To bring you the best home milk delivery services, we evaluated companies for numerous factors including delivery area, varieties of milk, customer satisfaction, and flexibility of the delivery schedule. Read on for our winners.
Best Milk Delivery Services of 2022
Best Overall: Drink Milk In Glass Bottles Best for Organic Milk: Bay Area Milkman Best on a Budget: Oberweis Dairy Best for Non-Dairy Milk: Mylkman Best for Variety: Royal Crest Best for Same-Day Delivery: Instacart Best for Glass-Bottle Delivery: Manhattan Milk
ProsDelivery map shows you local optionsTop-quality farms and productsDairies use glass bottles ConsA partnership system, not a direct serviceDoes not deliver to all locationsDairies may not have other products available Drink Milk In Glass Bottles is a collective of dairy farmers throughout the U.S. and Canada, and it finds the best local milk delivery services near customers. The types of milk and other dairy products that are available vary depending on where you are located and the dairies are in your delivery area. The website is easily navigable and allows you to search for dairies by location. It also encourages dairies not already in the home delivery collective to register with the company. The price of milk differs by location. Some companies in the collective have brands sold in grocery stores and offer many other dairy products, whereas others are niche producers of milk and have fewer offerings. When you look into a farm in your area, you’ll find plenty of information about what they offer as well as their seasonal products. ProsDelivery throughout the Bay AreaNo contractsFresh vegetables and fruits available ConsNo choice of delivery dayOnly half-gallon and quart sizes for milkNo item pricing available until you sign up Bay Area Milkman serves San Francisco, the Peninsula, and the East Bay. While it specializes in Straus organic milk, which was the first creamery in the U.S. to be certified organic, it also has hundreds of grocery items available. Because pricing is only disclosed once you sign up for an account, it isn’t possible to comparison shop if you are just considering the service. Bay Area Milkman has been delivering milk and more since 1984, and customers say the delivery employees are personable and reliable. The company is unique in that in addition to assorted grocery products, it sells fresh and frozen produce that’s available for delivery as well, so you can use the company as your primary grocer. Milk is delivered from farms within 24 to 36 hours of production, and it’s available in glass bottles in quart and half-gallon sizes. Delivery occurs on the same day every week and within the same hour time slot, depending on where you live. The milk is delivered in crates or ice chests, so if you aren’t home at the time, your perishable items still will be safe from spoilage. ProsHundreds of products available for deliveryOrganic options for milk and dairy itemsSeasonal products, including meats ConsCosts vary depending on your locationCooler purchase is requiredWebsite doesn’t clearly state delivery minimum Oberweis Dairy began as Big Woods Dairy in 1927. Today, the business delivers dairy products, including milk, and other items such as honey and charcuterie on a weekly basis. You can keep a running order for the same items or you can change it weekly up until 9 p.m. the day before your scheduled delivery day. Delivery is available in five states in the Midwest, as well as areas of Virginia, North Carolina, and Texas. Oberweis partners with small family farms for the products it doesn’t grow or produce. Milk is often delivered within 36 hours of milking, making this budget-friendly dairy one of the freshest around. It sells a variety of milk sizes and types in glass bottles, from skim to full fat. Milk prices vary depending on your location, but they average about $5 for a half-gallon of non-organic milk and $4 for a quart. Oberweis Dairy does require you to purchase what it calls a porch box, a container outside your home in which your milk will be placed when it arrives. ProsMultiple delivery optionsDelivery throughout Los Angeles CountyNo sweeteners addedFlavored milks such as rose-strawberry ConsExpensiveDelivery is only on ThursdaysShort shelf life If you’ve been looking for a fresh, plant-based milk alternative, Mylkman is a good option for those in the Los Angeles area. The company uses only fresh, raw, unprocessed ingredients, making its almond milk from nothing but almonds and fresh coconut water. All products are made by hand and involve zero waste. Mylkman’s almond milk is available by the quart and delivery is on Thursdays, the same day the milk is made. You can place one-off orders or subscribe for weekly deliveries, and changing your order is easy. Mylkman also sells other non-dairy products, such as chocolate cups and nut-based cheeses. Mylkman’s customer list includes celebrities such as Marisa Tomei, who says the company’s products are “sublime.” If you order repeatedly, Mylkman will refill your clean bottles in order to use as few glass bottles as possible. Should you want new bottles each time, they cost $3 each. Recurring deliveries have a $30 minimum for each one, and prices range from $17.50 to $22 per quart. Delivery is free. Orders must be placed by 10 a.m. Wednesday for delivery that week. You can leave an ice-filled cooler outside your home if you won’t be there to accept delivery. ProsWide range of productsLong company historyDelivers on holidays ConsOnly available in the Colorado Front Range areaNot all products are farm freshNo online automatic cancelation option Royal Crest Dairy has been delivering milk to residents of Colorado since 1927, and it started out by delivering freshly produced milk via buggy. The company has come a long way since, and today it essentially serves as a grocery delivery service. You can place one-off orders or opt for weekly deliveries of staples you need. Items are delivered before 7 a.m. Royal Crest Dairy sells all types of hormone-free milk, from non-dairy Califia to full-fat whole milk, in half-gallon and gallon glass jars. A half-gallon of 2% milk costs about $3.99, making this a reasonably priced option. The dairy also has buttermilk, ice cream mix, and chocolate milk. It offers a wide range of seasonal selections as well, such as meats for grilling. The dairy asks customers to return their glass bottles with each delivery. You can opt for weekly, biweekly, or monthly deliveries, or choose a future date. ProsQuick delivery from local grocersSubstitutes available if out of stockMany stores to choose from in most areasDelivery throughout the U.S. ConsPrices may be higher than grocery storesSeveral fees are added to your orderShoppers sometimes select incorrect items If you want your milk delivered quickly, Instacart is your best same-day option. This grocery delivery app was first available only in major cities but has expanded to include rural areas throughout the United States. Instacart lets you choose from grocery stores in your area, then select which items you want to purchase. To order milk from Instacart, use the service’s website or mobile app to browse through stores in your area. From there, you select a store and the products you want to buy. If you have a problem with your order after receiving it, Instacart’s customer service team can help. Replacements are not available, which may be inconvenient if you needed something specific. There is a $3.99 fee for orders over $35, and higher fees which vary by location are charged for orders under that. In addition, there is a variable service fee. These fees are outside driver tips, which are encouraged. There is no commitment required, and recurring deliveries are not available. ProsMilk is from Holstein and Brown Swiss cowsHealthy snacks available for deliveryOrganic and non-dairy milk optionsPriority membership perks ConsOnly available in a handful of major citiesHigher prices due to wellness focusHigh delivery minimums in some locales Manhattan Milk delivers to addresses in New York City, New Jersey, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and London. Its goal is to combine the nostalgia of the old-fashioned milkman with modern white-glove service. As of December 2022, the service delivers to homes only in the New York City area; the other delivery locations cater to offices. Office deliveries require a $1,000 monthly minimum spend. Manhattan Milk also delivers meats, snacks, condiments, and produce. Plastic and glass milk bottles are available in sizes ranging from single servings to full gallons. A gallon of grass-fed whole milk costs $8.99 in plastic, and a half-gallon in glass is $7.99. Next-day delivery is available in New York City. Manhattan Milk uses insulated bags and cold packs. Deliveries are made in the morning and carry a $40 minimum and a $20 shipping cost. You can opt to become a Manhattan Milk member for $99 per year and receive free shipping on orders over $100. Manhattan Milk supports Feeding America and partners with Rocnation to help local food banks throughout the country.
How Do Milk Delivery Services Work?
To use a milk delivery service, find one that delivers to your area with the items you need. Delivery frequency depends on the service, but most deliver weekly. Generally, you can change your order up until the night before delivery. Milk delivery services usually deliver early in the morning and use a cooler or insulated bags and cold packs to prevent spoilage.
How Much Do Milk Delivery Services Cost?
Prices for using milk delivery services are generally aligned with the cost of milk from grocery stores. Organic and grass-fed milk cost more, and glass bottles may require deposits. Some services carry a delivery fee as well.
Can I Buy Locally Through a Milk Delivery Service?
Most milk delivery services specialize in local milk or sell only that. They offer milk directly from farms, often within a day or two of it being processed.
Methodology
We looked at about a dozen milk delivery services in total and analyzed their products, delivery frequency, price points, and customer reviews. There are few national services, but there is an abundance of local farms that deliver dairy products. Notable businesses like Morning Fresh Dairy (Colorado) and Grace Pond Farm (Maine) are also good options if you are in their delivery areas.
