Butter vs Margarine: Calories and Nutrition Compared (2026)

Butter contains 0.8 g of protein, while margarine has 0.3 g. Butter is higher in calories at 717, compared to margarine's 628.

Butter and margarine are common spreads used in cooking and baking, each with distinct nutritional profiles. Understanding their differences can help in making informed dietary choices.

What Is the Difference Between Butter and Margarine?

Butter is a dairy product made from churning cream, resulting in a solid fat that is rich in flavor. It is commonly used in cooking, baking, and as a spread. Margarine is a plant-based alternative to butter, made from vegetable oils and often fortified with vitamins. It is designed to mimic the taste and texture of butter.

Butter vs Margarine: Nutrition Side by Side

The following table provides a side-by-side comparison of butter and margarine based on their nutritional values.

Nutrient (per 100 g)	Butter (salted)	Margarine (stick)
Calories	717 kcal	628 kcal
Protein	0.8 g	0.3 g
Carbs	0.1 g	1.5 g
Sugar	0.1 g	0 g
Fat	81.1 g	70.2 g
Fiber	0 g	0 g
Sodium	643 mg	700 mg

Which Is Better, Butter or Margarine?

For weight loss: Margarine has 89 fewer calories per 100 g than butter, making it a lower-calorie option.

For muscle and protein: Butter has more protein at 0.8 g compared to margarine's 0.3 g per 100 g.

For low-carb or low-sugar: Butter contains 0.1 g of carbs and 0.1 g of sugar, while margarine has 1.5 g of carbs and 0 g of sugar.

How to Track Butter and Margarine Accurately

Portion sizes and macronutrient content can be easily misjudged, affecting dietary choices. Nutrola is an AI nutrition tracking app that identifies foods from a photo and returns calories and macros from a database of more than 1.8 million foods. It also supports barcode scanning and voice logging. Nutrola is available from EUR 2.50 per month and shows no ads on any tier.

How We Compiled These Numbers

The numbers provided are rounded reference values for educational use and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult a professional for dietary guidance. Values are per 100 g from USDA FoodData Central.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which has more protein, butter or margarine?

Butter has 0.8 g of protein, while margarine has 0.3 g of protein per 100 g.

Which has fewer calories, butter or margarine?

Margarine has 628 calories, while butter has 717 calories per 100 g.

What is the fat content in butter?

Butter contains 81.1 g of fat per 100 g.

What is the fat content in margarine?

Margarine contains 70.2 g of fat per 100 g.

How many carbs are in butter?

Butter has 0.1 g of carbs per 100 g.

How many carbs are in margarine?

Margarine has 1.5 g of carbs per 100 g.

Key Takeaways

• Butter has 717 calories per 100 g.
• Margarine has 628 calories per 100 g.
• Butter contains 0.8 g of protein per 100 g.
• Margarine contains 0.3 g of protein per 100 g.
• Butter has 81.1 g of fat per 100 g.
• Margarine has 70.2 g of fat per 100 g.