How Long is a Shrimp in Inches?

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Did you know that the United States is among the biggest purchasers of shrimp around the world? This is because cooking with shrimp is a quick and delicious way to add protein to your meals — but before you buy truckloads of it, make sure you remember that size matters! Shrimp come in a wide range of sizes, and small shrimp will work better in some meals compared to larger shrimp.

In this article, we answer the question, “How long is a shrimp in inches” while providing additional information on these sea crustaceans.

Table of Contents

What are the Different Species of Shrimp?

There is a wide range of shrimp available in the market, but some of the most common kinds humans consume include the following:

Brown shrimp
Pink shrimp
Brown shrimp
Royal red shrimp
Brown rock shrimp
Tiger shrimp
Freshwater shrimp
Pandalid shrimp
Amano shrimp
Common European shrimp

Where Do You Find Shrimp?

A wide range of shrimp can be found in many different environments, from freshwater lakes to coastal waters, and even brackish water. White shrimp spawn when water temperatures at the ocean bottom increase, and can be found around the Gulf of Mexico, the South Atlantic, and throughout South Carolina. Various shrimp species live in these areas; in 2022, a total of 119 million pounds of shrimp were harvested according to the commercial fishing landings database of NOAA Fisheries.

This fishery is among the most valuable fisheries located in the southeastern United States, and they’ve also confirmed that the 3 most popular species of penaeid shrimp are pink, white, and brown. Annually, the harvest for white shrimp will vary significantly from one year to another, which is mainly due to environmental conditions. The harvest is much lower during years with harsh winter conditions.

Shrimp is often harvested by commercial fishermen using trawls that are towed by the ocean floor; the nets are tapered toward the back and are wide by the front. However, area closures are enforced when fishing exceeds a certain threshold — moreover, fishermen can’t trawl around coral reefs to avoid damage to the corals and their nets. Finally, permits are required when harvesting shrimp around federal waters.

Shrimp Life Cycle

Shrimp can grow quite fast depending on the water temperature and salinity of their environment. These crustaceans come with a short lifespan of around 2 years or less and during this time, they can reach a body length of up to 7 or 8 inches, and will often be referred to as an “annual crop.” Young shrimp grow and live within nursery areas in muddy ocean bottoms with low to moderate salinity.

A newly hatched shrimp will travel to its estuarine nursery habitat around April to early May; the shrimp that survive through winter will grow quickly between late winter to early spring before it goes back to the ocean. Adult shrimp will feed on the bottom of the ocean on plants, macroinvertebrates, microorganisms, and small fish but cannibalism is also a common occurrence, as observed in grass shrimp.

Different Sizes of Shrimp

Understanding the different sizes of shrimp and the count per pound when it comes to shrimp will make grocery shopping and meal planning easier. When it comes to seafood, shrimp will be labeled according to the number of pieces you get per pound. Within the seafood industry, you can find an indication of shrimp sizes on the labels at the seafood counter or the bag of frozen shrimp.

For example, a bag of frozen shrimp labeled “16/20” means that there are around 16 to 20 shrimp in 1 pound. However, keep in mind that some brands will refer to 16/20 as “Jumbo shrimp,” but other brands may refer to it as “Extra Jumbo.” As such, it’s important to buy shrimp based on the shrimp count rather than the name of their size.

A label with a 51/60 count means that there are between 51 to 60 pieces of shrimp in every pound which is referred to as “Small” shrimp. On the other hand, a “U/10” count will have 10 or under pieces in a pound, which is known as “Extra Colossal” sized shrimp — the smaller the number, the bigger your shrimp. Below, we share the different shrimp count sizes you’ll often see on packages.

Extra Colossal: Refers to 10 or fewer pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Super Colossal: Refers to 12 or fewer pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Colossal: Refers to 15 or fewer pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Extra Jumbo: Contains 16 to 20 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Jumbo: Contains 21 to 25 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Extra Large: Contains 26 to 30 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Large: Contains 31 to 40 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Medium-Large: Contains 36 to 40 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Medium: Contains 41 to 50 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Small: Contains 51 to 60 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Extra Small: Contains 61 to 70 pieces of shrimp in 1 pound
Tiny: Contains 71+ pieces of shrimp in 1 pound (can be used in salads)

Both the Super Colossal (U/12) and the Extra Colossal (U/10) shrimp are among the largest shrimp sizes available for cooking but when you purchase shrimp, be sure to look at the count per pound. While colossal shrimp can have this label, it’s actually Extra Jumbo if it comes with a count of 16 to 20 per pound. It’s also important to note that the numbers above provide an estimated count and size range per pound of every type of shrimp, there may still be some variation.

Around rural or non-coastal areas, it may be harder to find larger shrimp or “Colossal” sizes without going to specialty grocery stores or ordering them online. For instance, in places like Montana, you will be able to find sizes that range from “Extra Jumbo” to “Extra Small” at a local grocery store.

What is a Shrimp’s Average Size?

According to Britannica, the average size of shrimp can range between 1.5 to 3 inches. However, the smallest shrimp can be as small as ½ an inch, and some may even be as tiny as 2mm, while the biggest shrimp can grow as big as 8 inches in length.

How Much Shrimp to Serve Per Person?

If you plan to serve your shrimp as the main course, make sure to set aside a minimum of 4 ounces for each person if you want to serve raw shrimp but around 3 ounces if it’s cooked. However, the actual number of shrimp to serve will depend on the size of the shrimp; as discussed above, some will come in smaller sizes and others will come in larger sizes. Some people will set aside 6 to 8 ounces per person to be on the safe side — if you plan to serve a shrimp boil along with plenty of other ingredients, then 4 ounces should be enough.