Convert Butter from Tablespoon to Cup (US)
How many US cups is 1 tablespoon of butter?
1 tablespoon of butter (unsalted butter) is 0.06 US cups. 2 tablespoons of butter is 0.13 US cups. 1/2 tablespoon of butter is 0.03 US cups. 1/4 tablespoon (0.25 tablespoon) of butter is 0.02 US cups. Use the converter below for any amount.
- These figures use the US cup (240 ml). A metric cup is slightly larger at 250 ml, so it holds a little more.
- 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 →
- One metric tablespoon of butter weighs about 13.6 grams. A US tablespoon (14.79 ml) holds about 13.4 grams and an Australian tablespoon (20 ml) about 18.2 grams.
- A little over or under won't ruin the bake, though it can nudge the final taste or colour.
Butter substitutes
Ran out? What to use instead of butter →
No measuring spoons? The tool below gets you close, and a measuring spoon set keeps small amounts accurate.
Nail small amounts, get spoonsButter Measurement Converter
Enter a value and pick your units.
Result
0.06 Cup (US)Butter Calculators & Baking Tools
Working with butter? These tools handle the jobs a converter cannot.
- Butter to Oil Converter Convert butter to oil, or oil to butter, for any recipe.
- Pan Size Converter Rescale a recipe for a different cake tin size.
- Oven to Air Fryer Converter Match the temperature and time when you swap the oven for an air fryer, fan oven, or slow cooker.
- Recipe Scaler Scale any recipe up or down and keep every ingredient in ratio.
Common Butter Conversions
Here are the most common butter conversions from tablespoons to cups (US).
| Tablespoons | Cups (US) |
|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 0.06 cups (US) |
| 2 tbsp | 0.13 cups (US) |
| 3 tbsp | 0.19 cups (US) |
| 4 tbsp | 0.25 cups (US) |
| 6 tbsp | 0.38 cups (US) |
| 8 tbsp | 0.5 cups (US) |
| 10 tbsp | 0.63 cups (US) |
| 12 tbsp | 0.75 cups (US) |
| 16 tbsp | 1 cup (US) |
This is a volume conversion, so the result is the same for every ingredient. Use the tablespoons to cups (US) volume converter to switch between cups, tablespoons, teaspoons, and millilitres without weighing.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is 1 tablespoon of butter in US cups?
- 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 2 tablespoons of butter is 0.13 US cups and 0.5 tablespoons is 0.03 US 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 US cups is 1.5 tablespoons of butter?
- 1.5 tablespoons of butter is 0.09 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 US cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.13 US cups. Type any other amount into the converter above for the exact figure, or use the chart above for the common ones.
- What is 2 tablespoons of butter in US cups?
- 2 tablespoons of butter is 0.13 US cups. Conversions scale in a straight line, so halving or doubling a recipe keeps the same ratio. 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 US 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 US cups reading.
- How many tablespoons of butter is 0.06 US cups?
- 0.06 US cups of butter is 0.96 tablespoons. The conversion works the same in reverse, so you can switch between US cups and tablespoons without changing the result. This helps when a recipe lists tablespoons but you would rather weigh or measure in US cups. The converter above and the chart above cover both directions for any amount.
- What is 1/2 tbsp butter in US cups?
- 1/2 tablespoon of butter is 0.03 US cups. The ratio is fixed, so 1 tablespoon of butter is 0.06 US cups and 2 tablespoons is 0.13 US 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 above for the common ones.
Related to Butter
Margarine
Margarine is built to behave like butter, with a similar fat-to-water ratio and a near-identical weight (235 g vs 227 g per cup). Expect a slightly softer crumb and a less buttery flavour. See our Margarine converter.
Shortening
Shortening is 100% fat against butter's 80%, so add water to make up the missing moisture. Result is flakier in pie crust and sturdier in cookies, but you lose butter's flavour. See our Shortening converter.
Ghee
Ghee is butter with the water and milk solids cooked off, so it swaps in 1:1 by volume and adds a nutty depth. It is slightly lighter per cup (218 g vs 227 g) and has a much higher smoke point, making it the better choice for frying and high-heat roasting. See our Ghee converter.
Brown Sugar
Brown sugar is what butter gets creamed with before anything else joins a cookie dough, and its damp crystals cut air into the butter better than dry white sugar manages. Bring the butter to room temperature first, or the sugar sits in lumps instead of aerating anything. See our Brown Sugar converter.
Vegetable Oil
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
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
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.
See all available cooking ingredients and fresh produce.