Margarine vs Butter
Nutrition comparison per 100g · USDA SR Legacy & USDA SR Legacy
Butter, light, stick, without salt is higher in more vitamins & minerals
Calories (kcal)
Margarine 713
Butter 499
Protein (g)
Margarine 0.220
Butter 3.30
Carbs (g)
Margarine 0.750
Butter 0
Fat (g)
Margarine 80.2
Butter 55.1
Fiber (g)
Margarine 0
Butter 0
Quick answers
Which has more protein?
Butter, light, stick, without salt — 3.30g vs 0.220g per 100g.
Which has fewer calories?
Butter, light, stick, without salt — 499 vs 713 kcal per 100g.
Which is more nutrient-dense?
Butter, light, stick, without salt 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 | 713 kcal | 499 kcal | +43% |
| Macronutrients | |||
| Water | 17.1 g | 43.2 g | -60% |
| Protein | 0.220 g | 3.30 g | -93% |
| Total lipid (fat) | 80.2 g | 55.1 g | +45% |
| Carbohydrate, by difference | 0.750 g | 0 g | |
| Fiber, total dietary | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| Fats & Fatty Acids | |||
| Fatty acids, total saturated | 14.2 g | 34.3 g | -59% |
| Fatty acids, total monounsaturated | 36.4 g | 15.9 g | +129% |
| Fatty acids, total trans | 5.83 g | — | |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg | 106 mg | -100% |
| Vitamins | |||
| Vitamin C, total ascorbic acid | 0.100 mg | 0 mg | |
| Thiamin (Vitamin B1) | 0 mg | 0.010 mg | -100% |
| Riboflavin (Vitamin B2) | 0 mg | 0.070 mg | -100% |
| Niacin (Vitamin B3) | 0 mg | 0.020 mg | -100% |
| Pantothenic acid (Vitamin B5) | 0.085 mg | — | |
| Vitamin B-6 — Pyridoxine | 0 mg | 0.010 mg | -100% |
| Biotin (Vitamin B7) | 1.00 ug | 1.00 ug | = |
| Folate, total (Vitamin B9) | 0 ug | 0 ug | = |
| Choline, total | 12.4 mg | 12.9 mg | -4% |
| Vitamin B-12 — Cobalamin | 0.080 ug | 0.130 ug | -38% |
| Vitamin A, RAE | 819 ug | 465 ug | +76% |
| Carotene, beta | 610 ug | 107 ug | +470% |
| Carotene, alpha | 0 ug | 0 ug | = |
| Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) | 15.4 mg | 1.58 mg | +877% |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3) | 0 ug | 0 ug | = |
| Vitamin K2 — Menaquinone-4 (MK-4) | 0 ug | — | |
| Minerals | |||
| Calcium, Ca | 3.00 mg | 48.0 mg | -94% |
| Iron, Fe | 0 mg | 1.09 mg | -100% |
| Magnesium, Mg | 1.00 mg | 5.00 mg | -80% |
| Phosphorus, P | 5.00 mg | 34.0 mg | -85% |
| Potassium, K | 17.0 mg | 71.0 mg | -76% |
| Sodium, Na | 657 mg | 36.0 mg | +1725% |
| Zinc, Zn | 0 mg | 0.260 mg | -100% |
| Copper, Cu | 0 mg | 0 mg | = |
| Manganese, Mn | 0 mg | — | |
| Selenium, Se | 0 ug | 1.00 ug | -100% |
| Other Nutrients | |||
| Energy | 2981 kj | 2088 kj | +43% |
| Ash | 1.78 g | 0.500 g | +256% |
| Total Sugars | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| Folic acid (Vitamin B9 — synthetic) | 1.00 ug | 1.00 ug | = |
| Folate, DFE (Vitamin B9 — dietary folate equivalents) | 1.00 ug | 1.00 ug | = |
| Vitamin B-12, added | 0 ug | 0 ug | = |
| Retinol | 768 ug | 456 ug | +68% |
| Beta-carotene (Provitamin A) | 0 ug | 0 ug | = |
| Vitamin A, IU | 3571 IU | 1698 IU | +110% |
| Beta-cryptoxanthin (Provitamin A) | 0 ug | 0 ug | = |
| Lycopene | 0 ug | 0 ug | = |
| Vitamin E, added | 0 mg | 0 mg | = |
| Vitamin E — Beta-Tocopherol (β-Tocopherol) | 0.160 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Gamma-Tocopherol (γ-Tocopherol) | 27.0 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Delta-Tocopherol (δ-Tocopherol) | 6.65 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Alpha-Tocotrienol (α-Tocotrienol) | 0.040 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Beta-Tocotrienol (β-Tocotrienol) | 0 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Gamma-Tocotrienol (γ-Tocotrienol) | 0.050 mg | — | |
| Vitamin E — Delta-Tocotrienol (δ-Tocotrienol) | 0 mg | — | |
| Vitamin D (D2 + D3 — total) | 0 IU | 0 IU | = |
| Vitamin D2 — Ergocalciferol (plant source) | — | 0 ug | |
| Vitamin D3 — Cholecalciferol (animal / sunlight source) | — | 0 ug | |
| Vitamin K1 — Phylloquinone | 91.7 ug | 4.80 ug | +1810% |
| Vitamin K (Dihydrophylloquinone — K1 reduced form) | 53.6 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) | 0.015 g | 0.619 g | -98% |
| SFA 10:0 (Capric acid) | 0.023 g | 1.38 g | -98% |
| SFA 12:0 (Lauric acid) | 0.433 g | 1.55 g | -72% |
| SFA 14:0 (Myristic acid) | 0.240 g | 5.55 g | -96% |
| SFA 15:0 (Pentadecanoic acid) | 0.020 g | — | |
| SFA 16:0 (Palmitic acid) | 7.07 g | 14.5 g | -51% |
| SFA 17:0 (Margaric acid) | 0.062 g | — | |
| SFA 18:0 (Stearic acid) | 5.81 g | 6.68 g | -13% |
| SFA 20:0 (Arachidic acid) | 0.356 g | — | |
| SFA 22:0 (Behenic acid) | 0.105 g | — | |
| SFA 24:0 (Lignoceric acid) | 0.087 g | — | |
| MUFA 14:1 (Myristoleic acid) | 0 g | — | |
| MUFA 15:1 (Pentadecenoic acid) | 0 g | — | |
| MUFA 16:1 (Omega-7, Palmitoleic acid) | 0.088 g | 1.24 g | -93% |
| MUFA 16:1 c (Omega-7, Palmitoleic acid — cis) | 0.088 g | — | |
| MUFA 17:1 (Heptadecenoic acid) | 0.038 g | — | |
| MUFA 18:1 (Omega-9, Oleic acid family) | 35.5 g | 13.9 g | +156% |
| MUFA 18:1 c (Omega-9, Oleic acid — cis) | 30.3 g | — | |
| MUFA 20:1 (Omega-9, Gondoic / Gadoleic acid) | 0.682 g | 0 g | |
| MUFA 22:1 (Omega-9, Erucic acid family) | 0.026 g | 0 g | |
| MUFA 22:1 c (Omega-9, Erucic acid — cis) | 0.026 g | — | |
| MUFA 24:1 c (Omega-9, Nervonic acid — cis) | 0.061 g | — | |
| Fatty acids, total polyunsaturated | 26.7 g | 2.05 g | +1207% |
| PUFA 18:2 (Omega-6, Linoleic acid) | 21.7 g | 1.24 g | +1641% |
| PUFA 18:2 n-6 (Omega-6, LA — Linoleic acid) | 21.0 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:2 CLAs | 0.040 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:3 (Omega-3, Alpha-linolenic family) | 5.03 g | 0.802 g | +527% |
| PUFA 18:3 n-3 (Omega-3, ALA — Alpha-linolenic acid) | 4.68 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:3 n-6 (Omega-6, GLA — Gamma-linolenic acid) | 0.354 g | — | |
| PUFA 18:4 n-3 (Omega-3, SDA — Stearidonic acid) | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| PUFA 20:2 n-6 (Omega-6, Eicosadienoic acid) | 0.024 g | — | |
| PUFA 20:3 (DGLA family — Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid) | 0.021 g | — | |
| PUFA 20:3 n-3 (Omega-3, Eicosatrienoic acid) | 0 g | — | |
| PUFA 20:4 n-6 (Omega-6, AA — Arachidonic acid) | 0.021 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) | 0.005 g | 0 g | |
| PUFA 22:6 n-3 (Omega-3, DHA — Docosahexaenoic acid) | 0.003 g | 0 g | |
| Fatty acids, total trans-monoenoic | 5.25 g | — | |
| TFA 16:1 t | 0 g | — | |
| TFA 18:1 t | 5.25 g | — | |
| TFA 22:1 t | 0 g | — | |
| TFA 18:2 t not further defined | 0.579 g | — | |
| Fatty acids, total trans-polyenoic | 0.579 g | — | |
| Phytosterols | 210 mg | — | |
| Stigmasterol | 37.0 mg | — | |
| Campesterol | 48.0 mg | — | |
| Beta-sitosterol | 112 mg | — | |
| Alcohol, ethyl | 0 g | 0 g | = |
| Caffeine | 0 mg | 0 mg | = |
| Theobromine | 0 mg | 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.
Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, tub, with salt nutrition facts Butter, light, stick, without salt nutrition facts Compare other foods →
Dig deeper — biggest differences
Sodium, Na +1725% in Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, tub, with salt Vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol) +877% in Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, tub, with salt Carotene, beta +470% in Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, tub, with salt Thiamin (Vitamin B1) -100% in Margarine, regular, 80% fat, composite, tub, with salt
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