Pan Volume Calculator

Find out exactly how much any pan holds. Enter its shape and dimensions for the volume in cups, millilitres and litres — and the batter it takes at a two-thirds fill.

Pan shape Depth (inches) Diameter (inches)

Total pan volume

6.96 cups

≈ 1647 ml · 1.65 L

Millilitres

1647

Litres

1.65

Batter (⅔)

4.64

Fill level

Data & method: Geometric volume from pan dimensions (1 US cup = 14.4375 in³); fill to ⅔ for batter. The calculations are covered by automated tests. How we calculate →

How to Work Out a Pan's Volume — and Whether Your Batter Fits

The volume of a baking pan is simply its base area multiplied by its depth. For a round pan that's π times the radius squared; for square and rectangular pans it's length times width. Divide the result by 14.4375 — the number of cubic inches in a US cup — and you have the volume in cups. This pan volume calculator does that for any dimensions and also gives you millilitres and litres, so it works whether your recipe is American or metric.

The number that matters most for baking is the two-thirds fill. Cake batter rises as it bakes, so filling a pan more than about two-thirds risks an overflow and a sunken middle; filling much less gives a thin, dry layer. The "Batter (⅔)" figure tells you how much batter the pan comfortably takes — compare it to your recipe's yield to know in advance whether everything will fit, or whether you need a second pan.

Common pan volumes at a glance

Pan (2" deep)	Brim volume	Millilitres	Batter at ⅔ fill
6" round	3.9 cups	930 ml	2.6 cups
8" round	7.0 cups	1650 ml	4.6 cups
9" round	8.8 cups	2080 ml	5.9 cups
10" round	10.9 cups	2570 ml	7.3 cups
8" square	8.9 cups	2100 ml	5.9 cups
9" square	11.2 cups	2650 ml	7.5 cups
9×13" rectangle	16.2 cups	3830 ml	10.8 cups
9×5" loaf	6.2 cups	1470 ml	4.2 cups

Look up a specific pan

Every standard pan has its own page — published capacity, batter fill, metric, and the honest substitutes within 10%:

Geometric volume vs. published capacity

You'll usually notice the volume here is a little larger than the capacity listed on pan charts. That's expected: this tool computes a perfectly straight-sided pan filled to the very brim, while charts like Joy of Baking's pan size chart list approximate brim-full volumes for real pans, whose sloped sides and rolled rims hold a little less. Both are right. If you want a recipe re-scaled between two specific pans, use our cake pan converter, which works from the charted capacities; use this tool when you have an odd-sized or custom pan and just need its volume.

Most-used pan conversions

Already know both pans? These pages give the recipe multiplier and the bake changes:

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I calculate the volume of a cake pan?

Multiply the pan's base area by its depth, then divide by 14.4375 to get US cups (one cup is 14.4375 cubic inches). For a round pan the area is π × radius²; for square and rectangular pans it's length × width. This calculator does it for any dimensions.

How many cups does an 8-inch round pan hold?

6 cups filled to the brim, per Joy of Baking's pan size chart (a 9-inch round holds 8, a 9x13 pan 14). The pure geometry of an 8 × 2-inch cylinder comes to about 7 cups; real pans hold less because of sloped sides and rolled rims. For batter, fill to about two-thirds — roughly 4 cups.

How many cups does a 9x13 pan hold?

14 cups (3½ quarts) filled to the brim, per Joy of Baking's pan chart — about 9¼ cups of batter at the usual two-thirds fill. Geometry for a straight-sided 9 × 13 × 2-inch box gives about 16 cups; real pans have sloped sides and rounded corners.

Will my batter fit in the pan?

Fill a cake pan no more than half to two-thirds full so it doesn't overflow as it rises. Take the total volume this tool gives you, multiply by two-thirds, and compare that to your batter amount — the 'Batter (⅔)' figure shows it directly.

Why is the calculated volume larger than the capacity on pan charts?

This tool reports the true geometric volume — a straight-sided pan filled to the very top. Capacity charts such as Joy of Baking's list approximate brim-full volumes for real pans, which usually hold a little less than the geometry because of sloped sides and rolled rims. Both are correct; they just answer slightly different questions.

How do I convert pan volume to litres or millilitres?

One US cup is 236.588 millilitres, so multiply cups by 236.588 for millilitres, or divide that by 1,000 for litres. The calculator shows all three at once.