Pizza Sizes: Frequently Asked Questions (and the Answers!)

Pizza Sizes: Frequently Asked Questions
Pizza Sizes: Frequently Asked Questions

How big is this pizza, what’s the diameter of that pizza? What’s a large pizza? How big is an individual pizza? There seem to be lots and lots of questions about pizza sizes, both with traditional pizza sizes but then also the pizzas from certain restaurants and brands.

In this guide, I answer all those frequently asked questions about the sizes of pizza, so you can quench that thirst for knowledge.

Let’s talk circles

Before we get to that though, just a refresher on that class from our high school maths days, let’s talk circles quickly.

Sizes of a circle
Sizes of a circle (Source)

Pizzas are mostly circular, which means when someone says a 12 inch pizza, they are referring to the diameter. That’s the length from one side of the pizza to the equal opposite side. A radius is half that, that is from the center of a circle to the edge (so center of the pizza to the outer edge of crust).

Then, just to make it even more complex, we have the circumference, which is the length of the actual circle itself. Finally, the area, which is the entire inner circle, measure in inches squared (or centimetres squared, etc).

How big is a human hand?

All this talk of radius and circumference etc is fantastic, but if you are like me, they don’t mean a lot. Another way to measure pizza, in a very rough way, is to use an adult male hand. An average adult male hand is 17.6 inches from the tip of the longest finger to the bottom of the palm, as shown below.

Average size adult human hand
Average size adult human hand

I always strongly recommend that you don’t remove someone’s hand to measure, but rather leave it attached to their arm. I think you would agree that it’s a far safer method. Also, try not to push your hand into the pizza to measure it, that’s not the most hygienic way.

Time to talk pizza sizes!

OK, enough with the maths lessons. Let’s get into it. We’ll discuss the typical sizes of pizzas generally, before digging down to some specific brands.

Pizza sizes

How big is 10 inch pizza?

So exactly how big is a 10 inch pizza? Well, we know from the above diagram, that 10 inches refers to the diameter. So the radius will be half that (five inches) and then the circumference and area are shown in the handy table below.

This is exactly how big a 10 inch pizza is…

 

10 inch Pizza

(in) (cm)
Radius 5 in 12.7 cm
Diameter 10 in 25.4 cm
Circumference 31.42 in 79.80 cm
Area 78.54 in 506.71 cm

 

 

Pizza sizes

How big is 12 inch pizza?

So exactly how big is 12 inch pizza compared to the 10 inch? Well, it may only be two inches wider, but it makes a big difference to the circumfrence (the outer crust length) and the area. If you want more bang for your buck, that two inches extra diameter means an extra 34 inches, or nearly an extra 50% more pizza!

A 12 inch pizza is typically considered a medium sized pizza.

Now, this is how big a 12 inch pizza really is…

 

12 inch Pizza

(in) (cm)
Radius 6 in 15.25 cm
Diameter 12 in 30.5 cm
Circumference 37.72 in 95.81 cm
Area 113.25 in 730.62 cm

 

 

Pizza sizes

How big is 14 inch pizza?

When we talk about the differences in area, or the edible size of that pizza, a 14 inch pizza is more than twice the size of a 10 inch pizza. Seems weird, right? When you ask how big is a 14 inch pizza, well it’s considered a large by most pizza restaurants.

How big is a 14 inch pizza? Here’s that helpful table again!

 

14 inch Pizza

(in) (cm)
Radius 7 in 17.78 cm
Diameter 14 in 35.56 cm
Circumference 43.98 in 111.72 cm
Area 153.94 in 993.15 cm

 

Pizza sizes

How big is 16 inch pizza?

When someone asks how big is a 16 inch pizza, it’s an extra large by some chains, or a 201 inch area for the mathematicians in the room. They better be hungry ones too, because a 16 inch pizza is three times the size of a 10 inch pizza.

So, exactly how big is a 16 inch pizza?

 

16 inch Pizza

(in) (cm)
Radius 8 in 20.32 cm
Diameter 16 in 40.64 cm
Circumference 50.27 in 127.67 cm
Area 201 in 1297.17 cm

 

 

 

Pizza sizes

Specific pizzas

Now that we’ve covered the usual sizes of pizzas, from 10, 12, 14 and 16 inch pizzas, let’s turn our attention to specific pizza brands

How big is an individual pizza?

When you see the phrase individual pizza, it typically means a small pizza. They are 10 inches in size at most places.

How big is a normal large pizza?

14 inches is pretty much the standard for a large pizza anywhere.

Ciao ciao Pizza
Ciao ciao Pizza

How big is an extra large pizza?

16 inches is the standard extra large pizza size. Yep, that’s a lot of cheesy goodness.

How big is a half sheet pizza?

Well, it’s a half a full sheet, right? I’m sorry for the dad joke, honest!

A full sheet pizza in industry standards is 18 inches wide and 26 inches long. So, when we make a half sheet pizza, we halve the longer side, so it becomes an 18 x 13 inch rectangular pizza.

How big is a Blaze large pizza?

Many people seem to ask search engines “how big is a large blaze pizza” each month. Well, back in August 2019, Blaze Pizza introduced their new large pizza, which is 14 inches.

They still also offer their ‘individual’ pizza, which is their standard 11 inches in size.

So that’s how big a blaze pizza is. Well, both sizes of Blaze pizza.

Pizza sizes

How big is a DiGiorno frozen pizza?

To answer the question about DiGiorno pizza sizes, we looked at two of their popular varieties. Their Supreme Rising Crust pizza is 12 inches, and weighs 31.5 Ounces when still frozen.

Their Cheese Stuffed Crust Three Meat Pizza, on the other hand, is 6.5 inches in size, and weighs 9.2 ounces.

How big is Domino’s small pizza?

A small pizza from Domino’s comes in at 10 inches. A medium Domino’s pizza is 12 inches, and their large is 14 inches in size.

How big is a junior pizza at Hungry Howie’s?

Hungry Howie’s has a junior “personal pizza”, which is 8 inches, and sliced into 4 slices.

What are the other Hungry Howie’s pizza sizes?

Hungry Howie’s have five other pizza sizes, which are called;

  • 10″ Small
  • 12″ Medium
  • 14″ Large
  • 14″ X 10″ Deep Dish
  • 16″ X-Large

That’s a lot of range in pizza sizing!

How big is Hungry Howie’s heart shaped pizza?

The limited edition  heart shaped pizza that Hungry Howie’s releases around Valentine’s Day is slightly smaller than their small pizza, so it comes in around 9.5 inches.

Pizza sizes

How big is a Jack’s frozen pizza?

So how big is a Jack’s pizza? Well, it turns out that a Jack’s Pizza is 11.5 inches in diameter.

Tombstone Pizza sizes
Tombstone Pizza

How big is a Tombstone pizza?

Tombstone Original Pepperoni Frozen Pizza is 11.5 inches wide, and weighs in at 18.5oz.

Random fact: Tombstone Pizzas entered the market 60 years ago – that’s way back in 1962, before man even landed on the moon!

Pizza sizes

How big is Papa John’s pizza?

Were you aware that Papa John’s has over 1,700 locations across the globe? In their main market, the USA, their pizza sizes are;

Small pizza is 10 inches (25.5 cm) in diameter, and is sliced to have 6 slices.
Their Medium pizza is 12 inches (30.5 cm), and has 8 slices.
A Papa John’s large pizza is 14 inches (35.5 cm) in diameter, and cut to create 10 slices.
Their extra large pizza is 16 inches (40.5 cm) in size and has 12 slices.

 

Pieology pizza sizes
Pieology pizza

How big is Pieology pizza?

In conclusion for this pizza sizes guide, we ask just how big are Pieology pizzas? Well, it turns out that Pieology has two simple sizes when it comes to their pizzas.

Their thin crust and thick crust measure 11 inches.

Their specialist pizzas – that is, their gluten free and cauliflower crust pizzas – are both 10 inches in size.

Pizza sizes

In Conclusion

Just like the many different styles of Pizza, there are many different pizza sizes. I trust that this guide to pizza sizes has helped you learn a little more about what to expect with your next delicious pizza.