When you need to swap a pan, what matters is volume — matching the capacity keeps batter depth and bake time about the same. This chart lists the volume of common baking pans.
| Pan | Approx volume |
|---|---|
| 8-inch round | 4 cups |
| 9-inch round | 6 cups |
| 8 x 8 square | 8 cups |
| 9 x 9 square | 10 cups |
| 9 x 13 rectangle | 14 cups |
| 8 x 4 loaf | 6 cups |
| 9 x 5 loaf | 8 cups |
| 9-inch springform | 10 cups |
| 10-inch bundt | 12 cups |
| 12-cup muffin tin | about 6 cups |
Match the volume when substituting. Two 8-inch rounds hold about the same as one 9 x 13. If the new pan is deeper, expect a longer bake; if shallower, check earlier.
FAQ
Can I substitute pan sizes without changing bake time? Not reliably. A different pan size changes batter depth, which affects how quickly heat penetrates to the center, so switching pan sizes usually requires adjusting bake time and sometimes oven temperature to avoid an underbaked center or overbaked edges.
Convert pan sizes with the Cake Pan and Loaf Pan converters in the cooking calculators.