One large egg contains about 4.8 grams of total fat. A standard large egg is usually measured as 50 grams, and that serving provides about 72 calories, 6.3 grams of protein, and 4.8 grams of fat. Of that fat, about 1.6 grams are saturated fat, while the rest is mostly unsaturated fat.

Most of the fat in an egg is found in the yolk, not the white. Egg whites are almost entirely protein and water, while the yolk contains the egg’s fat, cholesterol, and many of its vitamins and minerals. This is why people who eat only egg whites get very little fat, but they also miss out on nutrients such as vitamin D, vitamin A, choline, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

The fat in one large egg is not especially high compared with many common foods. For example, 4.8 grams of fat is moderate, especially because an egg also gives you a solid amount of high-quality protein. In a large raw egg, about 62% of the calories come from fat, but that does not mean the egg is “mostly fat” by weight. By weight, a large egg is mostly water, then protein, with fat making up roughly 9.6% of the egg.

The type of fat matters. One large egg contains about 1.8 grams of monounsaturated fat and about 1 gram of polyunsaturated fat, along with the 1.6 grams of saturated fat. Unsaturated fats are generally considered the more heart-friendly fats when they replace excess saturated fat in the diet.

Cooking does not remove the fat from the egg unless fat physically drains away, which usually does not happen with eggs. A boiled egg, poached egg, or plain scrambled egg made without added butter or oil will have roughly the same natural fat content as the original egg. However, cooking eggs in butter, oil, bacon grease, or cheese can raise the total fat significantly.

For example, one large egg on its own has about 4.8 grams of fat. Add a teaspoon of butter, and the meal gains several more grams of fat. Add cheese or sausage, and the fat content can rise much higher. So when asking how much fat is in an egg, the answer depends on whether you mean the egg by itself or the full prepared dish.

Egg size also changes the number. A medium egg has less fat than a large egg, while an extra-large or jumbo egg has more. If you are tracking nutrition closely, the safest estimate is:

One large egg: about 5 grams of fat

That number is easy to remember and close enough for everyday meal planning. For more precise tracking, use 4.8 grams of total fat per large 50-gram egg.

In summary, one large egg contains about 4.8 grams of fat, mostly from the yolk. This includes about 1.6 grams of saturated fat and the rest mainly from unsaturated fats. On its own, a large egg is a moderate-fat, nutrient-dense food with protein, vitamins, minerals, and very little carbohydrate.