Sheet cakes are a great choice for catering to a large crowd. They don’t require any structural support or layering and can be easily transported. A slice of a sheet cake is a good choice for expert piping or other edible decorations. It can be difficult to decide the right size of a sheet cake for your event.

There are differences between full, half, and quarter sheet cake sizes

Most bakers view orders in full, half and quarter-sheet cake pans. This can be confusing as it can refer to a variety of sizes. It’s better to discuss the serving size and how many you are serving. This will help you determine the best size pan for your application.

Get Pans with Cohesive Sizing

You can simplify size conversions by choosing pans with lengths and widths divided. If your full sheet pan measures 18 “x24”, you will need a half-size pan measuring 12 “x18″ and a quarter measuring 9″ x12”, as these numbers are evenly divided.

Number of servings per sheet cake

You will need to determine how big each piece should be before calculating how many you can get from a sheet cake. You can choose from 2 “x2″ or 2’x3” pieces for each portion. Follow the below formula to determine how many portions you can get from a separate pan.

Recipe for Sheet Cakes

Serving Area = Pan Area/Cake Serving Size Area

Pan Area = Pan Length x Pan Width

Serving Area: Piece of Cake Length x Piece Cake Width

Example Calculation

An 18″ x 26″ pan is available. The pan area can be calculated by multiplying the pan length and the pan width.

  • 18″ x 26″ pan = 468″2 pan area

Serve cake slices measuring 2″ x 2. Multiply the width and length of each cake slice to determine the serving area.

  • 2″ x 2” slice = 4 2 cake serving area

You now know that your area has a 468″ 2 pan and a 4″ 2 serving area. Divide the area of the pan by the serving size area to find the number.

  • 468″ 2 / 4 2 =117 servings

Guide to the Sizes of Sheet Cakes

Manufacturers may have different sizes for sheet cake pans. There are common sizes for sheet cake pans, including half-, quarter-, and full-size. We also listed how many people each pan can serve.

Serves of full-sheet cakes

  • 18″ x 26″, x 2″
    • Serving Size 2” x 2”: 117 Serves
    • Serving Size: 2″ x 3″ 78 Servings
  • 18″ x 24″, x 2″
    • Serving Size 2″x2″: 108 Servings
    • Serving Size: 72 Servings
  • 16″ x 24,” x 3″.
    • Serving Size 2′ x 2′: 96 Serves
    • Serving Size: 64 Servings

Half-sheet Cakes

  • 18″ x 13′ x 1″
    • Serving Size 2” x 2”: 58 Serves
    • Serving Size: 39 Servings
  • 12″ x 18″, x 2″
    • Serving Size 2′ x 2′: 54 Servings
    • Serving Size: 36 Servings
  • 12″ x 16″, x 3″
    • Serving Size 2″x2″: 48 Serves
    • Serving Size: 32 Servings

Quarter-sheet Cake Servings

  • 13″ x 9.5″ x 1″
    • Serving Size 2″x2″: 30-Servings
    • Serving Size: 20 Servings
  • 13″ x 9′ x 2″.
    • Serving Size 2′ x 2′: 29 Serves
    • Serving Size: 19 Servings
  • 13″ x 8″, x 3″
    • Serving Size 2′ x 2′: 24 Servings
    • Serving Size: 16 Servings

How to Choose the Best Sheet Cake Pan?

There are many options for sheet cake pans, but the most important thing is to choose the right size. The dimensions of sheet pans are Length, Width, and Height. The height or depth is generally between 1 to 4 inches.

Choose your Pan Depth based on the Cake Layers

It doesn’t matter if you are making a single-layer or double-layered cake. The depth of your pan is important. A deeper pan is best for a single layer cake. You have two options if you want multiple layers: you can use two shallow pans for baking 2 thinner cakes or one deep pan to make a tall, dense cake that you can slice into layers after it cools.

To increase the height of your cakes, can also use a sheet-pan extender. Sheet pan extenders are great for preventing your battery from drying out and ensuring straight edges.