What size stockpot do I need?
An 8-quart stockpot is the everyday size: it boils a pound of pasta with room to spare and makes soup for six to eight. Go to 12 quarts for stock.
Sizes by household
| Cooking for | Size | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people | 6 qt | A pound of pasta in 4 quarts of water, soup for four |
| 3 to 4 people | 8 qt | A pound of pasta with plenty of room, chili or soup for six to eight, corn for four |
| 5 or more, or stock | 12 qt and up | Stock from a chicken carcass, a double batch of soup, crabs or lobsters |
A pound of pasta wants 4 to 6 quarts of water. Count the water, not just the food, when you size a pasta pot.
Every size we list
| Size | 8-oz servings | Sets and pans with it |
|---|---|---|
| 3.8 qt | 11 | 1 product |
| 5 qt | 15 | 14 products |
| 5.35 qt | 16 | 1 product |
| 5.6 qt | 16 | 1 product |
| 6 qt | 18 | 15 products |
| 6.1 qt | 18 | 1 product |
| 6.2 qt | 18 | 3 products |
| 6.5 qt | 19 | 3 products |
| 7 qt | 21 | 2 products |
| 8 qt | 24 | 24 products |
| 12 qt | 36 | 3 products |
On this page
Size the cooking job
The single stockpots here run from 6 to 12 quarts, and pots of the same capacity still differ in surface, weight and lid. Include the cooking water when sizing a pasta pot.
Pans we list, measured
Only the makers' own measurements are shown. Tap a heading to sort.
12 of 12 rows
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Stockpot with Lid, 6 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 6 US qt | Not stated | 18 | 12 | Included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Stockpot with Lid, 8 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 8 US qt | Not stated | 24 | 16 | Included |
| All-Clad D3 Stainless Stockpot with Lid, 12 qt | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 12 US qt | 7.03 lb | 36 | 24 | Included |
| Blue Diamond Classic Stockpot with lid, 8 qt | 9.5 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 8 US qt | Not stated | 24 | 16 | Included |
| Circulon A1 ScratchDefense Nonstick Stockpot with Lid, 8 qt | 10 in | 9 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 13.5 in | 8 US qt | 4.7 lb | 24 | 16 | Included |
| Heritage Steel Titanium Series 8-quart Stock Pot with Lid | 11 in | 9.5 in | Not stated | 6.75 in | 5.75 in | 15.25 in | 8 US qt | Not stated | 24 | 16 | Included |
| HexClad 8-quart Hybrid Stockpot with Lid, TerraBond | Not stated | Not stated | 10.2 in | 5.7 in | Not stated | 15.4 in | 8 US qt | 4.21 lb | 24 | 16 | Included |
| HexClad 12-quart Hybrid Stockpot with Lid, TerraBond | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 12 US qt | Not stated | 36 | 24 | Included |
| Made In 8-quart Stainless Clad Stockpot | 10.75 in | 9.75 in | Not stated | 5.5 in | 5.5 in | 14.5 in | 8 US qt | 4.25 lb | 24 | 16 | Included |
| Made In 12-quart Stainless Clad Stockpot | Not stated | 12.4 in | Not stated | 6.5 in | 6 in | 14.5 in | 12 US qt | 7 lb | 36 | 24 | Included |
| Misen 8-quart Stainless Steel Stockpot | 10.08 in | 8.66 in | Not stated | 6.69 in | Not stated | 13.6 in | 8 US qt | 5.29 lb | 24 | 16 | Included |
| Our Place Ceramic Nonstick Perfect Pot, 6.5 qt | 10.7 in | Not stated | Not stated | 5.5 in | Not stated | 13.8 in | 6.5 US qt | Not stated | 19 | 13 | Included |
Flat cooking diameters to scale
Volume scale: 0–12 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.