Milk Measurements and Conversions

Answer

244 g

1 US cup of milk weighs about 244 grams (8.61 oz), according to USDA FoodData Central.

1 tbsp ≈ 15.3 g · 1 tsp ≈ 5.1 g

Milk: cups to grams and ounces

Milk by volume and weight (whole milk (3.25% milkfat), USDA household portion "1 cup")
Amount	Grams	Ounces
1/8 cup	30.5 g	1.08 oz
1/4 cup	61 g	2.15 oz
1/3 cup	81.3 g	2.87 oz
1/2 cup	122 g	4.3 oz
2/3 cup	163 g	5.74 oz
3/4 cup	183 g	6.46 oz
1 cup	244 g	8.61 oz
1 1/2 cups	366 g	12.9 oz
2 cups	488 g	17.2 oz
1 tablespoon	15.3 g	0.54 oz
1 teaspoon	5.1 g	0.18 oz

Milk Conversions - Cups, Tbsp and Grams — What 1 cup, 1/2 cup, 1/3 cup, 1/4 cup, 1 tablespoon and 1 teaspoon of milk weigh, from USDA FoodData Central.

Other kinds of milk

Grams in 1 US cup (USDA FoodData Central)
Kind	Grams per cup	FDC ID
2% milk	244 g	171267
1% milk	244 g	170872
skim milk	245 g	171269

How to measure milk accurately

Use a clear liquid measuring cup with a spout. Set it on the counter, pour, and bend down to read the line at eye level rather than from above. A dry measuring cup filled to the brim holds the same amount, but it is hard to carry without spilling.

The ounce marks on a liquid cup are fluid ounces, which measure space. Milk is slightly denser than water, so a cup of it weighs a little more than a cup of water, which comes to 236.6 grams. For most recipes the difference is too small to notice.

For bread and other doughs, where the amount of liquid shapes the texture, weigh the milk instead. Set the bowl on the scale, zero it and pour the milk straight in, with no cup to scrape out. Recipes that list milk in milliliters (millilitres) work with any liquid cup that has metric lines.

Find out how much a cup of milk weighs in grams and ounces. Convert milk between cups, tablespoons, grams and ounces and compare 2% milk and 1% milk. — A cup of milk weighs 244 g; a cup of butter 227 g and a cup of all-purpose flour 125 g (USDA).

How many calories are in a cup of milk?

One cup of milk (244 g) has about 149 calories, 7.7 g of protein, 7.9 g of fat and 11.7 g of carbohydrate, according to USDA FoodData Central.

Calories and nutrients in milk by measure (USDA FoodData Central)
Measure	Grams	Calories	Protein (g)	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Sodium (mg)
1 cup	244	149	7.7	7.9	11.7	12.3	105
1 tablespoon	15	9	0.5	0.5	0.7	0.8	7
1 teaspoon	5.1	3	0.2	0.2	0.2	0.3	2
1 ounce	28	17	0.9	0.9	1.4	1.4	12
100 grams	100	61	3.2	3.3	4.8	5.1	43

Calories and nutrients in 1 cup of other kinds of milk
Kind	Grams	Calories	Protein (g)	Fat (g)	Carbs (g)	Sugars (g)	Sodium (mg)
2% milk	244	122	8.1	4.8	11.7	12.3	115
1% milk	244	102	8.2	2.4	12.2	12.7	107
skim milk	245	83	8.3	0.2	12.2	12.5	103

USDA’s values per 100 grams, scaled to each measure; a dash means USDA lists no value. Records: FDC 171265 (Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D); FDC 171267 (Milk, reduced fat, fluid, 2% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D); FDC 170872 (Milk, lowfat, fluid, 1% milkfat, with added vitamin A and vitamin D); FDC 171269 (Milk, nonfat, fluid, with added vitamin A and vitamin D (fat free or skim)), checked Sep 28, 2026.

Whole, 2% and skim milk

Fat content hardly changes the weight. USDA lists the same cup weight for whole, 2% and 1% milk, and skim (skimmed) milk comes out only slightly heavier, as the table of other kinds above shows. Cream rises to the top because fat is lighter than the rest of the milk, so taking it out leaves a slightly denser liquid.

The gap is too small to matter in the kitchen. Use the same conversions for any cow's milk, whether a recipe asks for whole milk or skim.

Plant milks such as oat, soy and almond milk are not covered by these USDA figures, so weigh them when accuracy matters.

Milk: questions

Is a cup of milk 8 oz?

By volume, yes: a US cup holds 8 fluid ounces. By weight, a cup of whole milk comes to about 8.6 ounces, slightly more than eight, because milk is denser than water. So 8 ounces of milk on a scale fills a bit less than a cup.

How much does a gallon of milk weigh?

A US gallon of whole milk weighs about 8.6 pounds, or 3.9 kilograms. A gallon of water weighs about 8.35 pounds, so the milk is a little heavier. A quart, a quarter of the gallon, weighs about 976 grams; the gallons to pounds converter handles other amounts.

How much does a pint of milk weigh in the UK?

A UK pint is an imperial pint of 568 ml, and that much whole milk weighs about 586 grams. A US pint is smaller, 473 ml, and its milk weighs about 488 grams.

How many grams is a tablespoon of milk?

About 15 grams, which matches USDA's own tablespoon portion. A teaspoon holds about 5 grams. For amounts this small, such as a splash for an egg wash or a glaze, a measuring spoon is quicker than a scale.

How much does a liter of milk weigh?

A liter (litre) of whole milk weighs about 1,031 grams, a little over a kilogram. In the same way, 100 ml of milk weighs about 103 grams, not the even 100 g you would get with water.

Source: USDA FoodData Central, FDC ID 171265 (Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D; portion “1 cup” = 244 g). USDA also lists 1 tbsp = 15 g and 1 quart = 976 g.

Sources: Weights: USDA FoodData Central · Last reviewed Sep 27, 2026 · Report an error