Butter Conversion Guide: Grams, Cups, Sticks & Tablespoons
A complete cheat sheet for converting butter between grams, ounces, cups, sticks, and tablespoons for American and European recipes.
The Universal Butter Conversion Matrix
American recipes almost universally call for butter in "sticks" or "cups", whereas European, Australian, and international recipes call for butter in exact grams.
Standard US Butter Units:
- 1 stick of butter = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons = 4 ounces = 113.4 grams
- 2 sticks of butter = 1 full cup = 16 tablespoons = 8 ounces = 226.8 grams
- 1/4 stick of butter = 2 tablespoons = 1 ounce = 28.35 grams
- 1 tablespoon of butter = 14.2 grams
Butter Conversion Reference Table
| Sticks | Cups | Tablespoons | Ounces (oz) | Grams (g) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 stick | 1/8 cup | 2 tbsp | 1.0 oz | 28 g |
| 1/2 stick | 1/4 cup | 4 tbsp | 2.0 oz | 57 g |
| 1 stick | 1/2 cup | 8 tbsp | 4.0 oz | 113 g |
| 1 1/2 sticks | 3/4 cup | 12 tbsp | 6.0 oz | 170 g |
| 2 sticks | 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 8.0 oz | 227 g |
| 4 sticks | 2 cups | 32 tbsp | 16.0 oz (1 lb) | 454 g |
European vs. American Butter Fat Content
American butter standard specifies a minimum of 80% butterfat, with the remaining 16–18% consisting of water. European-style butter (such as French cultured butter or Kerrygold) contains 82% to 84% butterfat.
Because European butter contains less water, baking delicate laminated doughs (croissants, puff pastry) or pie crusts with European butter results in flakier layers and a richer flavor profile.
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