N
The Daily Insight

What are standard cooking pot sizes?

Author

Jessica Cortez

Updated on April 05, 2026

Saucepan Sizes: What Is Available There are four standard sizes: 1-quart, 2-quart, 3-quart, and 4-quart.

What size is a large pot?

A stockpot is typically the largest pot in the kitchen. You can buy them in sizes starting at 8 quarts, which is a fine size for cooking pasta, but for a great multipurpose, large pot, we recommend a 12-quart.

How many Litres is a normal saucepan?

A standard large saucepan measures 20 cm from one side to the other (the diameter). This is the most important measurement to know. When it comes to volume, a 20-cm (8-inch) saucepan can hold 4 quarts of liquid (about 4.5 litres).

What size is a small pot?

Pot SizePot Diameter (Top)Pot Diameter (Base)
1 Litre13.0cm10.0cm
2 Litre17.0cm12cm
3 Litre19.0cm13cm
4 Litre20.0cm15.5cm

What is a big pot called?

Stockpot
The Stockpot is a large, deep pot with a flat bottom. It is used to cook liquid foods that do not need to be extremely close to the heat source. Stockpots let you sauté or brown, and then add liquids when making stocks, soups, or stews.

What is a large cooking pot called?

Stock Pot. The Stockpot is a large, deep pot with a flat bottom. It is used to cook liquid foods that do not need to be extremely close to the heat source.

How big is a 12 qt pot?

Overall Dimensions: Top Diameter: 11 1/2 Inches. Height: 7 1/4 Inches. Capacity: 12 qt.

What is a large heavy saucepan?

A heavy-bottomed saucepan is a saucepan with a thicker base than other saucepans. There’s no exact definition, but if the base of your saucepan is noticeably thicker than the sides, it is “heavy-bottomed”. You might not think a thicker base on a saucepan makes much difference.

What does a large saucepan look like?

A saucepan has a distinct shape: It’s deep with high sides and straight edges, and usually features a long handle and, quite often, a lid. It can come in many sizes, though usually you’ll see 2-3 quart saucepans. It’s smaller than a stockpot or a dutch oven but is much deeper and usually less wide than a frying pan.

What are small cooking pots called?

Wok. These small-bottomed, fluted-edge pans are typically used for Asian cuisine. They heat up quickly for stir-fried dishes, but you can also use them for steaming dumplings or deep-frying food.

How do you know what size pot to get?

When choosing a pot, choose a pot that is 1-2” larger than the current size if the plant is currently in a 10” pot or smaller. If your current pot size is >10”, choose a pot that is 2-3” larger in diameter.

What are the different sizes of pots?

Pot Size. All standard pots, from the smallest to the largest, are alike in that the depth equals the diameter at the rim. standard pot sizes. Most types of pot are available in sizes ranging from a diameter of about 3cm to a diameter of about 2cm step-ups throughout the range from 8-22cm.

What is the volume of a pan?

Pan capacity (volume) can be calculated by pouring water to the inside rim using a liquid measure. A 1/4 sheet cake pan is approximately 13″ x 9″ x 2″ deep, and its volume is 12 cups.

What is the size of a stock pot?

Stock pots typically come in sizes ranging as small as 6 qt. to as large as 20-qt. before getting into commercial sizes. Stock pots need to be larger than your soup pot because you usually make a larger batch of stock than you do soup but there is no reason to buy two separate pots.