Butter Converter
Convert butter measurements between sticks, cups, tablespoons, grams, and ounces. Enter values for instant results with step-by-step formulas.
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer
Formula
1 Stick = 1/2 Cup = 8 Tablespoons = 113.4 Grams = 4 Ounces
A US stick of butter is the standard unit. One stick equals 1/2 cup, 8 tablespoons, 24 teaspoons, 113.4 grams, or 4 ounces. A standard US butter package contains 4 sticks (1 pound, 454 grams, 2 cups).
Worked Examples
Example 1: Converting European Recipe to US Measurements
Problem:A French pastry recipe calls for 250 grams of butter. How many US sticks is that?
Solution:1 US stick = 113.4 grams\n250 grams / 113.4 = 2.205 sticks\nApproximately 2 sticks + 1.6 tablespoons\nIn cups: 250 / 226.8 = 1.102 cups\nIn tablespoons: 250 / 14.175 = 17.64 tablespoons\nCalories: (250/100) x 717 = 1,793 calories
Result:250g = 2.2 sticks = 17.6 tbsp = 1.1 cups = 8.8 oz
Example 2: Scaling Down a Recipe by Half
Problem:A recipe calls for 3/4 cup of butter. How much do you need if halving the recipe?
Solution:3/4 cup = 12 tablespoons = 170.1 grams\nHalf = 6 tablespoons = 85.05 grams\nIn sticks: 85.05 / 113.4 = 0.75 sticks (3/4 stick)\nIn ounces: 85.05 / 28.35 = 3 ounces\nCalories: (85.05/100) x 717 = 610 calories
Result:Half of 3/4 cup = 6 tbsp = 3/4 stick = 85g = 3 oz
Frequently Asked Questions
How many tablespoons are in one stick of butter?
One standard US stick of butter contains exactly 8 tablespoons, which is equivalent to 1/2 cup, 4 ounces, or approximately 113.4 grams. Butter sticks in the US are conveniently marked with tablespoon measurements on the wrapper, making it easy to cut precise amounts. Each tablespoon marking represents 14.175 grams or 0.5 ounces of butter. A standard US butter package contains 4 sticks totaling 1 pound (454 grams) or 2 cups. This standardized packaging is unique to the United States and Canada, as most other countries sell butter in 250-gram or 500-gram blocks without tablespoon markings.
How do I convert butter measurements between US sticks and metric grams?
One US stick of butter weighs approximately 113.4 grams or 4 ounces. To convert sticks to grams, multiply the number of sticks by 113.4. For example, 1.5 sticks equals 170.1 grams, and 2 sticks equals 226.8 grams. Going the other way, divide grams by 113.4 to get sticks. If a European recipe calls for 200 grams of butter, that equals approximately 1.76 sticks, which is about 1 and 3/4 sticks or 14 tablespoons. Many European and Australian recipes list butter in grams, so this conversion is essential for American cooks following international recipes. Keeping a kitchen scale that measures in both grams and ounces simplifies this process considerably.
Can I substitute margarine or oil for butter in equal amounts?
Margarine can generally be substituted 1:1 for butter in most recipes, though the flavor and texture may differ. Stick margarine works better than tub margarine for baking because tub margarine contains more water. For oil substitutions, use approximately 3/4 of the butter amount since oil is pure fat while butter contains about 80% fat and 20% water and milk solids. So 1 cup of butter (226.8 grams) would be replaced with 3/4 cup of oil. However, oil substitution changes the texture significantly in baked goods because solid fats create flaky layers while liquid fats produce denser, moister results. Cookies made with oil spread more and have a chewier texture than those made with butter.
What is the difference between salted and unsalted butter for cooking measurements?
Salted and unsalted butter have identical weight and volume measurements, so 1 stick of salted butter weighs the same 113.4 grams as unsalted butter. The difference lies in salt content: salted butter typically contains about 1/4 teaspoon of salt per stick (approximately 90mg sodium per tablespoon). Most baking recipes specify unsalted butter so the baker can precisely control salt levels. If substituting salted for unsalted butter, reduce any added salt in the recipe by about 1/4 teaspoon per stick of butter used. Professional bakers almost exclusively use unsalted butter because salt content varies between butter brands, making it impossible to achieve consistent seasoning when using salted butter.
References
Reviewed by Daniel Agrici, Founder & Lead Developer · Editorial policy