Last Updated on May 2, 2022 by Share My Kitchen
In this short article, you will get the answer to the question, “how much does one gallon of whole milk weigh?” It also discusses various methods of measuring milk.
What is the weight of one gallon of milk?
1 gallon of milk is equivalent to 3.9kgs or 8.6lbs. It can also be measured in pints, quarts, or ounces.
| Milk (Volume) | Milk (Weight in Kgs) | Milk (Weight in lbs) |
| 1 Gallon | 3.9 | 8.6 |
| 1 Quart | 0.96 | 2.11 |
| 1 Pint | 0.47 | 1.03 |
| 1 Cup | 0.20 | 0.44 |
Different types of gallons:
Every country around the world uses a specific standard system of measurement. However, the most common standards are the ones used in the US and the UK. Therefore, the amount of liquid that a gallon can hold will vary depending on which measuring system it is.
- In the United States, 1 gallon is equal to 3.785 liters, or 231 cubic inches.
- In the United Kingdom, the British imperial gallon measures 4.546 liters, or 277.4 cubic inches.
- On the other hand, the dry gallon in US standard of measurement is 4.405 liters, or 268.8 cubic inches.
These measurements are different, so the weight of milk around the globe also varies. However, you can measure it according to the calculations made by the system that you are using.
Using the US standard of measurement:
| 1 liter milk | 1.03 kg |
| 1 US gallon | 3.7854 |
Therefore, 1 US gallon of milk is:
3.7854*1.03 = 3.8989 kg
Using the UK standard of measurement:
| 1 liter of milk | 1.03 kg |
| 1 UK gallon | 1.201 US gallon |
Therefore, 1 UK gallon of milk is:
1.201*3.8989 = 4.682 kg
You can also adjust the units depending upon the system you’re using. 3.90 kg is approximately equivalent to 8.6 pounds or 137.6 ounces according to the US measurement system.
The Difference in Weight of a Gallon of Water and Gallon of Milk
You will also see a difference in the weight of a gallon depending on what liquid is present. Therefore, you might get different results when you compare milk and water.
In the United Kingdom, a gallon of milk weighs 10.32 pounds. However, the same gallon of water weighs about 10.02 pounds.
In the United States, the same gallon of water weighs 8.35 pounds, while the milk weighs 8.6 pounds.
Weight of Various Types of Milk in Gallons
How much does a gallon of 2% milk weigh?
Milk with 2% fat in it still has a bit of fat left. It also weighs 2% of the milk. While fat-free milk, the fats are not completely gone. Instead it is only 2% or less. Therefore, the effect on weight is not significant. Whole milk contains 126.75g of fats, while fat-free or 2% milk has 117g of milk. It is a small change, and may not have an impact on the gallon’s overall weight.
How much does a gallon of 1% milk weigh?
If the milk contains 1% fat, then there are 39 grams of fat per gallon. A gallon of whole milk weighs the same, which is 126.75g to 195g. Then, the 1% fat milk may weigh as much as 87.75g to 157g.
How much does a half-gallon weigh?
One full US gallon of milk weighs 8.6 pounds or 3.90 kg. Then, half-gallon of the milk volume is 4.3 pounds or 1.95 kg.
The British imperial gallon is 10.322 pounds or 4.682 kg. Then, half of it will equal 5.161 pounds or 2.341 kg, respectively. This is the weight of half a gallon of milk when measured based on the UK standard of measurement.
How much does a gallon of skim milk weigh?
Skim milk has a fat percentage of 0.2%. The weight of the milk is affected as the fat content drops. It also measures the same as the weight of 2% and 1% milk. Therefore, one gallon may contain within the range of 1 to 78g of fat. Since the amount of fat is not significant, it does not cause a change in the total weight.
How much does a gallon of cow milk weigh?
Different breeds and weights of cows, as well as the areas where they are have an impact on how different their milk are. The weather and the feed of the cows can also affect the milk. Therefore, it is impossible to accurately measure how much a gallon of cow milk weighs. Furthermore, there are different fat percentages in cow milk. It can be anywhere from 3.25% up to 5%. However, you can still measure using a weighing scale, with consideration of the fat and measurement system prior to measuring.
