Bakery cutters come in mini, standard and jumbo versions, and the hole scales with the ring: smaller on the mini, 1-1/8 inch on the standard and 1-1/4 inch on the jumbo. Hand cutters for home kitchens follow the same logic at a smaller scale, so it helps to read both numbers before buying.
Beginner
How to Choose the Right Donut Cutter Size
Donut cutter size explained: common outer diameters, how the center hole changes the ring, and how to match a cutter to your portion and fryer.
The outer diameter of a donut cutter sets how big the finished ring looks, but the center hole matters almost as much, because it decides how much dough turns into holes or scraps. Home cutters mostly sit between 2.75 and a little under 4 inches across, and the right pick comes down to the portion you want and the pot you fry in.
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Where common cutter sizes and holes land
| Cutter | Outer diameter | Center |
|---|---|---|
| Hulisen 3.5 Inch Donut Cutter | 3.5 inch | 1.2 inch separate center |
| Joyangy Donut Cutter Mold | 3.86 inch | 1.42 inch hole |
| Ateco Doughnut Cutter | 3-1/2 inch | One center hole |
| R&M Donut Biscuit Cutter Combo | 2.75 inch | Removable center |
| Norpro Donut/Cookie Cutter | 2.75 inch | Removable center |
Which diameter fits your portion and your pot?
Choose the diameter from the portion you want to serve and the room your fryer or baking sheet gives you. A wider ring takes up more of the oil surface, so a pot that holds several small donuts may take only a couple of large ones.
A 3.5 inch cutter is a sensible default for a full-size ring, while the 2.75 inch size suits smaller, snack-sized donuts and the mini bagels that Norpro mentions. Whichever you pick, cutting every piece with the same tool keeps the sizes uniform, and uniform pieces cook in step with one another, which makes timing far more predictable.
Check the hole and the real measurement
A cutter with a removable center does double duty: take the center out and it cuts biscuits or cookies at the same diameter, and the center piece itself can cut small donut holes from leftover dough. Sets that include a separate small cutter, like the 1.2 inch one packed with the Hulisen, are built around that idea.
Listed sizes can run a little different from the real cutting edge, so compare the stated dimensions with the diameter you actually need. For models in each of these diameters, see the best donut cutter.