How many slices of bread are in a loaf?

Buying a loaf of bread should be a simple task, but it’s not always as easy as it seems.

When calculating how much bread you need for a specific period of time, it’s always helpful to know how much bread is in a loaf, right?

The problem is that not all breads are exactly the same. You’ll find some breads that have a lot more slices, as well as breads that have fewer slices.

Specialty breads also tend to have fewer slices than traditional sliced breads. Homemade breads may also have a different number of slices.

So how many slices does a loaf of bread have? On average, a store-bought loaf of bread will have between 20 and 24 slices of bread in a single package. However, the number of slices that end up coming out of a loaf of bread depends on a number of factors, including the type of bread, the manufacturer, and the thickness of the slices.

In this guide, we’ll take you through an explanation of how many slices of bread are in a loaf.

We will talk about the average figures, the variations of the different types and styles of bread, and even the differences that you can find with different brands. There really is a lot to know about this topic.

Stay with us to find out how many slices are in a loaf of bread.

How many slices are in a loaf of bread - The breakdown

Here’s the average number to start with, but we’ll go much deeper into these details later.

When you buy a standard loaf of sandwich bread, you will typically have between 20 and 24 slices.

Again, this is a standard sliced bread, so the number may vary. But if you just grab a loaf of bread off the shelf, that’s a pretty good estimate.

Of course, this number can vary depending on some cases, such as the thickness of the bread.

For example, a Texas toast would probably have more like 16 slices, rather than 20-24. 

The reason this number is not exact is because not all bread is made equal. Some brands make theirs differently and the slices may be made differently as well. There are many factors that can influence the number of slices.

So, we are going to break it down for you and talk about the different types of bread as a whole. Keep in mind that these figures may not be exact, but they should get you at least close.

Homemade bread

There really is nothing better than homemade bread.

Whether you use a bread maker or make traditional homemade bread, there’s something comforting and delicious about it, especially if you can enjoy a slice while it’s still warm.

Our mouths are watering just thinking about it!

Homemade bread is a little different than buying a loaf at the store. This bread is thicker and heavier. You can use it to make sandwiches or whatever you want, but you probably won’t get 20-24 slices.

The size of homemade bread can vary, but the average loaf of homemade bread weighs about 2 pounds.

Some machines allow you to make larger and smaller amounts, so it can vary by a couple of slices depending on the size of the loaf you’ve made.

You can also control the thickness of the slices, so keep in mind that your cut can also influence the number of slices you end up with.

On average, you can probably get about 12 slices from a pound loaf of homemade bread. 

In general, cutting homemade bread is a process where you will probably do it by eye and each slice will not come out perfectly the same. But that’s okay, that’s the fun of enjoying homemade bread.

French bread

French bread is a specialty of the bakery and not a traditional loaf. You can also buy other similar breads with an elongated design at the bakery.

These options can be very varied, but you should know that if you buy deli breads that are long, you can probably associate this information with those breads as well.

We cannot cover all types of charcuterie bread here, because otherwise we would be here all day.

Although we’ve referred specifically to French bread, we know that there are many styles of deli bread that have similar lengths, so the concept should really be the same.

In general, it is recommended that you try to cut French bread into slices that are about 1 ounce in size . This can be challenging unless you are weighing each slice.

French bread is naturally long and thin, so they can be sliced slightly thicker, but they don’t have to be.

Other types of deli bread that are a similar length will probably not be as thin as French bread, but the slice thickness will be similar, allowing for a similar number of slices.

traditional sliced bread

If you’re at the store picking up your favorite sliced bread, whether it’s white or wheat, they tend to be about the same for all breads and all brands.

You have generic brands, brands like Wonder, Nature’s Own, Sara Lee, and many more.

It’s impossible to say they’re all exactly the same, but what you can trust is that your traditional loaf of white or wheat bread is going to be pretty similar, even among all the different brands out there.

When we talk about wheat in these traditional sliced breads, we are not referring to whole wheat, those are usually special breads.

We are simply referring to that sleeve of sliced bread, in which you can choose white or wheat and which usually have the same length.

In these particular loaves of bread, you will find that they are around 26-28 slices in most cases.

Some experts would tell you that they only have 20-24, but what we have found is that plain white bread tends to have a few more slices compared to other types of bread.

Most standard sliced breads weigh about 20 ounces total.

They are not normally sliced very thickly and do not fall apart when sliced as such, because the processing and creation of the bread makes them less likely to fall apart than some of the other types out there.

Here are some of the more common sandwich brands you’ll find at chain supermarkets.

• Sarah Lee
• Nature’s Own
• Wonder
• great value
• Market Pantry
• Rudolph’s
• Dempsters
• Greenhouse

Honestly, this barely scratches the surface. If you look at all the grocery stores and the different brands they carry, you’ll see that there are over 200 brands of sliced bread in the US alone.

Now, while experts say that most sliced breads have between 26 and 28 slices, we’ve found that very few brands actually have that many. So here are some of the brands we named above

• Sara Lee - 22 slices
• Nature’s Own - 22 slices
• Wonder - 24 slices
• Great Value - 24 slices
• Market Pantry - 22 slices
• Rudolph’s - 24 slices
• Dempsters - 22 slices
• Greenhouse - 17 slices

You’ll see that all of them, except for Greenhouse, fall in the 20-24 range, so this number seems much more accurate and reliable.

Another thing to keep in mind with sliced breads is that some brands have slightly smaller loaf sizes. These are about 6-8 slices less than your traditional sliced bread sleeve.

Artisan or special breads

Now when you peruse the bread aisle at your grocery store, you will see some specialty breads or perhaps artisan breads. They are not traditional breads, such as white sandwich bread.

Brands like Nature’s Own, Sara Lee, Dave’s Killer Bread, and others have varieties here, but you can find other specialty brands as well. These particular options are sometimes quite sophisticated.

You will find oatmeal, multigrain and some other specialties. Sara Lee even has a line of toasted breads that contains cinnamon raisin and cinnamon swirl varieties.

These loaves are usually wider than traditional sliced bread in terms of loaf width. The bread slices are pretty similar overall, maybe just slightly thicker or denser.

What you will find is that these types of loaves are much shorter than the average sliced bread. This results in fewer slices on the bread.

For the most part, artisan and specialty breads of this type will have more like 16-20 slices of bread. 

Here are some examples. Dave’s Killer Bread is known for making specialty and usually healthier breads. Their loaves have 17 slices.

If you pick up a Sara Lee or Nature’s Own from this category, you’ll also have about 17 slices.

They can vary, but are usually within this range, so that number gives you at least a reasonable expectation of what you can consider to be in a loaf.

sourdough bread

Another popular bread option that you can buy or make is sourdough bread. It’s a bit of a special bread, but it still belongs in a different category than the artisan and specialty breads we’ve discussed above.

Due to the way sourdough bread is made, the slices weigh a little more per slice than slices of traditional bread.

This is because sourdough has gaps and holes that create space within the bread, so your slice will probably still be the same size.

Now, another thing to know about sourdough bread is that it can tend to tear or fall apart if not sliced thick enough.

For this reason, you should expect your sourdough bread to be about 1/2-inch thick per slice. If you buy sourdough bread, it may already be cut as such.

Again, it is cut into slightly thicker slices to avoid crumbling issues, as the bread is known for its hollow spaces and unique texture.

It just helps keep the bread intact and ready for action, so it doesn’t fall apart in your hands.

Sourdough bread is unique in that it goes through a fermentation process, which is where it actually gets its name from sourdough. This is what causes those hollow spaces because the bread soaks up carbon dioxide when it’s rising.

On average, a standard loaf of sourdough bread will yield approximately 24 slices. This can vary slightly depending on how you make your loaves and how big your loaf is, but this is the general expectation.

Again, this is based on a traditional sourdough loaf, which weighs 36 grams and has slices that are about 1/2-inch thick per slice. 

Rye bread

The last bread we will talk about here is rye bread. It is also a special bread, but it does not always fall into the category of artisan and special bread.

It is usually a fairly dense bread, so it is cut thinner, but the loaf can be short compared to sliced breads.

With this in mind, rye bread typically yields about 24 slices from a standard loaf . This is because the bread can be sliced thin and does not fall apart or fall apart.

Rye bread is dense and slightly heavy, so it keeps well and a little goes a long way.

Related questions

We hope you find this guide to understanding how many slices of bread are in a loaf a valuable resource.

Our goal is that even if you don’t know the exact number of slices, you will have a rough estimate based on the type of bread you make or buy.

Now, we invite you to take a look at the following section of questions and answers for additional information that may be useful to you.

How many English muffins are in a package?

When you buy a standard package of English muffins, they don’t have much content.  The standard pack of English muffins only contains 6 English muffins.

With this in mind, you can find packages that have 8 or even 12 English muffins, but the standard quantity is 6.

How many buns are in a package?

Muffins come in different shapes and also in different amounts. If you pick up a bag of bagels from the supermarket shelf, the standard number of bagels you will receive is 6 in a package.

Again, this can vary depending on the brand and even where you buy them.

For example, there are some brands where you can get a dozen bagels, but this is not typical of a standard bagel.

Along these lines, there are now also mini rolls, which usually come in a bag of 12 rolls.

How many buns are in a package?

When you buy hot dog or hamburger buns, they usually have 8 buns per package. This is the traditional size of packets.

As with other bread products, you can sometimes find larger packages, and you can buy packages of a dozen instead of 8.