Lay’s Potato Chips: Nutrition, Calories, Ingredients

Six packages of various flavor potato chips.

This nutritional review provides a detailed overview of the nutrition facts, including calories by macronutrient, ingredients, and allergens in a dozen different flavors and styles of Lay’s potato chips.

Lay’s, a product of Frito-Lay (a PepsiCo brand), offers a wide variety of chips in different flavors, shapes, and sizes. All Lay’s start with a base of potatoes and vegetable oil.

On average, a serving size is measured as 28 grams. The number of pieces per serving varies by size and flavor. Likewise, total calories vary by type of potato chip. Select flavors contain milk and/or soy.

Read this guide for a detailed overview of nutrition facts, calories, total carbs, ingredients, and allergens in this popular snack to find your best option.

Lay’s Potato Chips Overview

Serving Size

A standard bag of Classic Lay’s potato chips contains 8 ounces with about 8 servings per container. You can also find larger “Party Size” bags, which contain 13 ounces of potato chips, approximately 13 servings per container.

Check the nutrition facts label on the back of the packaging for total number of servings per container.

Nutrition facts are based on a standard formulation and serving size. On average, the serving size of the original thin-sliced potato chips is a net weight of 28 grams, which generally works out to about 15 pieces.

Package of Lay's potato chips with copy of nutrition facts label.

Poppables

That said, serving sizes may vary by flavor or type of cracker. Poppables, for example, are light and airy, pillow-shaped potato crisps that have the same net weight (28g) per serving size.

However, each serving is about 30 pieces, double the standard 15 pieces for classic chips.

Bag of Lay's puffed potato crisps.
One serving of Lay’s Poppables crispy potato bites.

FAQs

Yes. Lay’s Classic potato chips and Sea Salt Poppables are gluten-free snacks.

Always keep in mind, however, that although the recipe may not include gluten, foods may be processed in a facility where other foods that contain gluten are also present.

Lay’s Classic potato chips are Kosher.

Check the Lay’s website for the most up-to-date information on which type and flavor potato chips are Kosher.

The classic version of Lay’s potato chips are made with only three ingredients: potatoes, oil, and salt.

The seasoning used for flavored potato chips, however, often contains many ingredients.

Nutrition Facts and Calories by Flavor

This section provides data tables with the amount of calories, dietary fats, total carbs, and added sugars, among other nutrients in the most popular flavors of Lay’s potato chips.

Bag of Lay's sea salt Poppables and nutrition facts label.

Calories

Total calories vary by type of chip. On average, the original thin-cut version of potato chips contain 160 calories per serving regardless of flavor. Poppables and STAX chips contain 140 to 150 calories per serving, on average.

The following table summarizes the average serving size, calories per serving, and calories per chip for each style.

Serving Sizes and Calories by Type of Chip

Serving Size

15 chips (28g)

28 pieces (28g)

12 pieces (28g)

Total Calories

160

150

140

Calories per Piece

11

5

12

On average, the number of calories ranges from 5 to 12 calories per chip.

  • Classic potato chips contain about 11 calories per piece.
  • Poppables chips contain about 5 calories per piece.
  • STAX potato chips contain about 12 calories per piece.
Potato chips in bowl on scale to illustrate serving size of 28 grams.
One serving of Lay’s classic chips

Calories by Macronutrient

This section of the nutrition guide provides a summary of the calories by macronutrient: fat, carbs, and protein.

Here is a summary by type of chip based on an average of select flavors.

Calories by Macronutrient (% of Total) per 28g

Calories from Fat

90 (56%)

75 (50%)

70 (47%)

Calories from Carbs

60 (38%)

70 (47%)

70 (47%)

Calories from Protein

10 (6%)

5 (3%)

10 (6%)

Regardless of the type of Lay’s potato chips, dietary fats contribute the highest proportion of total calories. Carbohydrates make up between 38% and 47% of the total calories, and the remaining portion (less than 10% of the total) of calories is from protein.

Here is the breakout of calories by macronutrient for Lay’s original thin-cut potato chips.

Lay’s Classic Potato Chips

% Calories from Fat, Carbs, and Protein
fat
56%
carbohydrates
38%
Protein
6%
Lay's classic potato chips.

Nutrition Facts

The following tables provide nutrition facts for select flavors of (1) original style Lay’s potato chips, (2) Poppables crispy potato bites, and (3) STAX crisps.

Original Style Lay’s Potato Chips

Serving Size 28g

Amount per serving

Classic

Flamin’ Hot

Sour Cream & Onion

Barbecue

Serving Size

15 chips

17 chips

17 chips

15 chips

Calories

160

160

160

150

Total Fat

10g

10g

10g

9g

Saturated Fat

2g

1.5g

1.5g

1.5g

Trans Fat

0g

0g

0g

0g

Cholesterol

0mg

0mg

0mg

0mg

Sodium

140mg

190mg

200mg

150mg

Carbohydrates

15g

15g

15g

16g

Dietary Fiber

1g

1g

1g

1g

Total Sugars

<1g

1g

2g

2g

Protein

2g

2g

2g

2g

%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.

Package of Lay's Flamin' Hot flavored potato chips.

Lay’s Poppables

Serving Size 28g

Amount per serving

Sea Salt

White Cheddar

Sea Salt & Vinegar

Sweet Potato

Serving Size

30 pcs

28 pcs

28 pcs

29 pcs

Calories

150

150

140

150

Total Fat

8g

8g

8g

9g

Saturated Fat

1g

1.5g

1g

1.5g

Trans Fat

0g

0g

0g

0g

Cholesterol

0mg

0mg

0mg

0mg

Sodium

200mg

170mg

220mg

140mg

Carbohydrates

16g

16g

16g

17g

Dietary Fiber

<1g

<1g

<1g

1g

Total Sugars

0g

<1g

<1g

2g

Protein

1g

2g

0g

<1g

%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.

Lay’s STAX

Serving Size 28g

Amount per serving

Original

Cheddar

Salt & Vinegar

Barbecue

Serving Size

12 pcs

12 pcs

12 pcs

12 pcs

Calories

150

140

140

140

Total Fat

8g

8g

8g

8g

Saturated Fat

1g

2.5g

2g

2g

Trans Fat

0g

0g

0g

0g

Cholesterol

0mg

0mg

0mg

0mg

Sodium

130mg

210mg

290mg

180mg

Carbohydrates

17g

17g

17g

17g

Dietary Fiber

<1g

1g

1g

1g

Total Sugars

<1g

1g

1g

2g

Protein

2g

2g

1g

1g

%DV based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Calorie needs vary and your %DV may be higher or lower. Provided for informational purposes only. Consult with your physician for dietary or healthcare advice.

  • Zero saturated fat
  • Zero trans fatty acids
  • Zero cholesterol
  • Low in sugars
Package of buffalo ranch flavored stax potato chips with text listing ingredients.

Potato Chips Ingredients and Allergens

  • Classic Lay’s potato chips made without MSG
  • Kosher options, including original style potato chips
  • STAX Cheddar crisps and STAX Mesquite BBQ contain MSG
  • STAX crisps contain artificial colors and/or artificial flavor
Bag of Lay's Classic potato chips.

Ingredients

Ingredients and allergens vary by flavor. The following chart provides a summary of ingredients in select Lay’s potato chips, Poppables, and STAX crisps.

Potato Chip Ingredients by Type and Flavor

Flavor

Ingredients

Classic Lay’s

Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Salt.

Barbecue

Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Barbecue Seasoning (sugar, dextrose, salt, maltodextrin, molasses, torula yeast, onion powder, spices, tomato powder, paprika, natural flavors, corn starch, caramel color, yeast extract, paprika extract, garlic powder, and mustard seed oil).

Flamin’ Hot

Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Flamin’ Hot Seasoning (maltodextrin, salt, dextrose, sunflower oil, malted barley flour, sugar, tomato powder, torula yeast, natrual flavor, yeast extract, onion powder, citric acid gum arabic, vegetable juice (color), garlic powder, spices, milk protein concentrate, annatto extracts). Contains milk.

Sour Cream & Onion

Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Sour Cream & Onion Seasoning (skim milk, salt, maltodextrin, onion powder, whey, sour cream (cultured cream, skim milk), canola oil, parsley, natural flavor, lactose, sunflower oil, citric acid, whey protein concentrate, buttermilk). Contains milk.

Poppables Original

Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Potato Starch, Sea Salt, Turmeric.

Poppables Sea Salt & Vinegar

Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Potato Starch, Sea Salt & Vinegar Seasoning (maltodextrin, natural flavors, lactose, sea salt, vinegar, potassium chloride) Sea Salt, Turmeric. Contains milk.

Poppables Sweet Potato

Potato Starch, Vegetable Oil, Dried Sweet Potatoes, Brown Rice Flour, Whole Grain Corn Flour, Cane Sugar, Sea Salt, Annatto Extracts.

Poppables White Cheddar

Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Potato Starch, White Cheddar Seasoning (whey, maltodextrin, salt, cheddar cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), skim milk, natural flavors, sunflower oil, buttermilk, romano cheese (part-skim cow’s milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), whey protein concentrate, dextrose, corn oil, yeast extract, onion powder, garlic powder, spice lactose, citric acid, milk protein concentrate, lactic acid), Sea Salt, Turmeric. Contains milk.

STAX Original

Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Corn Flour, Potato Starch, Rice Flour, Sugar, Mono- and Diglycerides, Salt, Dextrose, Soy Lecithin. Contains soy.

STAX Cheddar

Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Unmodified Potato Starch, Rice Flour, Salt, Sugar, Maltodextrin, Cheddar Cheese (milk, cheese cultures, salt, enzymes), Mono- and Diglycerides, Dextrose, Soy Lecithin, Whey Protein Concentrate, Whey, Monosodium Glutamate, Onion Powder, Corn Syrup Solids, Buttermilk, Citric Acid, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Artificial Colors (yellow 5 lake, yellow 6 lake, yellow 6, yellow 5), Lactic Acid, Spice, Lactose, Sodium Caseinate, Skim Milk, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate. Contains milk and soy.

STAX Mesquite Barbecue

Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Unmodified Potato Starch, Sugar, Rice, Flour, Salt, Maltodextrin, Mono- and Diglycerides, Dextrose, Soy Lecithin, Onion Powder, Monosodium Glutamate, Corn Syrup Solids, Tomato Powder, Hydrolized Corn Protein, Natural Flavor, Artificial Color (yellow 6 lake, yellow 5 lake, blue 2 lake), Malic Acid, Sodium Diacetate, Spice, Sodium Caseinate, Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate. Contains milk and soy.

STAX Salt & Vinegar

Dried Potatoes, Vegetable Oil, Unmodified Potato Starch, Rice Flour, Sugar, Salt, Maltodextrin, Sodium Diacetate, Lactose, Mono- and Diglycerides, Dextrose, Soy Lecithin, Natural and Artificial Flavor, Citric Acid, Skim Milk, Buttermilk, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate. Contains milk and soy.

  • Unless otherwise stated, vegetable oils include cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, corn oil, and/or canola oil.
  • Maltodextrin is made from corn.
Six packages of various flavor potato chips.

Allergens

Here is a list of Lay’s potato chips that contain milk:

  • Lay’s Sour Cream & Onion potato chips
  • Flamin’ Hot flavored potato chips
  • Sea Salt & Vinegar Poppables
  • STAX Cheddar Crisps
  • STAX Mesquite BBQ
  • STAX Salt & Vinegar
  • White Cheddar Poppables

Here is a list of Lay’s potato chips that contain soy:

  • STAX Original Crisps
  • STAX Cheddar Crisps
  • STAX Mesquite BBQ
  • STAX Salt & Vinegar
Container of STAX original potato crisps with text "150 calories."

Ingredients, allergens, and nutrition facts are based on available information as of the date this article was published and/or updated. Restaurants and food manufacturers may change their recipes without notice. Check directly with the food provider for the most accurate and up-to-date information. NutritionandIngredients.com does not provide health or wellness advice or dietary recommendations. Our aim is to research commercially processed food and publish articles for informational purposes only. Unless otherwise stated, % Daily Value is based on 2,000 calories per day, but calorie needs vary by individual. Always consult your physician for any healthcare or dietary advice.

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