How to Cut a Pizza Into Slices [Complete Guide]

It may seem trivial, however there’s more to cut a pizza into slices than just hitting it with a large knife. My preference is to toss it gently in the air, and using a sharp long blade sword, slice it in the air using multiple cuts, so it lands on all the diners plates at a simultaneous moment.

Obviously, I’m kidding. I am no where near confident enough with a sword for that!

For us mere mortals, to cut a pizza into slices, we can use one of three different instruments, all of which have their own techniques. We will discuss that, as well as the age old question; 6 slices, 8 slices, 10 slices or more? Let’s go!

Pizza cutting equipment

What shape is your pizza? Usually, a round pizza is sliced from the crust through the center, stopping at the opposite crust to make one single line. However, when faced with a rectangular or square pizza, these are usually sliced in a grid pattern to create rectangular pieces. To be honest, it’s difficult with a square pizza to make triangular slices.

There are three types of cutting instruments you can use. They are;

• Rocker pizza cutter
• Rolling pizza cutter
• Large kitchen knife

Let’s go through each one, and explain what they are, and the technique you should use to cut a pizza into slices with each of these instruments.

Rocker pizza cutter

A rocker pizza cutter is a wide blade with a handle. It is designed to be held with both hands, as shown in the image above. This pizza cutter is used mostly by commercial pizza restaurants, because it is faster, more efficient and requires significantly less effort.

This blade is also sometimes referred to as a “Mezzaluna” blade. Mezzaluna means “half moon” in Italian, which is named after the unique curved shape of the blade.

These tend to be the most efficient in slicing, dicing, and chopping than other types of blades and knives, which often require repeated motions to achieve the same slice.

Rocker pizza cutting technique

There are five steps to using a rocker pizza cutter to cut a pizza into slices. They are;

1. Place the pizza on a flat surface that is protected from damage from blades. My preference is a large wooden chopping board.
2. Holding the rocker pizza cutter with both hands, rock it from side to side, one edge of the pizza to the opposite side, cutting both crusts.
3. Turn the pizza to the desired next slice angle (see below for different slices)
4. Repeat the same as above.
5. Done! Now it’s time to enjoy that delicious pizza!

Don’t forget to clean your pizza cutter well. The better you care for your kitchen items, the longer these will last, cutting many pizzas into the future. Yum!

Rolling pizza cutter

Most people in their home kitchens, use the round pizza cutter, aka rolling pizza cutter to cut a pizza into slices. It’s a reliable and effective tool and gets the job done quickly. A rolling pizza cutter is a sharp bladed wheel on a handle, designed to use with one hand.

You can see an example of this technique in the main image of this guide.

Rolling pizza cutting technique

There are five steps to using a rocker pizza cutter. They are;

1. Place the pizza on a flat surface that is protected from damage from blades. My preference is a large wooden chopping board, but you could use a plastic one if preferred. Don’t ever cut on a pizza stone, it will damage the blade edge and the stone as well.
2. Holding the rolling pizza cutter with your primary hand, start slightly off the pizza, and roll with a straight line across the pizza, and off the other crust. Be careful to stay straight.
3. Turn the pizza to the desired next slice angle (see below for different slices)
4. Repeat the same as above. Ignore toppings, etc; if you start swerving around things, you will end up with messy cuts.
5. Done! Now it’s time to enjoy that delicious pizza!

Don’t forget to clean your pizza cutter well. The more you care for these items, the longer they will last, cutting many pizzas into the future. Yum!

Large kitchen knife

A large kitchen knife is your absolute last resort. Whilst it is true you can cut a pizza with it, they can easily damage the pizza base, and move all the toppings around. Try and find the largest and sharpest knife that you have for this work.

Kitchen knife pizza cutting technique

There are seven steps to using a kitchen knife to cut a pizza into slices. They are;

1. Place the pizza on a flat surface that is protected from damage from blades. My preference is a large chopping board, either wood or plastic.
2. Carefully point the tip of the knife at the outer edge of the crust, and roll down onto the pizza.
3. Lift the knife, and repeat the process until you reach the other side in a straight line.
4. Do NOT cut in a back and forth motion. This will tear the base and push the pizza cheese and toppings around.
5. Turn the pizza to the desired next slice angle (see below for different slices)
6. Repeat the same as above. Ignore toppings, etc; if you start swerving around things, you will end up with messy cuts.
7. Done! Now it’s time to enjoy that delicious pizza!

Don’t forget to clean your kitchen knives frequently. The better you care for your kitchen items, the longer these will last, cutting many pizzas into the future. Yum!

How many slices?

This is an age old question, and certainly open to much debate amongst pizza chefs across the globe. There is much debate between 6 and 8 slices, and some people cutting all the way to 10 or 12 slices, depending on the size of the pizza.

The most common amount of slices seems to be 4 slices, 6 slices and 8 slices. This is what we will deal with in this guide on how to cut a pizza into slices.

Slicing a pizza into 4 slices

If you have a small pizza, often referred to as a ‘personal’ pizza by pizza chains, you should probably just slice it into quarters. The image above gives you an example of how to slice this pizza effectively.

This is a simple move, slicing from left to right, from the 9.00 to 3.00 (imagining a clock face) and then from 12.00 to 6.00. Presto! You have a four sliced pizza, ready to eat.

Slicing a pizza into 6 slices

If you have a standard or medium sized pizza, you are probably best to slice it into six slices, as per the image above.

To start with, slice the first slice from 9.00 to 3.00 (imagine a clock face). The next slice will be from 7.30 to 1.30. The final slice is from 10.30 to 4.30.

This means you have created three straight cuts from side to side, to end up with six perfect slices of pizza.

Slicing a pizza into 8 slices

If you want to know how too cut a pizza into eight slices, and have a larger sized pizza, you may be keen on slicing it into eight slices, as the illustration above shows.

To do this, you will need to do four straight cuts, from crust to crust. Imagine a clock face (analog, not digital). The first cut will start at 9.00 and through the center to 3.00. The next cut will be from 12.00 to 6.00. You now have four slices, or quarters of a pizza.

To create eight slices, you need to then cut twice more, from 7.30 to 1.30, and then the final slice being from 10.30 to 4.30.

This means you have created four straight cuts from side to side, ending up with eight hopefully similar sized slices of pizza. Now enjoy!

Frequently asked questions

Here are a few other pizza cutting or pizza slice questions we’ve been asked a number of times.

How many slices in a large domino’s pizza?

Like many other brands of pizza chains, there are 8 slices in a large domino’s pizza.

How do you cut a pizza into 7 slices?

Whilst you could how do you cut a pizza into 7 slices, it is a little more difficult than say 6 or 8 slices, which are an even number. You would need to use a cutter and move only to the center; no one line would go directly from one side of the pizza to the other, in order to cut a pizza into 7 slices.

How many slices is a 10 inch pizza?

A 10 inch pizza typically has six slices, depending on where you purchase it from. Being a smaller pizza, it doesn’t really make sense to slice it into 8 slices, or higher.

How do you cut a pizza into 9 slices?

Whilst you could how do you cut a pizza into 9 slices, it is a little more difficult than say 8 or 10 slices, which are an even number. You would need to use a cutter and move only to the center; no one line would go directly from one side of the pizza to the other, in order to cut a pizza into 9 slices.

How many slices is a 14 inch pizza?

Being on a larger size, a 14 inch pizza typically has 8-10 slices, depending on where you purchase it from. Being a large pizza, it works out better to slice it a few more times.

Conclusion

How to cut a pizza into slices all starts with needing the right equipment, the right technique and an idea of how many slices you wish to end up with. Like many things, the more you cut a pizza into slices, the more experience you will learn, and the better you will end up over time.

Enjoy the learning (and eating)!