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Cast Iron Skillet Sizes: Rim is 0.43–0.81 in Wider Than the Cooking Surface

Rim diameter, cooking surface diameter, depth, and weight from Lodge Cast Iron product pages (lodgecastiron.com, checked 2026-10-04). Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillets (L-series). No ads, no affiliate links on this page beyond the Amazon product links at the bottom.

Drawn to the same scale

Dimensions side by side

Rim diameter = Lodge's published "Width" for each variant. Cooking surface = Lodge's published "Cooking Surface Length" or "Cooking Surface Width" (the wider of the two dimensions listed, which matches the nominal size). Model numbers in parentheses from Lodge product page variant data. Millimeters converted at 1 in = 25.4 mm, rounded to the nearest mm. Weight and depth from Lodge product pages. ~8 in and ~9 in cooking surface: Lodge lists two cooking surface dimensions (length and width) that differ by ~0.4 in, indicating the cooking surface is not a perfect circle; the nominal size is used as the approximate cooking surface diameter.

What the numbers mean

The nominal size of a cast iron skillet (8, 10.25, 12 in) refers to the cooking surface, not the rim. On Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillets, the rim is 0.43 to 0.81 in wider in diameter than the cooking surface. The sloped side walls account for this gap.

For stovetop use, the relevant dimension is the cooking surface, not the rim. The 10.25 in skillet's cooking surface of 10.25 in (260 mm) fits over one standard burner ring on most US gas ranges (burner diameter is typically 9–10 in). The rim extends 0.43 in beyond the cooking surface on each side, so the 10.68 in rim fits within a standard 12 in burner grate.

For oven use, the rim diameter determines whether the skillet fits on a rack. The 12 in skillet's rim of 12.56 in (319 mm) requires a rack interior of at least 13 in. Most full-size home ovens have interior widths of 19–25 in, so all four sizes fit. Toaster ovens vary; check the interior width before buying a 12 in or 15 in skillet.

The 15 in skillet at 12.3 lb is the heaviest in the Lodge lineup. Its 14.5 in (368 mm) cooking surface is wide enough for large whole chickens or a full rack of ribs. The rim of 15.0 in (381 mm) is the published "Width" — not the cooking surface — so the skillet itself measures 15 in across the top.

FAQ

What are the dimensions of a 10.25 inch Lodge cast iron skillet?

A Lodge 10.25 inch cast iron skillet has a rim (outer) diameter of 10.68 in (271 mm). The cooking surface diameter is 10.25 in (260 mm). Overall length including the handle is 16.12 in (409 mm). Depth is 2.0 in (51 mm). Weight is 5.66 lb.

What is the cooking surface of a 12 inch Lodge cast iron skillet?

The Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet has a cooking surface of 11.75 in (298 mm). The rim (outer) diameter is 12.56 in (319 mm). The 0.81 in difference between rim and cooking surface is taken up by the sloped walls. Depth is 2.25 in (57 mm) and weight is 7.69 lb.

How much smaller is the cooking surface compared to the rim on a cast iron skillet?

On Lodge Classic Cast Iron Skillets, the cooking surface is 0.5 to 0.81 in smaller in diameter than the rim. The 8-inch model has a rim of 8.68 in and a cooking surface of about 8 in (0.68 in difference). The 10.25-inch has a rim of 10.68 in and cooking surface of 10.25 in (0.43 in difference). The 12-inch has a rim of 12.56 in and cooking surface of 11.75 in (0.81 in difference). The gap comes from the sloped side walls of the skillet.

What Lodge skillet fits a standard 12-inch round pizza?

A 12-inch pizza fits entirely inside the Lodge 12 inch cast iron skillet. The cooking surface measures 11.75 in (298 mm) in diameter, which is just under 12 in. A standard 12-inch pizza (30 cm) will rest at the cooking surface diameter — the sloped walls and 12.56 in (319 mm) rim provide clearance. The Lodge 15 inch skillet (14.5 in cooking surface) gives more margin.

All size comparisons

See also: Sheet Pan Sizes: Full, Half, and Quarter — standard baking sheet dimensions from USA Pan and Nordic Ware. 2×4 Lumber: Nominal vs Dressed Dry Dimensions — another case where the nominal name is larger than the actual measurement.

Sources

• 8 in (L5SK3): rim width 8.68 in, cooking surface 7.93 × 8.31 in, depth 1.87 in, weight 3.44 lb. Lodge Cast Iron, "Classic Cast Iron Skillet" product page, 8 in variant (lodgecastiron.com/collections/skillets/products/round-cast-iron-classic-skillet, checked 2026-10-04).
• 9 in (L9OG3): rim width 9.68 in, cooking surface 8.81 × 9.31 in, depth 1.87 in, weight 4.17 lb. Lodge Cast Iron, same product page, 9 in variant (lodgecastiron.com/collections/skillets/products/round-cast-iron-classic-skillet, checked 2026-10-04).
• 10.25 in (L8SK3): rim width 10.68 in, cooking surface 10.25 × 10.31 in, depth 2.0 in, weight 5.66 lb. Lodge Cast Iron, same product page, 10.25 in variant (lodgecastiron.com/collections/skillets/products/round-cast-iron-classic-skillet, checked 2026-10-04).
• 12 in (L10SK3): rim width 12.56 in, cooking surface 11.75 × 12.31 in, depth 2.25 in, weight 7.69 lb. Lodge Cast Iron, same product page, 12 in variant (lodgecastiron.com/collections/skillets/products/round-cast-iron-classic-skillet, checked 2026-10-04).
• 13.25 in (L12SK3): rim width 13.75 in, depth 2.81 in, weight 10.5 lb. Lodge Cast Iron, same product page, 13.25 in variant (lodgecastiron.com/collections/skillets/products/round-cast-iron-classic-skillet, checked 2026-10-04).
• 15 in (L15SK3): rim width 15.0 in, cooking surface 14.5 in, depth 2.5 in, weight 12.3 lb. Lodge Cast Iron, same product page, 15 in variant (lodgecastiron.com/collections/skillets/products/round-cast-iron-classic-skillet, checked 2026-10-04).