When is milk cheapest?

The best time to buy milk, from 20 years of U.S. government shelf prices.

Barely moves

Milk barely has a season: buy it when you need it.

The cheapest month (May) runs only 1.4% below trend and the dearest (December) 1.4% above: on $4.10 a gallon that’s about 12¢. A sale at your store moves the price far more than the month does.

Milk: price by month

Typical price each month compared with that year’s trend, 2006–2025. The bar is the median year; the thin line spans the middle half of years.

−4%−3%−2%−1%trend+1%+2%+3%+4%JanJanuary: typically 1% above trend (half of years between −0.5% and +1.8%; 20 years)FebFebruary: typically 0.3% below trend (half of years between −1.8% and +0.1%; 20 years)MarMarch: typically 0.6% below trend (half of years between −1.8% and +0.3%; 20 years)AprApril: typically 0.9% below trend (half of years between −1.9% and +0.2%; 19 years)May−1.4%May: typically 1.4% below trend (half of years between −2% and −0.4%; 19 years)JunJune: typically 1.1% below trend (half of years between −2.5% and +0.2%; 19 years)JulJuly: typically 0.1% below trend (half of years between −1.7% and +1.4%; 19 years)AugAugust: typically 0.4% below trend (half of years between −1% and +1.3%; 19 years)SepSeptember: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.4% and +1.6%; 19 years)OctOctober: typically 0.4% above trend (half of years between −0.1% and +1%; 19 years)NovNovember: typically 1.2% above trend (half of years between −0.9% and +1.9%; 19 years)Dec+1.4%December: typically 1.4% above trend (half of years between −0.7% and +2.3%; 19 years)
cheaper than the year’s trend dearer middle half of years
See the numbers as a table
MonthTypical vs trendMiddle half of yearsYears
January+1%−0.5% to +1.8%20
February−0.3%−1.8% to +0.1%20
March−0.6%−1.8% to +0.3%20
April−0.9%−1.9% to +0.2%19
May−1.4%−2% to −0.4%19
June−1.1%−2.5% to +0.2%19
July−0.1%−1.7% to +1.4%19
August−0.4%−1% to +1.3%19
September+0.4%−0.4% to +1.6%19
October+0.4%−0.1% to +1%19
November+1.2%−0.9% to +1.9%19
December+1.4%−0.7% to +2.3%19

What that means at today’s prices

The U.S. average price of milk (for a gallon) was $4.10 in October 2026. At today’s price level, the typical May price is about $4.03 and the typical December price about $4.14.

Every year, its cheapest month

Each row is one year; the dot is the month milk was cheapest relative to that year’s trend. May was the single cheapest month in 1 of 19 years; the rest of the time it moved around, which is what having no real season looks like.

20242024: cheapest in May20232023: cheapest in August20222022: cheapest in January20212021: cheapest in March20202020: cheapest in June20192019: cheapest in February20182018: cheapest in February20172017: cheapest in June20162016: cheapest in July20152015: cheapest in April20142014: cheapest in July20132013: cheapest in September20122012: cheapest in June20112011: cheapest in January20102010: cheapest in December20092009: cheapest in March20082008: cheapest in March20072007: cheapest in March20062006: cheapest in JuneJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
See it as a table
YearCheapest month
2024May
2023August
2022January
2021March
2020June
2019February
2018February
2017June
2016July
2015April
2014July
2013September
2012June
2011January
2010December
2009March
2008March
2007March
2006June

More from the calendar

What else is cheap in May: what’s cheap in May. Dairy & eggs: eggs (Jun), butter (Nov), cheddar (Jun), ice cream (Jul). All 39 foods: the grocery price calendar.

Questions

What month is milk cheapest?

May. Over 2006–2025 the U.S. average price of milk in May was typically 1.4% below that year's trend, and below it in 16 of 19 years. December is the dearest month (1.4% above).

What is the most expensive month for milk?

December, typically 1.4% above the year's trend price.

How much is milk right now?

The U.S. average was $4.10 a gallon in October 2026 (BLS Average Price Data).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Average Price Data (U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted), the shelf prices BLS collects every month for the Consumer Price Index, through October 2026. Seasonal pattern and every number on this page computed by Online List Maker; how.

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