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Most butter in the United States is sold in 4‑ounce sticks marked with tablespoon increments. Thanks to these standard measurements, most recipes have been developed around the idea that eight tablespoons of butter equals one-half cup.
This consistency in measurement is particularly useful when converting between softened and melted butter. For example, one-half cup of melted butter is equivalent to eight tablespoons—or one full 4‑ounce stick of solid butter—regardless of its state.
Note: It’s always important to check the exterior and interior packaging for each brand of butter since brands may vary in how they prepare and package their butter.
Fat Content in Butter
Most American stick butters stick to the legal minimum of about 80% milk fat, but once you switch to “European‐style” or grass-fed varieties, you’ll see that number creep up, with richer flavor and a silkier texture. Brands like Plugrá, Land O’Lakes Extra Creamy, Kerrygold, and Président all have around 82% fat content, while grass-fed brands can reach 83 to 85%. You might even bump up to 85% or more in small-batch or Amish butter, and true European imports can reach as high as 90% fat.
If you want everyday cooking butter, an 80% stick does the job; for baking flakier pastries or spreading something decadently creamy, aim for the 82 to 85% range, or even higher if you really want to splurge.
Below is a chart to easily convert between tablespoons, cups, sticks, and grams. Although cup and tablespoon measurements are commonly used in recipes, metric units like grams are also gaining popularity, especially outside of the United States.
Butter Measurements Conversion Chart
| Tablespoons | Cups | Sticks | Grams |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 1/16 cup | 1/8 stick | 14 g |
| 2 tbsp | 1/8 cup | 1/4 stick | 28 g |
| 3 tbsp | 3/16 cup | 3/8 stick | 43 g |
| 4 tbsp | 1/4 cup | 1/2 stick | 57 g |
| 6 tbsp | 3/8 cup | 3/4 stick | 85 g |
| 8 tbsp | 1/2 cup | 1 stick | 113 g |
| 10 tbsp | 5/8 cup | 1 1/4 sticks | 142 g |
| 12 tbsp | 3/4 cup | 1 1/2 sticks | 170 g |
| 14 tbsp | 7/8 cup | 1 3/4 sticks | 198 g |
| 16 tbsp | 1 cup | 2 sticks | 227 g |
