US recipes give the inside top dimensions of the pan: a 9 × 5 loaf, an 8 × 8 square, a 13 × 9 rectangle or a 9-inch round. When you swap pans, match the volume, keep the batter at the same depth, and adjust the time.
Standard US pan sizes and volumes
| Pan | Typical volume |
|---|---|
| 8 × 4 in loaf | About 6 cups |
| 9 × 5 in loaf | About 8 cups |
| 8 × 8 in square | About 8 cups |
| 9 × 9 in square | About 10 cups |
| 13 × 9 in rectangle | About 14–15 cups |
| 8 in round, 2 in deep | About 6 cups |
| 9 in round, 2 in deep | About 8 cups |
| 10 in Bundt | About 10–12 cups |
| 12-cup muffin pan | About ½ cup per cup |
Volumes vary by maker — sloped sides and rounded corners hold less.
How to measure a pan
Inside, across the top, edge to edge — not the rim, not the bottom. Then the depth. For volume, fill it with water one cup at a time.
Swapping one pan for another
- Two 9-in rounds ≈ one 13 × 9.
- An 8 × 8 square ≈ a 9-in round.
- A 9 × 5 loaf ≈ an 8 × 8 square for quick breads and brownies.
- Keep the depth the same: a deeper layer needs about 25 °F less and more time; a shallower one bakes faster — check early. See how do I know when a cake is done.
- Fill pans two-thirds full for cakes and quick breads.
Pans on this site, by size
9 × 5 in loaf: GoodCook nonstick, Sur La Table PFAS-free, KitchenAid aluminized steel. 8 × 4 in loaf: GoodCook pair. 8 × 8 in square: GoodCook MegaGrip. 13 × 9 in: GoodCook bake and roast pan. A full set — 9 × 5 loaf, two 9-in rounds, 13 × 9 and muffin pan: the Amazon Basics 6-piece set. See the baking tins and molds page.
And in a toaster oven
Check that the pan fits with an inch of air around it — a 4-slice toaster oven that takes a 9-in pizza fits an 8-in round or a loaf pan, not a 13 × 9. See can I bake bread in a toaster oven and measure before you buy.
What readers want to know
How do I measure a baking pan?
Across the top, inside edge to inside edge, not including the rim; then the depth, inside, from the bottom to the top edge. For volume, fill it with water one cup at a time — the most reliable way to compare two pans.
Can I use a different size pan than the recipe says?
Yes, if the volume is close. Two 9-inch rounds hold about the same as one 13 × 9; an 8 × 8 square is close to a 9-inch round. Keep the batter at about the same depth. A deeper layer needs a lower temperature — about 25 °F — and a longer bake; a shallower one bakes faster.
What is the difference between a 9 × 5 and an 8 × 4 loaf pan?
About two cups of volume. A 9 × 5 holds about 8 cups, an 8 × 4 about 6. A quick bread recipe for a 9 × 5 overflows an 8 × 4 unless you hold back some batter for a few muffins; a yeast loaf for an 8 × 4 rises taller and rounder.
Last reviewed 18 October 2026