Butter Calculator: Sticks, Cups, Grams, Tablespoons
Enter any butter amount in any unit and every equivalent measurement updates instantly. One US stick of butter is 1/2 cup, 8 tablespoons, 4 ounces, and 113 grams. Type your amount, pick your unit, and get all the other measurements you need for your recipe.
Formula
Worked example
A recipe needs 3/4 cup of butter. 3/4 cup / 0.5 cups per stick = 1.5 sticks. 1.5 sticks × 8 tablespoons = 12 tablespoons. 1.5 sticks × 113.4 g = 170.1 g.
How much is a stick of butter?
In the United States, one standard stick of butter weighs exactly 4 ounces (113.4 g) and measures 1/2 cup or 8 tablespoons. Four sticks make one pound (453.6 g). US butter is sold in rectangular sticks with tablespoon markings printed directly on the wrapper, so you can score off exactly the amount a recipe needs without any measuring cups. One tablespoon weighs about 14.2 g and contains roughly 102 calories.
US vs European vs UK butter: what is the difference?
US butter sticks are a 113.4 g unit unique to North America. European butter is typically sold in 250 g blocks (about 2.2 US sticks) or sometimes 500 g, and is never divided into sticks. UK and Australian butter follows a similar block format. Beyond packaging, European-style butter is higher in fat (82-84% butterfat vs 80% for standard US butter), which gives it a richer flavor and slightly more calories per tablespoon. Ghee (clarified butter) has all water and milk solids removed, leaving nearly pure fat, which makes it denser and increases its smoke point significantly. Whipped butter has air incorporated, so it occupies more volume per gram and should not be swapped 1:1 by volume in baking.
How to measure butter without a scale
The easiest method for stick butter is to use the wrapper markings. Each line represents one tablespoon, so you can cut or score the stick right at the mark. For cup measurements, 1 stick = 1/2 cup, 2 sticks = 1 cup. If you only have a block, pack the butter firmly into a measuring cup with a rubber spatula to remove air pockets. For very small amounts such as 1-2 teaspoons, use measuring spoons and press the butter in flush with the rim. If you have a kitchen scale, weighing is always more accurate than volume, especially for baking.
Butter nutrition: calories, fat, and sodium
Butter is a concentrated fat: one tablespoon (14.2 g) of standard salted butter provides about 102 calories, 11.5 g of total fat (7.3 g saturated), 31 mg of cholesterol, and 91 mg of sodium. Unsalted butter has the same calorie and fat content but essentially no sodium. European-style butter has a few more calories per tablespoon because of its higher fat percentage. Ghee is higher still (around 112 calories per tablespoon) because the water has been removed. Whipped butter has fewer calories per tablespoon by volume because air is incorporated, but the same calorie density by weight.
Butter conversion quick-reference chart
| Sticks | Cups | Tablespoons | Ounces | Grams | Pounds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 | 1/8 | 2 | 1 | 28.4 | 0.063 |
| 1/2 | 1/4 | 4 | 2 | 56.7 | 0.125 |
| 3/4 | 3/8 | 6 | 3 | 85.0 | 0.188 |
| 1 | 1/2 | 8 | 4 | 113.4 | 0.25 |
| 1-1/2 | 3/4 | 12 | 6 | 170.1 | 0.375 |
| 2 | 1 | 16 | 8 | 226.8 | 0.5 |
| 3 | 1-1/2 | 24 | 12 | 340.2 | 0.75 |
| 4 | 2 | 32 | 16 | 453.6 | 1.0 |
All values based on the USDA standard US stick of 113.4 g. European and UK butter blocks are sold in 250 g units, not sticks.
Frequently asked questions
How many tablespoons is a stick of butter?
One US stick of butter equals 8 tablespoons. The wrapper on most US butter sticks is printed with tablespoon lines so you can measure exactly how much you need by simply cutting along the mark.
How many grams is a stick of butter?
One US stick of butter is 113.4 grams (more precisely 113.3980925 g, or exactly 4 ounces). Two sticks weigh 226.8 g, and four sticks (one pound) weigh 453.6 g.
Is half a cup of butter one stick?
Yes. One US stick of butter is exactly 1/2 cup. Two sticks equal 1 cup, and four sticks equal 2 cups.
How do I convert European butter to US sticks?
Divide the weight in grams by 113.4 to get the equivalent number of US sticks. A 250 g European block is about 2.2 sticks. A 500 g block is about 4.4 sticks. Because European butter has a slightly higher fat content, you may want to reduce the amount by about 5% when substituting in US recipes for the most accurate result.
Can I substitute margarine or oil for butter in the same amounts?
Margarine can generally replace butter in equal volume or weight amounts (1 stick of butter = 1 stick of margarine). Vegetable oil is typically substituted at about 3/4 of the butter quantity by volume (3 tablespoons of oil for every 4 tablespoons of butter) because oil is pure fat while butter contains water and milk solids.
How many sticks of butter is 1 pound?
Four sticks of butter equal 1 pound (453.6 g). US butter is most commonly sold in 1-pound boxes containing four individual sticks.
How do I measure butter without a wrapper?
Use a kitchen scale for accuracy. Alternatively, use the water displacement method: fill a measuring cup with cold water to a certain line, then add butter until the water rises to the amount you need. For example, start with 1/2 cup of water and add butter until the water reaches 1 cup; you have added 1/2 cup of butter. Pack stick-free butter firmly into a dry measuring cup and level off the top.