I want to make a 3 layer (not tier) cake to serve about 25-30. What cake pan  should I use? Would it be better to just make 2 cakes and layer them to make 4? Yhanks for ANY HELP!!!

AWilton.com has a chart that shows you how many servings each pan gives.

yes look up wilton wedding cake data

It's a party cake so I want to use slices. I have looked at the chart and I cannot find if I need and 8" or 9" pan. The wilton guide is also for 2 layers.

cake servings are determined by the footprint of the cake not necessarily the number of layers or by the height--you could use either size for a round cake

8" for 25 servings or less 

9" for 30 servings up to 32

most all cakes are served by the slice--not sure what you mean by that first sentence if you could elaborate on that--

sure you can bake two cakes and cut each one in half horizontally, called torting--and stack it all up to make it look like 4 layers

Personally, I'd use a 10" round with three layers to serve that many (party size slices). Better safe than sorry!

Make sure if you do three layers that your cake serving plates are large enough to hold taller slices.

A@k8mephis- I meant wedges, not wedding cake square cutting method- sorry!

AI think I will have them cut the ring in the center to serve. Thanks for all the help!! Learning on every cake!

here's what you might want to do to give yourself an idea--cut out a 9" circle out of paper--fold it in half twice and then draw 8 servings in each of those and see if that's what you want--

best to you