Layer Rounds, Springforms or a Bundt? Best Cake Pans Sorted by Shape and Size

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The best cake pan is the one shaped for the cake you bake most. A 9×13 handles sheet cakes and brownies, a pair of 9-inch rounds makes a classic layer cake, a springform lets a cheesecake out without flipping it, and a fluted tube pan gives you a bundt.

We compared six pans across those shapes using their Amazon listings, from Farberware, Wilton, Nordic Ware, Amazon Basics, Chicago Metallic and Fensiden. We quote oven-safe temperatures exactly as listed and say plainly when a listing leaves one out. Nonstick and “made without PFAS” wording is each brand’s own claim, not something we verified. Every pick was sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store and listed in stock when we checked, and all six landed in the same under-$50 price tier, so the choice comes down to shape and features rather than budget.

Our Top Cake Pan Picks at a Glance

Price key: $ under $50 · $$ $50–$100 · $$$ $100–$175 · $$$$ $175+. Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price.

1. Farberware Nonstick 9×13-Inch Rectangular Cake Pan: Best Overall

Farberware’s 9×13 rectangular cake pan is a gray nonstick pan in the size most sheet cake, snack cake and brownie recipes are written for. Farberware describes heavy-duty construction that resists warping and heats evenly to brown beautifully and help reduce hot spots.

Day to day, a 9×13 is the most flexible cake pan you can own. It bakes a single-layer birthday cake you frost right in the pan, a tray of brownies or bars, a coffee cake for a crowd, and, as the listing points out, it also handles roasting. Because the cake stays in the pan, you skip the nervous moment of turning a layer out onto a rack.

The listing rates the pan oven safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit and calls it dishwasher safe, though Farberware recommends hand washing for best performance. Farberware says it is responsibly made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, and explains that the design does not involve intentionally adding those substances to the interior nonstick coating. The warranty field says Farberware bakeware is guaranteed to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal household use for the lifetime of the cookware.

It suits a first-time baker stocking a kitchen, a family that bakes for school events and potlucks, and anyone who mostly makes single-layer cakes. The listed size is 9.8 x 15.6 x 2 inches and the weight 1.48 pounds, so it stores flat in a standard cabinet.

Why we like it

• 450°F oven rating
• Lifetime defects warranty field
• Works for cakes, bars and roasting

Watch out for

Farberware still recommends hand washing to keep the nonstick at its best, and the PFAS wording is the brand’s claim.

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2. Wilton Gold Non-Stick Fluted Tube Cake Pan, 9.49 in: Best Bundt Pan

Wilton’s Gold Fluted Tube Cake Pan is a ring-shaped, fluted pan for bundt-style cakes. It measures 9.49 inches across and 3.37 inches deep, and the gold finish sits over heavy-duty aluminum that Wilton says is scratch-resistant and keeps its shape bake after bake.

A fluted tube pan bakes from the outside and the center at once, which is why dense batters such as pound cake, sour cream coffee cake and spice cakes are usually baked in one. The ridges give the finished cake its sculpted look with no frosting needed; a dusting of sugar or a drizzle of glaze is enough. You still grease every groove before the batter goes in, and the listing’s extended handles give you something solid to grip when you turn the cake out.

Wilton says the premium non-stick coating gives hassle-free cleaning and quick-release results, and the title states the pan is made without PFAS. The listing rates it oven safe to 450°F and dishwasher safe. Wilton has been selling baking and cake-decorating gear since 1929, according to the listing.

It suits bakers who make bundt cakes for holidays, brunches and bake sales, and anyone who wants a showpiece cake without decorating skills. The warranty field reads only “Warranty,” a placeholder, so treat the warranty term as not stated on this listing.

Why we like it

• Top seller in Cake Pans
• Extended handles for unmolding
• Dishwasher safe and rated to 450°F

Watch out for

The warranty field is a placeholder, and the grooves still need thorough greasing before every bake.

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3. Nordic Ware 9-Inch Springform Pan, 10 Cup: Best Springform Pan

Nordic Ware’s springform is a 9-inch round pan whose side band unlatches and lifts away from the base. That lets a cheesecake, mousse cake or torte stand on its own without being flipped out of the pan, which is the whole reason to own a springform.

In use, you lock the band onto the base with the buckle, press in a crust, pour in the filling and bake. Once the cake has cooled, you open the buckle and lift the band off. Nordic Ware says fragile foods are easy to unmold with the removable band and sturdy buckle, and that the premium nonstick surface, made without PFOA, lets you make cheesecakes and other delicate desserts with no mess.

The listing gives unusually precise dimensions: the base is 9.8 inches, the collar 9.3 inches and the interior 8.8 inches, with a 3.1-inch height and a 10-cup capacity. The pan is carbon steel with a charcoal finish. The title calls it a “2-Piece Set,” which matches the base and band of a springform, and the bullets describe a single 9-inch pan. The listing doesn’t give an oven-safe temperature or say whether it can go in the dishwasher.

It suits cheesecake bakers, anyone who makes flourless chocolate cakes or ice cream cakes, and cooks who want a Nordic Ware pan backed by a warranty field that reads “10 Year Limited Warranty.” It is listed at 0.75 pounds.

Why we like it

• 10-year limited warranty field
• Precise interior and height measurements
• Sturdy buckle release

Watch out for

No oven-safe temperature or dishwasher guidance appears in the listing, so keep the care sheet that comes with it.

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4. Amazon Basics Nonstick 9-Inch Round Cake Pans, Set of 2: Best Value 9-Inch Pair

Amazon Basics sells these as a pair of 9-inch round cake pans in black nonstick carbon steel. Two matching rounds are what most layer-cake recipes ask for, so you can bake both layers at once instead of waiting for one pan to cool and washing it between batches.

A typical bake goes like this: grease and line both pans, divide the batter evenly, and set them side by side on the middle rack. When they come out, the layers cool, then stack with frosting between them. The listing also suggests the pans for deep dish pizzas, a handy second use for a 9-inch round with sides.

Amazon Basics says the carbon steel construction gives excellent heat conduction and even baking, and that the nonstick coating ensures quick and effortless food release and easy cleaning. The title and bullets rate the pans oven-safe up to 428°F, and the listing calls them dishwasher-safe while recommending a hand wash with warm water and mild soap for best results.

They suit new bakers, students and anyone who wants a matched set of layer pans without a big outlay. The listing doesn’t fill in a warranty field or a weight, so those details are not stated, and the listed package size is 11 x 9.6 x 2.3 inches.

Why we like it

• Matched pair for two layers
• Dishwasher safe
• Doubles as a deep-dish pizza pan

Watch out for

The 428°F limit is lower than the 450°F the Farberware, Wilton and Fensiden listings give, and no warranty is stated.

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5. Chicago Metallic Professional Nonstick Round Cake Pan Set (6, 8 and 10 in): Best for Tiered Cakes

Chicago Metallic’s Professional round cake pan set gives you three nonstick pans in graduated sizes: 6, 8 and 10 inches. Stacked, those sizes make a three-tier cake, and on their own they cover a small celebration cake, a standard layer and a larger party cake.

For a tiered cake, you bake each size, level the tops, and stack the cooled layers from largest to smallest with supports between tiers. Because there is one pan of each size, a two-layer tier means baking that size twice. The 6-inch pan is also handy for small households who want a modest cake rather than a full 9-inch one.

Chicago Metallic says the pans are made of heavy-weight aluminized steel that delivers superior heat conduction and consistent, even baking, and that the heavy-gauge design resists warping. The nonstick coating is meant to release layers cleanly so they come out intact and ready to frost. The listing calls the set dishwasher safe but recommends hand washing to preserve the coating, and the warranty field reads “Lifetime limited warranty.”

It suits birthday bakers, anyone learning cake decorating, and households that want three sizes in one box. The listing doesn’t state an oven-safe temperature, and its title says only “6 Inch” even though the size field confirms a 3-piece 6, 8 and 10-inch set. The listed weight for the set is 1.55 pounds.

Why we like it

• Three graduated sizes
• Lifetime limited warranty field
• Strong sales rank in Round pans

Watch out for

No oven-safe temperature is listed, and the title’s “6 Inch” undersells a three-pan set, so check the size field before ordering.

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6. Fensiden Non-Stick Springform Pan Set of 4 (4, 7, 9 and 10 in): Best Springform Set

Fensiden’s set bundles four nonstick carbon steel springform pans in 4, 7, 9 and 10-inch sizes, plus a silicone pan protector. The idea is one box for everything from a mini cheesecake to a party-size torte.

Springforms work the same way at any size: lock the band onto the base, add your crust and filling, bake, cool, then release the latch and lift the ring away. Fensiden says its sturdy spring lock opens and closes effortlessly and the loose base enables clean removal. The silicone protector is the extra here. Fensiden says it fits the 4, 7, 9 and 10-inch pans and works as a leak-proof barrier for water bath cheesecake baking, the method many cheesecake recipes use to bake gently.

The listing rates the carbon steel pans oven safe up to 450°F and says a textured base gives uniform heat conductivity without hot spots, a claim we attribute to the brand. Beyond cheesecake, Fensiden suggests mousse cakes, tiramisu, lasagnas, deep dish pizzas, quiches, tarts and casseroles.

It suits frequent cheesecake bakers and anyone who wants to scale a recipe up or down. The seller is Fensiden Direct, the brand’s own store, and the manufacturer field reads FENSIDEN. The warranty field is empty, so no warranty term is stated, and the set is listed at 2.78 pounds.

Why we like it

• Four springform sizes
• Silicone protector for water baths
• 450°F oven rating

Watch out for

Its sales rank is the weakest on this page and the listing states no warranty, so weigh the extra sizes against that.

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How We Chose the Best Cake Pans

We compared each pan’s Amazon listing, the specs and sales rank we pulled for it, and quoted only what the listings say:

• Shape and size: 9×13, 9-inch rounds, springform, fluted tube and graduated tiers, with diameters and depths as listed.
• Material: steel, carbon steel, aluminized steel or aluminum, in each listing’s own words.
• Oven-safe temperature: exactly as listed, or flagged as not stated.
• Release and coating claims: nonstick, PFAS and PFOA wording attributed to the brand.
• Care and warranty: dishwasher or hand wash, and what the warranty field actually says.
• Availability: sold by Amazon.com or the brand’s own store and listed in stock when we checked.

Cake Pan Buying Guide

Best 9 Inch Round Cake Pan for Layer Cakes

Most layer-cake recipes call for two 9-inch rounds. The Amazon Basics set gives you a matched pair in one box, rated to 428°F. If you want graduated tiers instead, the Chicago Metallic set covers 6, 8 and 10 inches. Whichever you pick, let layers cool on a rack before frosting; our cooling rack guide compares sizes and finishes, and a stand mixer makes big batches of batter and buttercream easier.

Best Springform Pan for Cheesecake

A springform’s side band unlatches so the cake never has to be flipped. The Nordic Ware lists exact measurements (8.8-inch interior, 3.1 inches high, 10 cups) and a 10-year limited warranty field. The Fensiden set adds 4, 7 and 10-inch sizes and a silicone protector that the brand says works as a leak-proof barrier for water baths. Neither listing is a guarantee against seepage, so many bakers still wrap the base.

Best Nonstick Cake Pan: Reading the Coating Claims

Every pan here is described as nonstick, and several make chemical claims: Farberware says its pan is made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, Wilton’s title says “Made Without PFAS,” and Nordic Ware says its surface is made without PFOA. Those are the brands’ statements, not lab results we checked. Brands that recommend hand washing, such as Farberware, Amazon Basics and Chicago Metallic, are telling you how to make the coating last.

Best 9×13 Cake Pan for Sheet Cakes

A 9×13 is the workhorse shape: sheet cakes, brownies, bars and even roasting. The Farberware is our pick, rated oven safe to 450°F with a lifetime defects warranty field. Frosting a cake in the pan also means no turning out, which is easier for beginners.

Best Bundt Pan for Pound and Coffee Cakes

A fluted tube pan’s center ring lets heat reach the middle of a dense batter, and the ridges give a decorated look without frosting. The Wilton Gold pan is 9.49 inches across and 3.37 inches deep, rated to 450°F and listed as dishwasher safe. Grease every groove before filling. For smaller cakes and cupcakes, see our muffin pan guide.

Oven-Safe Temperatures at a Glance

Farberware, Wilton and Fensiden list 450°F, and Amazon Basics lists 428°F. The Nordic Ware and Chicago Metallic listings don’t give a number, so check the care leaflet in the box. Most cake recipes bake well below these limits, but the number matters if you use the same pan for roasting or broiling. Baking pies too? Our pie dish guide compares glass, stoneware and metal.

Oven Safety While You Bake

Cake pans come out of the oven hot enough to burn, and an oven left on can start a fire. A few plain habits help:

• Stay nearby. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that unattended equipment was the leading factor in nonconfined home cooking fires (37%), and its first tip is to stand by your pan. Never leave the oven unattended while broiling.
• Use dry oven mitts. Metal pans heat quickly, and the springform buckle and bundt handles get as hot as the pan.
• Keep handles turned in. USFA advises turning pot handles toward the back of the stove so no one can bump them; the same goes for any pan resting on the cooktop.
• Clear the landing spot first. Set a trivet or cooling rack out before you open the oven so a hot pan never has to wait in your hands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best cake pan for most bakers?

The Farberware Nonstick 9×13 is our overall pick because a 9×13 covers sheet cakes, brownies and bars. Its listing rates it oven safe to 450°F, calls it dishwasher safe with hand washing recommended, and its warranty field describes a lifetime guarantee against defects under normal household use.

What is the best 9 inch round cake pan?

For a classic two-layer cake, the Amazon Basics set gives you two 9-inch nonstick carbon steel rounds rated oven safe up to 428°F. For tiered cakes, the Chicago Metallic set includes 6, 8 and 10-inch rounds.

What is the best springform pan for cheesecake?

The Nordic Ware 9-inch springform has a removable band with a sturdy buckle, a 10-cup capacity and a 10-year limited warranty field. If you want several sizes, the Fensiden set includes 4, 7, 9 and 10-inch pans and a silicone protector for water baths.

Are nonstick cake pans PFAS-free?

Some brands say so. Farberware says its 9×13 is made without PFAS, PFOA, lead or cadmium, Wilton’s bundt pan title says “Made Without PFAS,” and Nordic Ware says its springform surface is made without PFOA. These are the brands’ claims; we did not test them.

What is the best bundt pan?

The Wilton Gold Non-Stick Fluted Tube Cake Pan ranks #1 in Cake Pans on Amazon. It measures 9.49 inches across and 3.37 inches deep, is rated oven safe to 450°F and is listed as dishwasher safe.

The Bottom Line

The Farberware 9×13 is the best cake pan to start with: one pan for sheet cakes, brownies and bars, rated to 450°F with a lifetime defects warranty field. Add the Amazon Basics 9-inch pair for layer cakes, the Nordic Ware springform for cheesecake, and the Wilton Gold fluted tube for bundts. Tiered-cake bakers should look at the Chicago Metallic 6, 8 and 10-inch set, and the Fensiden set covers four springform sizes.

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