A stick of butter is 4 oz. That is the answer: 1 US stick of butter equals 4 ounces, which equals half a cup, which equals 8 tablespoons, which equals 113 grams. If a recipe calls for 8 ounces of butter, use 2 sticks. If it calls for 2 ounces, use half a stick. This page gives you the table, the baking examples, and the reason the ounce is the unit that ties butter together — because a stick is a quarter of a pound, and a pound is 16 ounces, so a stick is 4 ounces.
The conversion table
| Sticks of butter | Ounces | Cups | Tablespoons | Grams |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 stick | 1 oz | 1/8 cup | 2 tbsp | 28.4 g |
| 1/2 stick | 2 oz | 1/4 cup | 4 tbsp | 56.7 g |
| 3/4 stick | 3 oz | 3/8 cup | 6 tbsp | 85.0 g |
| 1 stick | 4 oz | 1/2 cup | 8 tbsp | 113.4 g |
| 1 1/4 sticks | 5 oz | 5/8 cup | 10 tbsp | 141.7 g |
| 1 1/2 sticks | 6 oz | 3/4 cup | 12 tbsp | 170.1 g |
| 2 sticks | 8 oz | 1 cup | 16 tbsp | 226.8 g |
| 3 sticks | 12 oz | 1 1/2 cups | 24 tbsp | 340.2 g |
| 4 sticks | 16 oz | 2 cups | 32 tbsp | 453.6 g |
The gram figures are rounded to one decimal place. A stick is a quarter of a pound, and a pound is 16 ounces, so a stick is 4 ounces, and an ounce of butter is 2 tablespoons.
Worked example 1: a recipe that needs 6 ounces
A pastry recipe calls for 6 ounces of butter, and your butter is in sticks. Six ounces divided by 4 is 1 1/2 sticks, so use a stick and a half. Cut the second stick at the 4-tablespoon mark to get the extra half stick, which is 2 ounces, and save the remaining half stick for another recipe. If you have a scale, weigh 170 grams instead, which is the same amount, and it is more precise than cutting by eye.
Worked example 2: a sauce that needs 2 ounces
A pan sauce recipe calls for 2 ounces of butter to finish it, and you have a stick. Two ounces is half a stick, so cut the stick in half and drop one half into the pan. The butter will melt in seconds, and the sauce will turn glossy. If the recipe calls for 1 ounce, that is a quarter of a stick, which is 2 tablespoons, and you can cut it at the 2-tablespoon mark on the wrapper. The ounce is the unit that makes these small amounts easy, because a stick is 4 ounces and the wrapper is marked in tablespoons, so you can move between ounces and tablespoons without a scale.
Worked example 3: a recipe written in ounces only
An old recipe calls for 12 ounces of butter, and you want to know how many sticks that is. Twelve ounces divided by 4 is 3 sticks, which is 1 1/2 cups, or 340 grams. The conversion is simple, and it is the one that matters most when a recipe is written in ounces, because butter is sold by the pound and the pound is 16 ounces, so the ounce is the natural unit for butter. If the recipe calls for 10 ounces, that is 2 1/2 sticks, which is 1 1/4 cups, or 283 grams, and you should weigh it to be precise.
Method and source
A US stick of butter is defined as a quarter of a pound, which is 4 ounces, and an ounce is defined as exactly 28.349523125 grams, so a stick is 113.398 grams. The stick is a packaging unit: butter is sold in quarter-pound sticks in the United States, and the wrapper is marked in tablespoons so that a baker can cut off the amount they need. A European block of butter is usually 250 grams, which is 8.8 ounces, and it is not marked in ounces, so a European baker weighs butter rather than cutting it. The figure 4 ounces is exact for an American stick, and it is the most reliable butter conversion you will use, because the wrapper does the measuring for you.
Practical guidance
Use the tablespoon marks on the wrapper when you have American butter: an ounce of butter is 2 tablespoons, so 4 ounces is 8 tablespoons, which is a stick. When you have European butter, weigh it instead: an ounce is 28.35 grams, so 4 ounces is 113 grams. Soften butter at room temperature for 30 minutes before you cream it, and do not melt it unless the recipe says to, because melted butter gives a different texture. Store butter in the fridge, and freeze it if you will not use it within a few weeks. And remember the anchor: a stick is 4 ounces, half a cup, 8 tablespoons, and 113 grams.
Frequently asked questions
How many ounces are in a stick of butter?
There are 4 ounces in a stick of butter. That is the standard American conversion, and it is printed on the wrapper. A stick is also half a cup, 8 tablespoons, and 113 grams.
How many ounces are in half a stick of butter?
There are 2 ounces in half a stick of butter. Half a stick is also a quarter cup, 4 tablespoons, and 57 grams.
How many ounces are in 2 sticks of butter?
There are 8 ounces in 2 sticks of butter. Two sticks is also 1 cup, 16 tablespoons, half a pound, and 227 grams.
How many sticks of butter are in 12 ounces?
There are 3 sticks in 12 ounces. Twelve divided by 4 is 3, so you need three sticks, which is 1 1/2 cups, 24 tablespoons, and 340 grams.
How many grams are in an ounce of butter?
There are 28.35 g in an ounce of butter. An ounce is 28.35 grams, and a stick is 4 ounces, so a stick is 113.4 grams.
Is an ounce of butter the same as a fluid ounce?
No. An ounce measures weight, and a fluid ounce measures volume. An ounce of butter weighs 28.35 grams, and a fluid ounce of melted butter is about 28 grams, so they are close for butter, but for most ingredients they are different. Never swap them without checking.
Why butter is sold by the ounce
Butter is sold by the ounce because it is sold by the pound, and a pound is 16 ounces, so the ounce is the natural unit for butter. A stick is 4 ounces, a pound is 16 ounces, and a cup is 8 ounces, and those three numbers cover every amount a recipe is likely to ask for. The ounce is also the unit that ties butter to the rest of the recipe: a cake that calls for 8 ounces of butter, 8 ounces of sugar, and 8 ounces of flour is a sponge cake, and the equal weights are the recipe, not a coincidence. That is why old recipes are written in ounces: the weights tell you the proportions at a glance, and the proportions are what make the cake work. If you are converting an old recipe to grams, keep the proportions, because they matter more than the units.