How Many People Does a 16-Inch Cake Feed?

A 16-inch round cake serves about 77 party or 100 wedding slices as a two-layer cake about 4 inches tall — the published Wilton chart figures. As a single 2-inch layer it serves about half: 38 party or 50 wedding.

16-inch round cake serves

77–100

Two layers, about 4 in tall: 77 party (1½ × 2 in slice) · 100 wedding (1 × 2 in slice). Single 2-inch layer: about 38 party · 50 wedding (Wilton: under 3 in yields half).

Data & method: Serving counts from the published Wilton cake serving chart (two-layer cakes about 4 in tall; party 1½ × 2 in slice, wedding 1 × 2 in slice). Single-layer figures apply Wilton's rule that cakes under 3 in tall yield half (rounded down). The calculations are covered by automated tests. How we calculate →

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Preset to the 16" round — add tiers or switch sizes to plan a different cake.

Serving style

Tier 1 (or single cake)

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Serves about

party slices (1½ × 2 in)

Counts are for two layers about 4 in tall (3–6 in serves the same). One 2-inch layer per tier? About 38 (Wilton: under 3 in yields half).

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We'll find the smallest two-layer cake that seats them, using the party/wedding slice size selected above.

Guests

A 16" round seats about 77 party servings — enough for 77.

16-inch round cake servings: two layers vs. one

Serving counts come down to slice size. Cut party-style (1½ × 2 in slice), a two-layer 16-inch round yields about 77 servings; cut wedding-style (1 × 2 in slice) it stretches to 100. Wilton's figures hold for any cake 3 to 6 inches tall in this pan: height doesn't add servings, because the cake is cut the same way across the top — a taller cake just gives taller slices. A cake under 3 inches tall, such as one 2-inch layer, yields about half: 38 party or 50 wedding.

Same width, different shape: the 16" square serves 80 party / 128 wedding. The corners matter most in slim wedding cuts — cut wedding-style, a square out-serves the round of the same width on every chart size; party counts run closer and sometimes tie.

All round sizes compared

Size	Party (1½ × 2 in slice), two layers	Wedding (1 × 2 in slice), two layers	Single 2-in layer (party / wedding)
6" round	12	12	6 / 6
8" round	20	24	10 / 12
9" round	24	32	12 / 16
10" round	28	38	14 / 19
12" round	40	56	20 / 28
14" round	63	78	31 / 39
16" round	77	100	38 / 50

Two-layer columns: the Wilton chart (cakes 3–6 in tall serve the same). Single-layer column: Wilton's rule that cakes under 3 in tall yield half, rounded down.

Planning from a head count instead? As a two-layer cake, the 16" round is the chart's answer for 75 people cut party-size.

Baking this cake yourself? The pan volume calculator gives every pan's batter capacity at the standard two-thirds fill, and the pan converter rescales any recipe to fit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many people does a 16-inch round cake feed?

As a two-layer cake about 4 inches tall, a 16-inch round feeds about 77 people with party slices (1½ × 2 in slice) or 100 with wedding slices (1 × 2 in slice) — the published Wilton serving-chart figures. Baked as a single 2-inch layer it feeds about half: 38 party or 50 wedding, because Wilton says cakes under 3 inches tall yield half the servings.

How many wedding servings is a 16-inch round cake?

100 wedding servings as a two-layer cake (50 as a single 2-inch layer). Wedding slices are cut slimmer (1 × 2 in slice versus 1½ × 2 in slice for party slices), so the same cake stretches 23 servings further than at a party.

Is a 16-inch round cake enough for 82 people?

Cut party-size, no — a two-layer one seats about 77. Either cut closer to wedding size (100 slimmer slices), add a small second tier, or go one size up. Rounding up beats running short: end pieces and uneven cuts always eat into the chart number.

Does a taller cake serve more people?

The Wilton chart is written for a two-layer cake about 4 inches tall, and Wilton says cakes 3 to 6 inches tall in the same pan yield the same number of servings, because they're cut the same way — a taller cake gives taller slices, not more of them. A cake under 3 inches tall (one 2-inch layer) yields about half: 38 party or 50 wedding slices for a 16-inch round.