Butter vs Olive Oil: Calories & Nutrition Compared

Side by side per 100 g

Equal weights, so the columns compare the foods themselves. The last column shows which food has more, and stays at "About the same" when the gap is too small to matter.

Per portion

One USDA household portion of each food. The portions weigh different amounts, so this is the comparison for what ends up on the plate.

The difference, worked out

• Olive Oil has more calories per 100 g than Butter: 884 vs 717 kcal, a difference of 167 kcal.
• Butter and Olive Oil are both low in protein per 100 g: 0.9 vs 0 g.
• Butter and Olive Oil are both low in carbs per 100 g: 0.1 vs 0 g.
• Olive Oil has more fat per 100 g than Butter: 100 vs 81.1 g, a difference of 18.9 g.
• Butter and Olive Oil have about the same fiber per 100 g: 0 vs 0 g.
• Butter and Olive Oil give about the same protein for the same calories: 0.1 vs 0 g per 100 kcal.
• Olive Oil has more calories per portion than Butter: 119 vs 102 kcal, a difference of 17 kcal (the two portions weigh different amounts).
• Butter and Olive Oil are both low in protein per portion: 0.1 vs 0 g (the two portions weigh different amounts).

Every figure is computed from the two foods' USDA values, rounded as printed above. A difference is stated only when it is at least 10% of the larger value and clears a small minimum for the nutrient, so tiny gaps are not dressed up as findings.

Our take

Olive oil is all fat, so it has more calories and fat per 100 g than butter. A spoonful of each is much closer, as the per-portion table shows, and neither contributes meaningful protein.

The per-100 g table compares equal weights. The per-portion table compares the amounts people usually count as one serving, which differ in weight, so each answers a different question.

Full amount tables, portions and every nutrient: see Butter and Olive Oil.