Many home bakers wonder how big a full sheet cake is or how big a quarter sheet cake is. Let’s take a look at the different sheet cake sizes, number of servings, and more. Hopefully this article helps you purchase or bake a cake that’s the perfect size for your special occasions.

What Are Sheet Cakes?

Sheet cakes are large cakes baked in rectangular pans. The term sheet cake refers to commercial sheet pan sizes. A good metaphor is measuring cups. There’s a full cup, half cup, and quarter cup. The same is true of rectangular sheet cakes. There are full sheets, half sheets, quarter sheets, and eighth sheets, and their sizes are considered industry standards.

A half-sheet pan is twice the size of a quarter sheet pan, and a quarter sheet pan is half of a full sized sheet pan. Each of these pans is a specific size, however, since this is a commercial term, the size will be consistent at the grocery stores and retail bakeries you order from. The only difference when ordering will be the number of layers.

Standard Sizes of Commercial Sheet Cake Pans In Inches

These different sizes are written as pan width by pan length. Commercial sheet pans are usually about 1.125 inch in height.

Full Sheet Cake Size: 18 x 26 inches
Half Sheet Cake Size: 18 x 13 inches
Quarter Sheet Cake Size: 9.5 x 13 inches

Approximate Serving Sizes of Sheet Pan Cakes

The number of cake slices will vary based on a two main factors. Those are the number of layers of cake (height of your cake), and how big you plan on slicing the cake. Slice sizes are generally measured at 2 inches by 2 inches in commercial settings.

However, this can vary wildly if you plan on cutting the cake yourself. Some commercial sheet pan cakes from stores like Costco come with decorations on top to help you eyeball how much cake to serve each person.

Full Sheet Cake Size: 70 – 80 people
Half Sheet Cake Size: 36 – 48 people
Quarter Sheet Cake Size: 20 – 24 people

The number on the high end assumes you cut small, evenly sized slices. If you’ll be cutting the cake yourself, you’ll probably get something closer to the lower end number, and possibly even less if you’re generous with your slices.

A single-layer sheet cake is a great option when you’re feeding a party of children since they don’t need as much cake to be satisfied, and many parents are happy to feed them a bit less sugar. Single-layer cakes are also a popular choice for events that will have several desserts available. This can help ensure there are less leftovers, and less potential waste.

Sheet Pan Cake Recipes

Here are just a few of the sheet pan cake recipes I’ve shared on RAISE for Members. All of the recipes are gluten free, vegan (no milk or egg), and top 9 allergy free. It makes them incredibly inclusive for gatherings, as many people manage some kind of dietary restriction.

Vanilla Sheet Pan Cake Recipe (an easy cake for first time bakers)
Grain Free Chocolate Sheet Pan Cake Recipe (Paleo compliant)
Gluten Free Ube (Purple Sweet Potato) Cake Recipe (Vegan, Top 9 Allergy Free)
Easy and Amazing Apple White Chocolate Sheet Pan Cake Recipe (Vegan, Top 9 Allergy Free)
Chocolate Sheet Pan Cake Recipe (Hostess Cupcake Copycat)
Chocolate Sponge Sheet Pan Cake Recipe

Types of Baking Pans

Sheet pans refer to a standard commercial size. These are not the same as a jelly roll pan, loaf pan, or square cake pan. Commercial sheet pans are shallow pans, and are all about 1 1/4 inch high. If you see one that’s taller (usually about 3 inches), this is not used for commercial purposes.

A full sized sheet pan won’t fit in most home ovens. If you’ve seen baking sheets available at local stores, you’ve probably seen half sheet pans and quarter sheet pans. If you plan on baking a lot of sheet pan cakes, I would recommend purchasing 2 – 4 pans of your desired size, that way it’s easier to bake several layers at the same time.

Cake Bundles

If you’re new to baking cakes, or want to try baking gluten free cakes, vegan cakes, or allergy friendly cakes, these are for you. These cake recipes are great for formal events, corporate events, baby showers, birthday parties, and more.

The recipes come from an award winning bakery that served thousands of customers who all loved the baked goods. You can follow the decorating tutorials provided, or bake these recipes as sheet pan cakes for your gatherings.

Answering Your Sheet Cake and Cake Pan Questions

Are quarter sheet cake pans the same thing as 1/4 cake pans?

Yes. The terms quarter, half, and full refer to the fractions 1/4, 1/2, and 1 (as a whole number). If you see 1/4 sheet cake pans, that’s the same as quarter sheet cake pans.

Would a sheet cake be good as a wedding cake?

A full size sheet cake is great at large events such as a wedding. I’ve seen couples opt to have a beautifully decorated multi-tiered dummy cake for photos, then have sheet cakes to feed their guests. Often times the dummy cake has an edible top layer that the bride and groom cut into at the reception.

This is a very cost effective way to feed a large crowd, as the sheet cakes don’t need to be ornately decorated. They’re simply layers of cake and filling with a bit of frosting.

Can I use a half-sheet cake pan the way I would cookie sheets?

Yes and no. Usually when a tray is marketed as a cookie sheet, the material may be different. Additionally, some cookie sheets have small holes in them to promote air circulation. A half-sheet cake pan is solid.

Just know that yes, you can absolutely bake cookies on a cake pan (I do this all the time). However, if you’re following a recipe that specifically calls for a perforated cookie sheet, you’ll need to use one, or manage your expectations as the recipe may not turn out the same without the extra air flow.

Could I make an ice cream cake using a quarter-sheet pan?

Yes, you can, but you’ll need to take a few extra steps to make sure your cake releases properly. The easiest way to make an ice cream cake is to use what’s called a spring form pan. You can purchase these as a round cake pan, square cake pan, heart shaped cake pan, and a few other shapes. It’s essentially large ring that unbuckles so you can easily remove the cake.

Normally you’d bake a cake round, top with a layer of filling (ice cream in this case), top with another cake round, then freeze the entire pan. Once your ice cream has set solid, you unbuckle the ring, release the cake, decorate, and serve.

If you plan on using a quarter-sheet pan, you’ll need to bake your cake, allow it to cool, then remove it from the pan. Then, bake another sheet of cake, allow it to cool, then remove. Finally, line your empty pan with parchment paper or plastic wrap. Spread your soft ice cream all over, then place the pan in the freezer until the ice cream has set solid again.

Finally, assemble the three layers, decorate, and serve. The plastic wrap/parchment paper is critical, as it will allow you to easily lift the ice cream layer out of the pan.

How many people will an eighth sheet cake feed?

A safe approximation will be 10 – 12 people for an eighth (1/8) sheet pan cake.

Is it easier to cut a full sheet cake when it’s room temperature?

No matter which size pan you go with, it depends. Personally, I think it’s easier to cut a cake that’s a bit cold since the frosting will be more firm and won’t “slide” around as much. However, most people will agree that a cake at room temperature (unless it’s an ice cream cake) tastes better than a cold/chilled cake.

Some fillings are rather runny at room temperature and may perform better when cut cold. Let’s assume you have a typical two layered full sheet cake with frosting as your filling. You’ll be fine cutting the cake at room temperature or when it’s cold/chilled. In this scenario, I wouldn’t say one way is easier than the other.

How Big is a Quarter Sheet Cake: Pan Sizes & Servings