How Big is a Quarter Sheet Cake and How Many Will it Serve?
As someone who loves to bake and decorate cakes, I’m often asked how big a quarter sheet cake is and how many people it will feed. Quarter sheet cakes are a popular choice for birthdays, office parties, and other gatherings, but their size can be confusing if you don’t know what to expect.
In this article, I’ll give you the complete rundown on quarter sheet cake sizes – from dimensions, to serving sizes, to how a quarter sheet compares to other sheet cakes. My goal is to eliminate the guesswork so you can easily determine if a quarter sheet is the right fit for your next celebration!
What are the Dimensions of a Quarter Sheet Cake?
The first thing to know is that a quarter sheet cake measures 9×13 inches. This makes it exactly one-fourth the size of a full sheet cake (which is about four times larger at 18×26 inches).
The 9×13 dimension is important because it fits perfectly into a standard quarter sheet cake pan. So if you’re baking the cake yourself, you’ll need a pan with these measurements for a true quarter sheet cake.
It’s also helpful to visualize the size. A 9×13 quarter sheet cake is about the size of a large pizza box or a standard brownie pan. It’s large enough to feed a crowd, without being oversized.
How Deep is a Typical Quarter Sheet Cake?
In addition to the length and width, the depth also impacts the overall size and serving amount.
Quarter sheet cakes are usually 2 inches deep. This gives a nice, hearty slice of cake without being too tall or dense.
However, the depth may vary slightly depending on factors like:
- The specific pan used – Some quarter sheet pans are more shallow.
- The baking method – Cakes made from scratch tend to rise higher than box mixes.
- Decorations – Fondant and frosting add extra height.
So while 2 inches is standard, the depth could range from 1.5 – 2.5 inches based on the recipe.
Serving Size and Number of Slices in a Quarter Sheet Cake
Now that we know the diameter and height, we can determine how many servings come from a quarter sheet cake.
This depends heavily on the size of each slice. Smaller pieces will stretch the cake further than larger slices.
Here’s a breakdown of common quarter sheet cake slice sizes:
- 1×2 inch slices – 54 pieces
- 2×2 inch slices – 27 pieces
- 2×3 inch slices – 18 pieces
- 3×3 inch slices – 12 pieces
As you can see, you can easily double the servings just by cutting smaller pieces!
Overall, I recommend planning for about 30 servings from a quarter sheet if you want a decent slice. But you could stretch it to serve 40-50 if you cut thin pieces.
Quarter Sheet Cake Serving Guide
To make it easy, here is a simple serving guide for a 9×13 quarter sheet cake:
- 12 people – For big eaters with 3×3 inch slices
- 18 people – With 2×3 inch slices
- 24 people – For moderate eaters with 2×2 inch slices
- 30 people – With 1.5×2 inch slices
- 40 people – For light eaters with 1×2 inch slices
- 50+ people – For tiny slices under 1 inch
The servings also depend on whether you want leftovers. I recommend having some extra slices for snacking later.
Overall, a quarter sheet cake will comfortably feed 20-30 people with nice sized portions. I don’t recommend serving more than 50 from a single quarter sheet.
How Many Square Inches are in a Quarter Sheet Cake?
Sometimes it helps to think about the quarter sheet cake in terms of total area rather than length x width.
Here is the math:
- Length = 9 inches
- Width = 13 inches
- Area = Length x Width
- So a quarter sheet cake has an area of 9 x 13 = 117 square inches
Knowing the total square inchage makes it easy to calculate servings based on the slice size.
For example, a 2×2 inch slice has an area of 4 square inches. So you would get 117/4 = 29 servings from a quarter sheet cake.
Quarter Sheet Cake vs Half Sheet Cake Sizes
To give some perspective, let’s compare the size of a quarter sheet cake to a half sheet cake:
Quarter Sheet Cake
- Length: 9 inches
- Width: 13 inches
- Area: 117 square inches
- Servings: 20-30 people
Half Sheet Cake
- Length: 13 inches
- Width: 18 inches
- Area: 234 square inches
- Servings: 40-50 people
As you can see, a half sheet cake has double the area and can serve twice as many people as a quarter sheet. So it’s perfect for big parties of 50-80 people.
The quarter sheet cake works well for smaller birthday parties, office celebrations, and other medium sized gatherings in the 25-30 person range.
How Much Cake Mix or Batter for a Quarter Sheet Cake?
If you’re baking the cake yourself, you’ll need to know how much cake mix or batter to prepare. Here are some tips:
- From scratch: You’ll need about 6-8 cups of batter to fill a 9×13 quarter sheet pan. This depends on how thick you want the cake layers.
- Cake mix: Look for cake mixes that are marketed as “quarter sheet cake” mixes. These will contain the right amount of dry mix to perfectly fill a quarter sheet pan, usually around 1/4 of a full cake mix box.
- Cupcakes: A 9×13 quarter sheet pan can also hold around 36 cupcakes.
Having the right amount of batter will prevent spillover and ensure your cake bakes up evenly.
Frequently Asked Questions About Quarter Sheet Cakes
Here are answers to some common quarter sheet cake FAQs:
How many people will a quarter sheet cake feed?
A quarter sheet cake will typically feed 20-30 people comfortably. For thinner slices, you can stretch it to serve 40-50 people.
What are the dimensions of a quarter sheet cake pan?
A true quarter sheet cake pan will measure 9×13 inches. This gives you a cake that is exactly one-fourth the size of a full sheet cake.
Can I bake a quarter sheet cake in a 9×9 or 8×8 inch pan?
No, a 9×9 or 8×8 inch pan is too small for a true quarter sheet cake. You will need a pan that is at least 9×13 inches.
What’s the difference between a quarter sheet and a half sheet cake?
A half sheet cake is twice the size of a quarter sheet. It measures about 13×18 inches and can serve 40-50 people vs. 20-30 people for a quarter sheet.
How much cake mix do I need for a 1/4 sheet cake?
Look for “quarter sheet” cake mixes that contain the right amount of dry mix to fill a 9×13 pan. If baking from scratch, you’ll need around 6-8 cups of prepared cake batter.
Quarter Sheet Cakes Are a Versatile Party Option
I hope this article has helped explain exactly how big a quarter sheet cake is and how many people it will feed. The 9×13 size is ideal for small birthday gatherings, office parties, backyard BBQs, and other celebrations in the 20-30 person range.
With generous slices, a quarter sheet cake can serve 12. But you can stretch it to feed 50+ people by cutting tiny slivers. Adjust your slice sizes based on your party size and appetites.
And don’t forget you can double the cake for larger groups by getting two quarter sheets instead of one big half sheet.
Feel free to reference this guide the next time you need to order or bake the perfect quarter sheet cake. Let me know if you have any other quarter sheet cake questions!
