How many portions will this traybake give?
Servings from any tray or sheet pan, with the grid to cut, the size of each piece, and how many cuts to make.
Free. No signup needed.The short answer
A 9 x 13 inch traybake gives 24 servings cut at 2 x 2 inches, and that means 4 pieces across by 6 down. Cut smaller and the same tray gives 36 party slices as a 6 by 6 grid, or 54 finger slices as 9 by 6. A 12 x 18 half sheet gives 54 at 2 x 2, and an 18 x 26 full sheet gives 117. Enter your tray and the calculator draws the grid to cut.
How many portions will this traybake give?
BakerInbox
The tray
Quarter sheet in the US, the standard traybake tin in the UK
The standard UK party portion, and the one most traybakes get cut into.
Portions
36
6 across by 6 down
Each piece
3.8 x 5.5 cm
Party slice
Cuts to make
10
5 one way, 5 the other
Tray area
117 sq in
23 by 33 cm
Where to cut
6 across by 6 down
Measure and mark before you cut. Lay a ruler along the top edge, nick the crust at each cut line, do the same down the side, then cut between the marks with a long knife wiped clean between passes. Cutting by eye is where the last row ends up half the size of the first.
Portions sorted. BakerInbox turns that count into a quote and an order.
Start free trialSheet cake and traybake serving charts
| Tray | Finger slice1 x 2 in | Party slice1.5 x 2 in | Sheet cake slice2 x 2 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8 x 8 in squareSmall square tin | 328 x 4 | 205 x 4 | 164 x 4 |
| 9 x 9 in squareSmall square tin | 369 x 4 | 246 x 4 | 164 x 4 |
| 7 x 11 inThe common UK brownie tin | 357 x 5 | 213 x 7 | 153 x 5 |
| 9 x 13 inQuarter sheet in the US, the standard traybake tin in the UK | 549 x 6 | 366 x 6 | 244 x 6 |
| 12 x 18 inHalf sheet | 10812 x 9 | 728 x 9 | 546 x 9 |
| 13 x 18 inHalf sheet, the bakery pan | 11713 x 9 | 728 x 9 | 546 x 9 |
| 16 x 24 inThree quarter sheet | 19216 x 12 | 1288 x 16 | 968 x 12 |
| 18 x 26 inFull sheet | 23418 x 13 | 15612 x 13 | 1179 x 13 |
The small number under each count is the grid: how many pieces across by how many down. A 9 by 13 cut at 2 by 2 inches gives 24, which is exactly what the American sheet cake charts print. Counts round down, so every piece is the size it says rather than the last row being offcuts.
How big each slice is
| Slice | Size | In cm | When to cut it this way |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finger slice | 1 x 2 in | 2.5 x 5.1 cm | The smallest useful cut. Coffee mornings, buffets, a cake that has to go a long way. |
| Party slice | 1.5 x 2 in | 3.8 x 5.1 cm | The standard UK party portion, and the one most traybakes get cut into. |
| Sheet cake slice | 2 x 2 in | 5.1 x 5.1 cm | The US sheet cake standard. What every American serving chart is counting. |
| Brownie square | 2 x 2 in | 5.1 x 5.1 cm | Same square as a sheet slice, and the cut a 9 by 13 of brownies is usually given. |
| Dessert portion | 2 x 3 in | 5.1 x 7.6 cm | Plated with cream or ice cream. Generous, and fewer of them. |
Made with BakerInbox. Free cake tools at bakerinbox.com/tools
How traybake portions work
A serving count is only useful at the worktop if it comes with the grid, so every number here says how many pieces across and how many down.
The grid
A count is not an instruction
Every chart says 24 for a 9 x 13 and then leaves you standing over the tray with a knife. Twenty four means 4 pieces across the short side and 6 down the long one, which is 3 cuts one way and 5 the other. That is the part no serving chart prints, so this one draws it. For round and square cakes rather than trays, the how many servings in a cake chart does the same job by tin size and tier.
Tray and pan
A traybake tin and a quarter sheet are the same tin
A traybake in the UK and Ireland is a sheet cake in the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, and the 9 x 13 inch tin everybody owns is sold as a quarter sheet on one side and as the standard traybake tin on the other. A half sheet is 12 x 18, or 13 x 18 for the bakery pan, and a full sheet is 18 x 26. The counts do not change with the name. What changes is the cut each country assumes.
Slice size
The cut decides the count, not the tray
One 9 x 13 gives 54, 36, 24 or 18 depending only on the knife. Finger slices at 1 x 2 inches give 54 as a 9 by 6 grid. Party slices at 1.5 x 2 give 36 as 6 by 6. American sheet slices at 2 x 2 give 24 as 4 by 6, which is exactly what the trade charts print. A plated dessert portion at 2 x 3 gives 18. Counts always round down here, so the last row is a real piece and not offcuts.
Working backwards
Start from the head count instead
Twenty people coming? Ask for 20 and it finds the tidiest grid that gets there: 4 across by 5 down from a 9 x 13, with pieces at 2.25 by 2.6 inches. It scores against long thin pieces on purpose, because 1 by 24 is technically 24 portions and nobody would serve it. If you are not yet sure how much cake a party needs, start with what size cake for your guests and come back with a number.
Selling it
Portions are the thing you are pricing
A traybake is quoted per portion far more often than per tray, so this count is what your price hangs off. Get it right, then work out how much to charge for it. A loaded half sheet is heavy and awkward to move in one piece, so check what size board it needs before delivery day rather than on it.
FAQ
Common questions
How many servings in a 9x13 cake?
24, cut at 2 x 2 inches, which is 4 pieces across by 6 down. That is the size every American sheet cake chart counts. Cut UK party slices at 1.5 x 2 inches and the same tray gives 36, and 1 x 2 inch fingers give 54.
How many does a half sheet cake feed?
54 at the standard 2 x 2 inch cut, as a 6 by 9 grid on a 12 x 18 inch half sheet. A 13 x 18 bakery pan gives the same 54, because the extra inch is not enough for another column. Cut party slices instead and it feeds 72.
How many does a full sheet cake serve?
117 at 2 x 2 inches on an 18 x 26 inch full sheet, cut 9 across by 13 down. A three quarter sheet at 16 x 24 gives 96. Published charts range from 96 to 117 for a full sheet, because some trim the edges before cutting and some do not.
What size is a sheet cake slice?
2 x 2 inches, or about 5 by 5 cm, and roughly 2 inches tall. That is the US trade standard and what every serving chart quietly assumes. A UK party slice is smaller at 1.5 x 2 inches, and a finger slice for a buffet is 1 x 2.
Is a traybake the same as a sheet cake?
Yes. A traybake in the UK and Ireland is a sheet cake in the US and Canada, and the 9 x 13 inch tin sold as a quarter sheet is the standard traybake tin. The difference is the cut, not the cake. American charts count 2 inch squares and British ones count party slices, which is why the same tray reads 24 in one country and 36 in the other.
How do you cut a 9x13 cake into 24 pieces?
Three cuts across the 9 inch side and five down the 13 inch side, giving 4 by 6. Each piece comes out 2.25 by 2.17 inches, near enough a square. Mark both edges with a ruler first, then cut between the marks.
How do you cut a traybake evenly?
Measure and mark before the knife goes in. Nick the crust at every cut line along the top edge and down the side, then cut between the marks with a long knife wiped clean between passes. Lift the bake out on its greaseproof or parchment paper first, and chill it if the filling is soft. Cutting by eye is why the last row ends up half the size of the first.
How many brownies does a 9x13 pan make?
24 at the usual 2 x 2 inch square, cut 4 across by 6 down. Twelve larger squares is the other common cut, at 3 by 3.25 inches each. For a bake sale, 1 x 2 inch fingers give 54 from the same pan.
Put every enquiry in one place too
Track every enquiry, order, and quote. Free for 14 days, no card required.