Cast Iron Sizing Chart

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Cast Iron Skillet Sizing Guide: What "#8", "#10", and "#12" Actually Mean in Inches

If you look at vintage cast iron pans or modern European brands like Le Creuset and Victoria, you will often see numbers like #3, #8, or #10 stamped on the bottom or handle. Beginners often assume these numbers stand for inches or centimeters—leading them to accidentally buy a tiny pan or a monster griddle that won't fit on their stove burner.

Here is what those traditional numbers actually mean and how to pick the right size for your cooking style.

1. The Origin of Cast Iron Numbers (Wood Stove Eyes) 

Those numbers date back to 19th-century wood-burning kitchen stoves. Stoves had circular cast-iron lids called "eyes" (numbered #3, #7, #8, #10, etc.). A #8 skillet was literally designed to drop right into the #8 hole of a wood-burning cookstove so the flames licked the sides of the pan directly.

2. The Modern Inch Translation Chart

 Today, manufacturers have largely transitioned to measuring pans by their top rim diameter in inches, but the old numbers still linger. Use this quick reference guide:

• #3 Skillet (6.5 Inches): Great for frying a single egg, melting butter, or baking single-serving skillet cookies.

• #5 Skillet (8 Inches): Perfect for sauteing side veggies, making a two-egg omelet, or reheating single portions.

• #8 Skillet (10.25 Inches): The universal workhorse. If you can only own one cast iron pan, make it a 10-inch (#8). It holds a standard pack of bacon, four chicken breasts, or a family-size batch of cornbread.

• #10 Skillet (11.75 to 12 Inches): The heavy-duty family size. Ideal for searing large steaks, whole spatchcocked chickens, or feeding 4 to 6 people. (Note: It gets heavy when loaded down, weighing roughly 7 to 8 pounds empty).

3. How to Measure Your Stove Burners First 

Before buying a 12-inch (#10/12) skillet, measure your largest stovetop burner (especially on glass-top or electric coil stoves). If your heating element is only 6 inches wide, a 12-inch pan will create massive hot and cold rings across the base, leading to uneven cooking and warped metal. Match your skillet size to your primary burner size!

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