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Pizza Sizes: How Many People Does Each Size Feed?

Pizza comes in many different shapes and sizes. Typically, 16-inch pizzas are big enough to feed a small group of people – about four.

While 16-inch pizzas are common, you’ll also find 10-inch, 12-inch, 14-inch, and even 18-inch pizzas. Depending on the size of the pizza it might feed a big party or an average number of guests. Keeping this in mind, it’s hard to know how much pizza you need to make.

The good news is that we’re here to help. We’ll answer all of your pizza party questions and help you determine how many people a 16-inch pizza will feed.

You can get some additional ideas by reading our article on making pizzas for a large group.

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How Many People Does a Pizza Feed?

Pizza comes in several different sizes. The common breakdown for pizza sizes is inches, like a 12-inch pizza, for example. However, it’s also important to consider things like people’s appetites. See the chart below for pizza sizes and how many people they feed.

How Many People Do 18-20 Inch Pizzas Feed?

Known as extra-extra-large, 18 to 20-inch pizzas feed a lot of people. 20-inch pizzas are massive and come with 12 or more slices. It’s enough for a pizza party, a child’s birthday party, and any other pizza party.

On the other hand, an 18-inch pizza is a little smaller. They’re still extra-extra large slices of pizza but with a smaller diameter. 18-inch pizzas feed up to ten children or about seven or eight adults. They come with 10-12 slices.

Depending on where you order pizza from, you might have to make a special request to get an 18 or 20-inch pizza.

How Many People Does a 16-Inch Pizza Feed? 

16-inch pizzas feed between four and six people. These extra-large pizzas also come with up to 8-10 slices of pizza. 16-inch pizzas may also feed even more people if everyone is limited to one slice.

16-inch pizzas are perfect for big parties, birthday parties, and children’s parties. These extra-large pizzas are available at most pizza chains or you can make them at home.

How Many People Does a 14-Inch Pizza Feed?

14-inch pizzas feed between three and five people. While it’s enough for a child’s birthday party, it’s often not enough for an adult pizza night. 14-inch pizzas are often cut into 8 slices.

That said, 14-inch pizzas aren’t always easy to find. These are typically homemade pizzas or done by local pizzerias. Luckily, there is a large Pizza Hut pizza that comes in 14 inches if that’s what you need.

How Many People Does a 12-Inch Pizza Feed?

12-inch pizzas are medium size pizzas. Most pizzas from pizza chains are 12 inches and many small pizzerias make 12-inch pizzas. On average, 12-inch pizzas feed between two and four people.

12-inch-pizzas

Depending on how it’s made, 12-inch pizzas will have between six and eight slices. People who have big appetites will reduce how many people a 12-inch pizza feeds.

12-inch pizzas also vary based on the type of pizza. For example, many personal pan pizzas are 12 inches in diameter. However, they’re cooked for one person or two people at most.

Overall, 12-inch pizza pies are some of the most versatile options around.

How Many People Does a 10-Inch Pizza Feed?

10-inch pizzas, or small pizzas, don’t feed a big number of people. In most cases, 10-inch pizzas are personal pizzas. However, some 10-inch pizzas will feed two people if they have small appetites.

10-inch pizzas come with around six slices. The 10-inch size is common among frozen pizza brands like DiGiorno. Many small pizzas from pizza chains like Domino’s and Little Caesars are 10 inches.

How Many People Does an 8-Inch Pizza Feed?

8-inch pizzas are small pizzas. While not uncommon, they’re harder to find at pizza chains and pizzerias. 8-inch pizzas are most commonly found at Pizza Hut.

8-inch pizzas are broken down into about four slices. 8-inch pizzas are meant for one person but two people with small appetites will fill up on it.

Final Pizza Serving Size Notes

Of course there are many different factors on how much pizza is needed. You’ll need to consider all of them when determining how much you’ll need:

  • Those with a bigger appetite will eat more. Those with a smaller appetite or children and toddlers will eat less.
  • A thick crust will feed more people than a thin crust pizza as the crust will be more filling.
  • Pizzas with lots of toppings will also be more filling.
  • If you serve sides or appetizers to go with the pizza, that will, of course, mean that your guests will eat less pizza. If you’d like ideas on what you can serve with your pizzas, check out our articles on Best Appetizers & Sides for Your Pizza Party and Delicious Ideas for Healthy Sides.

The below chart is an average of how many people a pizza will feed to give you a basis in your calculations:

SizeDiameter# of SlicesFeeds
X-Small8 inches41 person
Small10 inches61-2 people
Medium12 inches6-82-4 people
Large14 inches83-5 people
X-Large16 inches8-104-6 people
XX-Large18 inches10-126-8 people
XX-Large20 inches128-10 people

How Many People Does a Pizza Chain Pizza Feed?

Local pizzerias vary but pizza chains like Domino’s and Pizza Hut have guidelines for pizza sizes. Knowing how much small, medium, and large size pies from pizza chains feed makes big parties a breeze. We cover a few popular pizza chains below.

Domino’s Pizza 

Domino’s has a few different sizes for its pizzas. You’ll find a small, medium, and large pizza pies.

Small pizzas from Domino’s are 10 inches and feed between one and three people. Medium pizza pies from Domino’s have 12-inch diameters and feed between two and four people. Large pizzas from Domino’s are 14 inches and feed between three and five people.

Domino’s is also unique and carries an extra-large Brooklyn Style Crust pizza. An extra-large pizza at Domino’s is 16 inches in diameter and feeds up to seven or eight people.

Pizza Hut

Pizza Hut it’s one of the most popular pizza providers. Like Domino’s, Pizza Hut has several size options. There are personal pizzas for one person and large pies for the average family gathering.

Pizza Hut is different from chains like Costco and Domino’s. The small pizza is only meant for one person. Small pizzas from Pizza Hut are 8-inch personal pan pizzas that come with about four or five slices.

Pizza Hut does have medium pizzas (12 inches in diameter) and they feed about two to four people. A large Pizza Hut pizza is 14 inches in diameter and feeds more than five people.

Costco Pizza  

Costco doesn’t have many size options for pizza. Therefore, most Costco pizzas are between 16 and 18 inches. Costco doesn’t offer a small pizza but it’s possible to ask for smaller slices to be cut.

The average Costco pizza comes with six slices and feeds between three and six people.

How to Determine How Much Pizza to Make or Order 

Figuring out how much pizza to make or order is never easy. Thankfully, we have some pizza math to make the process a breeze. We’ve even included a pizza calculator you can use for more specific estimates.

And if that isn’t enough, we’ve also listed other things to consider that will affect how much pizza you’ll need to order.

Pizza Math

Pizza math is easier than most people think. The best way to measure how much pizza to order is to do multiplication and division. All you need to get started is the number of slices a pizza has and the number of guests you have coming.

To do the math, multiply the number of guests attending your pizza party by three. Then, divide that number by the number of slices that will come in your pizza. We use three because the average hungry guest will consume three slices of pizza.

An example of this equation is (20×3)÷8=7.5. 20 represents guests, 3 is how much pizza guests eat, and 8 is how many slices come in a pie. In this case, you would order 8 pizzas as you should always round up.

Doing a little pizza math goes a long way and may save you money at your next pizza party.

You can also use our below pizza calculator to more easily calculate how many pizzas you need to order for your party under typical circumstances.

Consider the Crust

Thick and thin crusts are not the same. A thin crust isn’t as dense or doughy as a thick crust, which makes it less filling. For this reason, the thin crust doesn’t feed as many people as the thick crust.

Examples of thick-crust pizza include personal pan pizza, some square-cut pizzas, and Chicago-style deep-dish pizza. It’s also important to note that round pizzas often have thinner crusts than square-cut pizzas on average.

The Type of Pizza 

Different types of pizza influence how many pies you’ll need for a family gathering or children’s party. Common types of pizza include round pizzas, deep-dish pizzas, and pan pizzas.

Round pizzas have a thin crust and feed fewer people than most square-cut pizzas. Even with a larger diameter, the thin crust makes regular pizzas less filling.

On the other side, you have deep-dish pizza and pan pizzas – often as personal pan pizzas. Deep-dish pizzas have a thick crust and the average adult will only have two slices. The thicker crust might result in additional charges but it’s more cost-effective than buying multiple pizzas. 

Have an Appetizer 

Pizza with appetizers

Saving extra slices of pizza is one of the best parts of hosting a pizza party. Sure, you’ll have to make or order the pizza, but at least you get the leftovers. To save money and pizza, we recommend cooking appetizers.

Appetizers can be anything, especially if you’re using a wood-fired oven to make pizza. You can make chicken wings, flatbreads with any combination of toppings, and even meat dishes. Appetizers will prevent hungry guests from overeating pizza.

Check out our articles on Best Appetizers & Sides for Your Pizza Party and Delicious Ideas for Healthy Sides. There you can find lists of appetizers that can help keep your guests from going hungry.

Tips for Your Next Pizza Party 

Pizza parties aren’t always easy. From picking soft drinks to your favorite toppings, there are many decisions to make. You also have to consider the number of guests.

Fortunately, there’s no need to panic. We’ll show you the best way to feed your hungry guests. Our tips range from keeping the pizza fresh to making self-service a breeze.

Have a Plan

The most important part of doing pizza night right is having a plan. When you want to cook or order a pizza, you need to know what you’re getting. Before you make a pizza, always have the pizza dough ready and get your tools handy.

Good pizza tools to have for a pizza party include a pizza stone, a pizza scraper, and a wood-fired oven. Gas-powered ovens are also fine for making pizza and some 8-inch pizzas fit in air fryers.

On the other hand, the preparation for ordering a pizza is different. 

Before you call or go online, look into the sizes of each pizza. Many pizzerias offer small, medium, and large pies. These are great indicators but you need to know the diameter of the pie or its square inches to know how many people it will feed.

Keeping Pizza Warm 

Pizza parties aren’t always a quick thing, especially birthday parties or family gatherings. For events that last longer than an hour or two, you’ll want to keep the pizza warm. While cold pizza can be tasty, save that for the leftovers.

There are a few things you can do to keep pizza warm. First and foremost, place the pizza box in the oven if you got takeout. Pizza boxes won’t catch fire until 400°F. Therefore, it’s possible to place them in the oven at low temperatures like 150°F.

If you don’t have a pizza box or make homemade pizza, wrap each slice in aluminum foil. An average cheese pizza will stay warm for about an hour or two when wrapped this way.

Self-Serve Made Easy and Clean 

Self-serve is another great way to up your pizza night game. Whether you’re ordering a large Pizza Hut pizza or making your own square-cut pie, setting up a pizza bar will help. 

Place pizza in boxes or wrap the pizza in aluminum foil and place it on a cart. You can also use a kitchen table or a countertop. Then, keep a spatula (rubber if it’s a children’s party) and a pizza scraper nearby.

When you want to go the extra mile it never hurts to cut the pizza into slices before serving it. There’s a good chance you’ll have some extra slices if you do it this way.

It’s also a good idea to leave out a bunch of different toppings. This way your guests can make their choice of their favorite combination of toppings.

Cleanup 

For cleanup, leave a garbage bag near the pizza bar and have your guests throw out plates there. Use paper plates and paper utensils to avoid cleaning dishes. If people eat pizza with a fork and a knife, make sure you have plastic utensils.

It’s okay to use regular tableware if you prefer but using plastic and paper makes cleanup a breeze. Additionally, keep several rags around to clean up any grease from pizza that gets on counters or pizza bars.

Toppings

Regular pizza is delicious but doesn’t be afraid to get creative. When you’re concerned about how many people a 16-inch pizza will feed we recommend adding a few toppings. Even converting a regular pizza into a pepperoni pizza will reduce how many slices people eat.

When you’re feeding large groups we recommend popular toppings like Canadian bacon, Italian sausage, extra cheese, and black olives. It’s also good to take your pizza’s cheese to the next level.

If you want ideas on topping combinations, check out our article on Topping Ideas for a Pizza Party. It even comes with a free printable.

Plain cheese pizzas are good but getting creative makes a tastier pizza that lasts longer. Feel free to add parmesan cheese, feta cheese, or even goat cheese. Adding cheese to a pizza is an excellent choice because it adds flavor and fills people up faster.

Make Your Next Pizza Night One to Remember 

Whether you’re having a pizza night or a pizza party, knowing how much pizza you need is essential. It gives you an estimation of how much money you’ll have to spend or for how long it will take to make. Plus, having too little pizza for everyone will ruin a pizza party immediately.

It’s not always easy to plan pizza night but knowing how big or small a pizza pie is helps. All that said, 16-inch pizzas are perfect for most pizza nights.

What makes a 16-inch pizza perfect is its size and the number of slices it comes with. 10 slices of pizza is a lot, even for adults. Plus, you can cut them into halves for children’s parties.

Lastly, always remember the hunger levels of your guests and account for the number of people you’re serving.

Need more ideas for your pizza party? Check out some of our other articles: