How much does Durian weigh?

Have you ever tried to lift a cannonball covered in pyramid-shaped spikes? That is roughly the sensation of picking up a mature durian for the first time. As a farmer here in San Diego, I have spent years cultivating tropicals in controlled microclimates, and few fruits command respect quite like the “King of Fruits”.

When customers visit us at Exotic Fruits and Vegetables, their first question is often about the smell, but their second question is almost always about the sheer heft of these biological weapons.

Alexander Mitchell

The weight of a durian varies drastically depending on the specific cultivar (variety), the growing conditions, and the time of harvest. In the scientific world, we call this species Durio zibethinus, but out in the orchard, we just call them "the widowmakers" due to the damage they can cause if they fall from a 50-foot tree.

Generally, a whole market-ready durian will weigh anywhere from 2 to 11 pounds (approximately 1 to 5 kilograms). However, that number on the scale tells you very little about how much food you are actually taking home.

Most commercial durians sold in the United States, specifically the Thai varieties found in Asian markets, average between 5 and 7 pounds.

I remember my first successful harvest of a ‘Monthong’ variety here in my greenhouse. I had been nurturing the tree for seven years. I climbed the ladder, cut the stem, and nearly toppled over when the 9-pound fruit swung into my collection net. It felt less like harvesting fruit and more like landing a large fish. The density of a durian is deceptive; it is a solid armored tank of a fruit.

Weight by Variety: Not All Kings Are Equal

If you are shopping in San Diego or ordering online, you will likely encounter three main varieties. Each has a distinct weight profile. The Thai ‘Monthong’ (Golden Pillow) is the sumo wrestler of the group, known for being massive. The Malaysian ‘Musang King’ (Mao Shan Wang) is generally smaller, more compact, and significantly more expensive per pound.

Here at Exotic Fruits and Vegetables, we track average weights to help our customers estimate shipping costs and yield. Here is the breakdown of what you can expect to lift:

Do you notice the discrepancy? A Monthong can easily be double the weight of a Musang King. This matters because durian is almost always sold by weight, yet the shell (husk) is inedible waste.

The Yield Ratio: Paying for Armor

This is where the math gets painful for the uninitiated. When you buy an apple, you eat almost 95% of the weight. When you buy a durian, you are paying mostly for a spiky compost additive. The edible part of the fruit is the “aril”—the creamy, custard-like flesh surrounding the seed. The “husk” (shell) and the central pith (core) make up the majority of the mass.

Expect a gross-to-net yield of only 15% to 35%. A 10-pound durian might only provide 2 pounds of edible fruit.

Think of it like buying a whole lobster. You pay for the heavy shell, the claws, and the legs just to get to the meat inside. It is an investment in experience as much as nutrition. We frequently explain to our CSA members at Exotic Fruits and Vegetables that the larger the fruit, the thicker the shell usually is.

A 10-pound monster might have a rind that is 2 inches thick, whereas a smaller 4-pound fruit might have a thinner shell and nearly the same amount of meat.

This biological packaging is necessary. In the wild, that heavy husk protects the seeds from pests and impact damage when falling from the canopy. But for you, the consumer, it means you need to adjust your price expectations. If a whole fruit costs $10 per pound, the edible meat is effectively costing you $30 to $50 per pound.

Factors That Influence Weight

Why does one durian weigh 4 pounds and another 9 pounds on the same tree? It comes down to pollination and resources.

• Pollination Success: A durian fruit is divided into 5 chambers (locules). If all 5 are pollinated, the fruit fills out and becomes heavy and round. If only 2 chambers are pollinated, the fruit grows misshapen and stays light.
• Water Intake: These trees are thirsty. During the final month of fruit swelling, a single mature tree needs 40 to 50 gallons of water daily.
• Tree Age: Older trees (30+ years) often produce slightly smaller but denser fruits with more complex flavor profiles compared to young trees that pump out water-heavy giants.

Does a heavier fruit mean it is better quality? Absolutely not.

I once had a customer insist on the heaviest fruit in the bin, thinking he was getting the best value. He walked away with a 12-pound under-ripe Monthong that was mostly thick shell and hard, flavorless pulp. Meanwhile, a 4-pound Musang King right next to it was likely hiding wrinkled, bitter-sweet gold.

Navigating the American Market

Unless you are in Hawaii, Florida, or visiting a specialized grower like me in Southern California, you are likely buying frozen durian. The logistics of shipping a 10-pound spike-ball are nightmarish. Air-freighting a crate of whole durians costs a fortune because you are paying fuel surcharges on the heavy, useless shells.

This is why you often see “pucks” or trays of durian meat in the freezer aisle of Ranch 99 or H-Mart. These trays usually weigh exactly 400 grams (14 ounces) or 454 grams (1 pound). This is pure meat with the seed usually included.

Buying frozen trays is the most cost-effective way to eat durian in the USA, as you are not paying to ship the heavy husk across the Pacific Ocean.

However, nothing beats the experience of cracking open a whole fruit. The sound of the husk splitting—a deep, fibrous tearing noise—is part of the ritual. If you do buy whole fresh fruit in the US, it has likely been treated with a nitrogen freeze or a chemical dip to prevent ripening during transit. This can slightly alter the weight by drying out the husk, making it lighter than a fresh-off-the-tree specimen.

1. Check the Stem: A fresh stem is heavy and green. A dried stem means the fruit has lost moisture weight.
2. The Shake Test: Pick it up and shake it near your ear. If you feel a heavy “thud-thud” inside, the meat has detached from the shell walls (a sign of ripeness) and the fruit might be slightly lighter due to moisture loss.
3. Look for Symmetry: A lopsided fruit is lighter because it is missing arils in one or more chambers.

I recall a specific shipment we coordinated at Exotic Fruits and Vegetables where we imported premium “Black Thorn” durians. The boxes were labeled as 10kg (22 lbs) net weight, but upon arrival, they weighed 9.2kg. The moisture evaporation during the 3-day transit from Penang caused nearly 2 pounds of weight loss across the crate. That is just water leaving the husk, not the meat, but it illustrates how dynamic the weight of this fruit truly is.

A lighter fruit often indicates a more concentrated flavor, as excess water has evaporated, intensifying the sugars and sulfur compounds.

Why do we obsess over the weight? Because it is the primary metric of trade. But as a consumer, you should look past the scale. You are hunting for the creamy gold inside, not the heavy armor outside.

Final Thoughts on the Scale

Understanding the weight of a durian is about managing expectations. When you lift that 8-pound beast, know that you are carrying 5 pounds of protection and 3 pounds of pleasure. Whether you are dealing with a petite 3-pound Musang King or a massive 11-pound Monthong, the weight is a sign of the tree’s hard work.

The heavy burden of the shell is the price we pay for the treasure inside.

Next time you are at the market, do not just look for the biggest number on the scale. Look for the shape, smell the seams, and remember that quality often outweighs quantity when it comes to the King of Fruits. Have you decided which variety you want to try to lift first?