How many servings in a 2 tier cake?
A two-tier cake of 10 in and 6 in rounds, each about 4 in tall, gives 50 wedding servings, or 40 party servings, by Wilton’s chart.
How to work it out
- 10 in round 38 + 6 in round 12 = 50 servings (wedding slices, Wilton chart)
- Batter: 16.5 cups ÷ about 4 cups per box of mix = 5 boxes
A two-tier cake is a popular choice for a small wedding, a shower or a milestone birthday. The servings depend almost entirely on the bottom tier — the top one adds a dozen.
Adjust for your project
- With the other slice size
- 40 servings
- Batter to bake it (approx.)
- 16.5 cups
- Boxes of cake mix (at 4 cups of batter each)
- 5 boxes
By cake or tier
| Cake or tier | Wedding servings | Batter |
|---|---|---|
| 10 in round | 38 | 12 cups |
| 6 in round | 12 | 4.5 cups |
- For a tiered cake, Wilton’s method cuts each tier separately: a circle 2 in in from the edge, 1½ in pieces around the ring, and so on to a 6 in center cut in 12. The top tier is often saved for the couple.
- Wedding slices are small — about 1 × 2 in and 4 in tall. If the cake is dessert rather than a bite after dinner, count party servings.
Servings by slice size and height (cakes as above)
| Slice size | Servings | Batter to bake it (approx.) | Boxes of cake mix (at 4 cups of batter each) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party slices | 40 servings | 16.5 cups | 5 boxes |
| Wedding slices | 50 servings | 16.5 cups | 5 boxes |
Common two-tier pairs
| Tiers (round, 4 in tall) | Wedding servings | Party servings |
|---|---|---|
| 6 + 8 in | 36 | 32 |
| 6 + 9 in | 44 | 36 |
| 6 + 10 in | 50 | 40 |
| 8 + 10 in | 62 | 48 |
| 8 + 12 in | 80 | 60 |
| 10 + 14 in | 116 | 91 |
Wilton’s serving numbers are per tier, so a tiered cake is just the sum. A 10 in bottom tier gives 38 wedding servings and a 6 in top tier 12, for 50. If the couple keeps the top tier — a common tradition — count only the bottom: 38. Square tiers serve more than round ones of the same size because the corners are cake too: a 10 in square gives 50 wedding servings on its own.
Wedding slices vs party slices
A wedding slice is about 1 × 2 in and 4 in tall — a thin rectangle cut after a full dinner. If the cake is the main dessert at a shower or birthday, plan party slices of about 1½ × 2 in, and the same 6 + 10 cake serves 40. Some couples order a small display cake for cutting and a plain sheet cake in the kitchen to serve the rest; a single-layer half sheet adds about 49 wedding slices — see how many people does a half sheet cake feed.
- Support: every tier above the bottom needs dowels and a cake board underneath.
- Batter: a 6 + 10 in two-layer cake takes about 16½ cups of batter by Wilton’s chart — five boxes of mix at 4 cups each.
- Cutting: Wilton cuts each tier separately in rings 2 in in from the edge.
Single cakes are in how many servings in an 8 inch round cake. For a dessert table, how many cupcakes for 50 people and the wedding reception quantities guide cover the rest.
Different size? Use the full Cake Serving Calculator.
What you’ll need
- Round cake pans (6, 8, 10 in)Mid-range price
A graduated set of 2 in deep rounds builds most two- and three-tier cakes. The serving charts assume 2 in deep pans.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab) - Standard 12-cup muffin panBudget price
Two pans let one batch go in the oven while the next is filled.
See options on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
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Frequently asked questions
How many servings in a 3 tier cake (6, 8 and 10 in)?
74 wedding servings, or 60 party servings.
How many servings in a 2 tier cake of 6 and 8 inch?
36 wedding servings, or 32 party servings.
What 2 tier cake serves 100?
A 14 + 10 in round cake gives 116 wedding servings — enough for 100 guests, 16 spare.
Other common sizes
- How many people does a half sheet cake feed — about 36 (one layer, party slices)
- How many people does a 9x13 cake feed — about 18 (one layer, party slices)
- How many servings in an 8 inch round cake — 20 party or 24 wedding servings
Sources
- Wilton — Cake baking and serving guide (opens in a new tab) — Party (about 1½ × 2 in) and wedding (about 1 × 2 in) servings for 4 in high cakes by pan shape and size; 3–6 in high cakes give the same servings, under 3 in half; batter per layer.
- Wilton — Wedding cake guide (opens in a new tab) — Wedding servings for 2-layer tiers; an average 2-layer cake mix yields 4 to 5½ cups of batter; fill pans ½ to ⅔ full.
- Wilton — How to cut a round cake (opens in a new tab) — Cut a circle 2 in in from the edge, slice the ring into about 1½ in pieces, repeat, and cut the 6 in center into 12 wedges.
- Iowa State University Extension (AnswerLine) — Graduation party tips (opens in a new tab) — A half sheet cake serves 24–50 and a full sheet (18 × 26 in) 48–100, depending on 2 × 3 in or 2 × 2 in pieces. (Iowa State’s guide gives the half sheet as 13 × 18 in; this site uses Wilton’s 12 × 18 in half-sheet pan.)