Grams to Cups

Butter: Form, Weight & Baking Guide

The rich fat behind flaky pastry, tender cakes, and golden cookies.

1 cup = 227g

Butter

Measured

packed into cup

Category

Fat

Convert butter grams to cups

What is butter?

Butter is roughly 80% fat, 18% water, and a little milk solid, and that mix is what makes it so useful in baking. Solid and cold, it laminates pastry into flaky layers; soft and creamed with sugar, it traps air for tender cakes; melted, it enriches cookies and quick breads.

A US cup of butter weighs about 227 grams — two standard sticks, or 16 tablespoons. Wrappers are usually marked in tablespoons, which makes butter one of the easier ingredients to measure, but weighing is still the most precise option for laminated doughs.

Measurement profile

Grams per cup
227g
Cup standard
US cup / 240 ml
Ingredient state
softened
Confidence
High

Data last verified: August 4, 2026

Source observations

Why measurements vary

Physical state

Cold sticks, softened butter, and melted butter do not fill a volume measure in the same way.

Air pockets and fat content

Gaps in packed soft butter and the higher fat content of some European-style butter can shift a cup weight.

How to measure butter

packed into cup

  • Butter is often sold in sticks in the US, and one stick equals 113g (about half a cup).
  • Soft butter should be packed firmly into the measuring cup to avoid air pockets that skew the weight.
  • Cold butter is harder to measure accurately by volume — let it soften to room temperature first.
  • European-style butter has a slightly higher fat content, which can make it marginally denser than US butter.

Types & varieties

Unsalted butter

227g per cup

The baking standard — control the salt yourself.

Salted butter

Adds salt; reduce the added salt in the recipe.

European-style butter

Higher fat (82%+) for a richer result.

Cultured butter

Tangy flavor from fermented cream.

Common butter measurements

These limited reference values are derived from the canonical cup weight. Use the converter for any other amount.

CupsGrams
¼ cup56.8g
⅓ cup75.7g
½ cup113.5g
1 cup227g

Common substitutes

Margarine

Similar volume but different water and fat content.

Coconut oil

Solid at room temperature; changes the flavor.

Shortening

More tender crumb, but less flavor.

Frequently asked questions

How many grams are in 1 cup of butter?

1 US cup of butter weighs about 227 grams. In the US that's 2 sticks.

How many grams is one stick of butter?

One US stick of butter is 1/2 cup, about 114g (4 oz). Two sticks make a 227g cup.

Is salted butter the same weight as unsalted?

Yes. Salted and unsalted butter weigh the same by volume — about 227g per cup. Only the salt content differs, so adjust any added salt.

Can I substitute oil for butter?

Sometimes. Oil keeps cakes moist but can't be creamed for lift, and 1 cup of butter isn't 1 cup of oil by weight — use a tested substitution ratio.