Milk: Types, Weight & Baking Guide

The everyday liquid that adds moisture, richness, and a tender crumb to batters, doughs, custards, and sauces.

1 cup = 244g

Milk

Measured

poured, liquid measuring cup

What is milk?

Milk is mostly water, with milk fat, proteins (casein and whey), and natural sugar (lactose) making up the rest. Because water weighs about 1 gram per milliliter, a cup of milk weighs close to its volume — around 244 grams — no matter whether it’s whole, 2%, or skim.

It adds moisture, richness, and a tender crumb to cakes, breads, pancakes, custards, and sauces, and its sugars help crusts brown. For liquids a measuring cup is usually accurate enough, but a scale removes any doubt — 1 US cup is about 244g.

Measurement profile

Grams per cup: 244g
Cup standard: US cup / 240 ml
Ingredient state: liquid, whole
Confidence: Medium

Data last verified: August 4, 2026

Source observations

USDA FoodData Central — Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D (FDC 171265)244 g/1 source cup (exact volume unknown) · not specified (weighed sample)
King Arthur Baking — Ingredient Weight Chart227 g/1 source cup (exact volume unknown) · not specified

Why measurements vary

Fat and milk solids

Whole, reduced-fat, and skim milk are close in density but not chemically identical.

Temperature and foam

Temperature shifts density slightly, while bubbles or froth can make a volume reading less reliable.

How to measure milk

poured, liquid measuring cup

Milk is a liquid, so it should be measured in a liquid measuring cup at eye level for accuracy.
Whole, low-fat, and skim milk have nearly identical densities, so the gram weight barely changes between them.
Temperature has a small effect on milk's density — cold milk is marginally denser than milk at room temperature.

Types & varieties

Whole milk

244g per cup

About 3.25% fat — the richest common dairy milk.

2% reduced-fat milk

Lighter body, weighs almost the same as whole.

Skim (nonfat) milk

Fat removed; density barely changes.

Buttermilk

Tangy and slightly thicker; great for tender crumbs.

Evaporated milk

Water reduced, so it's a touch heavier per cup.

Common milk measurements

These limited reference values are derived from the canonical cup weight. Use the converter for any other amount.

Cups	Grams
¼ cup	61g
⅓ cup	81.3g
½ cup	122g
1 cup	244g

Common substitutes

Buttermilk

Adds tang and reacts with baking soda; thin plain yogurt works too.

Plant-based milk

Almond, oat, or soy milk swap 1:1 by volume in most recipes.

Half-and-half

Richer and heavier; dilute with water for a whole-milk stand-in.

Related measurement resources

Convert milk grams to cups

Convert cups of milk to grams

Browse related ingredient guides

How ingredient measurements are verified

Frequently asked questions

How many grams are in 1 cup of milk?

1 US cup of milk weighs about 244 grams. Because milk is mostly water, its weight is very close to its volume in milliliters.

Do whole and skim milk weigh the same?

Almost. Removing fat changes density only slightly, so a cup of whole, 2%, or skim milk all weigh roughly 244 grams.

Why do liquids weigh nearly the same as their volume?

Water weighs about 1 gram per milliliter, and milk is mostly water. That's why 240 ml of milk is close to 244 grams, unlike dry ingredients where density varies a lot.

Can I use buttermilk in place of regular milk?

Yes, but buttermilk is acidic. If a recipe uses baking soda, buttermilk can boost the rise; otherwise reduce other acids or add a pinch of baking soda.