How Many Quarts in a 9×13 Pan?

How many quarts in a 9×13 pan is important to know when the recipe only gives volumes in cups. If it is a 9″ by 13″ pan and has sides 2″ inches high, then it contains a volume of 3 quarts or 12 cups. Read on for more info…

Measuring Baking Pans

I tell you I wish we all used a standard measurement when it comes to baking recipe volumes, it would make life so much easier. Wouldn’t you agree? Quarts, cups, fluid ounces, cubic inches, etc. It’s too much!

It can be very confusing if you have a 9×13 pan but your recipe uses quarts in the directions.

A 9×13 inch pan is the most common size when making a casserole or baking a cake. It safely holds 10 cups of batter without spilling over.

It’s the right size for potlucks, family dinners, and just tossing something together for baking.

So, let’s talk about the volume of the pan…

Baking Pan Sizes

In regards to size, consider round pans versus square pans, surface area for baking and serving, and the depth of the pan.

A baking pan that can hold 9 cups of food will have different baking time if its square vs rectangle, shallow vs deep.

If it has less surface area like a loaf pan, it may be deeper and take longer to cook the middle. This means a lower oven temperature to keep it from drying out.

A larger pan might be more shallow so you can reduce the cooking time and increase baking temperature.

Different pans can give you slightly different results depending on shape and size of the pan. I have some decorative 9×13 rectangular pans that are angled on the sides. This means the amount of batter the pan hold is a little bit off.

Not a big deal when you are making a sheet cake but if you are making a recipe where the contents expand, it might mean spill over.

Think about when you fill your muffin pans with slightly more muffin mix. You get overflow. Luckily there is a lip on those.

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What is the difference between a bundt pan and regular pans?

A bundt pan, similar to a tube pan, is a cake pan that has a hole in the center which helps cook the center of a cake. Much like a 10-inch tube pan, they can also be decorative on the outside.

You won’t normally use a bundt pan for casseroles because they are deep and there is no need for the fluted appearance when you cook a casserole.

Unless it’s this amazing recipe for a breakfast bundt cake 😉

Is a loaf pan the same as a casserole dish?

Loaf pans, like you might use for baking banana bread, offers narrower width but about the same depth as a casserole dish. A loaf pan is typically 4 1/2″ wide, whereas casserole dishes are usually 8″ to 9″ inches wide.

But they are much deeper so they hold more than they look.

What size pan holds 2 quarts?

The most common size and shape pans that hold 2 quarts are an 8×8 square pan, a 9-inch pan like a round pan for cakes.

But a 2-quart casserole also comes in an 11×7 size.

How many quarts of volume in different pan measurements and sizes?

• 1 quart dish (8x4x3 loaf pan) rectangle
• 2-quart baking dish (8×8) square
• 2½ quart dish (9×9) square
• 3 quart dish (12x9x2) rectangle
• 4 quart dish (12x10x2) oblong
• 5 quart dish (11x15x2) oblong

Tips for Baking Dishes

• A 9 x 13-inch pan has 117 square inches of surface area and holds 12 cups. Best for a casserole or hot dish.
• A glass pan is best for baking so you can see if the food on the bottom of the pan is cooked.
• Tempered pyrex® glass is best for baking in the oven, but I also love an enameled coated cast iron baking dish. 
• If you are unsure about the size, measure the total volume of your casserole mixture. I like to use a mixing bowl or pitcher with measurement markings on the side.
• Measure the volume of your dish with water. Take a small measuring cup and use it to add water to your empty pan. Make note of the total amount of cups it takes. Then pour out the water and use as directed.
• A trick I learned from my grandma is to write the volume in cups on the bottoms of my baking pans. This includes my casserole dishes. That way I will always know how much they hold and if I can use them for my recipe.

Now that you know it will fit, how many servings can you get from a 9×13 pan?

My Favorite Baking Dishes

• 9×9 square dish
• 3 quart casserole dish
• 4 quart baking dish
• square cake pans
• round cake pans
• springform pan
• jelly roll pan
• glass pie plates

If you love this recipe as much as I do, pin this to your favorite casserole Pinterest board and share it on your favorite social media channels!

​Now you know how quarts fits into your 9×13 pan, let’s get cooking!

Craving More Casseroles?

• Simple and Easy Ground Beef Casserole
• Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Casserole
• Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole
• John Wayne Casserole

{Originally published 05/30/22 – post updated 08/09/23 to improve reader experience}

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