How Many Sticks of Butter Are in ½ a Cup? (2024)

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How many sticks of butter are in 1/2 a cup?

Sounds like you’re making a recipe. Or you’re standing in the dairy section of the grocery store feeling a little lost. Just how many cups is in a stick of butter? The answer is ½ a cup. While we’re at it, here are some other common butter measurements, converted.

• 1 stick of butter = ½ cup
• 1 stick of butter = 8 Tbsp.
• 1 cup = 2 sticks of butter
• 1 pound of butter = 4 sticks of butter
• 1 pound of butter = 2 cups

Spoiler alert, we know.

But, here’s the deal: In the U.S., butter is typically sold in pre-wrapped sticks bundled together in 1/2-pound or 1-pound packages. And recipes usually call for cups. Isn’t that fun?

To make this easy for you, we created a few handy charts that convert butter from sticks to cups to grams to tablespoons and so on. Save the image at the bottom to your phone for the next time you go to the store. And, you know, want to make our Bread Pudding with Bourbon Caramel Sauce.

Common Butter Conversions

How Much Butter Is in a Cup, Tablespoon, or Pound

How Much Butter Is in Grams, Ounces, and Cups

Butter FAQs

In case you hate charts, we hope these butter answers offer some clarification.

How many sticks of butter are in 1 cup?
2 sticks of butter equals 1 cup. (Each stick of butter equals 1/2 a cup)

How many cups are in a pound of butter?
1 pound of butter equals two cups.

How many tablespoons are in a stick of butter?
There are 8 tablespoons in a stick of butter.

How many cups is 24 tablespoons?
24 tablespoons is equal to 3 cups. Also, how much are you baking? Can we come over?

Should I use unsalted or salted butter when baking?
Unless a recipe states otherwise, you should always use unsalted butter. This allows you to control just how much salt you want to add to a recipe.

Can I use these butter measurements for margarine?
No. Just no.