Oil Needed
0.84 cups
Direction
Butter → Oil
Oil Type
Vegetable Oil
Oil has slightly more calories per gram (8.84 vs 7.17) but you use less since it’s 100% fat vs butter’s 80%.
| Butter | Oil | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1 tbsp | 2¼ tsp | Small adjustment |
| ¼ cup (4 tbsp) | 3 tbsp | Common cookie amount |
| ½ cup (1 stick) | 6 tbsp | Most cake recipes |
| 1 cup (2 sticks) | ¾ cup + 1 tbsp | Large batch baking |
Inputs
Result
Replace 1 cup (16 tbsp) of butter with 3/4 cup (12 tbsp) of canola oil. The recipe saves about 144 calories and drops saturated fat from 115 g to 12 g.
Inputs
Result
To convert oil to butter, divide by 0.75. Half a cup of oil (8 tbsp) becomes about 2/3 cup (10.7 tbsp) of butter. Expect a slightly flakier texture.
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Result
Refined coconut oil is solid at room temperature like butter, making it the closest textural match. Use 75% as much by volume for the same fat content.
Use 75–80% as much oil as butter by volume. For 1 cup of butter, use 3/4 cup of oil. Butter is about 80% fat and 20% water and milk solids, while oil is 100% fat, so you need less oil to get the same fat content in your baked goods.
| Butter Amount | Oil Equivalent | Butter (tbsp) | Oil (tbsp) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1/4 cup | 3 tbsp | 4 tbsp | 3 tbsp |
| 1/3 cup | 1/4 cup | 5.3 tbsp | 4 tbsp |
| 1/2 cup | 6 tbsp | 8 tbsp | 6 tbsp |
| 1 cup | 3/4 cup | 16 tbsp | 12 tbsp |
Yes, but the texture will differ. Oil produces moister, denser baked goods, while butter creates flakier, lighter textures because its water content generates steam. Cakes and quick breads work best with oil. Cookies will spread more and be chewier.
Neutral-flavored oils like canola, vegetable, and grapeseed work best because they don’t alter the recipe’s flavor. Coconut oil adds a subtle sweetness and can be used as a 1:1 replacement for butter by weight since it is also solid at room temperature.
| Oil Type | Flavor Impact | Best For | Cal per tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canola | None | All baking | 124 |
| Coconut (refined) | Mild sweet | Cookies, cakes | 121 |
| Olive (light) | Very mild | Muffins, bread | 119 |
| Avocado | None | All baking | 124 |
Butter has 102 calories and 11.5 g of fat per tablespoon, while most oils have about 120 calories and 14 g of fat per tablespoon. However, since you use less oil (75% as much), the total calories per recipe are similar. Oil has zero cholesterol and more unsaturated fat.
| Fat Source | Calories/tbsp | Total Fat/tbsp | Saturated Fat/tbsp |
|---|---|---|---|
| Butter | 102 | 11.5 g | 7.2 g |
| Canola oil | 124 | 14 g | 1.0 g |
| Olive oil | 119 | 13.5 g | 1.9 g |
| Coconut oil | 121 | 13.5 g | 11.2 g |
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Last Updated: Mar 9, 2026
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