Kitchen & Cooking Tips

How Much Butter In a Stick?

Last updated on Oct 7, 2024
Michale LeRoy

A stick of butter equals 1/2 cup, but what if you’re not using sticks? Butter is packaged in many different ways, especially in the world of foodservice. Depending on the type of butter, you can purchase this staple ingredient in blocks, tubs, or even rolls. We’ll help you out by providing butter measuring conversions so you can accurately measure the butter in your recipes.

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Butter Measurements

chef cutting a block of butter

Shown here: 1-pound block of butter

Butter is a solid ingredient, which can make it tricky to measure accurately. You’ll also see different units of measure used in recipes, including sticks and cups. These are a few of the ways that butter can be measured:

  • Sticks: One common way to measure butter is in sticks. In the United States, butter is typically sold in 1/2 cup (8 tablespoons) sticks, which equal 4 ounces or 113 grams. This measurement is convenient for many recipes that call for butter in stick form.
  • Blocks: In commercial kitchens, butter is often sold in larger blocks, typically weighing around 1 pound or 454 grams. A block of butter is the same as 4 sticks, just in one solid piece. This makes it easier for chefs to portion out larger quantities.
  • Cups: Butter can also be measured in cups. One cup of butter equals 2 sticks or 16 tablespoons, weighing in at 8 ounces or 227 grams. This measurement is often used in recipes that require larger quantities of butter.
  • Weight: One stick of butter weighs 4 ounces or 113 grams, making it easy to measure out the exact amount needed for a recipe. If you operate a bakery, measuring butter by weight is the most precise method you can use.
  • Tablespoons: For recipes that call for smaller amounts of butter, measuring in tablespoons is practical. One stick of butter equals 8 tablespoons, which can be useful when you need a precise measurement without the need for a scale. Each tablespoon of butter weighs approximately 1/2 ounce or 14 grams.

Butter Conversion Charts

Whether your recipe calls for sticks, cups, or grams, you can use a butter conversion chart to pinpoint the exact amount you need. This simplifies the process so you can save time in the kitchen.

Butter by the Stick Conversions

If you're working with sticks or blocks of butter and you need to measure cups or tablespoons, use the chart below:

Sticks of Butter 1 lb. Blocks Cups of Butter Tablespoons of Butter Teaspoons of Butter
1/2 stick 1/8 block 1/4 cup 4 tablespoons 12 teaspoons
1 stick 1/4 block 1/2 cup 8 tablespoons 24 teaspoons
1 1/2 sticks 3/8 block 3/4 cup 12 tablespoons 36 teaspoons
2 sticks 1/2 block 1 cup 16 tablespoons 48 teaspoons
2 1/2 sticks 5/8 block 1 1/4 cup 20 tablespoons 60 teaspoons
3 sticks 3/4 block 1 1/2 cup 24 tablespoons 72 teaspoons
3 1/2 sticks 7/8 block 1 3/4 cup 28 tablespoons 84 teaspoons
4 sticks 1 block 2 cups 32 tablespoons 96 teaspoons

Butter by Weight Conversions

Weighing butter with a scale is a tried-and-true method for achieving accuracy. We highly recommend this technique for baking. Use this chart to convert sticks of butter to grams, ounces, and pounds:

Sticks of Butter 1 lb. Blocks Pounds of Butter Ounces of Butter Grams of Butter
1/2 stick 1/8 block 1/8 pound 2 ounces 57 grams
1 stick 1/4 block 1/4 pound 4 ounces 113 grams
1 1/2 sticks 3/8 block 3/8 pound 6 ounces 170 grams
2 sticks 1/2 block 1/2 pound 8 ounces 227 grams
2 1/2 sticks 5/8 block 5/8 pound 10 ounces 284 grams
3 sticks 3/4 block 3/4 pound 12 ounces 341 grams
3 1/2 sticks 7/8 block 7/8 pound 14 ounces 398 grams
4 sticks 1 block 1 pound 16 ounces 454 grams

How to Measure Butter (Without the Wrapper)

Measuring butter is easy to do with wrapped sticks, but what if there's no wrapper? In a busy kitchen, sometimes blocks or sticks are portioned out and the wrapper is discarded. Or you may be using a type of butter that's packaged in a tub or roll. Use these three methods to measure butter and other solid fats so your recipes are consistent and no butter is wasted.

Weigh It Out

When it comes to baking or cooking with butter, precise measurements are key to achieving the perfect dish. One of the most accurate ways to measure butter is by using a kitchen scale. By weighing your butter, you can ensure that you are using the exact amount required for your recipe. Here are the steps to measuring butter by weighing it with a kitchen scale:

  1. Begin by setting your kitchen scale to the unit of measurement specified in your recipe, typically ounces or grams.
  2. Place a clean, empty bowl or container on the scale and zero out the weight so that only the weight of the butter will be measured.
  3. As you add the butter to the bowl, the scale will display the weight of the butter. Continue adding or removing butter until the scale reads the exact measurement required.
  4. Once you have reached the correct weight, you can confidently add the butter to your recipe, knowing that you have used the precise amount needed for success.

Water Displacement Method

1 pint liquid measuring cup with gradations

The water displacement is a handy technique for measuring butter without the need for a scale. Here's how you can easily measure butter using water displacement:

  1. Fill a large liquid measuring cup with 1 cup of cold water.
  2. Add cold pieces or scoops of butter to the measuring cup. The butter must be submerged in the water.
  3. As you add butter, the water level will rise based on the volume of the butter added.
  4. Once the water level reaches the desired measurement mark (e.g. 1 cup), remove the butter pieces from the water. The water displacement indicates the accurate measurement of the butter you need for your recipe.
  5. Pat the butter dry with a paper towel before adding it to your recipe to ensure the correct consistency.

Measuring Cup and Plastic Wrap

This method works best with softened butter or margarine. Leave the butter out for about 30 minutes to come to room temperature. This is the best way to use a dry measuring cup to measure your butter without leaving behind a greasy mess:

  1. Start by lining the dry measuring cup with a piece of plastic wrap. Make sure the plastic wrap is large enough to cover the entire surface of the cup.
  2. Using a knife or spatula, transfer the softened butter into the plastic-lined measuring cup. Press the butter down gently to fill any gaps and ensure an even measurement.
  3. Once the butter fills the cup, level it off with your knife or spatula. Then gently lift the plastic wrap and butter out of the measuring cup and use as needed.

Butter Measuring FAQ

butter cut up into pieces in a bowl

If you're still looking for answers, check out the commonly asked questions about butter measurements:

How Many Cups of Butter Are in One Stick?

There are 1/2 cups of butter in a standard stick.

How Many Sticks Are in 3/4 Cup of Butter?

If your recipe calls for 3/4 cup of butter, you'll need to use 1 1/2 sticks.

How Much Is a Pat of Butter?

A pat of butter is equal to around 1 tablespoon.


In a busy kitchen, every ounce of butter counts, and over-measuring can lead to unnecessary food waste and increased costs. By ensuring precise measurements, chefs can optimize ingredient usage, save money, and maintain consistency in their recipes.

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