These Cake Stands Won't Let You Down

These cake stands are so much more than just a pretty base—they're also sturdy and balanced.

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Updated Jul. 22, 2022

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A slice of chocolate olive oil cake on a plate, next to the full cake on a cake stand — Photographs: Vicky Wasik

A few weeks ago, I was in charge of making the dessert for a dinner party. Desserts haven't always been my strong suit, but I was armed with enough BraveTart recipes to feel confident I could get the job done.

In the end, I chose Stella's chocolate skillet cake with milk-chocolate ganache frosting, which I had made before to rave reviews. Plus, it's very simple to throw together—it's all done in one skillet!

After following all the directions and topping the cake with a flutter of chocolate curls and pearls, it really looked fantastic. But when it came time to serve, I slipped it onto a bare white ceramic plate, and suddenly its grandeur felt muted. What it needed was a cake stand, and I didn't own one.

The cake was devoured, and all the dinner-party guests were thrilled, but still, I decided it was high time I bought a cake stand. And who better to ask about what to look for than the cake queen herself?

I sat down with Stella to learn the most important characteristics of the best cake stands. It's best to consider function first, but don't neglect prettiness, since people feast with their eyes first. Below are some guidelines to follow when you're shopping for a reliable cake stand, along with a few recommendations.

Prioritize Stability Over Cuteness

A slice of chocolate cherry layer cake on a plate, next to the rest of the cake on a cake stand

With cake stands, heavier is better. According to Stella, a good one should weigh at least two pounds. You don't want it to be top-heavy, lest it tip over, but evenly weighted throughout. A good center of gravity will save you from the potential disaster of watching your precious chocolate cherry layer cake fall to the floor.

Consider Diameter

A slice of double-strawberry cake with strawberry frosting, next to the rest of the cake on a cake stand

Our favorite cake pans are eight inches in diameter, so we like stands that are at least 10 inches across, leaving a one-inch margin all around the cake. This will give you plenty of room to pipe a border or some pretty rosettes along the edges of your double-strawberry cake.

Keep It Flat

Overhead shot of a slice of olive oil cake on a plate, topped with fruit and nuts, next to the rest of the cake on a cake stand

Some cake stands dome up in the middle where the pedestal meets the stand; others are concave at this point. Both of these situations make for tricky placing and slicing. The flatter, the better.

A Few of Our Favorites

Target Marble-and-Acacia-Wood Cake Stand

Project 62

View On Target

This super-affordable cake stand from Target checks all the boxes: It's heavy, evenly balanced, and it looks great. The marble top provides a flat surface for your cake, and the wooden bottom makes a nice, rustic-looking base.

Le Creuset Stoneware Cake Stand

Amazon

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When you're looking for a piece of cooking or baking equipment that's both beautiful and functional, Le Creuset should always be at the top of your list. We originally ordered this cake stand last year to test for Mother's Day gifts, and since then, we've used it constantly in photo shoots because it's just that good. It comes in a bunch of colors, but we're really on a pink kick these days.

Crate and Barrel Form Pedestal Cake Stand

Crate and Barrel

View On Crate & Barrel

This cake stand is plain, but that's a good thing! It will match nearly any table-scape/table decor, and the wide base and top means that it can hold larger cakes. It's also only $20 (at time of writing).

West Elm Marble-and-Brass Cake Stand

West Elm

View On West Elm

When I'm looking for well-made and on-trend accessories, I trust West Elm with my life. This marble-and-brass cake stand is super heavy and well balanced, and it looks like it'd fit right into a Vogue spread. In contrast with the Beck pedestal, the brass bottom here is brushed, for a subtler finish, and shaped like a thick cone. It's just as sturdy, but a little less flashy.

Pottery Barn Jupiter Beaded Glass Cake Stand

Pottery Barn

View On Pottery Barn

This gorgeous glass cake stand comes in two sizes: 8 1/2 inches and 13 1/2 inches. We would spring for the larger one, since our favorite can pan is 8-inches and it's nice to have the extra room around the cake.

FAQs

Do you need a cake stand?

That's up to you, in the end. But we do think that a cake stand often makes serving a cake easier (the top part is is often flat, making it easier to cut and serve cake). Plus, they just look nice!