Butter Measurement Converter
Butter measurements differ between the United States and metric countries. In the US, butter is typically sold in sticks: one stick equals 113.4 grams, one-quarter pound, or one-half cup. Metric countries and recipes use grams or kilograms. Converting between sticks, cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, grams, ounces, and pounds is essential for following recipes from different sources. Butter is a key ingredient in baking and cooking, and precise measurement affects the final result. Unlike some ingredients, butter's weight is stable; volume measurements are reasonably reliable for cold butter, though weight measurements are always preferred. One stick of butter is marked on most US butter packaging, making measurement straightforward.
Butter conversion factors
All conversions below use standard butter measurements. All units expressed relative to grams (g).
| Unit | Symbol | Grams (g) |
|---|---|---|
| Stick (US) | stick | 113.4 |
| Cup | cup | 226.796 |
| Tablespoon | tbsp | 14.175 |
| Teaspoon | tsp | 4.725 |
| Ounce | oz | 28.349523 |
| Gram | g | 1 |
| Kilogram | kg | 1,000 |
| Pound | lb | 453.59237 |
Butter measurement converter: frequently asked questions
How much does one stick of butter weigh?
One US stick of butter weighs 113.4 grams (4 ounces). A stick is one-quarter pound and equals one-half cup. Butter packaging in the US typically shows sticks (and ounces marked on the wrapper), while metric countries use grams.
What is the difference between butter types?
Standard salted and unsalted butter have the same weight per volume. The difference is salt content. Some recipes specify unsalted for better control of saltiness. Both have the same weight: 1 stick = 113.4g, 1 cup = 226.8g. Clarified butter (ghee) is different: water evaporates, so it is denser.
How do I measure softened butter?
Softened butter (room temperature) has the same weight as cold butter, but different volume. Volume measurements are unreliable for soft butter because of how it compacts. Weight measurements are preferred. For accuracy, weigh butter rather than measuring by volume.
Can I convert butter directly to a 1:1 volume substitute?
Butter can generally substitute for other fats in baking, but the swap affects the final result. Butter contains water (about 15-20%), while oil does not. In some recipes (cakes, cookies), substituting oil or coconut oil for butter works well; in others (pie crust, laminated pastries), butter is essential. When in doubt, use weight measurements.
What is clarified butter (ghee)?
Clarified butter is butter that has had its water and milk solids removed, leaving only pure fat. It has a higher smoke point and lasts longer at room temperature. It is denser than regular butter: 1 cup of ghee weighs more than 1 cup of regular butter. If a recipe specifies ghee, do not substitute regular butter.
Official sources
- USDA FoodData Central: United States Department of Agriculture.
- NIST Handbook 44: Specifications, Tolerances, and Other Technical Requirements for Weighing and Measuring Devices.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 14 June 2026. See our methodology.