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 approximately 3 quarts or 12 cups.
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?
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.
The most important things about baking pans are size and material.
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 cook differently if its square vs rectangle, shallow vs deep.
If it has less surface area like a square 8-inch 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.
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read my disclosure policy here.
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.
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. You don’t use a bundt pan for casseroles because they are deep and there is no need for the fluted appearance when you cook a casserole.
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.
Square pans vs rectangle casserole dishes
Depending on how many quarts your recipe makes, pan size definitely matters. You might prefer the slightly larger 9×13 casserole to the 8×8 (2-quart casserole) square pan. However, the longer rectangle shape also offers more surface area to cook on.
This means the longer and wider the pan is, the quicker the casserole will cook. The baking time might need to be adjusted. You will need to keep an eye on it so it doesn’t over cook.
How many inches deep is a baking dish?
Baking dish pans for casseroles typically have depths of 2-1/2 inches. So 8×8 pans can hold about two quarts of volume, with just a bit of room left at the top for ingredients to expand during baking.
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
Specific Pan Details:
- 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.
- 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.
- If you are unsure about the size, measure the total volume of your casserole mixture. Then measure the volume of your dish with water. You can pour it out and know that it’s the right size.
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!
To learn more about cups and quarts conversions check out these conversion articles.
Craving More Casseroles?
- Simple and Easy Ground Beef Casserole
- Cheesy Baked Spaghetti Casserole
- Chicken Tetrazzini Casserole
- John Wayne Casserole
BestCasseroleRecipes.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encourages and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.
