Exact butter to oil substitution
1 cup butter to oil
1 cup butter replaces with 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons / 180 ml / 164 g) vegetable oil under the classic baking shortcut, or 181.6 g of oil for an exact fat-weight match.
Oil to butter converter
12⅛ tbsp
- 164 g
- 180 ml
- ¾ 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 | 240 ml × 0.75 = 180 ml |
|---|---|
| Source | 227 g · 181.6 g fat |
| Result | 163.5 g · 163.5 g fat |
| Ratio | ×0.7203 |
The calculation
How much oil replaces 1 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: Two sticks of butter contribute roughly 36 ml (2.5 tablespoons) of water. When substituting with pure oil in scratch cakes or bread, add 2 tablespoons of water or milk to keep gluten hydration balanced.
Equivalent measurements
1 cup butter in oil units
Quick answers
Frequently asked questions
How much oil replaces 1 cup (2 sticks) of butter?
Use 3/4 cup (12 tablespoons / 180 ml) of oil under the quick rule, or 181.6 g (200 ml) of oil on a digital scale for exact fat-weight parity.
Can I replace 1 cup of butter with oil in sugar cookies?
Proceed with caution. Sugar cookies rely on the creaming method with solid butter to hold shape. Liquid oil causes cookies to spread excessively thin and bake crispy rather than chewy.
Why does 1 cup of butter only need 3/4 cup of oil?
Butter is an emulsion containing ~80% milkfat and ~16% water. Oil is 100% pure fat. Therefore, 3/4 cup of oil provides approximately the same fat content as 1 whole cup of butter.