Cake Serving Chart for 5, 8, 10 and 12 Inch Cakes
As a general guide, a round two-layer cake serves about 4 to 6 people at 5 inches, 8 to 20 at 8 inches, 12 to 28 at 10 inches and 30 to 40 at 12 inches. The lower number is for generous dessert slices at home; the higher number is for standard party slices. Cut thinner, event-style slices and a 12 inch cake can serve about 56.
Ordering a cake is easy. Ordering the right size is where most people get stuck. This chart shows how many people each common cake size feeds, how slice size changes the count, and how to pick a size from your guest list.
The numbers below are general guidance gathered from standard bakery serving charts. Every bakery’s cakes differ a little in height and layers, so treat them as a starting point.
Cake Serving Chart by Size: 5, 8, 10 and 12 Inch Round Cakes
Cake size (round)
Generous dessert slices
Standard party slices
Thin event-style slices
5 inch
about 4
about 6
about 8
8 inch
about 8
about 14 to 20
about 24
10 inch
about 12
about 25 to 28
about 38
12 inch
about 30
about 40
about 56
How to read it:
Generous dessert slices: are the wide wedges you cut at a family dinner.
Standard party slices: are the usual birthday portion, about 2 inches wide.
Thin event-style slices: are cut the way caterers cut wedding cakes, about 1 inch wide, when you need to stretch a cake.
About the 5 inch row: most published charts skip from 4 inches to 6 inches. The 5 inch counts are our estimate between those two rows, where standard charts put a two-layer 4 inch cake at 2 to 4 servings and a 6 inch cake at 6 to 10.
How Many People Does an 8 Inch Cake Feed?
An 8 inch round cake feeds about 8 people with generous slices, or 14 to 20 with standard party slices. That makes it the most common size for a family birthday at home.
How Many People Does a 10 Inch Cake Feed?
A 10 inch round cake feeds about 12 people with generous slices, or 25 to 28 with party slices. Choose it when friends and relatives are joining the family.
How Many People Does a 12 Inch Cake Feed?
A 12 inch round cake feeds about 30 people with generous slices and about 40 with party slices. Cut event style, it can reach about 56. It is the usual choice for a communion, a baptism or a big birthday party.
How Many People Does a 5 Inch Cake Feed?
A 5 inch cake feeds about 4 to 6 people. It suits a small dinner, an anniversary for two with leftovers, or a “smash cake” for a first birthday alongside a larger cake for the guests.
Pick Your Cake Size by Guest Count
Start with your guest list and use this table.
Guests
Suggested size
Notes
Up to 6
5 inch
Generous slices for a small table
8 to 14
8 inch
Generous slices up to 8, party slices beyond that
15 to 25
10 inch
Party slices
26 to 40
12 inch
Party slices
40 to 56
12 inch, cut event style
Thin slices, or add a second cake
More than 56
Two cakes, such as a 12 inch and a 10 inch
Together they serve about 65 party slices
Adjust for the Rest of the Dessert Table
Cake is the only dessert: plan on one party slice per guest, plus a few extra.
Cookies, cannoli or pastries on the table too: many guests take a smaller slice, so you can often size down one step or cut thinner slices.
Mostly adults after a big meal: expect smaller slices and some guests who skip cake.
Lots of kids: kids’ slices are smaller, but almost every child takes one.
Cake Servings by Shape: Round, Square and Sheet Cakes
A square or rectangular cake gives more servings than a round cake of the same width, because there is no curve to trim and slices come out even. Standard charts put single-layer sheet cakes, about 2 inches tall, at:
Cake shape and size
Party servings
Wedding-size servings
8 x 8 inch square
about 9
about 16
9 x 13 inch (quarter sheet)
about 20
about 29
13 x 17 inch (half sheet)
about 40
about 58
Round cakes are the classic choice for a decorated celebration cake with a message on top.
Slice Size: What a Serving Looks Like
The difference between 8 and 20 servings from the same cake is the width of the slice. Rough guides from cake shop serving charts:
Generous wedge
About 3 inches across the back, roughly the width of a playing card.
Party slice
About 2 inches wide.
Event-style slice
About 1 inch by 2 inches, close to the size of a domino.
How to Cut a Round Cake for More Servings
For a small cake (5 or 8 inch)
Cut wedges from the center, like a pie. Cut in half, then quarters, then divide each quarter into two or three slices.
For a larger cake (10 or 12 inch), use the ring method
1
Cut a circle about 2 inches in from the outside edge.
2
Slice the outer ring into pieces about 1 to 2 inches wide.
3
Cut another circle 2 inches further in and slice that ring the same way.
4
Cut the small center into wedges.
This is the “event style” cut that gets the higher counts in the chart.
Order a Custom Cake in 5, 8, 10 or 12 Inch Sizes in Garfield, NJ
New Venice Bakery decorates custom cakes in all four sizes on this chart, in 21 flavors from cannoli and tiramisu to red velvet and Oreo, at our family bakery on Ray Street in Garfield. Choose your size, flavor, filling and message on our custom cake order form, and we will call to confirm the details.
Prefer a ready-made cake? Browse our birthday cakes and Italian cakes, including the tiramisu cake and the caramel cake. For a bigger crowd, add a tray from our Italian pastries, cookies and sweets.
Cake Serving Questions
How many people does an 8 inch cake feed?
About 8 with generous slices, or 14 to 20 with standard party slices.
How many people does a 10 inch cake feed?
About 12 with generous slices, or 25 to 28 with standard party slices.
How many slices are in a 12 inch round cake?
About 30 generous slices or 40 party slices, and about 56 if you cut thin, event-style slices.
Is an 8 inch cake enough for 10 people?
Yes. An 8 inch round cake gives 10 slices comfortably, with room for generous wedges or a few seconds.
Will an 8 inch cake feed 25 people?
Only with very thin slices. Standard charts top out at about 24 small event-style slices for an 8 inch cake, so for 25 guests choose a 10 inch cake.
What size cake do I need for 20 people?
A 10 inch round cake, cut into party slices, serves 20 with some to spare. An 8 inch cake can stretch to about 20 if the slices are small.
What is the difference between a party serving and a wedding serving?
A party serving is about 2 inches wide; a wedding serving is about 1 inch wide. The same cake gives more wedding servings than party servings.
Does cake height change the number of servings?
Yes. Charts assume a standard cake about 3 to 4 inches tall. A taller cake can be cut into thinner slices and serve more people, while a cake under 3 inches tall gives about half the usual count.
Ready to Order Your Cake?
Tell us your guest count and your date, and we will help you choose the size.