Head-to-head comparison

Canned Tuna (in water) vs Sardines (canned in oil): Which Has More Protein?

Canned Tuna (in water) and Sardines (canned in oil) show up in a lot of the same meal-planning conversations, and the honest comparison depends on which specific number you're optimizing for.

Canned Tuna (in water)

26.0gprotein / 100g

116 cal · 0.8g fat · $ · Quality 0.9

Sardines (canned in oil)

24.6gprotein / 100g

208 cal · 11.5g fat · $ · Quality 0.9

Canned Tuna (in water) carries 1.4g more protein per 100g than Sardines (canned in oil) (26.0g vs 24.6g) — a real but modest edge.

Neither has a meaningful edge on protein quality; they're close enough on amino acid profile that it isn't a differentiator here.

Cost is roughly comparable between the two ($), so budget isn't the deciding factor here.

Verdict

These two are closer than the comparison headline suggests. Either Canned Tuna (in water) or Sardines (canned in oil) works well in most contexts — let cost, prep time, and personal preference decide rather than the macros.

Full nutrition comparison

Per 100gCanned Tuna (in water)Sardines (canned in oil)
Protein26.0g24.6g
Calories116208
Fat0.8g11.5g
Carbs0.0g0.0g
Fiber0.0g0.0g
Quality score0.90.9
Relative cost$$
Prep time1 min1 min

Frequently asked

Which has more protein, canned tuna (in water) or sardines (canned in oil)?

Canned Tuna (in water) has 26.0g of protein per 100g compared to Sardines (canned in oil)'s 24.6g.

Which is lower in calories?

Canned Tuna (in water) is lower in calories per 100g, at 116 vs the other's 208.