How Many Calories in a Tortilla?
Flour and corn tortillas have very different calorie counts. Size matters even more.
A 6” corn tortilla is ~50 kcal. A 6” flour tortilla is ~110 kcal. Big burrito-size flour tortillas (12”) hit 280–350 kcal — sometimes a quarter of a burrito’s total. The size jump from 6” to 12” is roughly 6× the calories. Always check the size before logging.
The Headline Numbers
| Type | Size | Approx weight | Calories |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corn tortilla | 6” | 24 g | 50 |
| Corn tortilla | 8” | 35 g | 75 |
| Flour tortilla | 6” (taco size) | 30 g | 110 |
| Flour tortilla | 8” (fajita size) | 40 g | 145 |
| Flour tortilla | 10” (burrito-style) | 70 g | 240 |
| Flour tortilla | 12” (burrito) | 90–110 g | 280–350 |
| Whole wheat flour, 8” | 40 g | 130 | |
| ”Low-carb” flour (Mission Carb Balance) 6” | 30 g | 80 | |
| ”Low-carb” flour 8” | 40 g | 100 | |
| Spinach/tomato wrap (10”) | 70 g | 230 | |
| Pita bread (6”) | 60 g | 165 |
The differences are real:
- Corn vs flour: flour is denser and has added fat (lard, oil, or shortening). At the same diameter, flour ≈ 2× the calories.
- Size: doubles the diameter ≈ 4× the calories. A 12” tortilla isn’t twice as big as a 6”; it’s four times bigger by area.
Restaurant Reality
| Item | Calories |
|---|---|
| Chipotle flour burrito tortilla | 320 |
| Chipotle 6” corn tortilla (in tacos) | 70 |
| Taco Bell soft taco shell (flour) | 90 |
| Taco Bell hard taco shell | 120 |
| Subway 9” wrap | 280 |
| Panera flatbread wrap | 290 |
| Qdoba burrito tortilla | 360 |
| Average diner wrap | 250–340 |
The Chipotle data is informative: the tortilla alone is ~320 kcal, more than two grilled chicken portions. If you’re eating a burrito to manage calories, that’s a very expensive starting point.
Tortilla Choices for a Deficit
Going from a burrito-size flour tortilla to corn for tacos saves significant calories.
| If you eat | Calories |
|---|---|
| 1 burrito (12” flour) | 320 |
| 2 soft tacos (6” flour each) | 220 |
| 3 corn tacos (6” each) | 150 |
| 1 fajita (8” flour) | 145 |
| Burrito bowl (no tortilla) | 0 |
Switching from burrito to bowl saves ~320 kcal per meal. Switching from flour tacos to corn tacos saves ~70 kcal per meal. Both are real wins on a deficit.
”Low-Carb” Tortillas
Brands like Mission Carb Balance, La Tortilla Factory, and Joseph’s Lavash use added fiber (oat fiber, wheat fiber) and resistant starches to reduce net carbs and modestly reduce calories.
| Standard 8” Flour | Low-Carb 8” |
|---|---|
| 145 kcal | 80–100 kcal |
| 24 g carbs | 18 g carbs (5g net) |
| 4 g fiber | 13 g fiber |
Worth using if calorie cost matters and you eat tortillas often. Texture varies — some brands are quite good, some are noticeably tough.
Tortilla Math: Tacos vs Burrito
| Meal type | Calories from tortilla | % of meal |
|---|---|---|
| 3 corn tacos | 150 | ~25% |
| 2 flour soft tacos | 220 | ~30% |
| 1 flour burrito | 320 | ~30% |
| 1 burrito bowl (no tortilla) | 0 | 0% |
| 1 wrap | 250–290 | ~35% |
If you’re at Chipotle and trying to cut calories, the tortilla is the lowest-hanging fruit. Skip it; eat the bowl.
Tortilla Chips
While we’re here, tortilla chips are a different story:
| Chips | Calories |
|---|---|
| 1 oz chips (~12 chips) | 140 |
| Restaurant basket (small) | 400 |
| Restaurant basket (large) | 700+ |
| Family-size bag | 1,500+ |
Chips are deep-fried tortillas. The fat changes the math entirely — a tortilla flat is 50–150 kcal; the same tortilla cut and fried is 140 kcal per ounce, and a serving is rarely an ounce.
Wraps and Flatbreads
| Wrap | Calories |
|---|---|
| 8” wrap | 145–180 |
| 10” wrap | 200–280 |
| 12” wrap | 280–340 |
| Lavash bread (1 sheet) | 100–140 |
| Naan (1 piece) | 250–320 |
| Pita (6”) | 165 |
Subway wraps and “flat” sandwich bread look smaller than they are. A standard Subway wrap is ~280 kcal — roughly the same as 2 slices of bread.
Common Logging Mistakes
Logging “1 tortilla” without specifying size. 6” vs 12” is a 4–6× calorie difference.
Counting flour as corn. Real meaningful difference.
Forgetting the chips. “I just had tacos” + “I had some chips and salsa” = 300+ extra kcal.
Logging “a wrap” without checking diameter. Most are 10” or larger.
What to Take Away
- 6” corn = 50 kcal. 6” flour = 110 kcal. Anchor.
- 12” burrito tortilla = ~320 kcal. That’s most of a meal.
- Bowl > burrito if calories matter.
- Low-carb tortillas save ~30 kcal each; useful if you eat them daily.
- Tortilla chips are a different food. Fried; very calorie-dense.
For other carb references, see calories in a slice of bread and calories in a cup of rice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which has fewer calories — corn or flour tortillas?
Corn tortillas are leaner per piece because they're smaller and have no added fat. A 6" corn tortilla is ~50 kcal; a 6" flour tortilla is ~110 kcal.
How many calories in a Chipotle tortilla?
Chipotle's burrito tortilla is ~320 kcal — about a quarter of an entire burrito's calorie count before you add anything inside.
Are 'low-carb' tortillas really lower in calories?
Sometimes. Brands like Mission Carb Balance are ~80 kcal for a 6" — versus ~110 for regular flour. The savings are real but smaller than the marketing suggests.
How many calories in a wrap?
A 10" wrap (the kind sold in delis) is ~210–260 kcal. Larger 12" wraps run 280–340 kcal. Spinach or tomato 'flavored' wraps are essentially the same calorically.
Keep going: Crunch the numbers · Browse all articles · Find a meal plan · Easy recipes