Margarine vs Butter
Nutrition comparison per 100g · USDA SR Legacy & USDA SR Legacy
Margarine, margarine-like vegetable oil spread, 67-70% fat, tub is higher in more vitamins & minerals
Calories (kcal)
Margarine 606
Butter 499
Protein (g)
Margarine 0.070
Butter 3.30
Carbs (g)
Margarine 0.590
Butter 0
Fat (g)
Margarine 68.3
Butter 55.1
Fiber (g)
Margarine —
Butter 0
Quick answers
Which has more protein?
Butter, light, stick, without salt — 3.30g vs 0.070g per 100g.
Which has fewer calories?
Butter, light, stick, without salt — 499 vs 606 kcal per 100g.
Which is more nutrient-dense?
Margarine, margarine-like vegetable oil spread, 67-70% fat, tub scores higher in more vitamins and minerals per 100g, though both foods can be part of a healthy diet.
Full Nutrition Comparison
All values per 100g edible portion. Green = Food A higher · Blue = Food B higher
| Nutrient | Margarine | Butter | Diff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | |||
| Energy | 606 kcal | 499 kcal | +21% |
| Macronutrients | |||
| Water | 29.5 g | 43.2 g | -32% |
| Protein | 0.070 g | 3.30 g | -98% |
| Total lipid (fat) | 68.3 g | 55.1 g | +24% |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.590 g | 0 g | |
| Fiber, total dietary | — | 0 g | |
| Fats & Fatty Acids | |||
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 16.7 g | 34.3 g | -51% |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 24.7 g | 15.9 g | +55% |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 3.27 g | — | |
| Cholesterol | — | 106 mg | |
| Vitamins | |||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | — | 0 mg | |
| Thiamin (Vitamin B1) | — | 0.010 mg | |
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | — | 0.070 mg | |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | — | 0.020 mg | |
| Vitamin B-6 — Pyridoxine | — | 0.010 mg | |
| Biotin (Vitamin B7) | — | 1.00 ug | |
| Folate, total (Vitamin B9) | — | 0 ug | |
| Choline, total | — | 12.9 mg | |
| Vitamin B-12 — Cobalamin | — | 0.130 ug | |
| Vitamin A, RAE | — | 465 ug | |
| Carotene, beta | — | 107 ug | |
| Carotene, alpha | — | 0 ug | |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 13.0 mg | 1.58 mg | +723% |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | — | 0 ug | |
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium, Ca | — | 48.0 mg | |
| Iron, Fe | — | 1.09 mg | |
| Magnesium, Mg | — | 5.00 mg | |
| Phosphorus, P | — | 34.0 mg | |
| Potassium, K | — | 71.0 mg | |
| Sodium, Na | 536 mg | 36.0 mg | +1389% |
| Zinc, Zn | — | 0.260 mg | |
| Copper, Cu | — | 0 mg | |
| Selenium, Se | — | 1.00 ug | |
| Other Nutrients | |||
| Energy | 2537 kj | 2088 kj | +22% |
| Ash | 1.53 g | 0.500 g | +206% |
| Total Sugars | — | 0 g | |
| Folic acid (Vitamin B9 — synthetic) | — | 1.00 ug | |
| Folate, DFE (Vitamin B9 — dietary folate equivalents) | — | 1.00 ug | |
| Vitamin B-12, added | — | 0 ug | |
| Retinol | — | 456 ug | |
| Beta-carotene (Provitamin A) | — | 0 ug | |
| Vitamin A, IU | 3571 IU | 1698 IU | +110% |
| Beta-cryptoxanthin (Provitamin A) | — | 0 ug | |
| Lycopene | — | 0 ug | |
| Vitamin E, added | — | 0 mg | |
| Vitamin E — Beta-Tocopherol (β-Tocopherol) | 0.260 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Gamma-Tocopherol (γ-Tocopherol) | 29.3 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Delta-Tocopherol (δ-Tocopherol) | 9.33 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Alpha-Tocotrienol (α-Tocotrienol) | 1.42 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Beta-Tocotrienol (β-Tocotrienol) | 0 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Gamma-Tocotrienol (γ-Tocotrienol) | 2.04 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Delta-Tocotrienol (δ-Tocotrienol) | 0 mg | — | |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3 — total) | — | 0 IU | |
| Vitamin D2 — Ergocalciferol (plant source) | — | 0 ug | |
| Vitamin D3 — Cholecalciferol (animal / sunlight source) | — | 0 ug | |
| Vitamin K1 — Phylloquinone | — | 4.80 ug | |
| SFA 4:0 (Butyric acid) | 0 g | 1.79 g | -100% |
| SFA 6:0 (Caproic acid) | 0 g | 1.06 g | -100% |
| SFA 8:0 (Caprylic acid) | 0.016 g | 0.619 g | -97% |
| SFA 10:0 (Capric acid) | 0.082 g | 1.38 g | -94% |
| SFA 12:0 (Lauric acid) | 0.064 g | 1.55 g | -96% |
| SFA 14:0 (Myristic acid) | 0.237 g | 5.55 g | -96% |
| SFA 15:0 (Pentadecanoic acid) | 0.018 g | — | |
| SFA 16:0 (Palmitic acid) | 12.3 g | 14.5 g | -15% |
| SFA 17:0 (Margaric acid) | 0.060 g | — | |
| SFA 18:0 (Stearic acid) | 3.46 g | 6.68 g | -48% |
| SFA 20:0 (Arachidic acid) | 0.246 g | — | |
| SFA 22:0 (Behenic acid) | 0.169 g | — | |
| SFA 24:0 (Lignoceric acid) | 0.071 g | — | |
| MUFA 14:1 (Myristoleic acid) | 0 g | — | |
| MUFA 15:1 (Pentadecenoic acid) | 0 g | — | |
| MUFA 16:1 (Omega-7, Palmitoleic acid) | 0.078 g | 1.24 g | -94% |
| MUFA 16:1 c (Omega-7, Palmitoleic acid — cis) | 0.078 g | — | |
| MUFA 17:1 (Heptadecenoic acid) | 0.029 g | — | |
| MUFA 18:1 (Omega-9, Oleic acid family) | 24.3 g | 13.9 g | +75% |
| MUFA 18:1 c (Omega-9, Oleic acid — cis) | 21.4 g | — | |
| MUFA 20:1 (Omega-9, Gondoic / Gadoleic acid) | 0.340 g | 0 g | |
| MUFA 22:1 (Omega-9, Erucic acid family) | 0.003 g | 0 g | |
| MUFA 22:1 c (Omega-9, Erucic acid — cis) | 0.003 g | — | |
| MUFA 24:1 c (Omega-9, Nervonic acid — cis) | 0 g | — | |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 23.8 g | 2.05 g | +1063% |
| PUFA 18:2 (Omega-6, Linoleic acid) | 20.8 g | 1.24 g | +1574% |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 (Omega-6, LA — Linoleic acid) | 20.4 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.037 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:3 (Omega-3, Alpha-linolenic family) | 2.94 g | 0.802 g | +266% |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 (Omega-3, ALA — Alpha-linolenic acid) | 2.92 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 (Omega-6, GLA — Gamma-linolenic acid) | 0.014 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:4 n-3 (Omega-3, SDA — Stearidonic acid) | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 (Omega-6, Eicosadienoic acid) | 0.017 g | — | |
| PUFA 20:3 (DGLA family — Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid) | 0.014 g | — | |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 (Omega-3, Eicosatrienoic acid) | 0 g | — | |
| PUFA 20:4 n-6 (Omega-6, AA — Arachidonic acid) | 0.014 g | — | |
| PUFA 20:4 (Omega-6, Arachidonic acid family) | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| PUFA 20:5 n-3 (Omega-3, EPA — Eicosapentaenoic acid) | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| PUFA 22:4 (Omega-6, Adrenic acid) | 0 g | — | |
| PUFA 22:5 n-3 (Omega-3, DPA — Docosapentaenoic acid) | 0.004 g | 0 g | |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (Omega-3, DHA — Docosahexaenoic acid) | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 2.91 g | — | |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0 g | — | |
| TFA 18:1 t | 2.91 g | — | |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0 g | — | |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.351 g | — | |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.351 g | — | |
| Alcohol, ethyl | — | 0 g | |
| Caffeine | — | 0 mg | |
| Theobromine | — | 0 mg | |
* All values per 100g edible portion. Source: USDA SR Legacy and USDA SR Legacy. Diff column shows percentage difference relative to Food B.
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