Butter Sticks to Cups, Tablespoons & Grams

What one stick of butter equals

In the US, butter is sold in sticks. One stick is a tidy set of equal measures: ½ cup, 8 tablespoons, 4 oz, and 113 g. Because a whole cup is two sticks, most American recipes are written in sticks and tablespoons rather than by weight, and the numbers stay round and easy to halve or double.

Elsewhere in the world butter comes in blocks measured in grams — typically 250 g bars in Europe. That is why a US recipe calling for "1 stick" needs converting: 1 stick is 113 g, so two sticks (227 g) is a little less than one 250 g European block. Knowing 1 stick = 113 g lets you buy and cut the right amount anywhere.

The full sticks-to-grams table

Here is the full ladder: ½ stick = ¼ cup = 4 tbsp = 2 oz = 57 g; 1 stick = ½ cup = 8 tbsp = 4 oz = 113 g; 1½ sticks = ¾ cup = 12 tbsp = 6 oz = 170 g; 2 sticks = 1 cup = 16 tbsp = 8 oz = 227 g; and 4 sticks = 2 cups = 1 lb = 454 g.

The tablespoon is the handy in-between unit. Since 1 stick has 8 tablespoons, and the wrapper is usually marked in tablespoons and quarter-cup lines, you rarely need a measuring cup for butter at all — just slice at the printed mark. For odd amounts like 3 tablespoons, cut three sections; each is about 0.5 oz (14 g).

Salted, unsalted and softened butter

The weight of a stick is the same whether the butter is salted or unsalted — 113 g either way — so the conversion never changes. What changes is the recipe: bakers usually specify unsalted butter so they can control the salt themselves. If you only have salted, reduce added salt by about ¼ teaspoon per stick.

"Softened" and "melted" describe temperature, not amount. A stick that is softened to room temperature still weighs 113 g; melting it does not change the weight, only the volume drops slightly as air is lost. So always convert first, then soften or melt — never try to measure butter by volume once it has melted.

Frequently asked questions

How many grams is 1 stick of butter?

Exactly 113 g (4 oz). One stick also equals ½ cup and 8 tablespoons, so two sticks make a full cup at 227 g.

How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?

Eight tablespoons. The wrapper is usually marked in tablespoon lines, so you can slice off exactly the number you need — each tablespoon is about 0.5 oz (14 g).

Is a European 250 g block the same as 2 sticks?

Almost, but not exactly. Two US sticks weigh 227 g, so a 250 g European block is about 23 g more — roughly 1.5 extra tablespoons. Weigh out 227 g if you want to match a two-stick recipe precisely.

Does melting butter change the amount?

No — the weight stays the same when butter melts; only its shape changes. A stick that is 113 g solid is still 113 g melted, so convert first and melt afterward for accuracy.