Title capitalization guide
Is "But" Capitalized in a Title?

No — "but" is lowercase in the middle of a title in most style guides.

coordinating conjunction
Capitalized in 1 style
Lowercase in 9 styles
Title Case
no
Lowercase as a coordinating conjunction unless first or last word
AP Style
no
Always lowercase as a coordinating conjunction
NYT Style
no
Always lowercase as a coordinating conjunction
Chicago Style
no
Always lowercase as a coordinating conjunction
MLA Style
no
Always lowercase as a coordinating conjunction
APA Style
no
Sentence case — only first word and proper nouns
AMA Style
no
Always lowercase as a coordinating conjunction
BB Style
YES
Every word capitalized — no exceptions
Wikipedia Style
no
Sentence case — only first word and proper nouns
Sentence Case
no
Only the first word of a title is capitalized

The full answer

"But" is a coordinating conjunction and stays lowercase in the middle of a title in AP Style, Chicago Style, MLA Style, NYT Style, and AMA Style. It is capitalized only in Billboard Style or in the first or last position.

The word "but" can also function as a preposition or adverb in certain grammatical contexts. However, for title capitalization purposes, it is almost always treated as a conjunction and lowercased accordingly.

Note that "but" at the start of a sentence or title is always capitalized, as the first-word rule applies universally. Some writers begin titles with "But" for rhetorical effect, and the capital is correct in that position.

In Billboard Style, "but" is capitalized along with every other word. This style is common in music and entertainment where every word in a title appears with maximum visual weight.

"But" functions as a coordinating conjunction that introduces contrast, and all major style guides treat it the same as other coordinating conjunctions. It is lowercase in the middle of a title in AP Style, Chicago Style, MLA Style, NYT Style, and AMA Style.