Quick Answer
It takes 2 standard sticks of butter (each stick is 1/2 cup or 4 ounces) to make 1 cup of butter. So if you need 1 cup of butter for baking or cooking, you’ll need 2 sticks.
Butter Basics
Let’s start with some key facts about butter:
- 1 stick of butter = 1/2 cup = 4 ounces = 113 grams
- 2 sticks of butter = 1 cup = 8 ounces = 227 grams
- 4 sticks of butter = 2 cups = 1 pound = 454 grams
Standard sticks of butter in the U.S. are 1/2 cup or 4 ounces each. This is true for brands like Land O’Lakes, Kerrygold, Tillamook, and most major supermarket brands.
Some specialty butters may come in oddly shaped sticks that are more or less than 4 ounces, but the standard is 1/2 cup per stick.
How Many Sticks for 1 Cup?
So if 1 stick of butter is 1/2 cup, and 2 sticks of butter make 1 cup, the answer is:
It takes 2 sticks of butter to make 1 cup.
You need those 2 sticks, each being 4 ounces or 1/2 cup, to get 1 full cup of 8 ounces.
To visualize this:
| Amount | Butter Sticks |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 2 sticks |
| 1/2 cup | 1 stick |
| 1/4 cup | 1/2 stick |
Typical Butter Packaging
When you buy butter in the store, here is how it’s usually packaged:
- 1 stick = 1/4 pound = 4 ounces = 1/2 cup
- 2 sticks side by side = 1/2 pound = 8 ounces = 1 cup
- 4 sticks in one box = 1 pound = 16 ounces = 2 cups
So if you need just 1 cup of butter, look for a 2-stick box. But most packages contain 4 sticks totaling 2 cups or 1 pound.
Some benefits of buying the 4-stick packs:
- More economical per ounce than smaller packs
- Freezing extra sticks for later is easy
- Always have butter on hand for recipes
When You Need Less Than a Cup
What if you only need 1/2 cup or 1/4 cup of butter? Here’s how to portion sticks:
For 1/2 cup: Use 1 whole stick
For 1/4 cup: Cut 1 stick in half lengthwise or cut off one end. Each half is 1/4 cup.
For smaller amounts like 3 tablespoons or 5 teaspoons, it’s easiest to use knife points to cut off what you need from the stick.
Pro Tips:
- Mark measurements on wax paper then wrap and freeze butter sticks for easy cutting.
- Let butter soften slightly before cutting for cleaner cuts.
- Use a butter knife to slice off thin pieces and minimize waste.
How Much Does a Stick of Butter Weigh?
As noted earlier, one standard butter stick weighs:
- 4 ounces
- 113 grams
Two sticks of butter weigh:
- 8 ounces
- 227 grams
Most recipes specify butter by standard volume measures like cups, tablespoons, etc. But in some European recipes, you may see butter amounts in grams instead of cups.
So remember these conversions when working with butter:
| Butter Amount | Grams |
|---|---|
| 1 cup | 227 grams |
| 1/2 cup | 113 grams |
| 4 ounces | 113 grams |
| 1 tablespoon | 14 grams |
Handy Butter Measurement Conversions
Here are some handy butter measurement conversions to know:
1 Cup Butter Converts To:
- 2 sticks
- 8 ounces
- 16 tablespoons
- 24 teaspoons
- 227 grams
1 Stick Butter Converts To:
- 1/2 cup
- 4 ounces
- 8 tablespoons
- 12 teaspoons
- 113 grams
1 Tablespoon Butter Converts To:
- 1/2 ounce
- 14 grams
Knowing these handy conversions allows you to adapt any butter measurement in recipes.
Substituting Butter with Margarine or Shortening
In some cases, you may need to substitute butter with margarine or shortening in recipes:
- Margarine – Use the same amount as you would butter. So for 1 cup butter, use 1 cup margarine.
- Shortening – Use a 1:1 ratio for substituting butter. Be aware shortening has a different flavor.
- Oil – For every 1 cup butter, substitute 3/4 cup oil. Reduce liquids slightly to account for less moisture.
Since butter has a unique flavor, substitutes won’t replicate it exactly. But in baked goods, margarine and shortening can work well. Reduce oven temperature slightly as shortening can brown faster.
Key Takeaways
To summarize how many butter sticks per cup:
- 2 sticks butter = 1 cup
- 1 stick butter = 1/2 cup = 4 ounces
- 1 cup butter = 8 ounces = 16 tablespoons = 227 grams
- Knowing butter conversions allows adapting recipes easily
- When substituting butter, margarine and shortening work best in similar ratios
Understanding how sticks, tablespoons, cups, ounces and grams equate gives you measurement mastery for any recipe using butter.
Conclusion
So the next time your recipe calls for 1 cup of butter, you’ll know to grab exactly 2 sticks from the fridge. Each of those sticks is 1/2 cup or 4 ounces.
Whether you need a full cup, just a half cup or even less, portioning sticks is simple once you know the standard equivalents. A little butter basics goes a long way!
