Deals like “two medium pizzas” often give less pizza than one large. Comparing total area makes the trade-off obvious.
How to use the Pizza Comparison Calculator
- Option A diameter
- Option A – number of pizzas
- Option A – price per pizza
- Option B diameter
- Option B – number of pizzas
- Option B – price per pizza
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Enter the diameter, number and price of each option.
Tips
- Order by area, not by diameter: a 16″ pizza has almost twice the area of a 12″ one.
- Plan about 3 slices per adult for a meal, more for big appetites and teenagers.
- For homemade pizza, cold-ferment the dough for 24–72 hours for better flavour.
- Preheat the oven and the stone or steel for at least 45 minutes.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Comparing prices per pizza instead of per square inch.
- Forgetting that a thick crust eats into the topping area of a small pizza.
- Over-topping homemade pizza, which leaves the middle soggy.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Option A diameter | Units: in, cm |
| Option A – number of pizzas | A number |
| Option A – price per pizza | Amount in your currency |
| Option B diameter | Units: in, cm |
| Option B – number of pizzas | A number |
| Option B – price per pizza | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Option A total area = [Option A – number of pizzas]×pi×([Option A diameter]÷2)^2
- Option B total area = [Option B – number of pizzas]×pi×([Option B diameter]÷2)^2
- Option A total price = [Option A – number of pizzas]×[Option A – price per pizza]
- Option B total price = [Option B – number of pizzas]×[Option B – price per pizza]
- Option A per square inch = [Option A total price]÷([Option A total area]÷6.4516)
- Option B per square inch = [Option B total price]÷([Option B total area]÷6.4516)
- Difference in total area (B vs A) = ([Option B total area]÷[Option A total area] – 1)×100
Formula
Total area = number × π × (d ÷ 2)²
Price per in² = total price ÷ total area
Savings = (price per in² of the dearer option − cheaper) × area you need
Worked example
Inputs — Option A diameter: 12 in; Option A – number of pizzas: 2; Option A – price per pizza: $11; Option B diameter: 16 in; Option B – number of pizzas: 1; Option B – price per pizza: $19.
Results — Option A total area = 226 in²; Option B total area = 201 in²; Option A total price = $22.00; Option B total price = $19.00; Option A per square inch = $0.097; Option B per square inch = $0.094; Better value = Option B; Difference in total area (B vs A) = -11 %.
Frequently asked questions
Are two medium pizzas more than one large?
Two 12 in pizzas (226 in²) are less than one 18 in (254 in²) but more than one 16 in (201 in²).
How do I know which deal is better?
Compare the price per square inch.
Why do bigger pizzas cost less per inch?
Dough, labour and oven time don't grow as fast as area.