How the Butter Converter Works
The Butter Converter divides butter mass by the density of solid or melted butter. The default 0.911 kg/L fits melted butter at about 40°C (104°F).
Choose solid or melted
Recipes calling for "melted butter" need the melted density; creamed butter needs the solid value.
Enter the density
Use 0.959 kg/L for solid butter from the fridge or 0.911 kg/L for melted butter.
Enter the mass
Type the weight: 0.227 kg for a US 8 oz block or 0.25 kg for a European block.
Read the volume
The liters shown convert to cups and tablespoons in the table.
Butter Converter Formula
The butter formula is V = m ÷ ρbutter. One US stick of butter weighs 113.4 g (4 oz) and equals 8 tablespoons, or ½ cup.
- 0.959
- Solid butter density at 4°C, kg/L
- 0.911
- Melted butter density at 40°C, kg/L
Worked Examples
- 1 US stick (113.4 g) solid: 113.4 ÷ 0.959 = 118.2 mL, the ½-cup mark.
- 250 g block melted: 250 ÷ 0.911 = 274.4 mL.
- 1 kg melted: 1 ÷ 0.911 = 1.098 L.
Butter Converter Conversion Table
One US stick of butter (113.4 g) fills 118.2 mL solid and 124.5 mL melted. The table converts common butter portions.
| Butter Portion | Mass (g) | Solid Volume (mL) | Melted Volume (mL) | Solid Tablespoons |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon | 14.200 | 14.807 | 15.587 | 1.001 |
| 1 US stick (½ cup) | 113.40 | 118.25 | 124.48 | 7.997 |
| European block | 250.00 | 260.69 | 274.42 | 17.630 |
| US 1 lb box (4 sticks) | 453.60 | 472.99 | 497.91 | 31.988 |
| 500 g block | 500.00 | 521.38 | 548.85 | 35.260 |
| 1 kg block | 1,000.0 | 1,042.8 | 1,097.7 | 70.519 |
| Bakery case (25 kg) | 25,000 | 26,069 | 27,442 | 1,763.0 |
What is a Butter Converter?
A Butter Converter is a calculator that changes butter weight into volume for solid or melted butter.
Butter is at least 80% milk fat under US and EU rules, with about 16% water and 2% milk solids. The water droplets raise the density of solid butter above pure fat.
Melting separates the water and fat and lets the fat expand. Melted butter fills about 5% more volume than the same butter cold from the fridge.
What are the Uses of a Butter Converter?
There are 4 main uses of a Butter Converter.
US and metric recipes
Bakers turn sticks and cups into grams for European recipes.
Melted butter measures
Cooks measure melted butter in a jug without a scale.
Bakery costing
Pastry shops convert butter case weights into batch portions.
Lamination
Croissant makers size butter sheets from block mass.