Dark Chocolate vs Milk Chocolate: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Dark chocolate has 7.8 g of protein and 598 calories, while milk chocolate has 7.7 g of protein and 535 calories. Dark chocolate is higher in protein and calories.

Dark chocolate and milk chocolate are popular treats, each with distinct nutritional profiles. This comparison highlights their differences in calories, sugar, and protein content.

What Is the Difference Between Dark Chocolate and Milk Chocolate?

Dark chocolate is a type of chocolate that contains a higher percentage of cocoa solids and less sugar than milk chocolate. It is often considered to have more health benefits due to its higher cocoa content. Milk chocolate is a sweet chocolate made with milk powder or condensed milk, giving it a creamier texture and sweeter taste. It typically contains less cocoa and more sugar than dark chocolate.

Dark Chocolate vs Milk Chocolate: Nutrition Side by Side

The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of dark chocolate and milk chocolate based on their nutritional values.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Dark chocolate (70-85%)	Milk chocolate
Calories	598 kcal	535 kcal
Protein	7.8 g	7.7 g
Carbs	45.9 g	59.4 g
Sugar	24.0 g	51.5 g
Fat	42.6 g	29.7 g
Fiber	10.9 g	3.4 g
Sodium	20 mg	79 mg

Which Is Better, Dark Chocolate or Milk Chocolate?

For weight loss: Dark chocolate contains 598 calories, while milk chocolate has 535 calories. Choosing milk chocolate may be more suitable for weight loss due to its lower calorie content.

For muscle and protein: Dark chocolate has 7.8 g of protein compared to 7.7 g in milk chocolate. Therefore, dark chocolate is slightly better for muscle building.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Dark chocolate has 45.9 g of carbs and 24.0 g of sugar, while milk chocolate has 59.4 g of carbs and 51.5 g of sugar. Dark chocolate is lower in both carbs and sugar.

How to Track Dark chocolate and Milk chocolate Accurately

Portion sizes and macronutrient content can be easily misjudged, affecting dietary choices. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein?

Dark chocolate has 7.8 g of protein, while milk chocolate has 7.7 g of protein.

Which has fewer calories?

Milk chocolate has 535 calories, while dark chocolate has 598 calories.

What is the sugar content in dark chocolate?

Dark chocolate contains 24.0 g of sugar per 100 g.

What is the fat content in milk chocolate?

Milk chocolate contains 29.7 g of fat per 100 g.

How much fiber is in dark chocolate?

Dark chocolate has 10.9 g of fiber per 100 g.

What are the carbohydrate values for both chocolates?

Dark chocolate has 45.9 g of carbs, while milk chocolate has 59.4 g of carbs.

Key Takeaways

• Dark chocolate has 598 calories per 100 g.
• Milk chocolate has 535 calories per 100 g.
• Dark chocolate contains 7.8 g of protein.
• Milk chocolate contains 7.7 g of protein.
• Dark chocolate has 24.0 g of sugar.
• Milk chocolate has 51.5 g of sugar.