Butter Calculator

How Much Is a Stick of Butter?

A standard stick of butter in the United States weighs 4 ounces (113 grams) and measures ½ cup or 8 tablespoons. This standardized measurement makes it straightforward to scale recipes, but confusion often arises when a recipe calls for butter in grams, cups, or ounces rather than sticks.

This calculator converts between sticks, cups, tablespoons, grams, and ounces so you can follow any recipe regardless of the unit it uses.

Butter Measurement Conversions

The table below shows the most common butter conversions. These values assume standard US butter sticks (4 oz each).

How the Conversion Works

The calculator uses these standard relationships:

• 1 stick = ½ cup = 8 tablespoons = 4 oz = 113 g
• Butter density: approximately 0.958 g/mL, which means 1 cup of butter weighs about 227 grams
• Weight conversions: 1 ounce = 28.35 grams

These conversions apply to standard salted or unsalted butter. Margarine and plant-based butter alternatives may have slightly different densities, but the volume-to-stick relationship remains the same for most commercial products.

Practical Use Cases

Baking with European Recipes

European recipes typically list butter in grams. If a recipe calls for 200 g of butter, that equals roughly 1¾ sticks (200 ÷ 113 ≈ 1.77). The calculator handles this conversion instantly.

Scaling Recipes Up or Down

When doubling a recipe that calls for ⅓ cup of butter, you need ⅔ cup — which is 1⅓ sticks. Rather than measuring fractions manually, use the calculator to get exact tablespoon or gram values.

Substituting Butter Types

If a recipe specifies unsalted butter but you only have salted, the volume measurement remains the same. The calculator helps you convert the quantity regardless of butter type.

Common Measurement Mistakes

Confusing weight and volume. A cup of butter weighs about 227 grams, but a cup of flour weighs roughly 120 grams. Never substitute weight measurements between different ingredients.

Using melted butter measurements. Melted butter has a different volume than solid butter. If a recipe calls for "½ cup butter, melted," measure the butter solid first, then melt it. If it calls for "½ cup melted butter," melt first, then measure.

Assuming all sticks are the same. US butter sticks are 4 oz. UK and Australian butter blocks often come in 250 g or 500 g sizes. If you're using non-US butter, check the package weight before converting.

Limitations

This calculator assumes standard US butter stick sizes. It does not account for:

• European or Australian butter block sizes (typically 250 g or 500 g)
• Whipped butter, which has a lower density and different volume-to-weight ratio
• Butter substitutes with significantly different fat content

For the most accurate results in baking, use a kitchen scale to weigh butter in grams rather than relying on volume measurements.