The short answer
One slice from a medium-to-large cheese pizza, cut into eight, is typically around 250 to 300 calories. A thin-crust slice of the same size is often closer to 200 to 250, while a deep-pan or stuffed-crust slice with meat toppings can reach 400 calories or more. A whole individual pizza, like the kind served in many Italian restaurants, commonly falls somewhere around 700 to 1,100 calories.
Because "a slice" can mean very different amounts, the most useful question is not just how many slices you ate, but how big they were and what was on them.
What changes the calories in a slice
Slice size
A slice is simply a fraction of a pizza, so the size of the whole pizza matters. One eighth of a small pizza is much smaller than one eighth of an extra-large one. Pizzas cut into squares or long strips can make portions even harder to judge. If you can, think in terms of how much of the whole pizza you ate: a quarter, a half or all of it.
Crust style
The dough is a large part of the calories. A thin, crisp base uses less dough than a classic hand-tossed crust, and a deep-pan base uses more again, often with oil in the tin. Stuffed crusts add a ring of cheese around the edge.
Cheese
Mozzarella is the main source of fat on most pizzas. Extra cheese, or blends that include richer cheeses, add more. A light scattering looks very different from a thick, bubbling layer that covers the whole surface.
Toppings
Vegetables such as peppers, mushrooms, onions, spinach and tomatoes add flavour and some fibre for very few calories. Cured meats like pepperoni, salami and sausage add more fat and salt. Oil drizzled on top, garlic butter dips and creamy sauces also add up quickly.
| Slice type (1/8 of a 12–14 inch pizza) | Approx. calories |
|---|---|
| Thin crust, cheese and tomato | 200–250 |
| Classic crust, cheese and tomato | 250–300 |
| Classic crust, vegetable | 240–290 |
| Classic crust, pepperoni | 290–340 |
| Classic crust, meat feast | 330–400 |
| Deep pan, cheese and tomato | 320–400 |
| Stuffed crust, pepperoni | 380–450 |
Restaurant and takeaway pizza
Many restaurants serve individual pizzas around 10 to 12 inches across that are meant for one person. A simple Margherita of this kind is often around 700 to 900 calories, and versions with meat or extra cheese can pass 1,000. Takeaway pizzas from chains often publish nutrition information online or in the app, so it is worth checking when you order from the same place regularly.
Sides add up too. Garlic bread, dips, chicken wings and fries can easily add several hundred calories to a pizza night.
Enjoying pizza while keeping an eye on intake
Pizza can fit into most eating patterns. A few practical ideas:
- Start with a salad or vegetables. A big side salad adds volume and fibre, and you may find two slices are enough.
- Choose thin crust and vegetable toppings for a lighter slice that still feels like pizza.
- Pick one rich topping instead of several meats plus extra cheese.
- Skip the dips or share them. Garlic and cheese dips are often 100 to 200 calories per small pot.
- Add protein. Chicken or a side of something protein-rich can make the meal more satisfying.
At home, making your own pizza on a thin base with plenty of vegetables and a moderate amount of mozzarella is an easy way to control the totals.
Estimating a slice from a photo
When you log pizza, note the crust style and the number of slices relative to the whole pizza. A photo of the whole pizza before you eat, or of your plate with the slices you chose, gives much more to work with than a close-up. Visible pools of oil on the surface usually mean more fat. Our guide to estimating portion sizes covers more ways to judge amounts by sight, and our eating-out tips help with restaurant meals in general.
Frequently asked questions
How many calories are in two slices of pizza?
Two slices from a medium-to-large cheese pizza cut into eight are typically around 500 to 600 calories. Thin crust is usually lower and deep pan or meat-topped slices higher.
Is thin-crust pizza healthier?
Thin crust usually has fewer calories per slice because it uses less dough. Toppings and cheese still matter, so a thin crust loaded with meat and extra cheese can match a classic vegetable slice.
Can I eat pizza and still lose weight?
Yes, it can fit. Overall intake across the week matters more than any single food. Choosing your slice count, adding a salad and going easy on rich sides are simple ways to make it work.