Cake Servings Calculator – Estimate How Much Cake You Need

What Size Cake Do You Need?

The size of cake needed can be tricky to figure out, mainly since the number of servings varies based on the cake size, height, and the size of each slice. To make things more interesting, layered and tiered cakes will serve more people so using the shape and width is only a part of the equation. The size of the portion will vary based on the occasion. Expert pastry chef and cake decorator Michelle Anderson explains that the standard slice of wedding cake is typically 4 inches high and 2 inches long by 1 inch wide, however, dessert portions should be larger.

Cake Portions Chart

To find out the size of cake needed, consult this chart and locate the size of cake that will provide the number of servings needed.

You can use our recipe scale calculator to adjust your recipe for smaller or larger cakes.

How Many People Will Your Cake Serve

Are you curious how many people a 9″ round cake will serve? For standard portions expect a 9″ cake to yield about 27 portions. For dessert portions or larger servings, plan on about 18 servings or so for a 9″ cake. Use the chart above to see how many portions are in the most common cake sizes. For larger portions, divide the serving count by 1.5. If you’re serving a tiered cake, then find the servings for each tier, then add them all together to find the total servings of the cake.

How Many Does a Full Sheet Cake Serve?

Sheet cakes are quite a bit larger than a standard square cake and are commonly available at the grocery store or bakery. Although the size of commercial sheet pans vary, a quarter sheet is usually 9″ by 13″, a half sheet is 13″ by 18″ and a full sheet is 18″ by 26″. Refer to this chart for the number of servings you can expect to get from a sheet cake for various portion sizes.