How many tiers do I need for my wedding cake?

For under 30 guests: 2 tiers. For 30-80: 3 tiers. For 80-150: 4 tiers. For 150+: 5 tiers. These are guidelines - you can have fewer tiers and supplement with sheet cakes cut in the kitchen. Some couples choose a smaller display cake plus cupcakes.

How much wedding cake per person?

A standard wedding cake portion is a slice approximately 2.5cm wide x 5cm tall (about 80-100g). For a dessert course, allow larger slices of 120-150g. Not everyone eats cake - typically 70-80% of guests will have a slice. Order for all guests but expect leftovers.

How much does a wedding cake cost?

Traditional tiered cakes cost £3-£8 per portion. A 3-tier cake for 80 guests costs £300-£600. Naked cakes are 10-20% cheaper. Cupcake towers cost £2-£4 per cupcake. Cheese cake towers cost £5-£10 per kg. Elaborate designs and sugar flowers add significantly to the cost.

What are alternatives to traditional wedding cake?

Popular alternatives: cupcake tower with a small top tier for cutting, doughnut wall, macaron tower, cheese wheel tower, dessert table with multiple options, ice cream station, or a croquembouche. Many couples now choose what they actually enjoy eating rather than tradition.

Wedding Cake Calculator — Size & Tiers

Choose the right wedding cake size and tiers for your guest count.

Number of Guests

Total number of people attending (one portion each)

Cake StyleNaked/semi-naked is ~15% cheaper than fully iced; cupcake towers price per cupcake; cheese towers price per kg

Portion Size

Finger/wedding slice ~80-100g (2.5×5cm); dessert slice ~120-150g

Number of Tiers

Your chosen number of tiers — we'll flag if it's short for the guest count

Cost per Portion

UK guide: £3-£8 per slice; £2-£4 per cupcake

How We Calculate This

This calculator sizes your wedding cake from your guest count, portion size and chosen style.

Formula

Portions = number of guests (one slice each)
Total weight = portions × portion size (g) ÷ 1000
Suggested tiers = a guide from guest count (under 30 → 2, 30-80 → 3, 80-150 → 4, 150+ → 5). It is indicative only — actual capacity depends on tin sizes (a 6/8/10in round 3-tier yields ~135 finger portions). We show your chosen tier count in the headline and flag if it falls short.
Cost = portions × cost per portion, with a 15% discount applied for naked / semi-naked cakes (less icing work). Cupcake towers are costed per cupcake and cheese towers per kg using the price you enter.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Adjust quantities based on your guests and event type.