Packaging Cake for Selling: Cost per Box and Margin

On this page

1. What a cake box actually has to do
2. What each piece costs per cake
3. The worked example: one 8 inch cake
4. Mistakes that cost you money
5. What to check before you buy in bulk

Packaging cake for selling is often the last thing priced and the first thing the buyer sees. A cake that slides in the box or sticks to the lid costs you a repeat order. Here is what to buy, what it costs per cake, and how to fold it into your price.

What a cake box actually has to do

A cake box has three jobs. It has to hold the cake still, keep the frosting clear of the sides and the lid, and survive a car ride. A pretty box that fails at any of those costs you more than the box did.

Start from the bottom. A cake board or a stiff cardboard round gives you something to lift the cake by, so your hands never touch the frosting. The box goes over the top, and the label goes on the lid where it is read first.

Think about how the box looks on a table. A window shows the cake and sells the next order. A solid lid hides the cake but travels better and costs less. Pick one and stay with it so your orders look the same every week.

What each piece costs per cake

Your packaging cost per cake is everything that leaves with the order. That means the box, the board, the label, the tape, and the bag or ribbon if you use one. Write each one down and add them up.

Take the case price and divide by the number of pieces in the case. That gives you the cost of one box. Do the same for boards and labels. The per-cake number is what goes into your price, and it is the number you check when a supplier raises prices.

Keep the math with the recipe. When you know the cost of one cake and the cost of its packaging, you can price a new size in a minute. The guide to calculating cost for a cake walks through the four steps if you have not done it yet.

For a wider look at boxes, bags, and labels across everything you bake, see packaging for baked goods.

1. 1

   Chill the cake first

   A firm cake holds its shape while you move it. Box it once it has cooled and set, not straight from the decorating table.

2. 2

   Set it on the board

   Center the cake on the board so there is an even lip on every side. That lip is what you lift.

3. 3

   Lower the box over the top

   Do not slide the cake into the box. Lower the box down over the cake so nothing drags across the frosting.

4. 4

   Seal the box

   Tape the box shut so the lid cannot lift in the car. A lid that pops open is a remake.

5. 5

   Label the lid

   Put your label on the top, where the buyer reads it first. Add the pickup or delivery date so the right cake goes out.

The worked example: one 8 inch cake

Say you sell an 8 inch cake for $55. Ingredients cost $6.00. The box, board, and label add $1.80. You spend 1.5 hours on the cake and pay yourself $15 an hour, which is $22.50. Overhead, meaning power, gas, and your Brevl plan at $20 a month spread across your orders, adds about $1.20. Total cost is $31.50. Your margin is $23.50, about 43 percent of the price.

Now take the packaging out. The same cake at $55 costs $29.70 and leaves $25.30. That $1.80 looks small on one cake. Sell 40 cakes a month and it is $72, which is more than three months of your Brevl plan.

Mistakes that cost you money

The third one is buying the cheapest box. A thin box that buckles in the car means a remake, and a remake costs you the whole cake, not just the box. Pay for the box that protects the cake.

Keep a note of what you paid for the last case. When you reorder, you will see the change right away, and you can adjust your price before the margin slips.

What to check before you buy in bulk

Measure the cake, not the pan. A cake that is 8 inches across the top can be wider at the base once it is frosted. Check the height too, because a tall cake needs a taller box.

Check your state’s rules on what has to be on the label before you print a big run. What goes on the label is set by your state, so check your own before you order. The requirements for selling baked goods from home guide covers what to look for.

Then think about delivery. Packaging that travels well is what lets you charge a delivery fee without worrying about the cake. The cake delivery fee math guide shows how to set that fee.

Store the boxes flat and dry. Cardboard that sits in a damp garage loses its shape, and a warped box does not close properly. Keep one shelf for packaging so you always know what you have.

If you sell more than cake, the same thinking applies to everything else on your table. The guides on selling baked goods from home collect the pricing and packaging pages in one place.

• Cake Price List: What to Charge for 6, 8, and 10 Inch Cakes
• How to Package Bagels for Selling: Bags, Labels, and Cost
• Tips for Selling Baked Goods From Home: Price and Profit

Common questions

How much should I budget for cake packaging per order?

Work it out from your own case prices. Add the box, the board, the label, and any tape or bag, then divide by the number of cakes in the case. Keep that number next to your recipe cost so it goes into every quote you send.

Do I need a special box for a frosted cake?

You need a box tall enough that the lid does not touch the frosting, and a board under the cake so you can lift it. A standard bakery box works if the height is right. Measure your tallest finished cake before you order.

Should packaging be a separate charge on my price list?

You can fold it into the cake price instead of listing it as its own line. A separate line invites the buyer to ask you to skip it, and the cake still has to travel in something. Build it into the price.

What if my state requires wording on the label?

Check your own state's rules for selling baked goods from home before you print labels, because what has to be on it is set by your state. Print a small batch first, then order the rest in one run so every label matches.

Can I use the same box for cupcakes and cake?

Only if the height works for both. A cupcake box is usually shallower, and a frosted layer cake needs more headroom. Measure the tallest thing you sell, then buy one box size that clears it. Fewer sizes means less to store.

General information, not legal or tax advice. Check your own state's rules for selling baked goods from home.