 Butler was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Star of India (CSI) in 1909, knighted as a Knight Commander (KCSI) of the same order in 1911, and promoted to Knight Grand Commander (GCSI) of the order in 1928.He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) in November 1901, and was promoted to a Knight Grand Commander (GCIE) of the same order in 1923.The Harcourt Butler Technological Institute, Kanpur established in 1921 was named after him which was granted a university status in September 2016.