This Chart Shows You Which Loaf Pan Size to Use (2024)

Updated: Nov. 08, 2022

Are your breads falling flat? You may have the wrong pan! Here's the skinny on loaf pan sizes.

If your quick breads are short and squat instead of rising high, your pan may be to blame. While loaf pan sizes may seem insignificant, the pan volume can make all the difference.

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Common Loaf Pan Sizes

Loaf pans can come in all sorts of sizes, from large pain de mie pans to mini sizes that make perfect food gifts. Here are a few of the most common sizes:

This Chart Shows You Which Loaf Pan Size to Use (1)Claire Krieger/Taste of Home

If you need to modify your recipe to fit in a pan you have at home, use our handy chart to help cut down your recipe.

Use the Right Size for Best Results

The two most popular bread pan sizes are 9×5 and 8½x4½ inches. Both sizes are typically 2½ inches tall. While the difference in sizes seems small, it actually equals a 15% difference in capacity. That can really affect the outcome of your bake—especially in quick breads and those that use less than three cups of flour.

If your recipe calls for a 8½x4½-inch pan and you use a 9×5, your bread could fall flat instead of properly rising. On the other hand, if your recipe calls for a 9×5 and you use a 8½x4½, your batter may overflow and burn in the oven!

If you don’t have the right size pan for your recipe, here’s how to adapt baking recipes so you can use the pans you already have in your kitchen.

What If Your Recipe Doesn’t Specify?

You should always follow the directions on which size pan to use, but what should you do if it doesn’t say? Because the limit of any loaf pan is about two-thirds full, we recommend you choose the 8½x4½. Fill the pan until it’s two-thirds full, and if there is any remaining batter, fill up a muffin tin. This ensures you get a beautifully risen loaf instead of a potentially flat loaf in a 9×5.

Now that you know the importance of pan sizes, it’s time to make a loaf of the Best-Ever Banana Bread!

Quick Breads to Make in a Loaf Pan

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This Chart Shows You Which Loaf Pan Size to Use (2)Taste of Home

Lemon Blueberry BreadOf all the quick breads we had growing up, this beautiful lemon blueberry bread is the best! The citrus glaze adds a lustrous finish and locks in moisture. —Julianne Johnson, Grove City, MinnesotaGo To Recipe

Pina Colada Zucchini Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Pina Colada Zucchini BreadAt my husband's urging, I entered this recipe at the Pennsylvania Farm Show—and won first place! You'll love the cakelike texture and tropical flavors. —Sharon Rydbom, Tipton, Pennsylvania

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Ever wondered what is quick bread? Our guide will tell you.

Blueberry Quick Bread with Vanilla SauceThis loaf is chock-full of blueberries—two whole cups! When you pour the vanilla sauce over the bread, it makes it moist--almost like a pudding. I suggest serving a robust cup of coffee with this delicious treat. —Sue Davis, Wausau, WisconsinGet recipes for other types of bread, including yeast breads!

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Key Lime BreadI first tried this deliciously different bread at a friend's house, and she graciously shared the recipe with me. It's so easy to make and it tastes absolutely yummy! —Joan Hallford, North Richland Hills, Texas

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Parmesan Zucchini Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Parmesan Zucchini BreadThis loaf has a rugged, textured look that adds to its old-fashioned appeal. The mild Parmesan flavor nicely complements the zucchini, which adds bits of green color to every tender slice. —Christine Wilson, Sellersville, Pennsylvania

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Taste of Home

Chocolate Chai Mini LoavesThis bread is irresistible! A friend gets mad when I make it because I give her a loaf and she can't help but eat the whole thing! —Lisa Christensen, Poplar Grove, Illinois

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Learn how to convert a quick bread recipe into mini loaves.

Almond Tea BreadMy aunt brought her tea bread recipe with her from Scotland, and enjoying a fresh-baked loaf has become a family tradition during the holidays. Each slice is loaded with red cherries. —Kathleen Showers, Briggsdale, Colorado

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Apple-Rhubarb BreadRhubarb is such a jewel that I freeze it to have all year. Here’s how my mother used rhubarb – in an apple bread spiced with cinnamon. —Linda Tom, Sioux Falls, South Dakota

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Louisiana Pecan Bacon BreadOne Christmas, the babysitter brought gifts for my daughter and a basket of goodies, including pecan bread. When I make this bread, I remember that kind soul. This bread won a blue ribbon at the Los Angeles County Fair in 1988, and I still bake it for family and friends. —Marina Castle-Kelley, Canyon Country, California

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Cranberry Orange Walnut BreadComing from Oregon, a state famous for its cranberries, this bread is a given at our house. Each fall my husband and I scrounge around for walnuts to go in it. It's a regular on our table, and not just at Thanksgiving. I freeze the berries so I have a ready supply all year long. —Elaine Kremenak, Grants Pass, Oregon

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Bacon Walnut Bread with Honey ButterMy savory walnut bread filled with bacon bits and blue cheese dressing is complemented by the sweetness of honey-flavored butter. Cut yourself a thick slice, slather on the butter and enjoy!—Pam Ivbuls, Omaha, Nebraska

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Strawberry Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Strawberry BreadMy husband and I are strawberry lovers, so each spring we pick about 30 quarts. This strawberry bread recipe makes two delicious loaves. One we eat right away; the other we freeze and pull out when family comes to visit.

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Herb Quick Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Herb Quick BreadThis simple bread is especially good with soups and stews, but slices are also tasty alongside fresh green salads. The herbs make it a flavorful treat any time of the year. —Donna Roberts, Manhattan, Kansas

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Lemon-Thyme Tea Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Lemon-Thyme Tea BreadI received this recipe as part of a gift, along with a lemon thyme plant and a fresh loaf of this pound cake-like bread. Everyone who tries it asks for the recipe. —Jeannette Mango, Parkesburg, Pennsylvania

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Pumpkin Banana BreadI came across these loaves in a local newspaper about 10 years ago, and I still make this pumpkin banana bread recipe on a regular basis. It conveniently yields a number of mini loaves, making gift-giving easy. —Linda Wood, Roanoke, Virginia

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A Bit Nutty Boston Brown Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

A Bit Nutty Boston Brown BreadHearty and dense, my homemade Boston Brown Bread features hazelnuts for a delightfully nutty taste. Thick slices pair well with just about anything, from soup and stews to pasta and meat entrees. —Lorraine Caland, Shuniah, Ontario

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Apple Zucchini Bread Recipe photo by Eric Kleinberg for Taste of Home

Apple Zucchini BreadSince apples and zucchini are so abundant in this area, it's only natural that the two be used together in one recipe. I really don't know the origin of this bread, but I do know it's been one of my favorites for many years. —Patti Dillingham, Scranton, Arkansas

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Taste of Home

Autumn Pear BreadPears give these little loaves delicious flavor and help keep them nice and moist. They make lovely gifts to share, too. —Mary Lynn Wilson, Linden, Texas

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Apricot Cranberry BreadI was making cranberry bread one day and wanted to try something a little different. I found a jar of apricot jam in the refrigerator and decided to spoon the jam into the center of the bread. It looked lumpy, so I took a knife and cut the jam into the bread. The end result was delicious. —Diane Roth, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

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Date Pecan Tea Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Date Pecan Tea BreadPacked with dates and pecans, this sweet bread is excellent on its own and even better topped with the chunky cream cheese spread. We enjoy it during the holiday season, but also for after-school and late-night snacks. —Carole Resnick, Cleveland, Ohio(Get recipes for more types of sweet bread!)

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Pumpkin Pecan LoavesAmong all my pumpkin bread recipes, this caramel-glazed creation is the pick of the crop. Often, I'll wrap up a lovely loaf as a homemade gift for teachers and Sunday school leaders. —Brenda Jackson, Garden City, Kansas

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Taste of Home

Pineapple Cherry LoavesPineapple adds a fun twist to this holiday quick bread, plus it wakes each delicious bite nice and moist. My family prefers this to traditional fruitcake. —Dolores Peltier, Warren, Michigan

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Pumpkin Chocolate LoafThese tender chocolate loaves with hints of pumpkin and spice have been a favorite of mine for years. Slice them up for snack time or dessert. —Kathy Gardner, Rockville, Maryland

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Taste of Home

Sun-Dried Tomato Provolone BreadThis savory quick bread, which was passed down from my mother, is packed with great flavors. It not only goes well will soups and chowders, but makes a delicious accompaniment to beef and chicken entrees. —Marie Rizzio, Interlochen, Michigan

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Praline-Topped Apple Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Praline-Topped Apple BreadApples, toasted pecans and a praline glaze make this bread perfect for a holiday celebration—or anytime. We like it better than our go-to coffee cake. —Sonja Blow, Nixa, Missouri

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Rhubarb BreadThis is quite a good bread - our family really enjoys it! It's also very quick and easy to prepare, once you have the rhubarb diced. —Grace Capen, Sacramento, California

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Roasted Butternut Squash Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Roasted Butternut Squash BreadButternut squash is so versatile, I use it to make a sweet and savory bread that’s fabulous for breakfast, snacking or even dessert. —Sarah Meuser, New Milford, Connecticut

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Best Ever Banana Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Banana BreadWhenever I pass a display of bananas in the grocery store, I can almost smell the wonderful aroma of my best banana bread recipe. It really is amazingly good! —Gert Kaiser, Kenosha, Wisconsin

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Eggnog Fruit BreadPresents from the pantry are a tradition in my family, and this moist, fruity quick bread is a favorite. I wrap loaves in cellophane and garnish with stickers and curly ribbons. —Margo Stich, Rochester, Minnesota

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Country Cinnamon Swirl Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Country Cinnamon Swirl BreadI'm always busy with three active sons, so this rich quick bread is a favorite. I like to wrap these loaves to give as gifts. —Sharon Walker, Huntington Station, New York

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Orange Pecan BreadMy husband loves this bread. Whenever I ask him to suggest a nice tea bread, he says, "What about that orange-pecan stuff?” —Sondra Feldstein, Bondurant, Iowa.

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Taste of Home

Lemon Yogurt BreadThis tender bread will remind you of pound cake. Its mild lemon flavor and cakelike texture makes it perfect for brunch or a mid-afternoon snack. —Suzy Horvath, Milwaukie, Oregon

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Special Banana Nut Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Special Banana Nut BreadThis extra-special banana bread makes a wonderful gift for friends and neighbors. The recipe makes two loaves, so I can serve one and keep the other one in the freezer to use as a last-minute gift. —Beverly Sprague, Catonsville, Maryland

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Cranberry Pumpkin BreadPut leftover cranberries and pumpkin to great use in this moist quick bread. It’s very good with my "secondhand turkey" casserole for an after-Thanksgiving meal. —Dixie Terry, Goreville, Illinois

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Drizzled Butternut Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Drizzled Butternut BreadMy two young children love this buttercup yellow bread. Squash makes it moist and goes so well with the cinnamon. This will be a welcome addition to a brunch or dinner table.—Misty Thompson, Gaylesville, Alabama

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Sweet Potato Cinnamon Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Sweet Potato Cinnamon BreadMy family loves quick breads. This one is moist and spicy. If you don't have mini loaf pans it works just as well in regular size pans. —Nancy Foust, Stoneboro, Pennsylvania

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Eggnog Mini Loaves Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Eggnog Mini LoavesThe seasonal flavors of eggnog, rum extract and nutmeg shine through in these moist, golden loaves. Tender slices are just right with a cup of coffee. —Beverly Elmore, Spokane, Michigan

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Pumpkin Swirl BreadThis combination of pumpkin, nuts and dates makes a delicious, golden pumpkin cream cheese bread. The surprise inside—a rich creamy swirl—is like a luscious layer of cheesecake in each slice. —Cindy May, Troy, Michigan

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Fresh Pear Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Fresh Pear BreadWhen our tree branches are loaded with ripe and juicy fruit, I treat my family and friends to lots of easy pear recipes. I always receive raves and requests for this particular pear bread recipe because of the mix of fun ingredients.—Linda Patrick, Houston, Texas

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Apple Banana Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Apple Banana BreadMy children love to bake (and eat) all kinds of banana bread. They make this all by themselves, with just a little help from me to put it in the oven. —Kristin Metcalf, Charlton, Massachusetts

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Orange Cranberry Bread Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Orange Cranberry BreadThis orange cranberry bread is packed with the zesty taste of cranberries and orange peel. I suggest serving slices toasted with butter or cream cheese. —Ron Gardner, Grand Haven, Michigan

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Contest-Winning Chocolate Chip Pumpkin BreadA touch of cinnamon helps blend the flavors in this tender pumpkin chocolate chip bread. And since the recipe makes two loaves, you can send one to a bake sale and keep one at home for your family to enjoy. —Lora Stanley, Bennington, Kansas

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Taste of Home

Candy Cane Chocolate LoavesWhen I had a bunch of leftover candy canes after the holidays, I was inspired to use them up by adding them to a chocolate bread. Coffee and cocoa intensify the flavor. —Shelly Platten, Amherst, Wisconsin

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This Chart Shows You Which Loaf Pan Size to Use (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between 9x5 and 8x4 loaf pans? ›

The two most popular bread pan sizes are 9×5 and 8½x4½ inches. Both sizes are typically 2½ inches tall. While the difference in sizes seems small, it actually equals a 15% difference in capacity. That can really affect the outcome of your bake—especially in quick breads and those that use less than three cups of flour.

What size loaf pan do I have? ›

In America, what recipes call a “standard loaf pan” is 8-1/2 x 4-1/2 x 2-1/2 inches. If a store sells only one size of loaf pan, this is probably it. If you own one loaf pan, it should probably be this size. But larger loaf pans are not uncommon, either in stores or for recipes.

What is a 9x5 inch loaf pan equivalent to? ›

Loaf Pans. 8×4 inch loaf pan holds 4 cups of batter, the same as a 6×2 inch round pan. 9×5 inch loaf pan holds 8 cups of batter, the same as a 9×2 inch round pan and an 8×2 inch square pan.

What is the perfect loaf pan size? ›

Any yeast loaf recipe using 3 cups of flour (or slightly less) should be baked in an 8 1/2" x 4 1/2" bread pan. A recipe using 3 1/2 cups of flour can go either way. If it's made 100% from bread flour or all-purpose flour, it's probably best to err on the side of caution and bake it in the larger loaf pan.

How many servings in a 9x5 loaf pan? ›

How Big Is a Typical Slice of Bread? Your standard slice of store-bought sandwich bread clocks in at about 1 ounce per slice. An 8×4-sized homemade loaf will yield about 12 1-ounce slices while a 9×5 serves around 16 slices.

What is the best type of pan to bake bread in? ›

Glazed stoneware: Loaf pans of this material have tested well in our bread loaf pan testing. They also tend to be durable and often dishwasher-safe. Glass: Glass loaf pans allow for you to be able to monitor the browning on the bottom and sides of each loaf pan.

How do I know what size my loaf tin is? ›

As a rough guide, a 2lb (900g) loaf tin is about 21cm long, 11cm wide and 7cm high (8 x 4 x 3 inches approx) and a 1lb (450g) loaf tin is 16cm long, 11cm wide and 7cm high (6 x 4 x 3 inches). They do vary quite a bit from brand to brand but this should help you understand what you have got if you have one already.

Is it better to bake banana bread in a glass or metal pan? ›

Metal pans are better heat conductors than glass pans, meaning the food inside cooks more evenly. Most baking recipes for cakes, muffins, cupcakes, coffee cake, banana bread, and brownies call for metal bakeware.

What can you substitute for a 9x5 loaf pan? ›

Quick Conversions: The 8x8” Baking Dish can substitute as a 9” round cake pan, a 9x5 loaf pan, or a deep-dish Pie Dish. Halved recipes intended for 9x13 rectangular baking dishes are also compatible.

How long to bake in an 8x4 loaf pan? ›

You can bake cake mix in loaf pans. Grease and flour the bottom only and bake at 325 to 350 for 35 to 55 minutes depending on the pan size. One 9x5 loaf pan will be very full and will bake for 50 minutes +. You can use two 8x4-inch pans and start checking for doneness at around 35 minutes.

What is 9-inch loaf pan? ›

The two most common loaf pan sizes are a 9 by 5-inch pan and an 8½ by 4½-inch pan. Both pans are generally about 2½ inches high. Even though the measurements might seem similar enough, that can equal up to a two-cup difference in volume, which will affect the shape of your final loaf.

What is the most common size loaf pan? ›

Here in the US, if a recipe is referring to a standard loaf pan, it's generally 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2 inches. This is considered a one pound loaf pan, holding around 6 cups. In fact, if you're looking to buy a starter loaf pan, this is the one you'll need! Another popular size to consider is a 9×5 loaf pan.

What is the best pan to cook meatloaf in? ›

Loaf pans corral the juices and fat to create a moister, more steamed, texture. The steamed texture can often be more reminiscent of a school cafeteria meatloaf, which some people are averse to, but it will look more like a typical meatloaf when it's cooked this way as meatloaf in a sheet pan tends to be flatter.

Is it better to cook meatloaf covered or uncovered? ›

Should I cook my meatloaf covered or uncovered? The meatloaf can be cooked uncovered. However, if you are concerned about it burning, you can cover the meatloaf with foil for the first 45 minutes and uncover it for the final 15 minutes to allow the meatloaf to brown on top.

How to adjust baking time for different size pans? ›

If, for example, your recipe calls for an 8-inch cake pan and you only have a 9-inch, relax, no problem. Just increase the oven temp by 25 degrees F and decrease the bake time by a quarter. In this particular example, since your pan is 1 inch larger, more surface area will be exposed.

How long do you bake an 8x4 loaf pan? ›

You can bake cake mix in loaf pans. Grease and flour the bottom only and bake at 325 to 350 for 35 to 55 minutes depending on the pan size. One 9x5 loaf pan will be very full and will bake for 50 minutes +. You can use two 8x4-inch pans and start checking for doneness at around 35 minutes.

Can I use 8x8 instead of 9x5? ›

Quick Conversions: The 8x8” Baking Dish can substitute as a 9” round cake pan, a 9x5 loaf pan, or a deep-dish Pie Dish. Halved recipes intended for 9x13 rectangular baking dishes are also compatible.

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