How Are Pizza Sizes Measured?

Pizza is inarguably one of the most popular fast food items in not just the western part of the world but the entire globe. Everyone enjoys a nice slice of pie after a long day of work be it from a fancy restaurant or just from Pizza Hut. Baking a pizza by yourself is also a very enjoyable activity with delicious results.

But the pizza sizes can sometimes be a little confusing. You might not understand the proportions and the sizes when you order pizza at a restaurant. The regular size or extra-large size do not make much sense to you and the measurements in inches do not always make sense either.

This article is for explaining how pizza sizes are measured, what the sizes actually mean, their dimensions, the slices, and everything related to the pizza measurements so that you can easily order pizza with understanding all of the factors wherever you go. Next time you order a pizza, you will be sure as day about what size of pizza you want and what you can expect to get.

How Are Pizza Sizes Measured?

Pizza sizes are measured by the diameter. The diameter of the circle is the measurement of the line between any two points on the circle that intersects the center of the circle. Although finding the exact center of a pizza is not always feasible as the shape is not always perfectly circular, the measurement is always of the diameter of the pizza.

This means that if you are served a 12-inch pizza, the diameter of the pizza from crust to crust is 12 inches long. The measurement is always given in diameter because the diameter is easy to measure and understand by anyone. Although the sizes are most of the time approximates since the cooks do not measure the pizzas exactly.

The measurement is also taken after the pizza is baked but baking the pie does not change the diameter of the pizza by such a large margin that it becomes a problem. Generally, the pizza might expand or shrink by half an inch when it gets baked.

Pizza sizes are usually measured in inches because it is easier for most people to understand. Centimeters and meters are in SI format which is standard in all the countries except the USA and Myanmar but most countries will not use centimeters or meters to measure the pizza. They will use inches because people usually understand inches and feet better when it comes to small measurements.

What Size Is a Personal Pizza?

A personal pizza is the smallest size for a pizza. This size of pizza is usually about 7 to 8 inches in diameter. Italian pizzas might be a bit larger in size because they mostly serve pizza for one person and not for other people to share. A personal pizza has roughly 38.5 square inches of pizza.

What Size Is a Small Pizza?

Small pizzas are usually 8 to 10 inches in diameter. Two people can share this type of pizza if neither has a big appetite. There are roughly 50-78.5 square inches of pizza in a small pizza. The sizes can vary from place to place but generally, the size does not exceed 10 inches. Small pizzas are usually cut into 4-6 slices.

What Size Is a Medium Pizza?

A medium pizza usually has a diameter of 12 inches. This is the most common type of pizza size and it is enough for 3-4 people to share. Medium pizzas contain about 113 square inches of pizza. Medium-sized pizzas are usually cut into 6-8 slices.

What Size Is a Large Pizza?

Pizzas above 12 inches are usually considered a large pizza. 14 inches is the most common type of large pizza and it contains about 153.9 square inches of pizza. Large pizzas are cut into 8-10 slices. These pizzas are big enough for 4-5 people to share.

What Size Is an Extra-Large Pizza?

Extra-large size pizzas are a bit rare to find and the diameter of these pizzas ranges from 16 to 18 inches. These colossal pizzas have 200-250 square inches of pizza in them and are good enough for 6-8 people to share. It can be sliced into up to 12 slices.

How Many Slices Does a Pizza Have?

The slices of a pizza depend on the size of the pizza. Typically, a personal pizza has 4-6 slices, a small pizza has 6-8 slices, a medium pizza has 8-10 slices, a large pizza has 10-12 slices, and an extra large pizza has 12 slices. The number of slices also varies from restaurant to restaurant and customer demand because you can ask the restaurant to slice your pizzas into any number of slices you wish. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What Size Is a Small, Medium, and Large Pizza?

A small pizza is about 8-10 inches in diameter, a medium pizza is 12 inches in diameter, and a large pizza is 14 inches in diameter.

Are There Any Regional Variations in Pizza Sizing?

There are usually not many regional variations in pizza sizing. The sizes that I have discussed here are standard at most places.

Do Pizza Places Measure Before or After Baking?

Most pizza places measure the pizza after they are done baking the pie.

Does the Thickness of the Crust Affect the Pizza Size?

No, the thickness of the crust does not affect the pizza size.

Does the Number of Slices Affect the Size?

No, the number of slices does not affect the size of the pizza because the pizza as a whole remains the same size no matter how many slices you cut from the pizza.

Conclusion

Pizza sizes can be a bit confusing to understand if you are not familiar with all the measurements. But now you can order pizza at any pizza place without any confusion and doubts. Understanding the pizza sizes will help you make the estimation based on how many friends you have with you so that there are no leftovers and no one has to keep their appetite unfulfilled.