This may vary depending on size and thickness, but a cake 4 inches in diameter and 2 inches thick should bake for 22-26 minutes. The timings increase depending on the size of the cake.
While there are several things to consider while baking a cake, such as your pan and maybe the type of cake, you can usually estimate how long it will take to bake a cake based on the diameter in inches.
Cake Baking Time By Inches
The length of time you bake your cake will be determined by the size of the cake. We have numerous sizes to choose from, ranging from 4 inches clear to 16 inches.
4-inch cakes should bake for 22-26 minutes, and 16-inch cakes should bake for 55-60 minutes. Every 2 inches of cake adds a small bit of cooking time, but there is no set quantity.
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Here’s a short breakdown table, and then we’ll go into more depth to assist you comprehend the time discrepancies.
| Cake Diameter (2″ thick) | Baking Temp. | Baking Time |
| 4 inches | 350°F | 22-26 min |
| 6 inches | 350°F | 35-40 min |
| 8 inches | 350°F | 37-42 min |
| 10 inches | 350°F | 40-45 min |
| 12 inches | 350°F | 40-45 min |
| 14 inches | 325°F | 50-55 min |
| 16 inches | 325°F | 55-60 min |
4-Inch Cake
A 4-inch cake is modest and will not take nearly as long to bake as a bigger cake. Some bakers believe that baking a cake should be dependent on the number of ounces of batter. The fact is that it all depends on the size of your cake.
A Bundt cake, for example, may take substantially longer. While it is not normally particularly large in diameter, it is rather thick, therefore it must be cooked through to the center.
On the same point, while it is a smaller surface, the timing may be similar to that of a 14-inch cake. But I digress. This cake only requires around 1 cup of batter to fill the pan for a 2-inch thick cake.
A 4-inch cake yields 8 servings. They bake at 350°F, however if you use a mix, the temperature may vary depending on the pan. A 4-inch cake takes 22-26 minutes to bake.
6-Inch Cake
A 6-inch cake is just slightly larger, but it takes at least 10 minutes longer to bake than a 4-inch cake.
There isn’t a huge difference in the sizes, but there is a significant difference between the 4-inch cake and the 6-inch cake.
A 6-inch cake will normally feed 12 people, potentially more if cut thinly enough. These will cook at around 350°F for 35-40 minutes.
In a 2-inch-tall pan, a 6-inch cake requires roughly 2 1/4 cups of batter. The larger the cook, the longer the cooking time, although this is the largest difference in cooking times.
8-Inch Cake
An 8-inch cake is only 2 inches larger than the 6-inch cake we just discussed. However, it requires somewhat more batter to produce and hence requires slightly longer cooking time.
This cooking time is not much different from that of your 6-inch cake. It simply takes a few minutes to observe the change. An 8-inch cake will take 37-42 minutes to bake.
A 8-inch cake should be baked at 350°F. In most circumstances, 4 cups of batter will be enough to form an 8-inch cake that is 2 inches thick. Depending on the size of the slices, an 8-inch cake may feed around 20 people.
10-Inch Cake
You can make a 9-inch cake, but it’s not a very usual size, so we’ll go forward to a 10-inch cake. Again, you’ll see that the 10-inch cake doesn’t take much longer to bake than an 8-inch cake.
Similarly to our advancement from 6 inches to 8 inches, we simply add a couple minutes of cooking time for this size of cake. Similarly to our advancement from 6 inches to 8 inches, we simply add a couple minutes of cooking time for this size of cake.
Here’s the rundown. Depending on the size of the slices, a 10-inch cake feeds roughly 28 people. A cake 2 inches thick requires around 6 cups of batter (which is the traditional thickness).
In most circumstances, a 10-inch cake will bake at 350°F. A 10-inch cake should take around 40-45 minutes to bake. Take notice that this is simply a 2-3 minute time increase over the 8-inch cake.
12-Inch Cake
When it comes to baking time, a 12-inch cake will surprise you. All of our other cake sizes now take longer to bake.
A 12-inch cake, on the other hand, will take roughly the same amount of time to bake as 10-inch cake. A 12-inch cake serves approximately 40 people when cut. To create a 12-inch cake, you will need roughly 8 cups of batter.
A 12-inch cake should also be baked at 350°F. When creating a 12-inch cake, count on 40-45 minutes of baking time, which is the same as for a 10-inch cake.
14-Inch Cake
When you get to a 14-inch cake, you’re getting into huge territory. There are various peculiarities in how you bake this cake due to its size. The temperature will shift in tandem with the time.
The lower temperature and longer cooking time are necessary to ensure that the cake cooks evenly. If you continue to utilize the higher temperature, you will have an undercooked center and browning edges, which you do not want.
A 14-inch cake will feed about 63 people. It’s a massive cake! To fill a 14-inch cake pan to about 2 inches high, 11 1/2 cups of batter are needed.
16-Inch Cake
The greatest cake size is a 16-inch cake. Again, it will need to cook at a lower temperature for a somewhat longer period of time. A 16-inch cake requires approximately 16 cups of batter to make.
This large cake may feed 100 people at a wedding. Depending on how the slices are sliced, a typical serving size is meant to serve around 77 people.
This size of cake is comparable to a 14-inch cake in that you want to ensure that the center is completed without destroying the cake’s edges. This is where the lower temperature comes back into play.
When baking a 16-inch cake, preheat your oven to 325°F once more. These cakes take 55-60 minutes to bake, which is significantly longer than the 14-inch cake. It’s only around a 5-minute time difference.
Cake Baking Time With Different Sized Cake Pans
The good news is that if you know how to bake a cake based on its size, you can keep to a basic baking guideline and avoid underbaking or scorching your culinary masterpiece.
This size cake should be baked at 325°F rather than 350°F. The cooking time will be around 50-55 minutes, which is approximately 10 minutes longer than a 12-inch cake. This modification suits the bigger size and lower temperature requirements.
Most cakes or cake layers are 2-3 inches high, but if you use a round pan, they might vary in length or circumference. You may find a brief guidance in our table, but below is a quick overview as well.
| Cake Pan Size | Approximate Baking Times |
| 24 cupcakes | 18 to 23 minutes |
| Two 8 x 1-1/2 inch round baking pans | 35 to 40 minutes |
| Two 9 x 1-1/2 inch round baking pans | 30 to 35 minutes |
| Two 8 x 8 x 2 or 9 x 9 x 2 inch baking pans | 25 to 35 minutes |
| 12 cup Bundt Cake or Angel Food cake pan | 35 to one hour |
| 10-inch cheesecake made in spring form pan. | 35 to one hour |
| 13- x 9- x 2-inch – 1/4 sheet cake | 30 to 35 minutes |
| 15-by-10-by-1-inch jelly roll cake | 25 to 30 minutes |
| 10-inch loaf cake | 25 to 40 minutes |
Should Time Change For A 3-Inch Deep Cake?
Yes. The timeframes mentioned here are based on the expectation that your cake would be 2 inches thick. We understand that some individuals like thicker cakes, which is OK.
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Your cooking time will increase if you prepare a cake that is 3 inches deep. This will result in a 5-10 minute increase.
So, for a 16-inch cake that is 3 inches deep, count on 75-85 minutes of cooking time rather than the 55-60 minutes for a 2-inch deep cake.
Can’t We Use A Higher Temperature?
Sure, if you really want to, you can bake your cake at a higher temperature. We do not, however, advocate it. Here’s the deal. Your cake should be baked until it reaches a gorgeous golden brown hue.
When you raise the temperature, you believe that you will just have a shorter cooking time. While this is true, you will also degrade the quality of your meals. The majority of cakes should be cooked at 350°F.
However, for some of your larger cakes, you may need to drop the temperature to 325°F to achieve the best results. We recommend using 350°F for most sizes, but 325°F for cakes 24 inches or bigger.
If you raise the temperature to, say, 400°F, you will be dissatisfied. This causes the cake to deepen and creates a drier, crisper outer crust. The goal of a cake is to have a fluffy texture with a light crust and a little caramelized flavor. Increasing the temperature will not accomplish this.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How Long Does It Take An Oven To Bake A Cake?
When baking, the basic guideline is “the larger the pan, the lower the temperature.” You bake a cake in a 9-inch pan “30–35 minutes in a circular pan at 350°F. However, if you used the same recipe in a 14 “To reach 325°F in a pan, let 50-55 minutes.
2. My Cakes Take Far Too Long To Bake And Come Out Dry. Why?
Set it at the appropriate temperature.
If the temperature is too high, the cake will get overdone. Too low and the cake will take too long to cook, causing it to dry up since it will not bake properly.