How Much Do Wedding Cakes Cost?

In recent years, some couples are choosing to forego a traditional wedding cake in favor of unique alternatives, but most weddings in the U.S. still include the tradition of a wedding cake. The cake, after all, is one of the most time-honored wedding traditions in existence, alongside the wedding dress, the ceremony, and the bridal party. That being said, figuring out which cake is right for you and your budget is no easy task when there are many factors that impact wedding cake pricing.

“Cake price is determined by the intricacy of the finished design [and] the complexity of cake flavor," says Melissa Redell of The Solvang Bakery in Solvang, California, "and, of course, how many tiers (the more tiers the harder to transport and the more to decorate) and hand delivery to the venue.”

Here, read the full scoop on all of the elements that play into cake pricing to help you figure out exactly what type of wedding cake is right for your special day.

How Much Does the Average Wedding Cake Cost?

The average U.S. wedding cake costs around $350, according to Thumbtack, an online service that matches customers with local professionals. On the lower end, couples spend around $125 and on the higher end, they typically spend upward of $700—even over $1,000!—on their wedding cake. 

Cake Pricing Factors

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

• Time
• Ingredients (Exotic 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
• Customization
• Add-ons such as cake stands/toppers (You can buy or rent these!)

How to Estimate Costs

To estimate wedding cake costs, the first thing you need to figure out is how many people and slices you'll be serving. 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. (This will drive your cake cost up because the size will inevitably increase.) However, if you are doing a whole dessert station or family-style desserts, it’s safe to say that not every guest will have a slice so you are going to need less cake.

It’s 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., according to Bake My Day Baking in Dallas, but they often get closer to $12 per size 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. Think crazy, elaborate shapes, custom sugar flower detailing, fondant frosting—all of these are going to drive up the price because 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.

How to Estimate the Right Cake Size

To help you figure out the right size of cake for your big day, Thumbtack shared this helpful serving size breakdown for a classic round-tiered cake, below.

• 5-inch round: 8 servings
• 6-inch round: 12 servings
• 7-inch round: 16 servings
• 8-inch round: 24 servings
• 9-inch round: 32 servings
• 10-inch round: 38 servings
• 11-inch round: 47 servings
• 12-inch round: 56 servings
• 13-inch round: 67 servings
• 14-inch round: 78 servings
• 15-inch round: 89 servings 

What’s Included and What’s Additional

You should work directly with your wedding planner and cake designer to find out exactly what’s included in your cake price because it varies by cake designer. In general, the price will include the below.

• A design consultation
• A cake tasting
• The actual cake
• Delivery
• Setup

Things that might not be included in the estimate you receive are items like a cake stand or display, cutting utensils, cake toppers, or an extra top tier (to save and eat on your one-year anniversary). Ask your venue/caterer if they are able to provide the cake stand and cutting utensils to potentially help cut down on costs.

Five Ways to Cut Wedding Cake Costs

If the dollar signs on wedding cakes are threatening your budget and you are looking for ways to cut costs, there are plenty of ways to do so in the cake department.

1. Serve Half Servings: An easy fix is to serve 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!
2. Have a "Display" Cake: This is an entirely fake cake used for photos and “cutting” and then a separate sheet cake will be served to your guests (For comparison, sheet cake slices from The Solvang Bakery, for example, are around $2.75 per person.)
3. Choose Buttercream: On the frosting front, opt for something that’s more affordable like buttercream instead of fondant, which is a more expensive frosting option. It could save you multiple dollars per slice.
4. Simplify the Design: Instead of that multi-tier, sculptural cake with gold foil all over it that you had in mind, go for one or two tiers, and more basic flavors like chocolate or vanilla instead of the earl grey with orange cream cheese.
5. DIY the Cake: If your venue/caterer allows it, bake it yourself! Either actually bake the cake 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 and topping it with some fresh flowers. Keep in mind that DIY-ing your own wedding cake could add a level of stress you might not need on your big day and it might not be worth the dollars saved.

Most importantly, know that you don’t have to spend a fortune to have a delicious, gorgeous wedding cake. You can have your beautiful wedding cake and eat it too.