How much does the average wedding cake cost?

How much does the average wedding cake cost? National wedding surveys commonly put the average wedding cake at roughly $500–$600, though your city and guest count move that a lot.

What pushes a cake above average:

• Guest count — more slices, more cost
• Fondant and hand-made sugar flowers (very labor-intensive)
• Tiers and height, especially stacked 4–5 tier designs
• Big-city bakeries in places like NYC, LA or San Francisco

What keeps it below average: buttercream, fewer tiers, fresh flowers from your florist, and a kitchen sheet cake for extra servings. If your quote is within about 20% of these numbers for your guest count, it's probably fair.