Everything You to Know About Shrimp Sizes and Counts

Shrimp sizing goes beyond just small, medium, and large. Learn how to understand the codes on bags of shrimp at the store.

Picture this: You’re about to make a delicious shrimp dish like Shrimp Étoufée or Coconut Shrimp , and the recipe calls for small, medium, or large shrimp . Sounds easy, right? But when you get to the supermarket, the bags of frozen shrimp you find there often don’t have the sizes labeled on the bag. Instead, you’re looking at numbers like 16/20, 21/30, or 31/35. The same goes for fresh shrimp; depending on where you are buying, some seafood markets will display these same mysterious numbers. Though it’s not exactly obvious, this shrimp sizing system is easy to decode. Here’s everything you need to know about shrimp sizes and counts.

Related: What's the Difference Between Shrimp and Prawns?

Decoding the shrimp count

The numbers on bags of frozen shrimp refer to its shrimp count, the approximate number of shrimp you’re getting per pound, which is how shrimp size is measured in the United States. The slash indicates the range: 16/20 means between 16 and 20 shrimp per pound.

How shrimp count translates to size

Shrimp comes in small, medium, large, jumbo, and colossal sizes. According to the New York Fulton Fish Market , a 16/20 range represents colossal shrimp, likely the largest you’ll find in a store. Colossal shrimp can also be labeled with a “U” (meaning “under”). For instance, a bagel labeled “U-10” indicates that there are under 10 shrimp in a one pound bag.

Here’s how the sizes break down:

If you still find yourself drawing a blank at the grocery store, remember this: The smaller the number, the larger the shrimp.

What shrimp size should I buy?

The right shrimp size to buy is the right size for the recipe you're making. Small or medium shrimp are great for a stir-fry because they cook quickly. For dishes where it’s easy to overcook shrimp, like buttery shrimp scampi or crunchy fried shrimp tacos , go for large. Colossal shrimp are perfect for hearty seafood stews , grilled shrimp , or on their own for shrimp cocktail .

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