A typical 3 oz cooked serving of calamari contains 16.5 grams of protein (19.4 g per 100 g), which makes it a very good source of protein. That covers roughly 33% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it can anchor a high-protein meal for the day.
Protein accounts for roughly 50% of the calories in calamari, making it very protein-dense. The rest comes from fat and carbohydrate, so it adds a solid amount of protein while still carrying real energy - useful when you are eating to a calorie target rather than under one.
Among the 121 seafood in the database, calamari ranks 84th by protein per serving, and 212th out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against haddock, another seafood entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (haddock has 17 g per 3 oz cooked).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving above is measured by weight at 85 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #2706333 - "Calamari, cooked" (Survey (FNDDS), published 10/31/2024). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Calamari protein FAQ
How much protein is in calamari per 100 g?
Calamari has 19.4 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 3 oz cooked serving (85 g) provides 16.5 g.
Is calamari a complete protein?
Yes. Calamari is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
How much of the Daily Value does a serving of calamari cover?
A 3 oz cooked serving of calamari contains 16.5 g of protein, about 33% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Is calamari a good source of protein?
Calamari is a very good source of protein, and about 50% of its calories come from protein, which makes it very protein-dense. Set against haddock, another seafood entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g less protein (haddock has 17 g per 3 oz cooked).