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9×13 vs 8×8 Pan

Written by · Updated August 13, 2026

A 9×13 pan holds almost twice as much as an 8×8. Here’s how to adjust when a recipe calls for one and you have the other.

Your pan is
55% of the size

Your pan is smaller (55% of the area). The batter will sit deeper, so it bakes longer, lower the temperature 25°F and add time, or use about 55% of the batter to keep the same depth and avoid overflow.

A 9×13 pan and an 8×8 pan are not interchangeable without adjusting your recipe, because the 9×13 holds roughly twice the volume. A 9×13 covers about 117 square inches of surface, while an 8×8 covers 64, so batter spread thin across the larger pan bakes faster and comes out shorter, and the same batter piled into the smaller pan bakes taller and slower. As a rule of thumb, one 9×13 recipe equals about two 8×8 pans.

If you're scaling a 9×13 recipe down to an 8×8, use a little over half the batter and expect a slightly longer bake. Going the other way, doubling an 8×8 recipe fills a 9×13 nicely. Whenever you change pans, watch the doneness cues rather than the clock: check with a toothpick a few minutes before the original time, since a thinner layer in the bigger pan can finish surprisingly early.

How to substitute a different pan size

Pans are interchangeable when their surface area is similar. Swap to a pan within about 10% and you can keep the recipe and bake time the same. Bigger differences change how deep the batter sits, and depth, not volume, is what changes the bake time.

Common pan sizes by area

PanApprox. area
8-inch round 50 sq in
9-inch round 64 sq in
10-inch round 79 sq in
8×8 square 64 sq in
9×9 square 81 sq in
9×13 rectangle 117 sq in
11×7 rectangle 77 sq in
8½×4½ loaf 38 sq in
9×5 loaf 45 sq in
9-inch springform 64 sq in
10-inch springform 79 sq in
10×15 jelly roll 150 sq in

Rules of thumb

  • Smaller pan: batter is deeper, lower the oven 25°F and bake longer, or use less batter to avoid overflow.
  • Larger pan: batter is thinner, start checking 25–30% sooner.
  • 9×13 ≈ two 8-inch rounds ≈ two 9-inch squares in capacity.

Frequently asked questions

Can I bake a 9x13 recipe in an 8x8 pan?

Not all of it. An 8×8 holds about half the volume of a 9×13, so use a bit more than half the batter and bake any extra separately to avoid overflow.

How much longer does an 8x8 take than a 9x13?

Because the batter sits deeper, an 8×8 usually needs a few extra minutes. Start checking around the original time and test the center with a toothpick before pulling it out.

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