Wrapper torn, smudged or already in the trash? The simplest way to handle how to measure butter without the markings is to weigh it: 1 stick of butter is 113 g, and 1 tbsp is about 14.1 g. Cut a piece, weigh it, and trim until you hit the number.
| Butter | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 tsp | 4.7 g |
| 1 tbsp | 14.1 g |
| 1/4 cup (4 tbsp, half a stick) | 56.5 g |
| 1/3 cup (5 1/3 tbsp) | 75.3 g |
| 1/2 cup (8 tbsp, 1 stick) | 113 g |
| 1 cup (2 sticks) | 226 g |
You'll also see 1 cup listed as 227 g. A US stick is 4 oz, which is 113.4 g, so two sticks come to 226.8 g. Either number is fine for baking.
Three ways to get the amount right
1. Weigh it
This is the fastest and the most reliable. Put a plate or a piece of parchment on your scale, zero it, and add butter until you reach your target. If you go over, shave off a thin slice. Weighing doesn't care if the butter is cold, soft or oddly shaped.
2. Use water displacement
No scale? Use a liquid measuring cup. Say you need 1/2 cup of butter. Pour 1 cup of cold water into a 2 cup measure, then drop in pieces of cold butter until the water level reaches 1 1/2 cups. Push the butter fully under the surface with a spoon to read it. Drain the water and you have your 1/2 cup. Cold water matters here, since warm water starts melting the butter.
3. Divide the stick by eye
A stick holds 8 tbsp. Cut it in half for 4 tbsp, cut a half in half for 2 tbsp, and halve again for 1 tbsp. It's quick, but small errors add up, especially if the stick is slightly squashed.
How to measure butter by weight, step by step
- Check the package. Look for the net weight. A standard US 1 lb box holds 4 sticks of 4 oz each.
- Zero your scale with a plate, bowl or the mixing bowl itself on top.
- Cut a little less than you think you need. It's easier to add a sliver than to scrape some off.
- Add small pieces until the display shows your target.
- Weigh straight into the mixing bowl when you can. One less dish to wash, and nothing gets left behind on a plate.
Why weight beats spoons for butter
Butter is the classic ingredient that refuses to fit neatly into a spoon. Cold butter won't press into the corners, soft butter smears, and a rounded tablespoon can hold quite a bit more than a level one. Weight sidesteps all of it.
Weight also solves the melted butter question. When a recipe says "1/2 cup butter, melted," you can weigh 113 g of solid butter and then melt it. Melting doesn't change the weight, so there's no guessing about whether to measure before or after.
If you'd like more on the bigger picture, here's why measuring by weight helps baking.
Common mistakes
- Assuming every package uses sticks. Some butter comes in blocks or tubs, and the sizes vary. Check the net weight instead of guessing.
- Measuring whipped butter by volume. Whipped butter has air beaten in, so a tablespoon weighs less than a tablespoon of stick butter. Weigh it instead.
- Swapping salted and unsalted without thinking. The weight is the same, but salted butter adds salt to the recipe, so you may want to cut back on added salt.
- Using warm water for displacement. The butter softens and sticks to the cup, and your reading drifts.
For small amounts like 1 tbsp of soft butter, a MeasureMate digital measuring spoon is easy to use: it scoops and weighs in one step, so you can watch the display climb to 14.1 g. The tare button zeroes the reading, and the spoon head comes off so you can wash away the butter afterward.
Quick questions
How many grams is half a stick of butter?
Half a stick is 4 tbsp, or about 56.5 g.
How many sticks of butter is 1 cup?
One cup is 2 sticks, which weighs about 226 to 227 g.
How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?
A standard US stick holds 8 tbsp, each about 14.1 g.
Weights based on the King Arthur Baking ingredient weight chart.