Highest Protein Bars (2026)

Most 'protein' bars are mostly carbs and fat with protein sprinkled on top. We score every bar by Protein Density and rank from highest to lowest.

11 products tracked · sorted by Protein Density (% of calories from protein)

HIGHEST PROTEIN BARS · TOP 8 OF 11

Ranked by Protein Density

Percent of calories from protein. Secondary column is grams of protein per serving.

Top 8 of 11
PLATINUM · 40%+
GOLD · 25–39%
SILVER · 15–24%
AVOID · under 15%
The same data, as a table
Filters11/11
Showing 11 / 11

Tiers are set by % of calories from protein

QualityServing
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar
David
74.7%28g15018.7g2.94gComplete75g
Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar
Quest
46.7%21g18011.7g2.21gComplete60g
Birthday Cake Protein Bar
Quest
42%21g20010.5g2.21gComplete60g
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar
Quest
42%21g20010.5g2.21gComplete60g
Cookies and Cream Protein Bar
Quest
42%21g20010.5g2.21gComplete60g
Caramel Cashew Protein Bar
Barebells
40%20g20010g2.1gComplete55g
Creamy Crisp Protein Bar
Barebells
40%20g20010g2.1gComplete55g
Coconut Protein Bar
Built
37.8%17g1809.4g1.79gComplete55g
Salted Caramel Protein Bar
Built
37.8%17g1809.4g1.79gComplete55g
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
ALOHA
23.3%14g2405.8g1.09gComplete (mod.)56g
Chocolate Chip Protein Bar
RXBAR
22.9%12g2105.7g0.94gComplete (mod.)52g

Visualize the highest protein bars

The same data, charted — see efficiency at a glance.

Highest protein bars

Top 11 by protein / 100 cal.

1. David Cho…18.728g protein · 150 kcal2. Quest Cho…11.721g protein · 180 kcal3. Quest Bir…10.521g protein · 200 kcal4. Quest Cho…10.521g protein · 200 kcal5. Quest Coo…10.521g protein · 200 kcal6. Barebells…1020g protein · 200 kcal7. Barebells…1020g protein · 200 kcal8. Built Coc…9.417g protein · 180 kcal9. Built Sal…9.417g protein · 180 kcal10. ALOHA Ch…5.814g protein · 240 kcal11. RXBAR Ch…5.712g protein · 210 kcal

Bars colored by Protein Density (% of calories from protein) tier. Values in g/100cal.

  1. David Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar: 18.7 g/100cal (platinum tier), 28g protein, 150 kcal
  2. Quest Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar: 11.7 g/100cal (platinum tier), 21g protein, 180 kcal
  3. Quest Birthday Cake Protein Bar: 10.5 g/100cal (platinum tier), 21g protein, 200 kcal
  4. Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar: 10.5 g/100cal (platinum tier), 21g protein, 200 kcal
  5. Quest Cookies and Cream Protein Bar: 10.5 g/100cal (platinum tier), 21g protein, 200 kcal
  6. Barebells Caramel Cashew Protein Bar: 10 g/100cal (platinum tier), 20g protein, 200 kcal
  7. Barebells Creamy Crisp Protein Bar: 10 g/100cal (platinum tier), 20g protein, 200 kcal
  8. Built Coconut Protein Bar: 9.4 g/100cal (gold tier), 17g protein, 180 kcal
  9. Built Salted Caramel Protein Bar: 9.4 g/100cal (gold tier), 17g protein, 180 kcal
  10. ALOHA Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough: 5.8 g/100cal (silver tier), 14g protein, 240 kcal
  11. RXBAR Chocolate Chip Protein Bar: 5.7 g/100cal (silver tier), 12g protein, 210 kcal
Highest protein bars

Calories per serving vs. protein per 100 cal. Up-and-left is more efficient. Labels show the top performers directly; tap or focus a dot for brand and exact numbers.

PlatinumGoldSilverAvoid0125250375500Calories per serving3.756.2510Protein g per 100 calChocolate Chi…Chocolate Bro…Birthday Cake…Chocolate Chi…1234Salted Carame…Chocolate Chi…Chocolate Chi…

Too tight to label directly — numbered on the chart above:

  1. 1. Quest Cookies and Cream Protein Bar
  2. 2. Barebells Caramel Cashew Protein Bar
  3. 3. Barebells Creamy Crisp Protein Bar
  4. 4. Built Coconut Protein Bar
Highest protein bars: calories per serving and protein per 100 calories
FoodCaloriesProtein g per 100 calProtein (g)Tier
David Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar15018.728platinum
Quest Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar18011.721platinum
Quest Birthday Cake Protein Bar20010.521platinum
Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar20010.521platinum
Quest Cookies and Cream Protein Bar20010.521platinum
Barebells Caramel Cashew Protein Bar2001020platinum
Barebells Creamy Crisp Protein Bar2001020platinum
Built Coconut Protein Bar1809.417gold
Built Salted Caramel Protein Bar1809.417gold
ALOHA Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough2405.814silver
RXBAR Chocolate Chip Protein Bar2105.712silver
Static image of this chart (for sharing)
Bar chart: top 11 Highest protein bars foods ranked by Protein / 100 cal. 1. David Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar, 18.7 g/100cal, 28g protein, 150 kcal. 2. Quest Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar, 11.7 g/100cal, 21g protein, 180 kcal. 3. Quest Birthday Cake Protein Bar, 10.5 g/100cal, 21g protein, 200 kcal. 4. Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar, 10.5 g/100cal, 21g protein, 200 kcal. 5. Quest Cookies and Cream Protein Bar, 10.5 g/100cal, 21g protein, 200 kcal. Full ranking in the adjacent list.
Bar chart: top 11 Highest protein bars foods ranked by Protein / 100 cal. 1. David Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar, 18.7 g/100cal, 28g protein, 150 kcal. 2. Quest Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar, 11.7 g/100cal, 21g protein, 180 kcal. 3. Quest Birthday Cake Protein Bar, 10.5 g/100cal, 21g protein, 200 kcal. 4. Quest Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar, 10.5 g/100cal, 21g protein, 200 kcal. 5. Quest Cookies and Cream Protein Bar, 10.5 g/100cal, 21g protein, 200 kcal. Full ranking in the adjacent list.

How highest protein bars compares to every other category

Same Protein Density scoring, every category on one chart — some categories cluster at Platinum/Gold, others cluster at Silver/Avoid with zero Platinum picks.

Stacked bar matrix: Protein Density (% of calories from protein) tier distribution across 11 snack categories, best to worst by share at Gold tier or better. Highest protein yogurt: 10 Platinum, 0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein jerky: 9 Platinum, 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein cheese: 6 Platinum, 4 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein pasta: 3 Platinum, 7 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein cereal: 3 Platinum, 6 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein bars: 7 Platinum, 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 11 tracked. Highest protein chips: 4 Platinum, 4 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein oatmeal: 0 Platinum, 8 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein ice cream: 0 Platinum, 4 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein cookies: 0 Platinum, 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 4 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein granola: 0 Platinum, 0 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 Avoid, of 10 tracked.
Stacked bar matrix: Protein Density (% of calories from protein) tier distribution across 11 snack categories, best to worst by share at Gold tier or better. Highest protein yogurt: 10 Platinum, 0 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein jerky: 9 Platinum, 1 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein cheese: 6 Platinum, 4 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein pasta: 3 Platinum, 7 Gold, 0 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein cereal: 3 Platinum, 6 Gold, 1 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein bars: 7 Platinum, 2 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 11 tracked. Highest protein chips: 4 Platinum, 4 Gold, 0 Silver, 2 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein oatmeal: 0 Platinum, 8 Gold, 2 Silver, 0 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein ice cream: 0 Platinum, 4 Gold, 5 Silver, 1 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein cookies: 0 Platinum, 2 Gold, 4 Silver, 4 Avoid, of 10 tracked. Highest protein granola: 0 Platinum, 0 Gold, 6 Silver, 4 Avoid, of 10 tracked.

Browse other categories

Same Protein Density scoring, different snack types.

Going beyond snacks

Bars protein: common questions

Which protein bar has the most protein?

David Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Protein Bar leads: 28 g of protein in 150 kcal (a 75 g serving) — 74.7% Protein Density, Platinum tier. Runners-up: Quest Chocolate Brownie Protein Bar (46.7%, 21 g) and Quest Birthday Cake Protein Bar (42%, 21 g).

How much protein is in bars?

Protein ranges from 12 g to 28 g per serving across the 11 products we track (calories run 150-240 kcal); a typical serving lands around 20 g.

Are bars a good source of protein?

It depends on the pick. 9 of 11 bars reach Gold tier or better (25%+ of calories from protein). The rest land at Silver tier (15-24%) rather than Gold or better — lower concentration, not zero.

Nutrition data sourced from USDA FoodData Central and Open Food Facts. Tier rankings calculated by Protein Density (% of calories from protein). See methodology for the math.
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