What size sauté pan do I need?
A 3-quart sauté pan, about 10 inches across, suits one or two. A family is better served by 4 to 5 quarts.
Sizes by household
| Cooking for | Size | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people | 3 qt | Two chicken breasts in a pan sauce, a pound of greens to wilt, cutlets for two |
| 3 to 4 people | 4 to 5 qt | Four chicken thighs braised in one layer, a pound of pasta tossed in its sauce, a one-pan dinner for four |
| 5 or more | 6 qt, or a wide braiser | Six chicken thighs in one layer, a big batch of ragù |
For food that has to brown in one layer, the flat floor matters more than the quarts.
Every size we list
| Size | Sets and pans with it |
|---|---|
| 1.5 qt | 1 product |
| 2.5 qt | 3 products |
| 2.6 qt | 2 products |
| 2.8 qt | 2 products |
| 3 qt | 26 products |
| 3.2 qt | 6 products |
| 3.3 qt | 2 products |
| 3.4 qt | 1 product |
| 3.5 qt | 6 products |
| 3.75 qt | 2 products |
| 3.8 qt | 1 product |
| 4 qt | 10 products |
| 4.5 qt | 4 products |
| 5 qt | 2 products |
| 6 qt | 1 product |
| 7 qt | 1 product |
On this page
Size the cooking job
A liquid-portion estimate is not a count of steaks or chicken pieces. The table shows the real dimensions and lids. Covered oven cooking needs both pan and lid permission.
Pans we list, measured
Only the makers' own measurements are shown. Tap a heading to sort.
12 of 12 rows
| All-Clad D3 Everyday 3-quart Sauté Pan with Lid | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 3 US qt | Not stated | 9 | 6 | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauté Pan with Lid, 3 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 20.8 in | 3 US qt | 5 lb | 9 | 6 | Included |
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauté Pan with Lid, 4 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 22.9 in | 4 US qt | 6.33 lb | 12 | 8 | Included |
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Sauté Pan with Lid, 6 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 23.4 in | 6 US qt | 8 lb | 18 | 12 | Included |
| Anolon X Hybrid Nonstick Sauté Pan with Lid, 3.5 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 3.5 US qt | Not stated | 10 | 7 | Included |
| Blue Diamond Diamond Bond Sauté Pan with lid, 4 qt | Not stated | 11 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 4 US qt | 5.2 lb | 12 | 8 | Included |
| Caraway 4.5-quart Ceramic Sauté Pan, Cream | 12 in | 12 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 21.7 in | 4.5 US qt | Not stated | 13 | 9 | Included |
| Circulon A1 ScratchDefense Nonstick Sauté Pan with Lid, 5 qt | Not stated | 11.5 in | 11 in | Not stated | 6.25 in | Not stated | 21.25 in | 5 US qt | 5.1 lb | 15 | 10 | Included |
| Heritage Steel Titanium Series 4-quart Sauté Pan with Lid | Not stated | 11 in | 9.5 in | Not stated | 4.5 in | 3 in | 21 in | 4 US qt | Not stated | 12 | 8 | Included |
| HexClad 3.3-quart Hybrid Deep Sauté Pan with Lid, TerraBond | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 3.3 US qt | Not stated | 9 | 6 | Included |
| HexClad 7-quart Hybrid Deep Sauté Pan with Lid, TerraBond | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 12.6 in | 3.5 in | Not stated | 17.3 in | 7 US qt | 4.4 lb | 21 | 14 | Included |
| Misen 3-quart Stainless Steel Sauté Pan | Not stated | 10.86 in | 9 in | Not stated | 2.76 in | Not stated | 17 in | 3 US qt | 4 lb | 9 | 6 | Included |
Flat cooking diameters to scale
Volume scale: 0–6 US qt. The blue fill shows three-quarters full, the level the portion columns use.
Estimate liquid portions from capacity using your own fill level, or measure a pan you already own.
Questions before you choose
Is a 10-inch pan 10 inches across the bottom?
No. The size on the label is usually measured across the top rim. The flat floor where food cooks is smaller, often by 2 to 3 inches on a sloped skillet.
How many servings does a pot hold?
Divide the volume you will fill by your portion size. A 4-quart pot filled three-quarters holds about twelve 1-cup servings; a single layer of chicken is a different question.