How Much Is 5 Cups of Butter in Pounds?
5 cups of butter equals 2.50 lb. Butter has a density of 227g per cup (227g per cup), which means it's relatively heavy compared to other common cooking ingredients. For comparison, 5 cups of all-purpose flour would be 1.38 lb.
Formula and Step-by-Step
- Start with 5 cups of butter
- 1 cup of butter = 227g
- 5 × 227 = 1,135g
- Convert grams to pounds: 1,135 ÷ 453.592 = 2.50 lb
The same formula works for any amount. Multiply (or divide) by the density, then convert units as needed.
Measuring Tip
Butter is easiest to measure using the markings on the wrapper. One US stick = 113g = 1/2 cup = 8 tablespoons.
Butter at Different Amounts
How butter scales across common cups measurements. Your amount (5 cups) is highlighted.
For reference, 5 cups of butter (1,135g) is close in weight to a toaster (1,100g).
Other Amounts of Butter
| Cups | US Pounds | Metric Cup | Imperial Cup |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 cups | 0.13 lb | 0.13 lb | 0.15 lb |
| 0.33 cups | 0.17 lb | 0.17 lb | 0.20 lb |
| 0.5 cups | 0.25 lb | 0.26 lb | 0.30 lb |
| 0.75 cups | 0.38 lb | 0.40 lb | 0.45 lb |
| 1 cup | 0.50 lb | 0.53 lb | 0.60 lb |
| 1.5 cups | 0.75 lb | 0.79 lb | 0.90 lb |
| 2 cups | 1.00 lb | 1.06 lb | 1.20 lb |
| 3 cups | 1.50 lb | 1.59 lb | 1.80 lb |
| 4 cups | 2.00 lb | 2.12 lb | 2.40 lb |
| 5 cups | 2.50 lb | 2.64 lb | 3.01 lb |
Understanding the Units
What is a Cup?
In US cooking, a cup measures volume, not weight. One standard US cup holds 236.588 ml of liquid. Because different ingredients have different densities, a cup of one ingredient can weigh very differently from a cup of another.
What is a Pound?
The abbreviation "lb" comes from the Latin word "libra." One pound equals exactly 453.59237 grams. For rough mental math, 1 pound is slightly less than half a kilogram.