Feeding 20 guests
A single 10-inch round yields 20-30 party servings. An 8-inch round covers 12-20, so it suits a smaller table.
Sizing a three-tier cake
A three-tier cake built from 6, 8 and 10-inch rounds feeds roughly 40 to 60 guests, provided the slices are cut to the standard party portion of 1.5 x 2 inches. The exact count moves with the tier diameters you choose and with the discipline of whoever holds the knife. This guide works through the serving arithmetic, the order lead times and the storage rules that keep a celebration cake fresh until it is cut.
01
Match the guest count to the tier arithmetic: a 6-inch round gives 8-12 party servings, an 8-inch gives 12-20, a 10-inch gives 20-30 and a 12-inch gives 30-40. Stacked as 6 + 8 + 10, that is roughly 40-60 servings.
02
Count back from the event date: 3-7 days for a custom decorated cake, 2-6 weeks for tiered or wedding cakes, and same day before midday for simple cupcakes.
03
Hold cream- and custard-filled cakes at 2-8 °C and serve within 2-3 days. Buttercream-only cakes keep 2-3 days below 25 °C; undecorated sponge freezes at -18 °C for up to 3 months.
About 40 to 60 people, if the cake is the standard 6, 8 and 10-inch round stack cut into party slices.
The classic three-tier celebration stack is built from 6, 8 and 10-inch round cakes. Cut to party portions, the 6-inch tier gives 8-12 servings, the 8-inch gives 12-20 and the 10-inch gives 20-30.
Add those bands together and the stack lands on roughly 40-60 servings. The range is wide because the true yield depends on how closely the person cutting holds to the 1.5 x 2 inch slice.
If the guest list sits above 60, the options are a 12-inch base tier, which adds 30-40 servings on its own, or a half-sheet baked alongside the display cake. The servings chart page works through each size in turn.
A single 10-inch round yields 20-30 party servings. An 8-inch round covers 12-20, so it suits a smaller table.
A three-tier 6 + 8 + 10-inch stack gives roughly 40-60 servings. A half-sheet cut 2 x 2 inches covers up to 54 on its own.
Tiered and wedding cakes carry a 2-6 week lead time. Place the order at the early end of that window for a fixed-date event.
Simple cupcakes are the only same-day item, and only when the order goes in before midday.
Refrigerate at 2-8 °C and plan to finish the cake within 2-3 days of collection.
Undecorated sponge layers wrap and freeze at -18 °C for up to 3 months, then thaw in the fridge for 8-12 hours.
A three-tier cake of 6, 8 and 10-inch rounds feeds roughly 40 to 60 people — the rest is cutting discipline.
Every tier above the base needs 4-6 dowels or one central dowel; gravity is not negotiable.
| Cake | Dimensions | Servings at a party cut | Order lead time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6-inch round | 6 in diameter | 8-12 | 3-7 days decorated |
| 8-inch round | 8 in diameter | 12-20 | 3-7 days decorated |
| 10-inch round | 10 in diameter | 20-30 | 3-7 days decorated |
| 12-inch round | 12 in diameter | 30-40 | 3-7 days decorated |
| Three-tier stack | 6 + 8 + 10 in rounds | 40-60 | 2-6 weeks |
| Half-sheet | 12 x 18 in, 216 sq in | 24 at 3 x 3 in; up to 54 at 2 x 2 in | 3-7 days decorated |
| Cupcakes | Standard cases | Single portions | Same day, ordered before midday |
The serving yields, lead times, temperatures and weights quoted here reflect standard bakery reference figures rather than any single shop's price list.