Exact butter to oil substitution
1/3 cup butter to oil
1/3 cup butter replaces with 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons / 60 ml / 54.5 g) vegetable oil under the classic baking shortcut, or 60.5 g of oil for an exact fat-weight match.
Oil to butter converter
4 tbsp
- 54.5 g
- 60 ml
- ¼ cup
- Quick rule: easy to remember and fine for most bakes. Switch to Exact for a fat-matched result.
- Neutral flavour and 100% fat. The default oil in most recipes.
Show the maths
| Formula | 79.99 ml × 0.75 = 59.99 ml |
|---|---|
| Source | 75.66 g · 60.53 g fat |
| Result | 54.49 g · 54.49 g fat |
| Ratio | ×0.7203 |
The calculation
How much oil replaces 1/3 cup butter?
Butter is roughly 80% butterfat and 16% to 17% water, whereas vegetable and canola oils are 100% pure fat. When swapping butter for oil, applying a 1:1 volume swap adds 20% more fat and removes moisture.
Moisture compensation: Replacing 1/3 cup butter with oil removes approximately 12 ml of water. For dense brownies or banana bread, no extra liquid is needed.
Equivalent measurements
1/3 cup butter in oil units
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How much oil do I use for 1/3 cup of butter?
Use 1/4 cup (4 level tablespoons / 60 ml) of oil according to the standard 0.75 culinary rule. For exact fat-matching on a scale, use 60.5 g (approx. 4.5 tablespoons).
Will brownies be fudgy if I use oil instead of 1/3 cup butter?
Yes, oil creates intensely fudgy, moist brownies because liquid fat does not set solid at room temperature. For crisp, paper-thin shiny tops, consider a 50/50 blend of butter and oil.
Can I use canola oil instead of butter for 1/3 cup?
Yes. Canola oil has a neutral taste and identical density (0.91 g/ml) to vegetable oil, making 1/4 cup (4 tbsp) canola oil a direct swap.