Convert butter between sticks, cups, tablespoons, grams, ounces, and pounds. Includes softened vs melted volume differences and international butter formats.
Butter is measured differently depending on where you live and what recipe you're following. American recipes call for sticks and cups, European recipes use grams, and some older cookbooks list ounces or tablespoons. Getting the conversion wrong by even a tablespoon can throw off cookies, cakes, and pastries. This Butter Conversion Calculator handles every common butter measurement.
One US stick of butter equals exactly 113 grams, 4 ounces, 8 tablespoons, or ½ cup. These are the anchor conversions from which everything else derives. But butter also varies by fat content — American butter is 80% fat minimum, while European-style butter (like Plugra or Kerrygold) is 82–86% fat. That extra fat content means European butter has less water, which affects baking outcomes.
This calculator converts between all common units instantly. Enter any amount in any unit and see the equivalent in sticks, cups, tablespoons, grams, ounces, and pounds. It also shows calorie counts and distinguishes between cold (solid) and melted butter volumes, since melted butter is denser and occupies less volume.
Butter conversions are among the most common kitchen measurement questions. This calculator gives instant, accurate answers in every unit used around the world. Keep these notes focused on your operational context. Tie the context to the calculator’s intended domain. Use this clarification to avoid ambiguous interpretation. Align this note with review checkpoints.
1 US stick = 113g = 4 oz = 8 tbsp = ½ cup = 0.25 lb. 1 cup butter = 227g = 2 sticks. 1 tbsp = 14.2g. Calories: 717 kcal per 100g (102 kcal per tbsp).
Result: 2.21 sticks / 1.1 cups / 17.6 tbsp / 8.82 oz
250g ÷ 113g/stick = 2.21 sticks. 250g ÷ 227g/cup = 1.10 cups. 250g ÷ 14.2g/tbsp = 17.6 tbsp. 250g ÷ 28.35g/oz = 8.82 oz.
American butter must contain at least 80% milk fat by USDA regulation. Most mass-market brands (Land O'Lakes, store brands) sit right at 80%. European-style butter ranges from 82% to 86% fat. Brands like Kerrygold, Plugra, and President are European-style. The extra 2–6% fat means less water content, which creates flakier pastry layers and smoother buttercream.
The most accurate way to measure butter is by weight. Volume measurements (cups, tablespoons) can vary depending on how tightly butter is packed. For serious baking, use a kitchen scale. A stick of butter is always exactly 113g regardless of how you cut or pack it.
Margarine substitutes 1:1 for butter in most recipes but has different flavor and browning characteristics. Coconut oil can replace butter at a 1:1 ratio but adds coconut flavor. For dairy-free baking, vegan butter sticks (Miyoko's, Earth Balance) work cup-for-cup in most recipes.
113 grams (4 ounces). A US stick is ½ cup or 8 tablespoons.
8 tablespoons. US butter sticks are conveniently marked with tablespoon lines on the wrapper.
US butter is minimum 80% fat. European butter is 82–86% fat with less water. European butter makes flakier pastries and richer sauces.
Yes — melted butter is slightly denser. 1 cup solid butter ≈ 7/8 cup when melted. Always measure butter in its solid form unless the recipe specifies melted.
For baking, use 7/8 the volume of oil (butter contains water). For sautéing, substitute 1:1. Flavor and texture will differ.
About 102 calories and 11.5g fat per tablespoon (14.2g) of butter.