How Much Do Wedding Cakes Cost? - Brides

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Part of In this section

How Much Should I Plan to Spend? All Your Cake Questions, Answered What to Ask Your Baker Before Booking What Really Happens at a Tasting? Everything to Know About Frosting 15 Unique Flavors to Consider

A white wedding cake covered in pink and white roses.

CLOSE The Ultimate Guide to Wedding Cakes How Much Do Wedding Cakes Cost?

An expert explains what to expect when it comes to pricing.

By Sarah Schreiber

Sarah Schreiber Sarah is the associate editorial director for Brides and has been a writer and editor for over seven years. Brides's Editorial Guidelines Updated on November 16, 2025 04:59PM In This Article View All In This Article

Average Cost
Factors That Impact Cost
Cake Sizing
Ways to Save

Key Takeaways

Wedding cakes in the U.S. typically cost between $600 and $900, but can be more in big cities.
Consider serving smaller cake slices or using a sheet cake to save money on your wedding cake.
Opt for buttercream frosting and a simple design to keep wedding cake costs lower while still impressing guests.

Though a myriad of wedding cake alternatives, from pies and cupcakes to ice cream sundae bars, have become particularly common at today's nuptials, most weddings in the United States still include a big-day confection. The cake, after all, is one of the most time-honored customs, alongside the wedding dress and the bouquet. That being said, figuring out which confection is right for you and your budget is no easy task—especially since there are many factors that impact the price of this dessert, from cake-specific items, like size and flavor, to more logistical ones, including where you live.

“Cake price is determined by the intricacy of the finished design, the complexity of the cake flavor, and, of course, how many tiers (the more tiers the harder to transport and the more to decorate)," says Melissa Redell of The Solvang Bakery in Solvang, California, noting that bakers who hand-deliver confections to venues will also charge an additional fee. What's more, wedding cake costs can also vary based on your serving size and the designer you hire to create this special treat.

Meet the Expert

Melissa Redell is the co-owner of The Solvang Bakery, a family bakery in Solvang, California.

All to say, there's no perfect way to assess what true wedding cake costs look like heading into 2025. We did, however, break down the elements that play into confection pricing to help you figure out exactly what type of dessert is right for your special day—and gave rough estimates on average prices based on some new data. Ahead, everything you need to know about wedding cake costs.

How to Choose the Ideal Wedding Cake Size for Your Guest List

The Average Cost of a Wedding Cake

The average U.S. wedding cake costs around $600, according to new data provided by Zola, an online wedding planning and registry service. It's common for couples to spend between $600 and $900 on their confections—and that range increases in bigger cities (or for more elaborate cakes with multiple tiers or more intricate piping), where duos pay anywhere from $1,000 to $1,200 for these desserts. WeddingWire offers a similar perspective, with a more varied range: According to their analysis of wedding costs heading into 2025, these sweets will cost $500 on average, with a typical spend range of $300 to $700.

It’s also important to keep in mind that most wedding cakes are priced out by the slice. Typically, they run around $2.50 to $8 per slice in the U.S., but they often get closer to $12 per slice with some of the more labor-intensive designs and specialty ingredients. A good rule of thumb is the more specialty the cake, the more expensive it’s going to be. Unusual shapes, custom sugar flower detailing, and fondant frosting are all going to drive up the price since they are either more labor-intensive or require more expensive materials and ingredients, or both. For example, at The Solvang Bakery, fondant designs are around $10 per slice while other frosting finishes are around $6.

Factors That Impact Wedding Cake Costs

Just like calculating the costs of your other wedding vendors, wedding cake pricing depends on a multitude of factors. Below, we provide a breakdown of what determines the overall cost:

Time
Ingredients (unique ingredients or specialty cakes that are vegan or gluten-free will typically cost more)
Flavor
Size of the cake and number of tiers
Level of intricacy with designs, colors, and style (for example, if the cake has an edible gold leaf or ombre frosting, it may increase the price)
Type of frosting (typically, a fondant or gum paste cake are both more expensive than buttercream)
Delivery fees
Setup
Customization
A cake tasting
A design consultation
An extra top tier (this is needed if you'd like to save your cake for your first anniversary)
Add-ons such as cake stands/toppers (you can buy or rent these)

Since pricing can also vary by cake designer, be sure to work with your vendor to determine what is and isn't needed. Additionally, always review and clarify the specific terms and add-ons before signing the contract and proposal to make sure there are no surprises or costly additions to your budget.

How to Determine the Right Wedding Cake Size

In general, to estimate wedding cake costs, the first thing you need to figure out is how many people and slices you'll be serving. For example, if you are doing a seated dinner with a dessert course and the wedding cake is the dessert you will be serving, you will need a slice for every single guest. However, if you are doing a whole dessert station or family-style desserts, you'll need less cake since everyone won't grab a slice. With that in mind, the more cake you need, the higher your final bill will be.

To help you figure out the right cake size for your big day, here's a sizing breakdown for both round and square cakes.

Round Wedding Cake With Five Tiers and Sugar Flowers — Photo by Samuel Lippke Studios

Round Wedding Cake Sizing

Round 6-inch cake: 12 servings
Round 8-inch cake: 24 servings
Round 10-inch cake: 38 servings
Round 12-inch cake: 56 servings
Round 14-inch cake: 78 servings
Round 16-inch cake: 100 servings

Square 3-Tier Wedding Cake with Upside Down Roses — Photo by For the Love of It

Square Wedding Cake Sizing

Square 6-inch cake: 18 servings
Square 8-inch cake: 32 servings
Square 10-inch cake: 50 servings
Square 12-inch cake: 72 servings
Square 14-inch cake: 98 servings
Square 16-inch cake: 128 servings

5 Ways to Save Money on Your Wedding Cake

If the dollar signs on wedding cakes are threatening your budget and you're looking to cut costs, here are five ways to save money on your special confection.

Only Provide Half Servings

An easy way to save some cash is to offer half-servings, meaning smaller cake slices. For example, if you are trying to serve 200 guests, you only need a cake that serves 100 people. The reality is that most people only eat a bite or two, if that!

Have a "Display" Cake

A display, or "dummy" cake, is an entirely fake confection used for photos and cutting purposes. If you choose to take this route, a separate sheet cake will be served to your guests, which can help you save hundreds of dollars. (For comparison, sheet cake slices from The Solvang Bakery are around $2.75 per person—though these days, a wedding sheet cake could run you the same price as round, tiered confection, since they're an up-and-coming trend.)

Choose Buttercream

On the frosting front, opt for something that’s more affordable like buttercream instead of fondant, since fondant is a more expensive option. It could save you multiple dollars per slice.

Simplify the Design

Instead of that multi-tier, sculptural cake with gold foil that you had in mind, opt for a one- to two-tier cake with a simple design and basic flavors, like chocolate or vanilla instead of Earl Grey with orange Chantilly cream.

DIY the Cake

If your venue or caterer allows it, provide your own wedding cake. Either bake the confection on your own, if you feel up to the challenge, or have a friend who is a talented baker create it for you. You could also consider ordering a basic cake from your favorite bakery (or even from the grocery store, like Sam's Club or Publix) and topping it with some fresh flowers. Keep in mind, however, that making your own confection could add a level of stress you might not need on your big day, so it might not be worth the dollars saved.