Cake Boards & Cake Boxes

As a cake decorator, you will want to use cake boards to put your cakes on. Cake boards are made of cardboard and are thrown away after the cake is served. They are one of my favorite cake supplies I keep on hand.

Cake Boards

Permanent boards are typically made of masonite. These types of boards are used by professional decorators for larger cakes. They are not disposable and can be reused. If you make a lot of cakes at home for your family, investing in a masonite board might be a good idea. Pick a standard size that you use a lot such as a 10x14 (for a 9x13 cake) or a 12" (for a 10" cake).


The best kind of cardboard boards for cakes to use are the waxed cardboards. However, if you are covering your board with cake foil or a doily it's not necessary to have a waxed board. The wax on the cardboard helps keep the grease from the icing from absorbing into the cardboard. Which will in turn make the board flimsy.

When picking out a cake board for your cake, remember to always get a board that is a little bit bigger then the size cake you are making. For instance, if you are making a 10" round cake, you will need a 12" round board. The reason for this is you want to have enough room for your border on the bottom of the cake.

Cake Boxes

Cake boxes are good to help keep the dust and dirt off of your cake. Also, they make traveling with a cake much easier.

When picking out a cake box, you want a box that is the same size as the board. If you are using a 12" board, use a 12" box. The cake will not hit the sides of the box because remember, your cake is a 10" cake. So, the general rule is buy a box the same size as your board.

In general, all cake boxes are either square or rectangular. Use the rectangular boxes for your sheet cakes. The square boxes hold all other shapes - square, round, heart, etc.

A typical cake box is 6" tall. There will be times when your cake is taller then the box and you cannot close the lid. It's ok. What I do is prop the lid open just so it's not hitting the top of the cake and tape it in place on the sides. Use some plastic wrap to cover the front and the sides of the cake box. Use some tape to hold it in place.