Last Updated on December 16, 2022
Round cakes are one of the most popular types of cakes. Knowing the different round cake sizes and servings can help you decide how much cake you need for your event. Round cakes are versatile and are particularly great for birthdays, weddings, and special events.
The great thing about round cakes is you can make so many different flavor combinations with them. They provide a great surface for decorating, whether that is with buttercream frosting, fondant, or even flowers. Whether you are baking your own or purchasing one from a bakery, you will want to know the servings for the different sizes of round cakes.
Benefits Of Serving A Round Cake
Round cakes are a popular choice at formal events not only because they are elegant, but you can make tiers with them. Many wedding cakes are at least two to four tiers, allowing them to serve large crowds.
Each tier is generally made of a round cake that has multiple layers. One round cake will generally have two, three, or four layers. Between each layer is a filling that can consist of frosting, jam, fruit, custard, or mousse.
The outside of the cake is then covered in frosting and the tiers are stacked onto each other. In large cakes, dowels are often used to support the weight of the cake.
The more layers your round cake has, the more servings you can get out of it. Generally, cake servings will be smaller at weddings than they are at parties or small get-togethers. This allows more guests to be fed without having to spend even more money.
Round Cake Sizes And Servings
The most common round cake sizes are 6-inch, 8-inch, 9-inch, 10-inch, and 12-inch. Typically, most round cakes will have two or three layers. For weddings, it’s more common for cakes to have three or four layers.
Before baking or purchasing a cake, it is important to know how many servings you need. From there, you can figure out what size round cake will be the best option for the occasion. You should also consider how many layers the cake will have and how you plan to slice it.
6-Inch round cake
A 6-inch round cake is a great size for a dinner party or a small family get-together. A 6-inch cake will serve around eight people on average. For smaller slices, you can get 12 servings from a 6-inch cake.
8-Inch round cake
An 8-inch round cake is a good size for a birthday party or a smaller party. It will serve around 10-14 people with regular slices. For smaller slices, you can get up to 24 slices, which is more practical for large events.
9-Inch round cake
A 9-inch round cake is another good option for birthday parties or holiday celebrations. In general, a 9-inch round cake will serve 12-16 people. For event-sized slices, it can serve up to 30 people.
10-Inch round cake
A 10-inch round cake is relatively large and is great for more formal events, bridal showers, or baby showers. Typically, a 10-inch round cake will be able to serve about 16-25 people. When sliced event style, it can serve up to 38 people.
12-Inch round cake
A 12-inch round cake is quite large, making it a good option for large family gatherings. It can generally serve around 26 to 32 people. When served event-style, you can get 40 to 56 servings, depending on generous you are with the portion sizes.
Tiered Wedding Cake Servings
When serving cake at a wedding or large formal events, the slices are generally smaller than they are for dinner parties, birthdays, and small events. Typically, round cakes are cut into triangular slices. However, for weddings and special events, they are generally cut into rectangular pieces.
There are a few different ways how this is done. Slices cut using these methods will usually be 1-1 1/2 inches wide. These two methods are generally used for round cakes 10 inches and larger.
One way is to cut a small circle within the round cake about two inches from the edge and slice them into pieces. The outer rim of the cake is then also sliced into pieces, allowing you to get more from your cake. Depending on how large the cake is, another circle may also be cut one or two inches within the first circle.
Another way is to cut your cake into long thin horizontal strips that are about one inch wide. Cut the cake lengthwise using a cutting board to lay the cake flat after cutting. Cut the long section of cake into pieces that are 1-1 1/2 inches long.
Cake Serving Chart
Round Cake Size | Party Servings | Event Servings |
6-inch | 8 | 12 |
8-inch | 10-14 | 24 |
9-inch | 12-16 | 30 |
10-inch | 16-25 | 38 |
12-inch | 26-32 | 40-56 |
What is the Standard Size Round Cake Pan?
Cake pans come in a variety of different shapes and sizes. However, when it comes to baking, there is a universal size of the round cake pan, which most recipes tend to follow (unless stated otherwise). The most common size of cake pan when it comes to American baking is 9 inches.
However, it also depends on which type of cake it is too. For example, the standard size of a round cake pan is 10 inches. While some recipes may vary, generally speaking, most recipes cater to cake pans that are between 8-10 inches in diameter.
How Many Servings Does a 7-Round Cake Serve?
It goes without saying that different-sized cakes serve the differing amount of people. According to the Wilton cake serving chart, when it comes to a standard 7-inch round cake, you can expect it to serve around 16 people for a party. And around 18 people at a wedding. It’s worth noting that this is based on a two-layer cake.
What is the Smallest Size Round Cake Pan?
Cake pans come in a range of sizes, from small top tiers to huge bottom tiers. However, the smallest-sized round cake pan is typically 4 inches. This size cake will serve on average, 8 people.
How Many Servings in an 18 Inch Round Cake?
When you take a look at the Wilton cake serving chart, it only goes up to 16 inches in terms of how many servings it offers. However, as a rough estimate, an 18-inch round cake (based on two layers) will serve around 120-140 guests; depending on whether it’s for a party or a wedding. Wedding servings are typically smaller than standard servings.
How Many Servings in a 5-Inch Round Cake?
If you’re wondering how many servings there are in a 5-inch round cake, you can typically expect it to serve around 10 people. This is the same for both party and wedding servings.
What is the Biggest Round Cake Pan?
While you can buy specially made round cake pans that are bigger, typically the biggest size that’s readily available is 16 inches. This is often the layer that is used at the base of extravagant cakes such as wedding or celebration cakes. To make a two-layer cake that’s 16 inches in size, you’d need a huge 16 cups of batter and just under 10 cups of frosting to cover it!
What Are the Sizes of Round Cake Pans?
While you can purchase round cake pans in almost any size, 8 sizes are the most popular and feature regularly in cake serving charts. Let’s take a closer look.
- 4 inches. This size cake typically serves around 8 people and requires 3/4 of a cup of batter.
- 6 inches. This size cake typically serves around 12 people and requires 2 1/4 cups of batter.
- 8 inches. This cake typically serves 20-24 people and requires 4 cups of batter.
- 9 inches. This cake typically serves 24-32 people and requires 5 cups of batter.
- 10 inches. This cake typically serves 28-38 people and requires 6 cups of batter.
- 12 inches. This cake typically serves 40-56 people and requires 8 cups of batter.
- 14 inches. This cake typically serves 63-78 people and requires 11 1/2 cups of batter.
- 16 inches. This cake typically serves 77-100 people and requires 16 cups of batter.
Getting The Most Of Your Cake
Round cakes can be a great option for birthday parties, anniversaries, showers, dinner parties, and even weddings. You can create tiered cakes using round cakes, which are great for weddings or special events. Knowing how many servings are in different sizes of round cake can help you decide what is the right option for your event.
Do you have any questions regarding round cake sizes and servings? If so, please ask any questions about round cake servings sizes in the comments.
FAQs
How Many Servings Are in a Round Cake?
Depending on the size of the round cake, there can be anywhere from 6-100 servings. Round cakes can range in size from four inches all the way up to 16 inches. Round cakes can consist of one to four layers and be cut into triangles or rectangular slices.
What Size is an Average Round Cake?
An average round cake is eight or nine inches. An eight-inch round cake will serve around 10-14 people in party servings and 24 people when cut into event-sized servings. A nine-inch round cake will serve about 12-16 people when cut in party servings and 30 people when cut in event servings.
How Do You Cut a Round Cake to Make the Most Servings?
To get the most servings out of a round cake, cut the cake into horizontal strips about one inch wide. Then, slice the large horizontal pieces into smaller pieces that are 1-1 1/2 inches wide.
Ever since she was a young girl, Anna has been a lover of desserts. As an adult, she enjoys
baking a variety of desserts from cakes, cookies, brownies, bread, and more from scratch. She
enjoys sharing her passion for baking with others who also have a sweet tooth. From properly
measuring ingredients to making sure they are the correct temperature, Anna knows the
importance small details can make in baking. She wants to share her experience with others in
hopes they can make the most delicious baked goods. When she’s not busy blogging, Anna
enjoys trying new recipes in the kitchen.