Quick answer
- The method: most cake makers set a price per serving and multiply. At $7 a serving, a cake for 20 is $140.1
- US: a single-tier custom cake for 6-20 guests runs about $95-$175 in Los Angeles, and $195-$350 for two tiers.3 Fondant costs more: one bakery lists a 6-inch round at $60 in buttercream and $95 in fondant.2
- Canada: custom cakes in Toronto cost about $80-$600+ CAD, with single-tier designs mostly $100-$500.6 One Canadian bakery lists a 12-inch cake for 50-60 at $295.7
Price per serving: the method most bakers use
Pricing by the serving keeps your prices consistent across sizes. Work out your price per serving once - covering ingredients, boxes and boards, your time and a profit - then multiply by the servings the client needs. Sugar & Sparrow's example: at $7.00 a serving, a 3-layer 6-inch cake that serves 20 should be $140.1
To find your number, cost out one standard cake properly. One Canadian pricing guide works an illustrative example to a $247.50 starting price for a cake serving 30 - $8.25 a serving.5 Then add on for anything that takes more time: fondant, sculpting, sugar flowers, tiers. And check what bakers near you charge - as one baker puts it, know your market.4
Cake prices by size
| Cake | US (USD) | Canada (CAD) |
|---|---|---|
| 6-inch round (about 6 servings) | $60 buttercream, $95 fondant2 | $65 at one home bakery8 |
| 8-inch round (about 12 servings) | $70 buttercream, $125 fondant2 | $858 |
| Single tier, 6-20 guests | $95-$175 (Los Angeles)3 | $100-$500 for Toronto single-tier designs6 |
| Two tiers | $195-$350 (Los Angeles)3 | - |
| 12-inch (about 50-60 servings) | - | $2957; $205 at one home bakery8 |
| Full slab (100-120 servings) | - | $5257 |
These are individual bakeries' prices, so treat them as reference points for your area rather than a price list.
How much to charge for a 12-inch cake
A 12-inch round serves roughly 40-60 people depending on the cut and height. At the $7 per serving example, 50 servings is $350; one Canadian bakery lists a 12-inch cake for 50-60 at $295 CAD, and another home baker at $205.178 The spread shows why your own per-serving price - not someone else's chart - should set the number.
Fondant, design and the extras
- Fondant takes longer than buttercream - one bakery charges $35-$55 more on small rounds.2
- Sculpted and 3D cakes can take hours of carving and structure; price them well above a standard cake.
- Sugar flowers, figurines and toppers are time-heavy - price them separately.
- Delivery and setup for tiered cakes is a job of its own, with real risk. Charge for it.
- Rush orders disrupt your schedule. A notice period, with a fee for anything inside it, protects your week.
Selling from home: check your local rules
Home bakers in the US work under state cottage food laws, which set what you can sell, where, and whether you need a permit or label - and they differ a lot from state to state. In Canada, home-based food businesses are regulated by provinces and local public health units, and some require an inspection or permit. Check before you take orders; it also helps to mention that you're licensed or inspected when you are.
Custom cake prices in Canada
- Toronto: $80-$600+, with single-tier designs mostly $100-$500.6
- Bakery price list: $245 for an 11-inch cake serving 40-45, $295 for a 12-inch serving 50-60, $385 for a half slab and $525 for a full slab.7
- Home bakery list: from $65 for a 6-inch cake to $205 for 12 inches.8
- Small cakes: some shops start handcrafted cakes at about $70.9
Quote in CAD before tax, and register for GST/HST once your taxable revenue passes $30,000 over four consecutive calendar quarters. Food products have their own GST/HST rules, so check how yours are classified.
Common questions
How much should I charge for a custom cake?
Set a price per serving that covers ingredients, packaging, time and profit, then multiply by servings - for example $7 a serving makes a cake for 20 cost $140. Add more for fondant, sculpting and decorations.
How much should I charge for a 12-inch cake?
It depends on your price per serving: a 12-inch round serves roughly 40-60. One Canadian bakery lists a 12-inch cake for 50-60 at $295 CAD.
How do I calculate cake pricing?
Cost out a standard cake - ingredients, boards, boxes and your hours at a fair rate - divide by its servings to get a price per serving, then apply it to every order with add-ons for extra work.
Do fondant cakes cost more?
Yes. One bakery charges $60 for a 6-inch buttercream round and $95 in fondant.
How much do custom cakes cost in Canada?
About $80-$600+ CAD in Toronto, with single-tier designs mostly $100-$500 and a 12-inch cake around $205-$295 at the bakeries we found.
Take cake orders with the details you need
On 1MinuteBooking, customers book a tasting or order a cake by serving count, choose finishes, give their event date and pick pickup or delivery - with a notice window you control. Free plan, no time limit.
See the cake decorating booking pageSources
- Sugar & Sparrow, How to Price a Cake (a Guide for Home Bakers)
- Creative Cakes (DC, MD, VA), Pricing | DC, MD, VA (one bakery's starting prices)
- Sweet Angeles (Los Angeles), Custom Cake Cost in Los Angeles: Real 2026 Prices
- Lizzie's Bakery, How to Price Your Cakes (or Anything in General)
- BakersPro (Canada), How Much to Charge for a Cake: Pricing Guide - BakersPro
- Vava Designer Cakes (Toronto), How much does a custom cake cost in Toronto?
- Cakestar (Canada), Cake Price Guide | CAKESTAR (one bakery's price guide)
- Nidha's Treat (Canada), Pricing & Flavour of Custom Cakes and Cupcakes (one home bakery's prices)
- Crave Cupcakes (Canada), Cakes – Crave Cupcakes
Prices are what these sources published as of September-October 2026. Rates vary by city, season and the job itself - use them as a starting point, not a rule.