🎂 Wedding Cake Size Calculator
Enter your guest count to see which round cake size (or tiered combination) typically provides enough servings, based on standard wedding cake serving charts.
Where the serving numbers come from
The page holds one chart of round tiers and picks the smallest whose servings cover your guest count. Those figures are the standard wedding-serving chart, and they follow the area of the tier:
servings = tier area in sq in / 2 (a 1" x 2" slice, 4" tall)
12" round = 113 sq in / 2 = 56 servings| Tier | Servings | Tier | Servings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6" | 12 | 12" | 56 |
| 8" | 24 | 14" | 78 |
| 9" | 32 | 16" | 100 |
| 10" | 38 | ||
So 100 guests returns a single 16" round, the largest tier listed. Above that the page stops recommending and tells you to stack: tiers add, so a classic 6 + 10 + 14 gives 12 + 38 + 78 = 128 servings.
What the chart quietly assumes
- A 4" tall tier, usually two 2" layers with filling. A single shallow layer halves every number above.
- Cut in concentric rings, not wedges. Wedge-cut rounds give large uneven slices and land well short of the chart.
- Wedding slices, not party slices. A generous 1.5" x 2" cut drops a 12" round from 56 to about 37.
Frequently asked questions
What size wedding cake do I need for 100 guests?
One 16" round covers it exactly at 100 servings, though most couples order a 6 + 10 + 14 tier stack instead - 128 servings, with room for a saved top tier and second helpings.
How many people does a 12 inch round cake serve?
56 at wedding-slice size, or nearer 37 if it is cut into party-size pieces. The difference is the cut, not the cake.
Do I need a slice for every guest?
Not usually. Where a dessert course or a sweet table is also served, bakers often size for 75-80% of the head count. Order for everyone if the cake is the only dessert.