Mixing Bowl Sizes: Capacity by Diameter
Mixing bowls are sold in quarts or liters, but you usually know only the width of the bowl in front of you. This chart converts one to the other and shows which size suits each kitchen job.
A small mixing bowl holds 1 to 1.5 qt (1 to 1.5 L) and is about 7 to 8 in (18 to 20 cm) across. A medium bowl holds 3 qt (2.8 L) at about 10 in (25 cm), and a large bowl holds 5 to 8 qt (4.7 to 7.6 L) at about 11.5 to 13 in (29 to 33 cm). A typical nested set is 1.5, 3 and 5 qt.
- Small
- 1-1.5 qt, 7-8 in
- Medium
- 3 qt, about 10 in
- Large
- 5-8 qt, 11.5-13 in
- Stand mixer
- 4.5-7 qt
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Mixing bowl size chart: diameter to capacity
Most mixing bowls are close to a slice of a sphere, deeper toward the middle and about 40 to 45% as deep as they are wide. With that shape, capacity follows directly from the rim diameter. Figures are to the brim; the comfortable working volume is about two thirds of that.
| Rim diameter | Typical depth | Capacity (US) | Capacity (metric) | Sold as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in (15 cm) | 2.75 in (7 cm) | 3.4 cups | 0.8 L | 0.75 qt / prep bowl |
| 7 in (18 cm) | 3 in (7.5 cm) | 1.2 qt | 1.2 L | 1 qt |
| 8 in (20 cm) | 3.5 in (9 cm) | 1.9 qt | 1.8 L | 1.5-2 qt |
| 9 in (23 cm) | 4 in (10 cm) | 2.8 qt | 2.6 L | 2.5 qt |
| 10 in (25 cm) | 4 in (10 cm) | 3.3 qt | 3.1 L | 3 qt |
| 11 in (28 cm) | 4.5 in (11.5 cm) | 4.5 qt | 4.3 L | 4-5 qt |
| 12 in (30 cm) | 5 in (13 cm) | 6 qt | 5.7 L | 5-6 qt |
| 13 in (33 cm) | 5.5 in (14 cm) | 7.8 qt | 7.4 L | 8 qt |
| 14 in (36 cm) | 6 in (15 cm) | 10 qt | 9.4 L | 10 qt |
| 16 in (41 cm) | 6.5 in (16.5 cm) | 13.8 qt | 13 L | 13 qt |
| 20 in (51 cm) | 8 in (20 cm) | 26 qt | 25 L | 20-30 qt |
Capacity climbs steeply with width. Going from a 10-inch to a 12-inch bowl adds only 2 inches across but nearly doubles the volume, from 3.3 to 6 qt. Bowls with a wide flat base hold up to about 15% more than the table shows; tall, narrow batter bowls hold more for their width as well.
How to work out a bowl's capacity
- Measure the rim diameter inside edge to inside edge, through the center.
- Measure the depth. Lay a straight edge across the rim and measure from it down to the lowest point inside.
- Apply the formula. With both in inches: quarts = 0.00907 × depth × (3 × radius² + depth²), where the radius is half the diameter. A bowl 10 in across and 4 in deep: 0.00907 × 4 × (75 + 16) = 3.3 qt. In centimeters, liters = 0.000524 × depth × (3 × radius² + depth²).
- Or measure with water. Fill from a 2-cup or 1-liter jug and count. This is exact and also tells you where the 1-quart or 1-liter mark sits, which is handy for recipes.
Standard sets and nesting sizes
Bowls are sold in nesting sets, each about 1.5 to 2 in (4 to 5 cm) wider than the next, so a set stores in the footprint of its largest bowl.
| Set | Usual capacities | Storage footprint |
|---|---|---|
| 3-piece glass or stainless | 1.5, 3, 5 qt (1.4, 2.8, 4.7 L) | About 11.5-12 in (29-30 cm) circle |
| 5-piece stainless | 0.75, 1.5, 3, 5, 8 qt | About 13 in (33 cm) circle |
| Metric set (Europe) | 1, 2, 3, 4.5 L or similar | About 28 cm circle |
| Prep bowls | 4-12 fl oz (120-350 mL) | 3.5-5 in (9-13 cm) each |
Glass and ceramic bowls have thicker walls, so a 3-quart glass bowl is about half an inch wider outside than a 3-quart stainless one and weighs several times as much. Check the rim diameter of the largest bowl against the shelf or cabinet depth: a 13-inch set will not stand upright in a 12-inch-deep wall cabinet. See the kitchen cabinet guide for standard depths.
What size bowl each job needs
Pick a bowl with at least a third of its volume to spare, more for whipping or anything that rises.
| Task | Amount | Bowl size |
|---|---|---|
| Beating 2-4 eggs, a vinaigrette, melted butter | Up to 1 cup | 1-1.5 qt |
| Whipping 1 cup of cream | Whips to about 2 cups | 2-3 qt, deep |
| Whipping 4 egg whites | Foam of about 4 cups | 3 qt or larger |
| Muffin or pancake batter | 3-4 cups | 3 qt |
| Two-layer cake batter | 5-7 cups | 4-5 qt |
| Bread dough, 500 g (4 cups) flour, rising | Doubles to about 1.5-2 L | 3-4 qt |
| Green salad for 4-6 | 8-12 cups loose leaves | 5-6 qt |
| Bread dough, 1 kg flour, or a double cookie batch | 3-4 L risen | 6-8 qt |
| Brining a chicken, big-batch salad | 4-6 qt liquid or more | 13 qt and up |
For hand mixing, wider is better than deeper: a whisk works best in a bowl at least 3 in wider than its loop. For an electric hand mixer, deeper is better because it keeps batter from spraying. Pans to bake the batter in are listed in the cake pan size chart.
Stand mixer bowl sizes
Stand mixer bowls are deeper and narrower than ordinary bowls, and each one fits only its own mixer family. KitchenAid's tilt-head and bowl-lift lines are sold by bowl size:
| Bowl | Liters | Mixer type | Typical maximum batch |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 qt | 3.3 L | Mini tilt-head | A single batch of cookies; one loaf |
| 4.5 qt | 4.3 L | Classic tilt-head | Standard single-batch recipes |
| 5 qt | 4.7 L | Artisan tilt-head; some bowl-lift | Most home recipes, two loaves |
| 5.5-6 qt | 5.2-5.7 L | Bowl-lift | Double batches, larger bread doughs |
| 7 qt | 6.6 L | Bowl-lift Pro | Big bread batches, large frosting quantities |
Check the maker's flour limit, not just the bowl size, for stiff bread doughs; motors are rated by flour weight. A small amount, such as one egg white or half a cup of cream, sits under the beater in a large bowl and will not whip properly, so a 4.5 or 5 qt bowl is the practical size for most households.
Material and shape: what changes the size you need
Good choices
- Stainless steel: light, unbreakable, and the thinnest walls, so the most capacity per inch of width.
- Glass: microwave-safe for melting butter or chocolate, and shows mixing at the bottom.
- Bowls with a pouring spout and a non-slip base for batters.
Watch out for
- Plastic: holds onto fat, which can stop egg whites from whipping.
- Copper: excellent for egg whites but reacts with acidic foods.
- Very shallow "salad" bowls: a 12-inch serving bowl may hold only 3 to 4 qt, far less than a 12-inch mixing bowl.
For storing what you mix, the food container size guide converts cups and quarts into container sizes, and the pots and pans chart uses the same quart sizes for cooking.
Frequently asked questions
How many quarts is a 9-inch mixing bowl?
A typical 9-inch bowl about 4 in deep holds 2.8 quarts (2.6 L) to the brim. Shallow 9-inch bowls hold closer to 2 quarts, deeper ones over 3.
How many quarts is a 21 cm mixing bowl?
A 21 cm (8.3 in) bowl about 9.5 cm deep holds about 2.1 L, or 2.2 US quarts. That puts it between a 2 qt and a 2.5 qt bowl.
What size is a large mixing bowl?
In most sets the large bowl is 5 quarts (4.7 L), about 11.5 in (29 cm) across. Restaurant-supply bowls labeled large are often 8 qt (13 in) or 13 qt (16 in).
What does qt mean on a mixing bowl?
Qt is the abbreviation for US quart, equal to 4 cups or 0.946 liters. Bowls may also be marked in L (liters), c (cups) or oz (fluid ounces); 1 qt = 32 fl oz.
What is a 5.5 or 6 quart bowl in liters?
5.5 US quarts is 5.2 liters and 6 quarts is 5.7 liters. In Australia and the UK, mixer bowls are listed in liters, so a 5-quart stand mixer bowl appears as about 4.7 to 4.8 L.
What size are the bowls in a 3-piece set?
Usually 1.5, 3 and 5 quarts (1.4, 2.8 and 4.7 L). Five-piece stainless sets often add a 0.75 qt and an 8 qt bowl.