The most common baking dishes are the 8 x 8-inch square, the 9 x 9-inch square, the 11 x 7-inch rectangle and the 13 x 9-inch rectangle, holding roughly 8, 10, 10 and 14 cups. Use the chart below to match a recipe to the dish you own and to see what each size holds.
Baking Dish Sizes Chart
| Dish | Size in inches | Approximate volume | Size in centimeters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small square | 8 x 8 x 2 | 8 cups | 20 x 20 x 5 |
| Large square | 9 x 9 x 2 | 10 cups | 23 x 23 x 5 |
| Extra-large square | 10 x 10 x 2 | 12 cups | 25 x 25 x 5 |
| Small rectangle | 11 x 7 x 2 | 10 cups | 28 x 18 x 5 |
| Standard rectangle | 13 x 9 x 2 | 14 cups | 33 x 23 x 5 |
| Shallow square | 8 x 8 x 1 1/2 | 6 cups | 20 x 20 x 4 |
| Shallow large square | 9 x 9 x 1 1/2 | 8 cups | 23 x 23 x 4 |
Volumes are approximate and measured to the brim. Always measure inside edge to inside edge, and measure depth with a ruler standing straight up from the bottom.
Which Dish for Which Recipe
- 8×8: brownies, small cakes, cornbread, side-dish casseroles for a small household.
- 9×9: a slightly larger batch of the same, and many bar recipes.
- 11×7: small casseroles and half-batch crowd recipes.
- 13×9: sheet-style cakes, lasagna, large casseroles and cobblers.
Glass, Ceramic and Metal
Glass and ceramic dishes hold heat longer and brown edges more than shiny metal pans. If a recipe was tested in metal and you use glass, many bakers lower the oven temperature by 25°F. If a dish is glass, avoid sudden temperature changes, such as moving it from the freezer into a hot oven.
Swapping One Dish for Another
The best swap keeps the same floor area so batter depth stays the same, and the recipe’s baking time and temperature do not need changing. An 8 x 8-inch square is 64 square inches, almost the same as a 9-inch round at 63.5.
When the new dish makes the batter shallower, the bake is shorter and drier. When it is deeper, bake longer at a slightly lower temperature. To convert quantity, divide the volume of the dish you want to use by the volume of the dish in the recipe.
How to Measure a Dish
Pour in water by the cupful until the dish is full to the brim. That total is its capacity. Fill to about two-thirds for cakes and quick breads that rise, and to within an inch of the rim for casseroles.
Quick Answers
What size is a standard baking dish? Most recipes mean 13 x 9 inches.
How many cups does a 9×13 hold? About 14 cups.
Can I use a bigger dish? Yes, but the food will be shallower and cook faster.
Related
- 9×9 vs 8×8 Pan Size Comparison: Area, Volume and Baking Time
- Bundt Pan to 9×13 Conversion: Batter, Times and Tips
- Muffin Pan Sizes Chart: Mini, Standard and Jumbo Cups