How Many Servings Per Cake Size? A Guide for Bakers and Clients
By Makai Cake Decorating Supplies
Knowing how many servings a cake will provide isn’t just helpful – it’s essential.
Whether you're preparing a cake for a birthday, a wedding, or a client who says "just something small for 20 people," understanding portion sizes can make or break the success of the event.
Here's everything you need to know to recommend the right size every time.
What Affects Cake Servings?
- Cake diameter (inches/cm)
- Shape (round, square, sheet, heart, hexagon)
- Height (standard ~4" / 10 cm, tall ~6" / 15 cm)
- Serving style (party vs dessert slice)
- Tiered vs single-tier setup
Party vs Dessert Slices
What's the Difference?
| Slice Type | Size (approx.) | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Party Slice | 1.5" × 2" (approx. 4 × 5 cm) | Birthdays, kids' parties |
| Dessert Slice | 1" × 2" × height (approx. 2.5 × 5 cm) | Weddings, plated desserts |
- Dessert slices are smaller but taller, cut vertically for elegance
- Party slices are chunkier, served casually with tea or punch
Round Cakes – Average Servings by Diameter
| Cake Size (Round) | Party Slices | Dessert Slices |
|---|---|---|
| 4” / 10 cm | 4–5 | 6–8 |
| 6” / 15 cm | 10–12 | 12–14 |
| 8” / 20 cm | 20–24 | 24–28 |
| 10” / 25 cm | 28–38 | 38–45 |
| 12” / 30 cm | 45–56 | 56–64 |
Square cakes yield 10–20% more servings
Taller cakes may allow for smaller slices
Square Cakes – Servings by Side Length
| Size (inch / cm) | Party Slices | Dessert Slices |
|---|---|---|
| 4” / 10 cm | 6–8 | 8–10 |
| 6” / 15 cm | 12–16 | 18–20 |
| 8” / 20 cm | 24–30 | 32–36 |
| 10” / 25 cm | 36–45 | 50–56 |
| 12” / 30 cm | 54–64 | 65–72 |
Sheet Cakes – Servings by Pan Size
| Size (inch) | Size (cm) | Estimated Servings |
|---|---|---|
| 9 × 13 in | 23 × 33 cm | 24–30 |
| 11 × 15 in | 28 × 38 cm | 35–40 |
| 12 × 18 in | 30 × 46 cm | 45–54 |
❤️ Heart and 🔷 Hexagon Cakes
Estimated Servings
| Size (inch / cm) | Heart Cake Servings | Hexagon Cake Servings |
|---|---|---|
| 6” / 15 cm | 10–12 | 12–16 |
| 8” / 20 cm | 18–22 | 26–30 |
| 10” / 25 cm | 28–32 | 34–40 |
Always consider the layout when cutting shaped cakes:
- For sheet and square cakes, slice in even grids.
- For hearts, start with the vertical centre and work outward.
- Hexagons and novelty shapes may require visual guides.
Tiered Cakes – How to Calculate Total Servings
Add the servings of each tier.
Example: 6" + 8" + 10" = ~72 servings.
| Tip: Always round up slightly for events. |
Tips for Communicating with Clients
- Ask if the cake will follow a meal
- Do they expect leftovers, or only enough to serve?
- Be clear about serving sizes and show examples
- When in doubt, size up – no one complains about extra cake!
Bonus Tip: Use a Cake Cutting Guide
Clients often don’t know how to cut cakes to get the promised servings.
Provide a diagram or link to help them.
This builds trust and ensures your cake serves as planned.
Conclusion
Knowing your servings is one of the best ways to serve your customers well.
Educate and guide them confidently, and your cakes will always be the right size.
Download our cake servings chart to help with future orders!
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Related: How Far in Advance Can You Make a Cake?