Pizza Size Calculator
Compare pizza sizes and find the best value for your money with accurate area calculations
Compare Pizza Sizes
Settings
How much of the pizza is covered with toppings
Smaller Pizza
Larger Pizza
Example Comparison
Local Pizzeria Example
Small Pizza: 12" diameter, $15.99
Large Pizza: 16" diameter, $22.99
Setting: Eat crust, 100% toppings coverage
Calculation Results
Small pizza area: π × (12/2)² = 113.1 in²
Large pizza area: π × (16/2)² = 201.1 in²
Small cost per sq in: $15.99 ÷ 113.1 = $0.141/in²
Large cost per sq in: $22.99 ÷ 201.1 = $0.114/in²
Result: Large pizza is 19% better value!
Pizza Size Reference
Personal (8")
~50 in² • 1 person
Individual serving size
Medium (12")
~113 in² • 2-3 people
Most popular size
Large (16")
~201 in² • 4-6 people
Often best value
XL (18")
~254 in² • 6-8 people
Party size
Pizza Value Tips
Larger pizzas typically offer better value per square inch
Compare based on area, not just diameter differences
Consider if you eat the crust in your value calculation
Account for toppings coverage when comparing specialty pizzas
A 16" pizza has 78% more area than a 12" pizza
Understanding Pizza Value Mathematics
Area vs. Diameter
Pizza sizes are measured by diameter, but you're paying for area. Since area grows with the square of the radius (A = πr²), small increases in diameter result in large increases in area.
Why Larger is Usually Better
- •A 16" pizza has 78% more area than a 12" pizza, but often costs only 40-50% more
- •Fixed costs (dough, labor, oven time) are similar regardless of size
- •Ingredient costs increase with area, but not proportionally to price increases
Calculation Formula
Area: π × (diameter ÷ 2)²
Effective Area: Total area - crust area (if not eaten)
Toppings Area: Effective area × coverage percentage
Value: Price ÷ toppings area
Factors to Consider
- • Crust preference (thick vs. thin vs. stuffed)
- • Toppings distribution and coverage
- • Number of people sharing
- • Leftover storage capacity
- • Special deals and promotions