Cake Servings Calculator
Type your guest count and instantly get the cake pan you need — with party and wedding slice modes and a bake-time estimate for each pan. No sign-up, free forever.
Cake Servings Calculator
Recommended pan
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Serves: —
Bake time at 180°C / 350°F: — min
Uses the 0.314 party servings per square inch rule (a party slice ≈ π in² of cake face). Wedding slices are thinner, so one pan serves roughly 60% more guests. Taller or stacked cakes need their own tiers.
| Cake Size | Party Servings | Wedding Servings | Bake Time (180°C) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-inch round | 9 | 5 | 25–30 min |
| 8-inch round | 16 | 9 | 30–35 min |
| 9-inch round | 20 | 12 | 32–38 min |
| 10-inch round | 25 | 14 | 38–45 min |
| 12-inch round | 35 | 21 | 45–55 min |
| 8-inch square | 20 | 11 | 30–35 min |
| 9-inch square | 25 | 14 | 34–40 min |
| 10-inch square | 31 | 17 | 40–48 min |
| 12-inch square | 45 | 25 | 50–60 min |
| 9×13 sheet | 37 | 21 | 30–34 min |
| 12×18 sheet | 68 | 38 | 35–42 min |
Tiered cake servings
Two or three stacked tiers feed bigger parties elegantly. Servings below use the same party / wedding slice sizes.
| Tiers | Party servings | Wedding servings |
|---|---|---|
| 2-tier: 6″ + 8″ | 9 + 16 = 25 | 5 + 9 = 14 |
| 2-tier: 6″ + 9″ | 9 + 20 = 29 | 5 + 12 = 17 |
| 2-tier: 8″ + 10″ | 16 + 25 = 41 | 9 + 14 = 23 |
| 2-tier: 8″ + 12″ | 16 + 35 = 51 | 9 + 21 = 30 |
| 2-tier: 9″ + 12″ | 20 + 35 = 55 | 12 + 21 = 33 |
| 3-tier: 6″ + 8″ + 10″ | 9 + 16 + 25 = 50 | 5 + 9 + 14 = 28 |
| 3-tier: 8″ + 10″ + 12″ | 16 + 25 + 35 = 76 | 9 + 14 + 21 = 44 |
Bake-time rule of thumb
At 180°C / 350°F (gas mark 4), a 2-layer cake takes roughly 25–30 minutes for a 6-inch round and climbs to 45–55 minutes for a 12-inch round, because larger pans hold deeper batter. Moving a recipe to a different pan changes bake time by about 10–15 minutes per size step — start checking early and trust a clean toothpick over the clock.
Cake Servings — FAQ
How many people does an 8-inch cake serve?
An 8-inch round, 2-layer cake serves about 16 party slices (1.5″ × 2″) or 9 wedding slices (1″ × 2″). Use the calculator above to pick the right pan for your exact guest count.
What is the difference between a party slice and a wedding slice?
A party slice is larger — about 1.5 inches by 2 inches (≈ π in² of cake face) — while a wedding slice is a thinner 1 by 2 inches. A pan serves roughly 60% more wedding slices than party slices.
What size cake do I need for 20, 30 or 50 guests?
For party slices: 20 guests needs a 9-inch round or square, 30 guests needs a 10–12-inch pan or a two-tier (8″ + 10″) cake, and 50 guests works with a 12-inch square, a 12×18 sheet, or three tiers (8″ + 10″ + 12″).
How long do I bake a cake at 180°C?
At 180°C (350°F, gas mark 4) an 8-inch round takes about 30–35 minutes and a 10-inch round about 38–45 minutes. Bake time rises with pan size because the batter is deeper — always test with a skewer.
Round or square pan — which serves more?
A square pan serves more than the same-number round: a 9-inch square holds 25 party servings vs 20 for a 9-inch round, because the square has 27% more surface area (81 vs 64 in²).
How do I adjust bake time when changing pan size?
If you move a recipe to a bigger pan, the batter is shallower so it bakes faster; a smaller pan makes deeper batter that takes longer. Change bake time by roughly 10–15 minutes per pan-size step and test with a toothpick.
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