🎂 Cake Pan Converter
Adapt a recipe written for one cake pan so it works in a different size or shape pan, by scaling ingredients based on pan area.
How pan conversion works
Recipes are built around the volume of batter a pan holds, which for a shallow cake pan is closely approximated by its top surface area. This calculator finds the area of your original pan and your new pan, then gives you a scale factor: multiply every ingredient in the original recipe by that factor to fill the new pan at a similar depth.
Adjusting baking time
Bake time does not scale the same way ingredients do. A larger pan spreads batter thinner, so it usually bakes faster per unit of batter, while a smaller, deeper pan takes longer. The estimated time here uses the square root of the area ratio as a starting adjustment, but you should always check doneness with a toothpick rather than relying on time alone.
- Round pan area = π × radius²
- Square or rectangular pan area = length × width
- Scale factor = new pan area ÷ original pan area
This tool gives a general baking estimate; actual results vary by oven, batter thickness and pan material, so watch your cake near the estimated time rather than trusting it exactly.