🟢 Safe
Oxalate <25 mg/serving
🟡 Caution
Oxalate 25-99 mg/serving
🔴 Avoid
Oxalate ≥100 mg/serving
🟢

Watermelon, fresh

🟢 Safe — Low Oxalate
1 mg oxalate / serving
Serving: 1 slice (280 g) | Per 100 g: 3 mg
✓ Medically Reviewed Content reviewed by OxalateWatch Editorial Team. Based on Harvard T.H. Chan SPH oxalate data (2024) and NKF/AUA dietary guidelines.

Watermelon might be the single best food for kidney stone patients during hot weather. 1 mg of oxalate per slice, 92% water by weight, and naturally sweet without added sugar. It's doing double duty: satisfying your sweet craving AND contributing directly to your hydration. Multiple oxalate databases — Harvard, UCI Kidney Stone Center, and USDA FoodData Central — all agree that watermelon is essentially oxalate-free. For calcium oxalate stone formers, watermelon is as safe as food gets.

📊 Nutrition at a Glance

1 mg
Oxalate / serving
Low Oxalate
1 mg
Sodium / 100g
Low Na
0.6 g
Protein / 100g
Tier 1
7 mg
Calcium / 100g
Tier 1

📏 Oxalate by Serving Size

ServingWeightOxalateVerdict
1 slice280 g1 mg Safe
2 x 1 slice560 g2 mg Safe
½ x 1 slice140 g0.5 mg Safe

🏷️ Tags

Fruits 🟢 Oxalate Safe Low Oxalate Plant-Based

🟢 See all Fruits rated Safe for kidney stones →

⚖️ Compare this food: · vs Rhubarb · vs Herbs and Spices Lemon Myrtle

🔗 Related Foods

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

Should I avoid Watermelon if I have kidney stones?

No red flags here. Just 1 mg per 1 slice — well below the 25 mg danger line. You can keep Watermelon in your regular rotation. Data comes from Harvard (2024).

What's the oxalate content of Watermelon?

Here are the numbers: 1 mg oxalate in one 1 slice of Watermelon (280g). Per 100 grams, that's 3 mg. Harvard T.H. Chan SPH did the lab work (2024) — these aren't database guesses.

Is Watermelon high in oxalates?

Definitely low. 1 mg oxalate per 1 slice. That's the green zone. No restrictions needed for this food.

What are the best low-oxalate alternatives to Watermelon?

There are almost always safer swaps in the same food family. For Watermelon, check the related foods section below — the green-marked ones are your best bets. All verified by Harvard (2024).

How much sodium does Watermelon have?

Low sodium: 1 mg/100g. That's a non-issue for kidney stones. Just don't undo it by drowning it in salt during cooking.

🔍 Explore More About This Food

📚 Data Sources

Oxalate: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2024) via OHF. Nutrition: USDA FoodData Central (SR Legacy 2018 & Foundation Foods).

📖 Key Scientific References

Taylor EN, Curhan GC. Oxalate intake and the risk for nephrolithiasis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2007;18(7):2198-2204. PMID: 17538185
Borghi L, Schianchi T, Meschi T, et al. Comparison of two diets for the prevention of recurrent stones in idiopathic hypercalciuria. N Engl J Med. 2002;346(2):77-84. DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa010369
Fink HA, Akornor JW, Garimella PS, et al. Diet, fluid, or supplements for secondary prevention of nephrolithiasis. Eur Urol. 2009;56(1):72-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.eururo.2009.03.031
Ferraro PM, Taylor EN, Gambaro G, Curhan GC. Dietary and lifestyle factors for primary prevention of nephrolithiasis. BMC Nephrol. 2020;21(1):267. PMID: 32652950
Pearle MS, Goldfarb DS, Assimos DG, et al. Medical management of kidney stones: AUA guideline. J Urol. 2014;192(2):316-324. DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.05.006
Liebman M, Costa G. Effects of calcium and magnesium on urinary oxalate excretion after oxalate loads. J Urol. 2000;163(5):1565-1569. PMID: 10751889
Holmes RP, Assimos DG. The impact of dietary oxalate on kidney stone formation. Urol Res. 2004;32(5):311-316. DOI: 10.1007/s00240-004-0437-3
Lin BB, Lin ME, Huang RH, et al. Dietary treatment and fluid intake for prevention of recurrent calcium stones. PLoS One. 2021;16(4):e0250257. PMID: 33872340
This is dietary reference information, NOT medical advice. Talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian before changing your diet. Oxalate tolerance varies by person, stone type, and medication.