What size cake for 25 people?
Twenty five people, twenty of them children. Adults count for less than a child here, which is counterintuitive: every child takes a slice, and roughly half the parents do.
The answer
20 children aged 6 to 9 and 5 adults, 2:00 PM for 2 hours.
10inch round
A 10-inch round covers 24 party slices, enough for 23. Party slices are the larger cut. The wedding column of the same chart would claim far more from this tin.
SourcedWilton
Count the adults at a half
At a kids party the cake is for the children. Parents are supervising, many have driven, and a good number will wave it away or share one. Counting every adult as a full slice pushes you up a tin size for cake that goes home in foil. The figure below counts them at half, which is our own rule and labelled as such.
This is a snack party, not a meal.
The rest of the list for this party
| Amount | Item | Part of the party | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 | Snack portions | Food | Our rule |
| 6.5 | Prepared fruit | Food | Sourced |
| 25 | Cupcakes | Cake | Our rule |
| 53 | Juice boxes and soft drinks | Drinks | Sourced and our rule |
| 25 | Water bottles | Drinks | Our rule |
| 48 | Plates | Table | Our rule |
| 75 | Napkins | Table | Our rule |
| 22 | Goodie bags | Favors | Our rule |
Your party is not this party
Change the guest count, the ages, the start time or the weather and the whole list moves. The calculator opens on the party above, so you can adjust it rather than start again.
Where these numbers come from
- Planning the quantity food occasion, University of Minnesota Extension. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Ultimate cake serving chart, Wilton. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Beverage math: how much to serve at your event, Plum Deluxe. Checked 2026-09-27.
- Accurate food and beverage quantity guide for your guests, Occasional Occasions Catering. Checked 2026-09-27.
Anything marked our rule is our own judgement rather than a published figure. We say which is which so you know which numbers to argue with.
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