There is no point reaching for a calculator that cannot show its working. This one starts from diameter, diameter, crust size, do you eat the crust?, price and price and reports toppings, toppings cover… and edible area, so you can see how each answer follows from the numbers you entered.
What Is the Pizza Size Calculator?
The pizza size calculator sorts out the arithmetic of diameter, diameter, crust size, do you eat the crust?, price and price so that you can concentrate on the cooking rather than the maths.
It gives you toppings, toppings cover... and edible area, which is usually the number you actually need to measure out before you start.
How to Use the Pizza Size
Fill in what you have and read off toppings, toppings cover... and edible area. If you are scaling a recipe up or down, work out the multiplier first and then multiply every quantity by it, including the ones that are not in this calculator.
Weigh rather than scoop wherever the recipe allows it. Volume measurements drift with how tightly an ingredient is packed, and that is where most recipe inconsistencies start.
Getting Consistent Results
Kitchen temperature, ingredient temperature and how long you mix all change the outcome. The calculator handles the quantities; the technique is still down to you.
If a result looks unfamiliar, check your units before you change the quantities. A factor of a hundred or a thousand is the usual culprit.
A Worked Example
Working through an example, with diameter set to 10, diameter set to 5, crust size set to 2, the calculator returns edible area of 78.5398, and edible area (area 2) of 19.635, and crust of 50.2655. Substitute your own figures and the same steps produce the same kind of answer.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to work out toppings?
Enter diameter, diameter, crust size, do you eat the crust?, price and price. The calculator then works through the relationship and reports toppings, toppings cover... and edible area.
What does the pizza size actually calculate?
It takes diameter, diameter, crust size, do you eat the crust?, price and price and converts them into toppings, toppings cover... and edible area using the standard relationship for this problem. Each step is applied in turn, so every output is traceable back to the numbers you typed in.
How should I enter diameter?
Use the value you actually have, in the unit shown next to the field. Enter every value in the same unit system. The calculator assumes the figures you supply are consistent, so it cannot correct a mistake that happens before the calculation starts.
Does anything you type get stored?
No. The whole calculation runs inside your browser, and nothing you enter is uploaded, logged or sent anywhere.
Can I use this for a quick estimate as well as a precise answer?
Yes. The calculator is built for quick checks, so round your inputs to a sensible number of significant figures and the result will be just as useful. If you need more precision, keep the same method and add digits to the inputs rather than adjusting the method itself.