Calculate layer sizes, weight, and servings for any tiered cake. Enter each tier's shape, dimensions, and cake type — we'll work out the numbers instantly. Your calculation is saved in your browser automatically.
A tiered cake feels balanced when each tier steps down by a consistent amount and tier heights scale with diameter. The numbers below come from working pastry-chef rules of thumb — use them as a starting point and tweak to taste.
Drop each tier's diameter by 5–7 cm compared with the one below. Less than 4 cm and the cake reads as top-heavy and cramped; more than 8 cm and the silhouette starts to feel chunky and unfinished.
| Shape | Diameters (cm) | Step | Slices ≈ | Best for | Apply |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 / 16 | 4 | 23 | Tall, slender column | ||
| 15 / 20 | 5 | 29 | Birthday cake | ||
| 20 / 25 | 5 | 56 | Anniversary | ||
| 10 / 15 / 20 | 5 | 32 | Intimate gathering | ||
| 10 / 16 / 22 | 6 | 38 | Compact wedding | ||
| 12 / 18 / 24 | 6 | 55 | Small wedding | ||
| 15 / 20 / 25 | 5 | 65 | Classic wedding | ||
| 20 / 25 / 30 | 5 | 116 | Generous wedding | ||
| 25 / 30 / 35 | 5 | 177 | Large wedding | ||
| 8 / 14 / 20 / 26 | 6 | 69 | Statement wedding | ||
| 15 / 20 / 25 / 30 | 5 | 125 | Grand celebration | ||
| 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 | 5 | 197 | Banquet wedding | ||
| 6 / 12 / 18 / 24 / 30 | 6 | 116 | Showstopper silhouette | ||
| 20 / 25 / 30 / 35 / 40 | 5 | 304 | Grand banquet |
Numbers are starting points — different cake densities, taller tiers, or smaller portions all shift the count. Plug your own values into the calculator above for the exact answer.
Tiers blur into each other; the cake reads as one bulky cylinder rather than distinct layers.
Tiers feel disconnected and the top one looks like an afterthought.
Equal 5–7 cm steps and a consistent tier height read as deliberate proportion — what guests perceive as "elegant".
The same logic works for oval and rectangular tiers: shrink length and width by the same proportion at each step so the cake stays in family.