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How Much Does A Gallon Of Milk Weigh?

How much a gallon of milk weighs is a more complicated question than you may think. When you ask how much milk weighs most people assume you mean cows milk. It’s typically sold as whole milk, 2%, 1% and skim. Whole milk has the most fat and weighs around 8.6 lbs per gallon. Skim milk has the least fat and weighs approximately 8.4 lbs per gallon. 1% weighs 8.45 lbs per gallon while 2% fat milk weighs about 8.5 lbs per gallon. But that’s just the weight of cows milk. Did you know you can buy milk from several other animals like raw goats milk which weighs 8.6875 lbs per gallon or sheeps milk weighing in at 8.75 lbs per gallon. And then there’s nut milk to consider like almond and pistachio which both weigh approximately 8.4 lbs per gallon.

A gallon is a measure of volume and not weight. To make answering the question even more complicated, a gallon isn’t the same in every country. For example, in Canada and the UK a gallon of whole cows milk weighs about 10.3 lbs (4.67kgs). This is because their gallon is larger than ours.

Finally, there are drinks like chocolate milk to consider. Depending on how much chocolate you add and what type of milk you use, the weight per gallon can change. The Great Value chocolate milk you can buy at Walmart weighs around 8.75 lbs per gallon. It’s whole milk with a fair amount of chocolate mixed in. But you could make chocolate milk heavier or lighter if you made it yourself.

In the article ahead we’ll discuss each type of milk along with how much they weigh per gallon.

What A Gallon Of Milk Weighs

The following chart lists how much each type of milk weighs per gallon, 1/2 gallon and quart along with its fat content.

  Weight Per Gallon Per 1/2 Gallon Per Quart Fat Content
Whole Milk
8.6 lbs 4.3 lbs 2.15 lbs 3.25%
Reduced Fat 2%
8.5 lbs 4.25 lbs 2.125 lbs 2%
Low Fat 1%
8.45 lbs 4.225 lbs 2.11 lbs 1%
Non-Fat Skim 8.4 lbs 4.2 lbs 2.1 lbs 0%
Raw Goat Milk
8.68 lbs 4.34 lbs 2.17 lbs 3.5%
Almond Milk
8.4 lbs 4.2 lbs 2.1 lbs 3 grams per 8 ounce
Buffalo Milk 8.9 lbs 4.45 lbs 2.225 lbs 5%
Sheep Milk 8.7 lbs 4.35 lbs 2.175 lbs 4%
Camel Milk 8.5 lbs 4.25 lbs 2.125 lbs 2%
Chocolate Milk 8.75 lbs 4.375 lbs 2.1875 lbs 3.25% when made with whole milk

Why Milk Weight Varies By Country

The actual weight of milk doesn’t change no matter what country you’re in. However, the units of measure does.

A gallon of milk in one country may not be the same size as a gallon in another. The United States has this problem a lot because we use the Imperial System of measure while most other countries use the Metric system.

Here in the United States, a gallon of milk is 128 fluid ounces. But in the UK and many other countries, a British Imperial gallon is 160 ounces. That’s 25% more milk or 1.2 US gallons for every 1 British Imperial gallon.
This same issue is found all over the world because most countries don’t use the United States system of measurement.

If you’re asking how much a gallon of milk weighs because you’re following a recipe, it’s important to understand the author of the recipe’s unit of measure.

I recommend always measuring milk by weight and not volume. A gallon is a measure of volume. And so the size of a gallon change from country to country. But the weight of the milk will stay the same.

how much does a gallon of milk weigh whole milk gallon & glass

How Does Fat Effect The Weight Of Milk?

The difference in weight between types of milk is the fat content.

The most common type of milk sold in stores is cow milk. It comes in different varieties based on fat content. The weight per gallon changes with the fat content.

  • Whole Milk has 3.25% fat. It weighs 8.6 lbs per gallon
  • Reduced Fat milk has 2% fat. It weighs 8.5 lbs per gallon
  • Low Fat Milk has 1% fat. It weighs 8.45 lbs per gallon
  • Fat-Free Milk a.k.a. Skim Milk has 0% fat. It weighs 8.4 lbs per gallon

As you can see, 1% of fat equals about .05 lbs per gallon.

Milk that comes from other animals tends to be fattier than cow milk. That’s why raw goats milk weighs about 8.68 lbs per gallon. It contains about 4% fat which makes it slightly heavier per gallon than whole cows milk.

Here are a few other animals milk you can buy per gallon with their weight:

  • Camel milk is leaner than whole cows milk at around 2% fat. It weighs about 8.5 lbs per gallon.
  • Sheep milk is very fatty and weighs approximately 8.7 lbs per gallon.
  • Buffalo milk is one of the richest and fattiest milk you can buy. It weighs in at around 8.9 lbs per gallon.

Nut milk is very lean which makes it light weight. The most common nut milk sold in store is almond milk. It weighs about 8.4 lbs per gallon which is equal to fat-free cow milk.

Lastly, there are milk products which contain other ingredients like chocolate milk. The chocolate adds additional weight, but how much depends on how much chocolate powder or syrup that’s in the milk. A typical gallon of chocolate whole milk you can buy at Walmart weighs 8.75 lbs per gallon.

Which Is Heavier A Gallon Of Milk Or Water?

A gallon of milk weighs more than a gallon of water. This is due to the fat and other nutrients found in milk. A gallon of water weighs 8.35 lbs vs the 8.6 lbs for a gallon of whole cows milk.

A gallon of milk contains about 87% water. The rest is made up of fats, protein, carbohydrate (lactose), minerals and other micronutrients and vitamins. Those additional elements add weight to the milk.

Fat-free milk is the closest to water and weighs in at around 8.4 lbs per gallon. So even without the fat, there’s a .5 lbs pound per gallon difference between a gallon of whole cows milk and a gallon of water. This .5 lbs per gallon difference is the weight of all those other nutrients.

Break Down Of Milk Weight Per Gallon

Here’s a breakdown of the most commonly sold milk with their weights.

  • How much does half-gallon of milk weigh? A half-gallon of whole milk weighs approximately 4.3 lbs.
  • How much does a quart of milk weigh? A quart of whole milk weighs about 2.15 lbs.
  • How much does a gallon of almond milk weigh? A gallon of almond milk weighs about 8.4 lbs per gallon which is equal to fat-free milk.
  • How much does a gallon of skim milk weigh? A gallon of skim milk weighs about 8.4 lbs per gallon.
  • How much does a gallon of low-fat 1% milk weigh? A gallon of low-fat 1% milk weighs approximately 8.45 lbs.
  • How much does a gallon of reduced-far 2% milk weigh? A gallon of reduced-fat 2% milk weighs about 8.5 lbs.
  • How much does a gallon of chocolate milk weigh? A gallon of whole chocolate milk weighs about 8.75 lbs.

Keep in mind that these weights are averages. The actual weight may vary a little based on the brand you buy and the exact fat content found in the milk.

how much does a gallon of milk weigh milk pitcher glass & cookies

Does The Weight Of Milk Matter In Cooking Or Baking?

Most recipes use volume instead of weight to determine how much milk to use. That’s because it’s easier to measure a liquid in volume rather than weight. However, weight is actually a more accurate way to measure milk because it’s more consistent wherever you go in the world.

I many countries around the world, a gallon is larger than the U.S. gallon. This is because the United States uses the Imperial System of measure and not the metric system. Here in the United States, a gallon of milk is 128 fluid ounces. But in the UK and many other countries, a British Imperial gallon is 160 ounces. That’s 25% more milk or 1.2 US gallons for every 1 British Imperial gallon.

This same issue is found all over the world because most countries don’t use the United States system of measurement.

If you want to weigh your milk instead of using a volume measurement, use a good quality food scale.

Cooking with volume is a lot easier but learning to do it by weight can come in handy. Especially if you find recipes online that come from other countries. I bake European recipes all the time and almost always have to convert their measurements to U.S.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Raw Milk Weigh?

A gallon of raw unpasteurized milk taken straight from the cow weighs about 8.7 – 8.8 lbs per gallon. When milk is pasteurized, it’s purified for consumption and the fat content is reduced. This lowers the weight of the milk per gallon.

Raw milk can be turned into milk for drinking or creams which have a higher fat content. Because of the additional fat, a gallon of cream weighs more than a gallon of milk.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Whole Milk Weigh?

A gallon of whole milk weighs about 8.6 lbs per gallon. It contains 3.25% fat and lots of protein and other nutrients.

When people think about milk, they’re usually picturing cows milk unless stated otherwise. It’s the standard milk sold in stores and used in recipes. And the most popular type of milk is whole milk.

A glass of whole milk contains 150 calories and about eight grams of fat.

Milk is a great source of calcium, protein, vitamin D and many other nutrients.

Whole milk weighs the most of any cows milk sold in stores. That weight is primarily due to its fat and nutritional content.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Reduced-Fat 2% Milk Weigh?

A gallon of reduced-fat 2% milk weighs 8.5 lbs per gallon. It contains 2% fat and lots of protein and other nutrients.

Reduced-fat 2% milk is the second most popular type of milk sold in stores. It contains all the nutrients of whole milk with slightly less fat. Reducing the fat content is enough to also lower it’s weight.

An 8 oz. glass of 2% milk contains 120 calories and about 5 grams of fat.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Low-Fat 1% Milk Weigh?

A gallon of low-fat 1% milk weighs 8.45 lbs per gallon. It contains 1% fat and lots of protein and other nutrients.

Low-fat 1% milk is the third most popular type of milk sold in stores. It contains all the nutrients of whole milk with 2.25% less fat. Reducing the fat content is enough to also lower it’s weight by .15 lbs.

An 8 oz. glass of 1% milk contains 100 calories and about 2.5 grams of fat.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Non-Fat Skim Milk Weigh?

A gallon of non-fat skim milk weighs 8.4 lbs per gallon. It contains 0% fat but lots of protein and other nutrients.

Non-fat skim milk is the least popular type of milk sold in stores. It contains all the nutrients of whole milk but with 0% less fat. Reducing the fat content is enough to also lower it’s weight by .15 lbs.

Skim-milk is the closest in weight and consistency to water as you can get. It’s very watery because there’s no fat content to make it creamy.

An 8 oz. glass of 1% milk contains 80 calories and 0 grams of fat.

Removing Fat From Milk Lowers It’s Weight

All milk starts off as unpasteurized raw milk straight from the cow. It’s then purified for consumption and fat is removed. This creates whole milk, 2%, 1% and fat-free milk.

Removing fat from milk lowers it’s weight by approximately .05 lbs per gallon. However, the other nutrients stay the same. It’s only the fat that’s taken out of the milk. The protein, calcium, vitamins and minerals all stay the same.

If you’re drinking milk for the nutritional elements but don’t want the fat and calories found in whole milk, try a lower fat variety.

As fat is removed from the milk, it not only gets lighter but also thinner. Skim-milk has 0% fat which is why it’s basically the same consistency as water.

how much does a gallon of milk weigh almond milk

How Much Does A Gallon Of Almond Milk Weigh?

A gallon of almond milk weighs 8.4 lbs per gallon. It contains 0% fat but lots of protein and other nutrients.

If you want to avoid dairy but still want to drink milk, try almond. It’s a great alternative to cow and other animal milk.

Almond milk is made by mixing almonds with water. The almonds are crushed and passed through a strainer to reduce solids. It’s kind of like how olive oil is made. Only instead of oil, the almonds produce a milk.

Almond milk is plant based so it doesn’t have the same issues associated with animal milk like lactose. It has lots of nutritional value with very little fat which means it’s low in calories. Only containing 30 to 50 calories per 8 oz. glass.

Most almond milk contains about 2.5 grams of fat but 0 of that is saturated or trans fats.

Almond milk is rich in vitamins E and D as well as many other nutrients. And it’s a great source of calcium.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Raw Buffalo Milk Weigh?

A gallon of raw buffalo milk weighs 8.9 lbs per gallon. This is by far the thickest and creamiest milk we tested.

Buffalo milk is naturally A2/A2. Buffalo did not go through a genetic mutation like cows, so their milk contains 100% A2 beta-casein protein. This makes it less allergenic and more digestible than non-A2 cow milk.

Buffalo milk is highly nutritious. Compared to regular cows’ milk, it contains double the protein, double the fat, double the calcium, up to 40% more vitamins and minerals, and half the cholesterol. If you’re looking for a low fat, low calorie milk, this isn’t it. However, if you want a creamy milk that’s high in nutritional value, buffalo milk is an option.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Sheep Milk Weigh?

A gallon of sheep milk weighs 8.7 lbs. per gallon. This is less than buffalo milk but more than whole cows’ milk.

Sheep milk is slightly thicker and creamier than whole cows’ milk. It contains about 4.5% fat which makes it thicker and heavier. And this also increases it’s calories. But it’s easier for some people to digest compared to cow and goat milk.

Sheep milk is one of the most nutritious on sale in the world today. The only other milk that can compare are camel and the buffalo.

Sheep milk does not have a strong smell or taste like some goat milk which makes it preferable for some.

It’s a highly nutritious milk containing protein, calcium, iron, magnesium, zinc, thiamin, riboflavin, Vitamins B6 and B12, Vitamin D, the medium chain amino acids, linoleic acids and all 10 of the essential amino acids.

Sheep milk contain double the amount of butterfat than goat and cow milk. But the fat globules in sheep milk are smaller and more homogeneous. Smaller fat globules are more easily digested which is why people that can’t usually tolerate cow milk can drink sheep milk. And it’s less likely to cause high cholesterol.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Camel’s Milk Weigh?

A gallon of camel’s milk weighs 8.5 lbs. per gallon. This places it around the same as 2% Reduced-Fat cows’ milk.

Here in the United States, drinking camels milk may seem strange, but in the Middle East, Asia and parts of Europe, it’s totally normal and a pat of a healthy diet. Camels milk is bottled just like our cows’ milk and sold in stores.

Camel milk is an excellent replacement for cow, goat or soy milk because is contains less lactose. It’s completely homogenized with naturally occurring Omega-3 fatty acids. This makes it easier to digest for some people who have problems drinking cows’ milk.

The taste is slightly sweet and creamy. It’s great for making yogurt, kefir or ice cream. And it’s naturally low in fat containing about the same as 2% reduced-fat cows’ milk.

Also, camel milk includes many vitamins like Vitamin D, Calcium, Thiamin, Proteins, Amino Acids, Iron, etc.

Camels milk is especially high in Iron and Zinc which makes it great for the immune system.It’s also a great pro-biotic which is great for healthy bacteria growth in the gut making it easy to digest. This may improve gastrointestinal health and systemic immunity.

How Much Does A Gallon Of Raw Goats Milk Weigh?

A gallon of goats milk weighs 8.68 lbs per gallon. This is just slightly heavier than whole cows’ milk because it contains a little more fat.

Goats milk is very thick and nutritious. It contains 168 calories, 9 grams or protein and 10 grams of fat per cup. It’s fat provide better digestibility than cows’ milk because the fat globule size is smaller with high short and medium chain fatty acids. This means goats milk is more homogeneous and easier for some to digest than cow milk.

Goats’ milk also has about 12% less lactose than cows’ milk which is good for people suffering from lactose allergies.

It’s a rich milk that’s slightly creamy and nutritious. But it can sometimes have a smell and taste when not properly pasteurized.

Research suggests that goat’s milk may enhance the body’s ability to absorb nutrients from foods. In contrast, cow’s milk can interfere with the absorption of minerals like iron and copper when consumed in the same meal.

Goats milk is also high in “pre-biotic” carbohydrates, which help feed the beneficial bacteria living in our gut. These carbohydrates are called oligosaccharides. They’re the same type of carbohydrate present in human breast milk and help to support “good” bacteria in a baby’s digestive tract.

All in all, goats’ milk is a good and healthy alternative to cow’s milk if you’re looking for one. It’s packed with nutrients but has less lactose and easier to digest fats.

how much does a gallon of milk weigh chocolate milk glass

How Much Does A Gallon Of Chocolate Milk Weigh?

A gallon of chocolate milk weighs 8.75 lbs per gallon. This is based on chocolate milk sold at Walmart which is made using whole milk.

The weight of a gallon of chocolate milk will vary based on the type of milk that’s used along with the amount of chocolate powder or syrup. You can buy chocolate milk in the same varieties as milk. Such as whole, 2%, 1% and non-fat.

Chocolate adds weight to the milk. The more chocolate you use, the heavier the milk will be per gallon. I tested store brand chocolate milk sold at Walmart to get the weight per gallon. But other manufacturers weight may vary if they use a different amount or type of chocolate.

Chocolate milk and chocolate drink are different things. Drinks like Y00-Hoo are a chocolate favored drink and not a milk product. This generally makes them lighter per gallon than actual chocolate milk.

Summary: How Much Does A Gallon of Milk Weigh?

How much a gallon of milk weighs is a more complicated question than you may think. When you ask how much milk weighs most people assume you mean cows milk. It’s typically sold as whole milk, 2%, 1% and skim. Whole milk has the most fat and weighs around 8.6 lbs per gallon. Skim milk has the least fat and weighs approximately 8.4 lbs per gallon. 1% weighs 8.45 lbs per gallon while 2% fat milk weighs about 8.5 lbs per gallon. But that’s just the weight of cows milk. Did you know you can buy milk from several other animals like raw goats milk which weighs 8.6875 lbs per gallon or sheeps milk weighing in at 8.75 lbs per gallon. And then there’s nut milk to consider like almond and pistachio which both weigh approximately 8.4 lbs per gallon.

A gallon is a measure of volume and not weight. To make answering the question even more complicated, a gallon isn’t the same in every country. For example, in Canada and the UK a gallon of whole cows milk weighs about 10.3 lbs (4.67kgs). This is because their gallon is larger than ours.

Finally, there are drinks like chocolate milk to consider. Depending on how much chocolate you add and what type of milk you use, the weight per gallon can change. The Great Value chocolate milk you can buy at Walmart weighs around 8.75 lbs per gallon. It’s whole milk with a fair amount of chocolate mixed in. But you could make chocolate milk heavier or lighter if you made it yourself.

If you have any questions about milk, email any time.

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