How to Measure Butter: Sticks, Cups, Tablespoons, and Grams
Butter is one of the most frequently measured ingredients in baking and cooking — and one of the most confusing, because recipes use so many different units. A recipe might call for 1 stick, ½ cup, 8 tablespoons, or 113 grams, all meaning exactly the same thing. Here's a complete reference so you never have to guess.
Butter Conversion Chart
| Amount | Sticks | Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 stick | 1 | ½ cup | 8 tbsp | 113g |
| 2 sticks | 2 | 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 227g |
| ½ stick | ½ | ¼ cup | 4 tbsp | 57g |
| ¼ stick | ¼ | ⅛ cup | 2 tbsp | 28g |
| 1 tablespoon | ⅛ stick | 1/16 cup | 1 tbsp | 14g |
| 1 teaspoon | — | — | ⅓ tbsp | 4.7g |
Understanding the US Butter Stick
In the United States, butter is almost always sold in 1-pound boxes containing 4 sticks. Each stick is ¼ pound (113g), which equals ½ cup or 8 tablespoons. The wrapper on each stick is printed with tablespoon markings, which makes it easy to cut off exact amounts without measuring.
This is worth knowing because many US recipes specify butter in sticks, while UK, Australian, and European recipes always use grams or sometimes cups. There's no equivalent to the "stick" outside North America.
Salted vs Unsalted Butter
Salted and unsalted butter weigh the same and convert identically — the difference is only in salt content. Most baking recipes call for unsalted butter so the baker can control the salt level precisely. If you only have salted butter, reduce the recipe's added salt by about ¼ teaspoon per ½ cup (1 stick) of butter.
How to Measure Butter Without a Scale
If your recipe calls for a cup measurement and you're working with sticks, count the sticks: 1 cup = 2 sticks, ½ cup = 1 stick, ¼ cup = ½ stick. The wrapper markings handle everything smaller.
If you're measuring loose or whipped butter into a cup, pack it firmly to eliminate air pockets, then level off the top. Whipped butter is significantly lighter by volume than regular butter — if a recipe calls for regular butter, don't substitute whipped butter measured by cups.
European Butter
European-style butter has a higher fat content (82–84%) compared to standard US butter (80%). This makes it richer and lower in water, which can affect baked goods noticeably — pastry is flakier, cookies spread less. The weight conversions are the same, but the higher fat content means results may differ slightly from a recipe developed with standard butter.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is 100g of butter in cups?
100g of butter is approximately 7 tablespoons, or just under ½ cup (about 0.44 cups). For practical purposes, use 7 tablespoons or weigh it directly.
How many tablespoons in ¾ cup of butter?
¾ cup of butter = 12 tablespoons = 1½ sticks = 170g.
Can I substitute oil for butter?
In many recipes, yes — but not cup for cup. A general ratio is ¾ cup oil for every 1 cup butter, since butter contains water (about 20%) and oil does not. The texture will be different: oil-based baked goods tend to be moister but denser, and they won't have the same flavor as butter-based ones.
How many grams is ¼ cup of butter?
¼ cup of butter = 57g = ½ stick = 4 tablespoons.