How many calories are in a skinny latte at Starbucks? A comprehensive nutritional breakdown

November 9, 2025 •

4 min read

According to nutrition data, a Tall Iced Skinny Flavored Latte with nonfat milk at Starbucks contains just 60 calories. Many coffee drinkers choose 'skinny' versions to manage their caloric intake, but it's important to understand how many calories are in a skinny latte at Starbucks to make the best dietary choice.

Quick Summary

This article details the calorie count for various sizes of both hot and iced skinny lattes from Starbucks. It examines the drink's key ingredients—nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup—and explains how they affect the nutritional profile. The guide also offers advice for customizing your beverage to further reduce calories and provides a comparison table against a standard latte.

Key Points

Size and Temperature Matter: The calorie count for a Starbucks skinny latte varies significantly depending on the size and whether it is hot or iced.
Key Ingredients: A skinny latte is made with nonfat milk and sugar-free syrup, which drastically reduces the fat and sugar content compared to a standard latte.
Iced is Lighter: Iced skinny lattes tend to have fewer calories than their hot counterparts because the ice displaces some of the milk, a primary caloric source.
Primary Caloric Source: The majority of the calories in a skinny latte come from the lactose (natural milk sugars) present in the nonfat milk.
Sugar-Free Syrup is Calorie-Free: Starbucks' sugar-free syrups contain virtually zero calories, using artificial sweeteners like sucralose.
Easy Customizations for Lower Calories: To reduce calories further, you can order a smaller size, opt for fewer pumps of syrup, or consider a simple Caffè Misto.
Significant Calorie Savings: A Grande skinny latte has less than half the calories of a standard Grande latte, making it a much healthier option for regular consumption.

Understanding the 'Skinny' Starbucks Latte

For those mindful of their calorie intake, a 'skinny' latte from Starbucks is a popular choice. The term 'skinny' refers to two specific substitutions that significantly reduce the drink's overall calorie and fat content:

Nonfat (skim) milk: Replaces the standard 2% or whole milk, which are higher in fat and calories. Nonfat milk still contributes a substantial amount of protein and carbohydrates, primarily from natural milk sugars (lactose).
Sugar-free syrup: Replaces the classic syrup or other flavored syrups. These sugar-free options use artificial sweeteners, like sucralose, and contain virtually zero calories.

By opting for these two simple changes, a Starbucks latte transforms into a much lighter beverage, making it a viable option for a nutrition-conscious diet.

Calorie Breakdown by Size and Temperature

The calorie content of your skinny latte depends on the size and whether it's served hot or iced. An iced version will typically contain fewer calories than its hot counterpart because ice displaces some of the milk. Here is a breakdown of the approximate calorie counts based on data from nutritional websites:

Hot Skinny Latte Calorie Guide

Short (8 fl oz): 56 kcal
Tall (12 fl oz): 94 kcal
Grande (16 fl oz): 115 kcal
Venti (20 fl oz): 155 kcal

Iced Skinny Flavored Latte Calorie Guide

Tall (12 fl oz): 60 calories
Grande (16 fl oz): 80 calories
Venti (24 fl oz): 110 calories

It's worth noting that the classic unflavored skinny latte will have slightly different figures than a flavored one, although the sugar-free syrup adds minimal calories. For example, a Grande Hot Skinny Vanilla Latte contains approximately 120 calories, slightly more than the plain skinny latte.

Components that Contribute to Calories

Even in a 'skinny' drink, calories still come from the primary ingredients. Understanding these components can help you make further modifications to your order if needed.

Espresso Shots: An espresso shot contains only a few calories. For instance, a Grande latte has two shots, contributing a negligible amount to the total.
Nonfat Milk: This is the main caloric contributor. The calories in milk come from both the natural sugars (lactose) and the small amount of fat. For a Grande (16 fl oz) serving, steamed nonfat milk accounts for roughly 130 calories.
Sugar-Free Syrup: Starbuck's sugar-free syrups are sweetened with sucralose and contain no calories. However, the number of pumps in your drink can sometimes impact other ingredients and the overall flavor profile. A typical Grande latte receives four pumps.
Other Ingredients: Any added whipped cream, toppings, or extra syrups will, of course, increase the calorie count. For a genuinely skinny order, it's best to avoid these additions.

Customizing Your Skinny Latte for an Even Lighter Option

If you're tracking your calories closely, a standard skinny latte might still be more than you'd like. Here are some easy ways to reduce the calorie count even further:

Half-pumps of Syrup: Ask for half the standard number of pumps to reduce sweetness. This doesn't change the calorie count if using sugar-free syrup, but it can help reduce your taste for very sweet drinks over time.
Alternative Milks: While nonfat milk is a default, other options are available. However, be aware that many nut and plant-based milks still contain calories, and some even have added sugars. For example, a Grande steamed nonfat milk is 130 calories, but a Grande of oat milk is higher, so it's essential to check.
Go Short: Ordering a Short (8 fl oz) instead of a Tall or Grande is the most straightforward way to reduce the total liquid and, therefore, the calories. A Short hot skinny latte is only 56 kcal.
Caffè Misto: For a lower-calorie alternative to a latte, consider a Caffè Misto. It's simply brewed coffee with steamed nonfat milk, providing a different flavor profile with fewer calories.

Skinny Latte vs. Regular Latte Comparison

To put the calorie savings into perspective, here is a comparison between a standard Starbucks latte and a skinny latte, both in a Grande (16 fl oz) size. The regular latte uses 2% milk and the standard amount of flavored syrup (approximately four pumps).


Feature	Grande Regular Vanilla Latte	Grande Skinny Vanilla Latte
Calories	Approximately 250 calories	120 calories
Milk	2% Milk	Nonfat (Skim) Milk
Syrup	Classic Syrup	Sugar-Free Vanilla Syrup
Sugar	Approximately 35 grams	Low to zero grams
Fat	Approximately 7 grams	0 grams

This comparison clearly illustrates the significant reduction in calories and sugar achieved by choosing the 'skinny' option. This can make a substantial difference in your overall daily intake, especially if you have a daily coffee habit.

Conclusion

When asking "How many calories are in a skinny latte at Starbucks?", the answer depends on your specific order, but the range is consistently low compared to a standard latte. A hot Grande skinny latte has about 115-120 calories, while an iced Grande version contains closer to 80 calories. The primary sources of these calories are the nonfat milk and any flavored syrups that aren't sugar-free. By being mindful of size and temperature and opting for low-calorie substitutions, you can enjoy a delicious coffee without compromising your nutritional goals. For anyone looking to reduce their caloric intake, a skinny latte is an excellent, informed choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

A Starbucks 'skinny' latte is made with two key ingredient swaps: it uses nonfat (skim) milk instead of 2% or whole milk, and it uses sugar-free syrup instead of standard sweetened syrup.

A Grande (16 fl oz) hot skinny vanilla latte at Starbucks contains approximately 120 calories.

A Grande (16 fl oz) iced skinny vanilla latte with nonfat milk contains approximately 80 calories.

Yes, Starbucks' sugar-free syrups are sweetened with sucralose, which is not processed by the body and contains virtually no calories.

Iced skinny lattes have fewer calories because the ice displaces a portion of the nonfat milk, meaning there is less total milk and therefore fewer calories in the final beverage.

No, the flavor of the skinny latte does not affect the calorie count, as all sugar-free syrups use the same zero-calorie base.

The primary source of calories in a skinny latte is the nonfat milk, which contains natural milk sugars (lactose). The espresso and sugar-free syrup contribute a negligible number of calories.