Butter: how many calories?

Butter carries 717 calories per 100 grams; a typical portion (10 g) comes to 72 calories. The tables below give the same figure in cups, spoons and slices.

100 g717kcal
  • Protein0.9 g
  • Carbs0.1 g
  • Fat81.0 g
  • Fibre0.0 g
1 portion · 10 g72kcal
  • Protein0.1 g
  • Carbs0.0 g
  • Fat8.1 g
  • Fibre0.0 g

Where do the calories come from?

  • Protein 1%
  • Carbs 0%
  • Fat 99%

These percentages come from calories, not from grams: a gram of protein or carbohydrate counts as 4 calories, a gram of fat as 9. Alcohol is left out of the sum, fibre is counted with the carbohydrate, and the total always lands on one hundred.

What do these numbers mean on the plate?

Butter carries 7.2 calories per gram: 100 calories come out of just 14 grams. In this band the total is set not by the portion but by how far the container is tipped.

A typical portion is 10 g. Because tables are written per 100 grams, counting the portion as 100 grams too is a common mistake; for Butter that means overstating the calories by 900%.

In calories, one portion (10 g · 72 kcal) comes to: 11 g Walnuts. Walnuts page

One portion every day adds up to 26,171 calories a year — roughly a 3.4 kg difference. This is a linear estimate and an upper bound: as weight changes, daily needs change with it. Build your own timeline

For oils the calories per gram are almost constant; the only thing that changes is how full the spoon is. And part of what goes into the pan stays in the food.

Household measure equivalents

MeasureGramCaloriesProtein
Teaspoon (5 ml)4.8 g34 kcal0.0 g
Dessert spoon (10 ml)9.5 g68 kcal0.1 g
Tablespoon (15 ml)14 g102 kcal0.1 g
Glass (200 ml)190 g1,362 kcal1.7 g
1 serving10 g72 kcal0.1 g

Cup and spoon equivalents come from the food's bulk density, not from volume: a cup holds 200 millilitres, not 200 grams. Packing and how finely something is chopped move these numbers by 10-20%. Convert your own measure

How much of the daily reference intake?

NutrientDaily reference100 g1 portion · 10 g
Calories2,000 kcal36%4%
Fat70 g116%12%
Carbs260 g0%0%
Protein50 g2%0%
Fibre25 g0%0%

The reference values are the figures EU Regulation 1169/2011 gives for an average adult — the %RI column on labels rests on the same numbers. They are not a personal target; the fibre row is not in the regulation, the 25 grams there is EFSA's adequate intake for adults. Work out your own calorie needs

Where does it sit within its group?

It is number 8 of the 10 foods in the Oils, sauces and sweeteners group by calories per 100 grams. The group averages 490 kcal; Butter is 46% above that average.

Lighter options at the same 10 grams

FoodCaloriesDifferenceProtein
MustardGood swap7 kcal−65 kcal0.4 g
KetchupGood swap10 kcal−62 kcal0.1 g
JamGood swap28 kcal−44 kcal0.0 g

The “good swap” mark only appears when an option lowers the calories without also lowering protein and fibre per 100 calories. Unmarked rows save calories but give up nutrient density. Try it with your own portion

How long does it take to burn one portion (10 g)?

  • Walking — brisk (5.6 km/h)18 min
  • Running — 8 km/h (7:30 min/km)8 min
  • Cycling — 16-19 km/h10 min

The maths assumes 70 kg and is NET rather than gross: the resting calories that would burn without any exercise are not counted, because they do not pay for this portion. The heavier you are, the shorter the times. Calculate with your own weight

Foods with similar calories

Which claims could its label carry?

EU Regulation 1924/2006 ties every label claim to a numeric threshold. Butter meets none of them; the closest one is “Protein source” (1% of its calories come from protein · threshold: at least 12%).

The values here are averages; on a real label the thresholds are applied to the product's OWN analysis. The list estimates which claim could be printed and guarantees none of them. For drinks, the calorie and fat thresholds run per 100 millilitres and are lower. Interpret your own label

Apply these numbers to your own portion

The values are averages taken from standard composition tables; a 10-15% difference between two products with the same name is normal, and the cooking method can double that gap. This page is for information and is not medical advice.