Cake Size Estimates

The number of slices one can get out of a cake varies according to the size of the cake (including depth) and how large the slices are made. The following table, with data from the Baking 911 site indicates typical serving counts for various cake configurations.


Round Pan Size A Circumf B Servings C No. of 1" Lace Points Needed D Brides Servings E Grooms Servings F Pan Sizes in Rd layer tiers G
5 inch 16 inches 6 20 35 40 11 ' 5
6 inch 19 inches 10 25 40 50 12 ' 6
7 inch 23 inches 15 32 55 65 13 ' 6
8 inch 25 inches 20 35 65 85 14 ' 8
9 inch 29 inches 25 40 70 80 12 ' 9 ' 6
10 inch 32 inches 30 45 80 85 13 ' 9 ' 6
11 inch 35 inches 35 49 85 100 13 ' 10 ' 7
12 inch 38 inches 45 53 95 105 14 ' 10 ' 6
13 inch 41 inches 55 58      
14 inch 45 inches 65 63 115 130 15 ' 11 ' 7
15 inch 48 inches 80 67 120 130 14 ' 11 ' 8 ' 6
16 inch 51 inches 90 72 135 155 16 ' 12 ' 8
17 inch 54 inches 105 75 150 165 17 ' 12 ' 7
18 inch 57 inches 115 80 150 160 15 ' 12 ' 9 ' 6
20 inch 69 inches 145 95 160 170 18 ' 12 ' 6
22 inch 72 inches 170 100 160 170 16 ' 12 ' 9 ' 6
24 inch 75 inches 195 120 170 190 19 ' 13 ' 8
        175 190 16 ' 13 ' 10 ' 7
Square Shaped Pan A Circumf B Servings C No. of 1" Lace Points Needed D Brides Servings E Grooms Servings F Pan Sizes in Rd layer tiers G
6 inch 25 inches 12 35 180 205 18 ' 14 ' 9
8 inch 33 inches 24 45 185 195 17 ' 13 ' 9 ' 6
9 inch 37 inches 32 52 195 205 18 ' 13 ' 7
10 inch 41 inches 40 58      
12 inch 49 inches 60 70 205 220 17 ' 14 ' 11 ' 7
14 inch 57 inches 84 77 210 230 18 ' 14 ' 10 ' 6
16 inch 65 inches 112 88 210 230 20 ' 14 ' 8
18 inch 73 inches 144 98 240 255 18 ' 14 ' 11 ' 9 ' 7
        240 260 18 ' 15 ' 12 ' 8
Heart Shaped Pan A Circumf B Servings C No. of 1" Lace Points Needed D Brides Servings E Grooms Servings F Pan Sizes in Rd layer tiers G
6 inch 19 inches 8 25 265 275 18 ' 15 ' 12 ' 9 ' 6
9 inch 29 inches 18 40 275 290 20 ' 15 ' 11 ' 7
12 inch 39 inches 40 55 280 300 20 ' 16 ' 12 ' 8
15 inch 50 inches 65 72      
        300 325 24 ' 17 ' 9
Oval Shaped Pan A Circumf B Servings C No. of 1" Lace Points Needed D Brides Servings E Grooms Servings F Pan Sizes in Rd layer tiers G
5 X 7 inch 21 inches 10 30 335 350 20 ' 16 ' 13 ' 10 ' 7
7 X 10 inch 30 inches 25 40 350 370 20 ' 17 ' 14 ' 11 ' 8
9 X 13 inch 37 inches 40 52 365 385 24 ' 18 ' 13 ' 8
12 X 16 inch 46 inches 65 63 390 400 22 ' 18 ' 15 ' 9 ' 6
Petal Shaped Pan A Circumf B Servings C No. of 1" Lace Points Needed D Brides Servings E Grooms Servings F Pan Sizes in Rd layer tiers G
6 inch 18 inches 5 24 405 415 24 ' 18 ' 14 ' 10 ' 6
9 inch 27 inches 15 38 455 470 24 ' 20 ' 15 ' 11 ' 7
12 inch 37 inches 32 50 475 495 24 ' 20 ' 16 ' 12 ' 8
15 inch 46 inches 55 63 515 530 24 ' 20 ' 16 ' 13 ' 10 ' 7
Hexagon Shaped Pan A Circumf B Servings C No. of 1" Lace Points Needed D Brides Servings E Grooms Servings F Pan Sizes in Rd layer tiers G
6 inch 18 inches 9 24      
9 inch 27 inches 18 38      
12 inch 36 inches 45 50      
15 inch 45 inches 65 63  

Notes:

A ' Pan Diameter.

B ' Pan Circumference ' used in figuring things like how much ribbon is needed to go around a cake, how many panels will fit on a cake, etc.

C ' Servings for a single cake of this size. (Actually, two layers are used in one cake).

D ' When using 1-inch lace points around a cake, this number indicates how many cakes to make. When using a smaller lace point, or a scalloped side pattern, figure more. When using one and a half inch wide lace point, figure less. This number just provides a guideline; using the pan circumference, one can figure out just how many pans will need for any given size lace point.

E ' Bride servings represents the number of servings for this cake when tiered according to column G, assuming the top tier is to be saved for the bride and groom for their one year anniversary. Note that gaps exist, so that, for instance, for a round cake where 100 servings is needed, a selection would be need to be made between a 12-inch (serving 95) and a 14-inch (serving 115).

F ' Groom servings represents the number of servings for this cake when tiered according to column G, assuming the top tier is served to guests.

G ' Pan sizes used in figuring the number of bride and groom servings (columns E and F).