Choosing the Perfect Cake Size: What to Consider

One of the questions we get asked most often in the cake world is about cake size! It might seem like a simple question, but it’s absolutely valid to ask your cake maker—especially if you have your heart set on a specific design with unusual shapes or proportions.

Every cake maker has their preferred standard height for cakes (ours, for example, are usually 5” tall), and this will naturally affect how many servings you can get. Gone are the days of 3” birthday cakes—cake trends, like all trends, come and go! Taller cakes are definitely here to stay for the foreseeable future.

If you’re choosing a round celebration cake, an 8” cake typically serves between 17 and 30 portions, depending on slice size. It’s worth thinking about whether you’d like any leftovers!

Cake makers can guide you on the ideal size to get the portions you need. Many clients are initially skeptical about recommended sizes because they imagine the flat, supermarket-style cakes they’re used to. They’re often pleasantly surprised at how much cake is leftover when they go for a slightly larger size. And leftovers are rarely a problem—they can be enjoyed for days afterward if stored correctly (you can find storage tips here).

Also, consider who you’re serving—adults or children. If it’s mostly kids, you may not need as large a cake… unless your child has the appetite of mine, who could happily eat a slice the size of her head!

For cakes with unusual proportions—like 3D designs or extra-tall tiers—it’s best to ask your cake maker for advice. They’ll also guide you on any design elements that need space. For example, if your cake design includes 10 figurines on top but you only want a 6” cake, the design may need adjusting.

It’s worth noting that choosing a smaller cake doesn’t always significantly reduce the price. With bespoke cakes, pricing is mostly based on the time it takes to decorate, so the difference in decorating a 6” versus an 8” cake is minimal. Once clients understand this, they often opt for the larger cake since the price difference is so small.

If you want maximum impact, consider dummy tiers for height or cutting cakes to serve a large number of guests. Most of the time, cakes aren’t actually sliced in front of guests, so nobody notices!

You can find our portion guides on our pricing page [here].

We hope this guide helps you choose the perfect size for your celebration cake—and remember, there’s really no such thing as “too much cake.”