How Many People Does An 8-Inch Cake Feed? A Guide
Ordering a cake for an event or special occasion? You’ll need to know how many people that gorgeous, expertly decorated 8-inch cake will feed. Will it work for a group of 10? 20? Can you stretch it further? Or is an 8-inch cake really just enough for you and a fork (kidding! But we’re not judging - we’re all cake lovers here!)? Whether you’re working with a specific guest list and need to find a cake to accommodate that number or you’re starting with the cake order and want to know how far it’ll get you, we’re here to help demystify the process, help you determine how to calculate the number of slices in a cake, what sorts of outside factors might impact that calculation, and figure out once and for all, how many people does an 8-inch cake feed?
What Does an 8-Inch Cake Actually Look Like?
When you think of an 8-inch cake, what picture pops into your head? When cake decorators think about an 8-inch cake, we generally mean an 8-inch round cake that’s about 5.5- 6” tall, with three layers of cake and two layers of filling. The number of slices you’ll be able to cut from that cake really depends on the size of the slices. And while you can, of course, cut your cake into any size slice you’d like (including just 1 big one, if that’s your thing), there are a couple of standard sizes that can help you determine how many people your 8-inch cake will feed.
If you opt for party-size slices (which are about 1 ½ inches wide), you can feed about 18-20 people from your 8-inch cake. If you go with wedding-size slices (which are generally smaller than the party-size slices), you can stretch the cake to feed a few more people—maybe around 25-28.
Serving your cake at an informal family gathering? Go for broke on the slice size, but you should be able to feed at least 12 people even with very generously-sized wedges of cake.
Everything to Know About Cake Slice Sizes
We mentioned party-size slices and wedding-size slices, but how do you know what to serve at your event? Here’s our cake portion guide:
Party Servings (About 1 ½ Inches): Party cake servings are the general standard for more casual events. 8-inch party cakes will yield about 18-20 party slices, which is great for those who just want a little cake without sugar crash that can come with bigger slices (delicious though they may be).
Wedding Servings (About 1 Inch): A wedding cake slice is usually a bit smaller than the traditional party slice because, honestly, there’s so much going on on your special day that guests often aren’t super focused on sitting down to eat dessert (We know, we can’t relate either.). For this kind of slice, you’ll get about 25-28 slices from an 8-inch cake. Perfect for just a few bites before heading back out on the dance floor.
Generous “Everyone Loves Cake” Servings (2 Inches): For big, super generous wedges of cake, you need the “everyone loves cake”-sized slice. With these larger slices, you’ll get about 12 slices out of your 8-inch cake, so it won’t go as far, but no one will complain that their slice is too small!
Here’s an easy way to figure out how many slices you may need, based on guests’ appetites, sort of like a cake serving guide:
12 slices: When you’re serving those who really love cake. These slices are substantial!
18-20 slices: When you’re hosting birthdays, parties or larger gatherings, or slightly more formal (but still casual) family gatherings.
25-28 slices: This is what you’ll want for a wedding! These slices are smaller and more elegant, so you'll get extra servings compared to party portions.
30: For towering cakes with many layers, cut thinner slices so you can stretch your cake farther, or even cut each slice in half!
Ultimately, though, it's good to remember that the size of the slices you cut will really be a personal preference.
How Multiple Layers of Cake Can Change the Game
If your cake contains more than one layer like ours (3 layers of cake and 2 layers of filling) a few , you’ll be able to slice your cake into thinner slices to help stretch your cake a bit further. With more layers, you can get more slices. Because you're working with tall cakes in these situations, you can make that same 8-inch cake serve more people.
We love layered cakes, especially for show stopping centerpieces on dessert tables. Make sure you snap plenty of photos of your cake before digging in.
FAQs
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The general guideline is that an 8-inch cake can feed anywhere from 12-25+ people, depending on the size of the cake slices and the number of cake layers. Figure out how much your guests may eat to help you determine how many people your cake will serve and if you'll need to get a larger cake, additional cakes, or plan for a variety of desserts in addition to your cake centerpiece. It also depends on how you serve the cake. If you are having 20 guests but everyone will serve themselves, you can estimate for less cake because not everyone will grab a slice. If you need a slice for each and every individual because it is being plated at a dinner party, then you need exactly the same number of slices as people.
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In addition to how many people you'll be serving, you'll probably want to think about what the event is and how it will run (is it a sit-down dinner or will there be dancing? If you're seated the entire time, more people may eat the dessert than if dessert is self-serve later on in the event). You'll also want to think about if it's a smaller group who loves cake and might want a bigger slice or if it's a larger group that only really wants a few bites. Also think about if there is any other dessert being served!
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No, not necessarily. If your cake is taller than about 4 inches in height, you'll likely be able to get away with thinner slices (to make up for what you trimmed off the sides). Your slice of cake will be smaller, so you'll be able to feed more people, but the amount of cake each guest is receiving will be about the same.
Ultimately, the number of portions you'll get from an 8-inch cake can range pretty widely, from 8 cake lovers looking for a generous slice to 20 or more people if you’re serving smaller, more refined slices. When determining how many slices you can get from your cake (or each cake, if you’re planning to serve more than one), you’ll want to take into account the event, who is attending, the number of guests, if it's a tiered cake or a sheet cake, if it's the main dessert, and how much you expect they may want to eat. Thinking through all of these details is the best way to help you make an informed decision so you can feel confident about your cake for your big event. It'll be—get this—a piece of cake to pick the right number of cake servings for all of your special occasions.
