Real prices from a real London baker. Everything you need to know about birthday cake costs, sizing and what to expect when you order a custom cake.
Whether you are ordering a cake for your child's first birthday, your best friend's 30th or your mum's milestone celebration, the first question is always the same: how much is this going to cost? The answer depends on several factors, but we believe in complete transparency. Here is an honest breakdown of what birthday cakes actually cost in London.
London cake prices vary by type and size. A single tier celebration cake for a birthday starts from £60. Two tier cakes start from £130 for a six and eight inch, with larger wedding tiers quoted on the design. Cupcake boxes from £30 for a dozen. Christening cakes from £60 single tier or £130 two tier. Dessert tables from £200. Every cake is made to order so the price reflects your exact design, size and delivery needs. Read our wedding cake cost London guide or browse our full range of artisan cakes in London for more detail.
| Cake Type | Serves | Typical Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cupcake box (12 cupcakes) | 12 people | £30 to £55 |
| 6 inch single tier | 10 to 15 people | £60 to £100 |
| 8 inch single tier | 20 to 25 people | £80 to £130 |
| Two tier cake | 30 to 50 people | £120 to £250 |
| Three tier showstopper | 60 to 80 people | £250 to £450 |
| Number cake (single digit) | 10 to 15 people | £70 to £100 |
| Number cake (double digit) | 20 to 30 people | £120 to £180 |
These prices are for bespoke, handcrafted cakes made from premium ingredients. Every cake is designed specifically for you, baked fresh and decorated by hand.
A supermarket birthday cake costs £10 to £30. A custom cake from an independent baker costs £60 to £300 or more. Why the difference? Because they are completely different products.
A supermarket cake is mass produced in a factory, frozen, shipped and defrosted in store. The decorations are machine applied and the flavours are limited.
A custom birthday cake is made from scratch by a real person. The sponge is baked fresh the day before delivery. The buttercream is whipped by hand. Every decoration is created specifically for your celebration. A single tier birthday cake takes 3 to 5 hours to make. A multi tier showstopper can take 10 to 15 hours.
You are not just paying for a cake. You are paying for someone's time, skill, creativity and years of experience.
Drip cakes are one of the most popular birthday cake styles. A single tier drip cake with ganache drip and simple decorations starts from around £80. Loaded drip cakes with macarons, meringues and chocolate shards typically cost £100 to £150.
Number cakes are perfect for milestone birthdays. A single digit number cake starts from £70. Double digit cakes for milestones like 18th, 30th or 50th birthdays start from £120.
Photo cakes with an edible image print start from £70 for a 6 inch cake. The photo is printed using food safe ink on edible icing paper and tastes completely neutral.
Children's themed cakes featuring characters, animals or specific designs start from £90. The more complex the design, the higher the cost. Sculpted 3D cakes are at the premium end, starting from £150 to £200.
Floral cakes with fresh flowers start from £90. Cakes with handmade sugar flowers start from £120 due to the intensive craftsmanship involved.
We get asked about this a lot. Cakes for men often feature themes like whisky bottles, sports, cars or gaming controllers. These sculptural elements tend to cost a bit more because of the modelling work involved.
Cakes for women often feature floral designs, rose gold accents and elegant buttercream finishes. These are typically in the mid range unless you add sugar flowers, which push the price higher.
When you order from Bake You Happy, the price includes:
There are no hidden costs. The price we quote is the price you pay. See our full ordering process for more details.
A custom birthday cake in London typically costs between £60 and £150 for a single tier design. Two tier cakes range from £120 to £250. Elaborate showstopper cakes with hand modelled figures start at £105 or more. Supermarket cakes start from £10 to £30 but offer no customisation.
Custom cakes are handmade from scratch by a skilled baker. Every element is created specifically for you, from the flavour and filling to the design and decorations. A bespoke cake takes 4 to 12 hours to create compared to a factory produced supermarket cake.
A children's birthday cake in London typically costs between £70 and £180. Character cakes, themed cakes and sculpted designs tend to cost more due to the detail involved. A simple buttercream cake with a printed topper is the most affordable option starting from around £60.
The price typically includes a consultation, bespoke design, premium ingredients, baking, decorating and packaging. Some bakers also include local delivery. At Bake You Happy, delivery is charged by distance from the kitchen and quoted with your cake price, so there are no surprises.
Yes. A beautiful single tier buttercream birthday cake starts from around £60 to £80. You can also get stunning cupcake boxes from £30 to £50 which make an excellent alternative to a traditional cake.
Yes. Paulina bakes in Waltham Cross and delivers birthday cakes across north east London and Essex. Collection from the kitchen is free. Delivery is charged by distance, and Paulina quotes it with your cake price so you see one total before you pay.
Send your date as early as you can. A £50 deposit secures your date, and the balance is due before delivery. If your date is close, message Paulina with the date and she will confirm the soonest date she can make your cake.
Paulina keeps a full flavour menu, and you can see the current list on our flavours page. Send the flavours you have in mind with your design ideas, and she will help you match them to the cake and the number of guests.
Tell Paulina about the birthday person, the theme and your budget. She will design something perfect.
Chat on WhatsAppEvery cake is designed from scratch, so there is no price list to pick from. Send a few details and Paulina will reply personally with ideas and a quote. It costs nothing and there is no obligation.
She reads every enquiry herself and will reply to you personally, usually within a day. Her reply will come from paulina@bakeyouhappy.co, so do add that to your contacts.
If your date is close, or you would rather just talk it through, message her on WhatsApp on 07514 660 451 and she will come back to you faster.