How the fish consumption calculator works
Three inputs. One clear answer. Most people finish in about ten seconds.
Choose who is eating
Pick Adult, Teen, Child, or Pregnant / nursing. Each button loads a typical weight and serving size. You can change both.
Pick your fish
Choose from 13 common fish and shellfish. Caught it yourself? Type in the ppm value from your state advisory.
Read the gauge
Green means 2 or more servings a week. Amber means 1 to 2. Red means less than 1, so keep that fish rare.
Which fish should you choose?
The FDA sorts fish into three groups by mercury level. The calculator follows the same logic, so these groups give you a quick starting point.
✅ Best choices
Salmon, shrimp, tilapia, catfish, cod, canned light tuna, and freshwater trout. All sit at or below 0.126 ppm. The FDA says adults can eat 2 to 3 servings a week.
⚠️ Good choices
Halibut, canned albacore, and yellowfin tuna. They run from 0.241 to 0.354 ppm. The FDA suggests one serving a week.
⛔ Limit these
King mackerel, shark, and swordfish. They run from 0.73 to 0.995 ppm. The FDA tells pregnant women and young children to avoid them.
Want exact servings for your weight? The fish consumption calculator ranks every fish for you.
Sample weekly servings for a 150-pound adult
These numbers use an 8-ounce meal, the EPA standard. They show how fast the limit changes from fish to fish.
| Fish | Mercury (ppm) | Servings per week | Gauge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shrimp | 0.009 | 23 | Green |
| Salmon | 0.022 | 9.5 | Green |
| Cod | 0.111 | 1.9 | Amber |
| Canned light tuna | 0.126 | 1.7 | Amber |
| Halibut | 0.241 | 0.9 | Red |
| Canned albacore tuna | 0.350 | 0.6 | Red |
| Swordfish | 0.995 | 0.2 | Red |
Servings per week at the EPA mercury limit. A high number does not mean you should eat that much. The FDA still suggests 2 to 3 servings of Best Choices fish a week.
See all 13 fish, plus kids and pregnancy examples, on the calculator page.
Built for every plate
Body size changes the answer. Pick the preset closest to your table and adjust from there.
Loads 150 pounds and an 8-ounce meal. Good for tuna fans and weekly fish eaters.
🧒Kids and teensSmaller bodies reach the limit sooner. Check a small serving for your child.
🤰Pregnant or nursingMercury reaches a developing baby. Start with a 4-ounce serving and ask your doctor.
🎣AnglersSelect My own catch and enter the ppm value from your state advisory.
Why mercury is worth a quick check
Mercury enters lakes and oceans from coal burning and other industry. Bacteria turn it into methylmercury, and small fish absorb it first. Predators then eat many small fish, so mercury climbs the food chain. The result is a 110-fold gap between shrimp and swordfish.
The risk is not the same for everyone. Methylmercury affects the developing brain, so pregnancy and early childhood need the most care. Healthy adults have more room. The same fish that is fine for you may be too much for a toddler.
Fish is still good food. It gives you protein, omega-3 fats, and vitamin D. The goal is to pick the right fish and the right serving, not to skip fish.
Good to know: cooking does not remove mercury. It binds to muscle tissue, so only your choice of fish and your serving size change your intake.
Why you can trust the numbers
Every value has a named source. We show our math so you can check it.
Each mercury value is an average from FDA testing of commercial fish and shellfish.
The weekly limit uses 0.1 micrograms per kilogram of body weight per day.
The tool runs in your browser. Your weight and meal size never reach our servers.
Read the full formula on the calculator page, or learn who built the tool on our about page.
Common questions
Is the fish consumption calculator free to use?
Yes. It costs nothing, needs no account, and runs in your browser. Your weight and meal size never leave your device.
How does the calculator decide how much fish is safe?
It compares the mercury in one serving with the EPA safe daily dose for your body weight. It then shows how many servings fit into one week. The fish, your weight, and your serving size all change the answer.
Is this site medical advice?
No. We share educational information built on FDA and EPA data. A doctor, a dietitian, or your state fish advisory should come first, especially during pregnancy or when you feed young children.
Where should I start if I am pregnant or feeding a child?
Tap the Pregnant / nursing or Child button in the calculator. Each button loads a typical weight and serving size. Then talk with your doctor. The FDA advises 2 to 3 servings a week of Best Choices fish during pregnancy.
Where do the mercury numbers come from?
They come from FDA monitoring data on mercury in commercial fish. The weekly limit comes from the EPA reference dose for methylmercury. Each value is an average, so one fish can test higher or lower.
Ready to check a meal?
Enter your numbers and see your weekly limit in seconds.
Open the fish consumption calculator