Dark chocolate vs Milk chocolate
Similar calories. Dark chocolate has more cocoa, so more fibre and iron and less sugar; milk chocolate is sweeter and softer, with more of its calories from sugar. Dark for the cocoa and less sugar, milk for the milder, sweeter taste. A square is a square either way.
Dark chocolate and Milk chocolate, per 100 g and per portion. A gap means USDA has no value for it — not zero.
| Dark chocolate · per 100 g | Milk chocolate · per 100 g | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 550 | 535 |
| Protein | 5.1 g | 7.7 g |
| Fat | 32.2 g | 29.7 g |
| Carbs | 60 g | 59.4 g |
| Fiber | 7.2 g | 3.4 g |
| Sugars | 46.1 g | 51.5 g |
| Sodium | 23 mg | 79 mg |
| Vitamins & minerals — where both carry data | ||
| Calcium | 57 mg | 189 mg |
| Folate | 0 µg | 12 µg |
| Iron | 8.1 mg | 2.4 mg |
| Magnesium | 152 mg | 63 mg |
| Niacin | 0.7 mg | 0.4 mg |
| Phosphorus | 214 mg | 208 mg |
| Potassium | 568 mg | 372 mg |
| Riboflavin | 0.1 mg | 0.3 mg |
| Thiamin | 0 mg | 0.1 mg |
| Vitamin A | 2 µg | 59 µg |
| Vitamin B12 | 0.2 µg | 0.8 µg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Vitamin C | 0 mg | 0 mg |
| Vitamin D | 0 µg | 0 µg |
| Vitamin E | 0.6 mg | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin K | 8 µg | 5.7 µg |
| Zinc | 2.1 mg | 2.3 mg |
Generic USDA foods (not brands), so both carry micronutrients. Numbers are per 100 g unless the portion toggle is on. USDA FoodData Central, as of 2026-08-12.
Is Dark chocolate or Milk chocolate better?
Neither is “better” on its own — it depends what you want from it. The table shows where each is higher; the short answer says when each one fits. Compare on the same basis (per 100 g) and pick for your dish and your goal.
How were these numbers worked out?
Straight from USDA FoodData Central for the generic form of each food, per 100 g. We show the portion view too, but portion sizes differ between foods, so per 100 g is the fair comparison.
Why does one column say “no data”?
Because USDA has no value for that nutrient in that food — so we leave it blank rather than print a 0 that would read as “none”. A real zero from USDA still shows as 0.