Protein content
A 1 cup serving of milk (whole) contains 7.7 g of protein - a good source of protein, about 15% of the 50 g Daily Value.
Share of this food's calories that come from protein - it is moderately protein-dense.
| Serving | 1 cup (244 g) |
|---|---|
| Protein per serving | 7.7 g |
| Protein per 100 g | 3.15 g |
| Calories per serving | 149 kcal |
| Protein density | 21% of calories |
| Share of 50 g Daily Value | 15% |
| Protein quality | Complete protein |
| Category | Dairy |
| Food type | Prepared / processed |
| USDA record | FoodData Central #171265 |
A typical 1 cup serving of milk (whole) contains 7.7 grams of protein (3.15 g per 100 g), which makes it a good source of protein. That covers roughly 15% of the 50 g reference Daily Value, so it adds toward your protein total for the day.
Around 21% of the calories in milk (whole) come from protein, so it is moderately protein-dense. It contributes to a day's protein total, but the bulk of what it delivers is energy rather than amino acids - treat it as a contributor alongside a denser source, not as the protein in a meal.
Among the 81 dairy foods in the database, milk (whole) ranks 32nd by protein per serving, and 361st out of all 796 foods on the site. Set against fontina cheese, another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (fontina cheese has 7.2 g per 1 oz).
It is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own. The serving above is measured by volume at 244 g. The per-100 g figure lets you compare it directly against any other food here, whatever its serving.
Source: USDA FoodData Central #171265 - "Milk, whole, 3.25% milkfat, with added vitamin D" (SR Legacy, published 4/1/2019). Values are the published reference figures for that record, not lab measurements for a specific brand or batch.
Quick answers
Milk (whole) has 3.15 g of protein per 100 g. A typical 1 cup serving (244 g) provides 7.7 g.
Yes. Milk (whole) is a complete protein - it supplies all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts, so it can carry a meal's protein on its own.
A 1 cup serving of milk (whole) contains 7.7 g of protein, about 15% of the 50 g reference Daily Value.
Milk (whole) is a good source of protein, and about 21% of its calories come from protein, which makes it moderately protein-dense. Set against fontina cheese, another dairy food entry in the database, a serving carries about 0.5 g more protein (fontina cheese has 7.2 g per 1 oz).
Related
Head to head