What Size Casserole Dish Is 2 Quarts? Sizes and Capacities

Quick answer: What size casserole dish is 2 quarts? The standard answer is an 11 x 7 inch rectangular dish, which University of Tennessee Extension calls a 2 quart casserole. An 8 x 8 inch square can also hold 2 quarts if it is about 2.5 inches deep, like Pyrex’s 8 inch square. Two quarts is 8 cups, and a 9 x 13 is 3 quarts.

The catch is depth. Two dishes with the same footprint can hold very different amounts.

That’s why recipes and charts sometimes disagree. I’d trust the label on the bottom of the dish first, and a measuring cup second.

What Size Casserole Dish Is 2 Quarts? Sizes at a Glance

Dish	Dimensions	Typical capacity	Source
Rectangle (oblong)	11 x 7 inches	2 quarts	UT Extension; Pyrex sells a 2QT 7 x 11 inch dish
Square, standard	8 x 8 inches	About 1.5 quarts	UT Extension
Square, about 2.5 in deep	8 x 8 x 2.5 inches	2 quarts	Pyrex Sculpted 8 inch square
Square, deep	8 x 8 x 2.7 inches	2.6 quarts	Pyrex Deep 8 inch square
Rectangle, deep	7 x 11 x 2.75 inches	3 quarts	Pyrex Deep 7 x 11
Rectangle	9 x 13 inches	3 quarts	UT Extension; Pyrex Easy Grab
Rectangle, deep	9 x 13 x 3 inches	5 quarts	Pyrex Deep 9 x 13
Round cake pan	9 x 2 inches	About 8.8 cups	King Arthur Baking

Pyrex notes that all its measurements are approximate. Use the table as a guide, then check your own dish.

How Many Cups Are in a 2 Quart Casserole Dish?

Eight. University of Tennessee Extension puts it simply: a 1 quart dish holds 4 cups, so a 2 quart dish holds 8 cups.

That’s the dish filled to the rim, though. The same extension article reminds you to leave room at the top so the casserole can bubble without spilling. In practice, I’d plan on about 6 to 7 cups of food in a 2 quart dish.

Is an 8x8 Pan 2 Quarts?

Sometimes. It depends on how deep it is.

UT Extension says an 8 inch square baking dish generally holds 1.5 quarts. But Pyrex lists its Sculpted 8 inch square, which is 2.5 inches high, at 2.0 quarts, and its Deep 8 inch square, at 2.7 inches high, at 2.6 quarts. King Arthur Baking calculates an 8 inch square pan that is 2 inches deep at about 128 cubic inches, or 8.8 cups.

My take: an 8 x 8 can work for a 2 quart recipe, but only if it’s on the deeper side. A shallow one will overflow.

What Changes the Number

Three things move a dish’s real capacity.

1. Depth. This matters most. One extra half inch of wall height on an 8 x 8 dish adds roughly 32 cubic inches, which is about 2 cups.
2. Sloped sides. Most glass and ceramic dishes taper toward the bottom, so the base is smaller than the rim measurement suggests.
3. Rim vs working capacity. Labels usually describe the full dish. Your recipe needs headroom.

How to Measure Any Dish

If your dish isn’t marked, UT Extension’s advice is to measure it with water. Here’s how I’d do it:

1. Set the dish on a flat counter.
2. Pour in water 1 cup at a time, counting as you go.
3. Stop when it reaches the rim.
4. Divide the cups by 4 to get quarts.

Got 8 cups or a bit more? That’s a 2 quart dish.

Swapping Dish Sizes in a Recipe

A 2 quart dish is about two-thirds of a 9 x 13. UT Extension suggests an 8 inch square about 2 inches deep for half of a standard 9 x 13 casserole recipe, and King Arthur Baking uses a 0.5 conversion factor to scale a 9 x 13 recipe down to an 8 inch square.

Surface area matters too. UT Extension points out that a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan holds about the same volume as an 8 x 8 x 2 inch pan, yet makes a poor casserole because there is less surface for the crunchy topping. It also says a thinner layer bakes faster, so a casserole moved from an 8 inch to a 9 inch square needs a little less time.

Using a glass dish? Read can a Pyrex bowl go in the oven first, because Pyrex’s preheating rules apply to its baking dishes too. Enameled cast iron casseroles follow different limits, covered in can a Le Creuset go in the oven. More guides are in baking and canning.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Dimensions of a 2 Quart Baking Dish?

Most 2 quart baking dishes measure 11 x 7 inches. Some 8 x 8 inch squares about 2.5 inches deep also hold 2 quarts.

Is a 9x13 Pan 2 Quarts?

No. UT Extension calls a 9 x 13 inch dish a 3 quart casserole, and Pyrex sells its standard 9 x 13 glass dish as 3 quarts. Deep versions hold even more; Pyrex’s Deep 9 x 13 holds 5 quarts.

Can I Use a 9x13 Dish for a 2 Quart Recipe?

You can, but the layer will be thin and cook faster. Check it early, since a shallower casserole bakes more quickly, according to UT Extension.

How Many Servings Does a 2 Quart Casserole Make?

That depends on the recipe. UT Extension suggests making half a 9 x 13 recipe in an 8 inch square for a household of 1 to 3 people, which is a useful rule of thumb for a 2 quart dish too.

Last updated: November 10, 2026. Sources: University of Tennessee Extension: casserole dishes (PDF), Pyrex Sculpted 8 inch square baking dish, King Arthur Baking: scaling recipes between pans and King Arthur Baking: why baking pan size matters.