Small Domino’s Pizza vs. Medium Pizza: Which One to Choose?
For those who regularly order pizza from Domino’s, I feel for you because I know the struggles of deciding which pizza size to get. Should I listen to my stomach and get a small pizza or splurge a few extra dollars to get a medium one? How am I even to know which size gives me the most value for the money and what pizza to choose – small or medium Domino’s Pizza?
Spending the extra bucks for a medium Domino’s pizza gives you much more than if you just ordered a small one. That’s because the surface area of each circle increases significantly as the diameter, aka the pizza size, increases.
I understand this may be a lot to unpack in one go, so let’s examine how you can stretch your money the furthest and ensure you’re receiving the most amount of pizza you can get!
Are Two Small Domino’s Pizzas Bigger Than One Medium?
As mentioned earlier, the best way to determine pizza value is by calculating its surface area. After all, the surface area dictates how much cheesy, saucy goodness you can enjoy and how many toppings you can fit on there.
To do so, you must use a staple formula from our ole’ reliable geometry class: A = πr2, also known as the formula for the area of a circle. All you have to do is take half of the pizza’s diameter for the radius, multiply the radius by itself, then multiply it by 3.14 (the approximate, simplified value of pi).
Once you’ve done that, you’ll get the surface area of your pizza. Because Domino’s pizzas are measured in inches, the surface area will be in square inches. Here are the measurements for a small and medium-sized pizza:
- Small pizza (10-inch diameter): A = π(5)2 = 78.5 square inches
- Medium pizza (12-inch diameter): A = π(6)2 = 113.04 square inches
From these figures, you’ll see that one medium pizza has significantly more surface area than a small pizza.
Moreover, there’s only a $2 difference between the two sizes.
Still, whenever I have more mouths to feed, getting two small pizzas instead of one medium is the way to go. Two small pizzas have a combined surface area of 157 square inches versus a medium’s 113, and that’s 44 extra square inches of delicious pizza that someone else can enjoy.
The Number of Slices in Domino’s Medium Pizza
Using the same Cal-o-meter settings as earlier but with the size set to medium 12-inch, you get a serving size of one slice or ⅛ of a pizza. In other words, a Domino’s medium pizza has eight slices in total.
The Number of Slices in Domino’s Small Pizza
Though it’s not explicitly stated anywhere on Domino’s website, their calory counter will hint at the number of slices per pizza. For example, if you set their “Cal-o-meter” to a hand-tossed, small 10-inch pizza, it will tell you that the serving size is two slices or ⅓ of a pizza.
In other words, there are six slices in a small, 10-inch Domino’s pizza.
What Are the Sizes of Domino’s Pizzas?
To get a better picture of which pizza sizes suit your budget and eating habits more, here are all the available sizes for Domino’s pizzas and their respective surface areas:
- Small pizza: 10 inches or 78.5 square inches with six slices
- Medium pizza: 12 inches or 113.04 square inches with eight slices
- Large pizza: 14 inches or 153.86 square inches with eight slices
- Extra large pizza: 16 inches or 200.96 square inches with eight slices
I must point out that although Domino’s Cal-o-meter lists an “individual” pizza size of 8 inches, your local Domino’s might not offer this size. But if they do, then the surface area of an individual pizza is 50.24 square inches, offering four slices.
Should You Order Two Medium Pizzas or 1 Large Pizza?
Depending on your situation, you can answer this question in a few ways. Let’s look at each one.
You Want Variety for Yourself and a Few Others
Domino’s always has deals for ordering multiple pizzas at a discounted price, making it an attractive option for variety. Ordering two medium pizzas lets you (and a guest or two) try two different flavors instead of sticking to just one.
Although you can customize each side of one pizza, ordering one large pizza instead of two mediums only works if you and your guest don’t intend to eat more than one or two slices each.
You and Your Guests Are Hungry
If variety isn’t an issue and your main priority is feeding hungry mouths, getting two mediums is better than one large pizza. Even if we ignore the surface area for a second — 226 square inches total for two medium pizzas vs. 153 square inches for one large pizza — two medium pizzas provide 16 slices.
You’re Ordering for Yourself
If you’re the only one eating pizza and don’t have the appetite to eat several slices, one large pizza is usually a better choice. You’ll have fewer leftovers to worry about, and you can always customize your pizza to have different toppings on each side. It’s also cheaper to order one for yourself instead of two.
How Many Domino’s Pizzas to Order?
Are you ready to host people at your home but unsure how many Domino’s pizzas to order? Worry not, for I’ve created a handy table to help you decide. Remember that these numbers are based on Domino’s recommended serving size: 2 slices for a small pizza and 1 for a medium, large, or extra large.
| Number of people | Small (10-inch, 6 slices) | Medium (12-inch, 8 slices) | Large (14-inch, 8 slices) | Extra Large (16-inch, 8 slices) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 15 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| 20 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 30 | 10 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| 40 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| 50 | 17 | 7 | 7 | 7 |
However, the numbers above don’t accurately represent the total surface area of the pizza you’re getting, and all you get is a vague idea of how many pizzas to order. For instance, would seven extra large pizzas be enough for 50 people?
Instead, let’s look at the total surface area of each pizza size based on those numbers. I have a table for this, too!
| Number of people | Small (10-inch, 78.5 sq. in) | Medium (12-inch, 113.04 sq.in) | Large (14-inch, 153.86 sq.in) | Extra Large (16-inch, 200.96 sq.in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 pizza, 78.5 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total) |
| 2 | 1 pizza, 78.5 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 200.96 sq. in. total) |
| 4 | 2 pizza, 157 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 200.96 sq. in. total) |
| 5 | 2 pizza, 157 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total) | 1 pizza, 200.96 sq. in. total) |
| 15 | 5 pizza, 392.5 sq. in. total) | 2 pizza, 226.08 sq. in. total) | 2 pizza, 307.72 sq. in. total) | 2 pizza, 401.92 sq. in. total) |
| 20 | 7 pizza, 549.5 sq. in. total) | 3 pizza, 339.12 sq. in. total) | 3 pizza, 461.58 sq. in. total) | 3 pizza, 602.88 sq. in. total) |
| 30 | 10 pizza, 785 sq. in. total) | 4 pizza, 452.16 sq. in. total) | 4 pizza, 615.44 sq. in. total) | 4 pizza, 803.84 sq. in. total) |
| 40 | 14 pizza, 1099 sq. in. total) | 5 pizza, 565.2 sq. in. total) | 5 pizza, 769.3 sq. in. total) | 5 pizza, 1004.8 sq. in. total) |
| 50 | 17 pizza, 1334.5 sq. in. total) | 7 pizza, 791.28 sq. in. total) | 7 pizza, 1077.02 sq. in. total) | 7 pizza, 1406.72 sq. in. total) |
Now that you can see the total surface area, the data suddenly changes. Setting aside preferences and variety, one extra large pizza can keep up to five people happy, but 14 small pizzas are better for 40 people than five extra large pizzas. But the difference for 30 people relies on whether you want more variety or larger slices.
Again, these numbers are based on Domino’s recommended serving sizes and do not account for second helpings.
But what about costs? We can take a look at that too:
| Number of people | Small (10-inch, 78.5 sq. in) | Medium (12-inch, 113.04 sq.in) | Large (14-inch, 153.86 sq.in) | Extra Large (16-inch, 200.96 sq.in) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 pizza, 78.5 sq. in. total), $12.99 | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total), $14.99 | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total), $17.99 | 1 pizza, 200.96 sq. in. total), $18.99 |
| 2 | 1 pizza, 78.5 sq. in. total), $12.99 | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total), $14.99 | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total), $17.99 | 1 pizza, 200.96 sq. in. total), $18.99 |
| 4 | 2 pizza, 157 sq. in. total), $25.98 | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total), $14.99 | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total), $17.99 | 1 pizza, 200.96 sq. in. total), $18.99 |
| 5 | 2 pizza, 157 sq. in. total), $25.98 | 1 pizza, 113.04 sq. in. total), $14.99 | 1 pizza, 153.86 sq. in. total), $17.99 | 1 pizza, 200.96 sq. in. total), $18.99 |
| 15 | 5 pizza, 392.5 sq. in. total), $64.95 | 2 pizza, 226.08 sq. in. total), $29.98 | 2 pizza, 307.72 sq. in. total), $35.98 | 2 pizza, 401.92 sq. in. total), $37.98 |
| 20 | 7 pizza, 549.5 sq. in. total), $90.93 | 3 pizza, 339.12 sq. in. total), $44.97 | 3 pizza, 461.58 sq. in. total), $53.97 | 3 pizza, 602.88 sq. in. total), $56.97 |
| 30 | 10 pizza, 785 sq. in. total), $129.9 | 4 pizza, 452.16 sq. in. total), $59.96 | 4 pizza, 615.44 sq. in. total), $71.96 | 4 pizza, 803.84 sq. in. total), $75.96 |
| 40 | 14 pizza, 1099 sq. in. total), $181.86 | 5 pizza, 565.2 sq. in. total), $74.95 | 5 pizza, 769.3 sq. in. total), $89.95 | 5 pizza, 1004.8 sq. in. total), $94.95 |
| 50 | 17 pizza, 1334.5 sq. in. total), $220.83 | 7 pizza, 791.28 sq. in. total), $104.93 | 7 pizza, 1077.02 sq. in. total), $125.93 | 7 pizza, 1406.72 sq. in. total), $132.93 |
Again, the difference between the total surface area and their costs will make you reconsider. Is spending nearly $100 extra to give 50 people more variety and slices with 17 pizzas worth, or should you minimize costs by feeding them seven pizzas?
What Domino’s Pizzas Are the Most Popular?
With so many specialty pizzas on offer, it can be hard to pick the best one, and it gets even trickier when you have guests to feed. If creating a custom pizza is out of the question, try one of these most popular specialty Domino’s pizzas:
- Ultimate Pepperoni Pizza – If the regular pepperoni pizza isn’t cutting it, try it. You’ll get two layers of pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, all on the same slice.
- Wisconsin 6 Cheese Pizza – Cheese on bread sounds delicious, but what about six different kinds of cheese on the same bread? This pizza offers feta, provolone, cheddar, mozzarella, parmesan, and asiago on every slice.
- MeatZZa Pizza – This is your best bet if you want lots of meat and cheese. Pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, and beef are nestled between two layers of mozzarella cheese.
- ExtravaganZZa Pizza – This aptly named pizza boasts four different kinds of meat sandwiched between two layers of mozzarella cheese. Enjoy pepperoni, ham, Italian sausage, beef, onions, green peppers, mushrooms, and black olives in this truly extravagant pie.
- Pacific Veggie Pizza – Perfect for those who want a pizza without meat. Loaded with roasted red peppers, baby spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, onions, and olives, it’s a cheesy, meat-free selection without sacrificing flavor.
Can You Change the Ingredients on Domino’s Pizzas?
If you order a specialty Domino’s pizza, you still have the freedom to change the ingredients. For example, you can add black olives and diced tomatoes if you want to buy their Philly Cheese Steak pizza. Or if you want little to no mushrooms, you can edit that too.
The option might not be apparent immediately, so make sure you click “Customize” after selecting your pizza. But if you accidentally click “Add to Order” without entering your customizations, don’t worry. You still have a chance to edit the pizza from your cart; simply click on the cart and select “Edit.”
