Convert Butter from Tablespoon to Cup

How many cups is 1 tablespoon of butter?

1 tablespoon of butter (unsalted butter) is 0.06 cups. 2 tablespoons of butter is 0.12 cups. 1/2 tablespoon of butter is 0.03 cups. 1/4 tablespoon (0.25 tablespoon) of butter is 0.01 cups. Use the converter below for any amount.

  • These figures use the metric cup (250 ml). A US cup is slightly smaller at 240 ml, so it holds a little less. Use the US cup converter →
  • Cup sizes are not standard worldwide, so the same cup of an ingredient can weigh more or less depending on the country. What is a cup measurement →
  • A tablespoon here is the 15 ml metric standard, about 16.67 to a metric cup, the same size as a UK tablespoon. A US tablespoon is smaller at 14.79 ml, so US cooks measuring with US spoons need slightly more. An Australian tablespoon is larger at 20 ml, so it holds about a third more. When tablespoon size matters →
  • A little over or under won't ruin the bake, though it can nudge the final taste or colour.

Butter is a staple baking fat made by churning cream, used in everything from shortcrust pastry and cakes to sauces and frostings. One metric cup (250 ml) of butter weighs around 227 grams or 8 ounces, which is also 2 standard sticks. Recipes from different countries measure it in cups, sticks, grams, or ounces, so a quick conversion saves the guesswork.

Butter is sold in sticks in the US and in blocks by weight elsewhere, so a recipe written for one system needs converting for the other. Measuring by weight is the most reliable way to get pastry and cake textures right.

Also known as

  • unsalted butter
  • salted butter
  • sweet cream butter

Butter Calculator

Need to swap butter for oil? Our butter to oil converter gives you the exact amount.

Butter to Oil Converter

Vegetable oil is a pourable liquid fat that keeps bakes moist for longer than butter, though it skips butter's flavour and the air you beat in when creaming. Use roughly 7/8 cup of oil per cup of butter, and our butter to oil converter works out the exact amount. See our Vegetable Oil converter.

Olive oil swaps in for melted butter in many cakes and breads, adding moisture and a savoury depth. It is lighter by cup than butter (216 g vs 227 g), so weigh when substituting and reduce the quantity slightly to avoid a greasy crumb. See our Olive Oil converter.

Peanut butter swaps in for butter in cookies and no-bake bars, adding a nutty flavour and dense texture. It is heavier than butter (268 g vs 227 g per cup), so weigh when substituting and expect a richer, less flaky result. See our Peanut Butter converter.

Margarine is a plant-oil spread designed to behave like butter, with a similar fat-to-water ratio and a near-identical weight (235 g vs 227 g per cup). Swap 1:1 by volume in cakes, cookies, and pastry; expect a slightly softer crumb and a less buttery flavour. See our Margarine converter.

Shortening is 100% fat, so it is richer than butter (which is around 80% fat) and lighter per cup at 205 g vs 227 g. Swap by weight in cookies and pie crust for a flakier, sturdier result; expect to lose butter's flavour and add 2 to 3 tablespoons of water per cup to compensate for the missing moisture. See our Shortening converter.

Ghee is butter with the water and milk solids cooked off, close in weight (218 g vs 227 g per cup) with a nuttier flavour and a higher smoke point. Swap 1:1 by volume; ghee browns faster. See our Ghee converter.

Out of butter? See butter substitutes →

No measuring spoons? The tool below gets you close, and a measuring spoon set keeps small amounts accurate.

Butter Measurement Converter

Enter a value and pick your units.

Result

0 Cup

Common Butter Conversions

Here are the most common butter conversions from tablespoons to cups.

TablespoonsCups
1 tbsp0.06 cups
2 tbsp0.12 cups
3 tbsp0.18 cups
4 tbsp0.24 cups
6 tbsp0.36 cups
8 tbsp0.48 cups
10 tbsp0.6 cups
12 tbsp0.72 cups
16 tbsp0.96 cups

Butter Conversion Chart

The conversion chart below gives a quick reference for converting butter from Tablespoon to Cup and other measurements.

tbspcupgramsouncescup(US)tspstick
1 tbsp0.06 cup13.62 g0.48 oz0.06 cup (US)3 tsp0.12 stick
2 tbsp0.12 cup27.24 g0.96 oz0.13 cup (US)6 tsp0.24 stick
3 tbsp0.18 cup40.86 g1.44 oz0.19 cup (US)9 tsp0.36 stick
4 tbsp0.24 cup54.48 g1.92 oz0.25 cup (US)12 tsp0.48 stick

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cups is 1 tablespoon of butter?
1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 2 tablespoons of butter is 0.12 cups and 0.5 tablespoons is 0.03 cups. Use the converter above for any quantity, or check the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts at a glance. Open the butter converter
How many cups is 1.5 tablespoons of butter?
1.5 tablespoons of butter is 0.09 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.12 cups. Type any other amount into the converter above for the exact figure, or use the chart below for the common ones.
How many cups is 2 tablespoons of butter?
2 tablespoons of butter is 0.12 cups. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 cups, and you can multiply or divide that figure to match whatever your recipe needs. Enter any amount in the converter above for an exact cups reading.
How many tablespoons of butter is 0.06 cups?
0.06 cups of butter is 1 tablespoon. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between cups and tablespoons without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists tablespoons but you would rather weigh or measure in cups. The converter above and the chart below cover both directions for any amount.
How many cups is 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter?
Unsalted butter is another name for butter, so 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter is 0.06 cups, exactly the same as butter. The figure does not change with the name: 2 tablespoons is 0.12 cups and 0.5 tablespoons is 0.03 cups. Use the converter above for any quantity, or read the conversion chart on this page for the most common amounts.
Are butter and unsalted butter the same thing?
Yes. Unsalted butter is another name for butter, so they are the same ingredient and convert identically. 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 cups under either name, and 2 tablespoons is 0.12 cups. Recipes use the two names interchangeably, so you can follow either one without changing quantities or weighing any differently.
What is 1/2 tbsp butter in cups?
1/2 tablespoon of butter is 0.03 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.12 cups. Half measures come up often when scaling a recipe down, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other amount, or the chart below for the common ones.
What is 1/4 tbsp butter in cups?
1/4 tablespoon (0.25 tablespoon) of butter is 0.01 cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.12 cups. Quarter amounts often come up when scaling a recipe down step by step, and the figure divides cleanly. Use the converter above for any other quantity, or the chart below for the most common amounts.

Other Ingredients

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