | 1/2 cup | 144 mg | 3% | 191 mg |
| Tangerine, raw (169105) | 1 medium | 146 mg | 3% | 166 mg |
| Peach, raw (169928) | 1/2 cup slices | 146 mg | 3% | 190 mg |
| Peaches, canned in juice (169930) | 1/2 cup | 159 mg | 3% | 128 mg |
| Cherries, sweet, raw (171719) | 1/2 cup pitted | 171 mg | 4% | 222 mg |
| Pear, raw (169118) | 1 small | 172 mg | 4% | 116 mg |
| Grapefruit, raw (173033) | 1/2 medium | 178 mg | 4% | 139 mg |
| Apple with skin, raw (171688) | 1 medium | 195 mg | 4% | 107 mg |
Berries and melon lead the low end: cranberries, blueberries, watermelon, pineapple and raspberries are all under 100 milligrams per half cup in USDA data. Strawberries, blackberries, grapes, cherries, plums, tangerines, clementines and peaches fill the middle, and whole fruits such as a small pear, half a grapefruit and a medium apple sit near the NKF line because the serving weighs more. The FDA Daily Value for potassium, 4,700 milligrams, is a labeling reference, which is why every row shows only 1% to 4% of it; it is not a goal for anyone told to limit potassium.
Which fruits are low in potassium on the NKF list, and which are not
NKF’s lower-potassium column, used for the table above, lists apple (1 medium), applesauce and apple juice, apricots canned in juice, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, cranberries, fruit cocktail, grapes and grape juice, half a grapefruit, mandarin oranges, peaches and pears (1 small raw fruit, or half a cup from a can), plum, pineapple, raspberries, strawberries, tangerine and watermelon, which NKF limits to 1 cup.
NKF’s higher-potassium column, the fruits with more than 200 milligrams per serving, lists apricots (2 medium raw or 5 dried halves), avocado (a quarter), banana (half), cantaloupe, dates (5), dried fruit including figs, honeydew, kiwi, mango, nectarine and orange (1 medium each), papaya (half), pomegranate (1 whole), prunes, raisins and the juices of grapefruit, orange, pomegranate and prunes. USDA values for several of them at NKF serving sizes are below, and our sibling guide to high potassium fruits ranks the full list per cup.
| Higher-potassium fruit (USDA FDC ID) | Serving | Potassium | % DV | Per 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apricots, dried, uncooked (173941) | 5 halves | 203 mg | 4% | 1,162 mg |
| Banana, raw (173944) | 1/2 medium | 211 mg | 4% | 358 mg |
| Cantaloupe, raw (169092) | 1/2 cup cubes | 214 mg | 5% | 267 mg |
| Kiwifruit, green, raw (168153) | 1 fruit | 215 mg | 5% | 312 mg |
| Orange, raw (169097) | 1 medium | 237 mg | 5% | 181 mg |
| Avocado, raw (171705) | 1/4 fruit | 244 mg | 5% | 485 mg |
| Mango, raw (169910) | 1 fruit | 564 mg | 12% | 168 mg |
| Prunes, uncooked (168162) | 1/2 cup pitted | 637 mg | 14% | 732 mg |
Lowest potassium fruits: where USDA and NKF differ
NKF stresses that almost all foods contain some potassium and that the size of the serving is very important; NIDDK adds that a large serving of a lower-potassium food may have more potassium than a small serving of a higher-potassium food. USDA values show how that plays out, and where the two sources differ:
- NKF lists a small raw peach among lower-potassium fruits, but USDA’s small peach weighs 130 grams and computes to about 247 milligrams, above the 200-milligram NKF line; a half cup of slices is about 146 milligrams in USDA data, which is why the table uses that serving.
- NKF lists apricots canned in juice as lower in potassium; USDA’s entry, which includes the canning liquid, computes to about 201 milligrams per half cup, and NKF and NIDDK both advise draining that liquid.
- NKF limits watermelon to 1 cup; per USDA, a cup of diced watermelon is about 170 milligrams, twice the half-cup figure in the table.
- Two half-cup servings of grapes add up to about 288 milligrams in USDA data, more than the 211 milligrams in half a medium banana.
Values differ by variety, ripeness, preparation and database. NKF notes that your dietitian can help you identify how much potassium is in your favorite foods.
What NKF and NIDDK say about potassium and CKD
NIDDK explains that chronic kidney disease can make it harder for the kidneys to remove potassium from the blood, so the level can become very high, and that having too little or too much potassium in the blood can cause heart and muscle problems. For that reason NIDDK says it is important to work with a dietitian or health care professional to find the right amount of potassium for you, and it notes that a health care professional can check your potassium level using a blood test.
NKF notes that people living with kidney disease are at risk for potassium levels outside the goal range, either too high or too low: with high potassium (hyperkalemia) a provider may advise limiting certain higher-potassium foods, NKF says, and with low potassium (hypokalemia) the advice may be the opposite. Our potassium guide covers the low side. NIDDK adds that taking certain medicines, as well as skipping dialysis sessions, can raise your potassium level and that a health care professional may adjust the medicines you take; never change a medicine on your own.
Canned fruit, juice and the liquid in the can
NIDDK advises draining canned fruits and vegetables and throwing out the liquid, which it says is often high in potassium, and NKF likewise advises against drinking or using the liquid from canned fruits. The USDA entries for pineapple and mandarin oranges in the table are drained; those for pears, peaches and fruit cocktail include the liquid, so drained fruit would be somewhat lower. On juice, the NKF list places apple, grape and pineapple juice among lower-potassium choices and orange juice, grapefruit juice, pomegranate juice and prune juice among higher ones.
Other potassium sources NIDDK flags
- Salt replacements: NIDDK suggests spices and herbs instead of salt substitutes, which can be high in potassium, and limiting foods with potassium chloride on the ingredient list.
- Vegetables and grains: our guide to low potassium foods ranks the NKF lower-potassium vegetables and grains with USDA values, and our foods high in potassium guide covers the NKF higher side.
NIDDK suggests talking with your dietitian or health care professional about adjusting your food and drink choices. A list of fruits lowest in potassium is a starting point for that conversation, not a substitute for it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which fruits have the least potassium per serving?
In USDA data, raw cranberries, blueberries, watermelon, pineapple, unsweetened applesauce and raspberries all have under 100 milligrams per half cup.
Are berries low in potassium?
NKF lists blackberries, blueberries, cranberries, raspberries and strawberries among lower-potassium fruits; USDA values run from about 40 to 117 milligrams per half cup.
Is a banana a fruit low in potassium?
No. NKF places banana on its higher-potassium list at a half-banana serving, which is about 211 milligrams in USDA data; one medium banana is about 422 milligrams.
Does canned fruit have less potassium than fresh?
Sometimes, and draining matters: NIDDK and NKF both advise throwing out the liquid, which NIDDK says is often high in potassium. USDA lists drained pineapple canned in juice at about 112 milligrams per half cup.
How does NKF define a lower-potassium fruit?
NKF generally calls a food lower in potassium when a serving has less than 200 milligrams, and high-potassium at 200 milligrams or more, with half a cup as the usual fruit serving.
Should everyone limit potassium from fruit?
No. NKF notes that people with low blood potassium may be told the opposite, to eat more potassium. This list is for people whose care team has advised limiting it; follow their advice on what is right for you.
Questions about a label? Contact us or read our Buyer’s Guide. Food comes first; follow the label and ask a healthcare provider before starting a supplement, especially if you take medicines, are pregnant or have a health condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Last reviewed October 2026.
Related guides: High Potassium Fruits: USDA Potassium per Serving, Ranked, Low Potassium Foods: USDA Values per Serving, Ranked, Apple Calories and Nutrition: Are Apples Healthy?, Blueberries: Nutrition, Benefits and Frozen Blueberries.