Posted by Mia Wren on 21st Jul 2026

What Size Is a 1lb Loaf Tin? UK Sizes + Air Fryer Fit

A 1lb loaf tin measures about 19cm (7.5 inches) long including the rim, with a top opening of roughly 16 x 10cm and a depth of around 6.5cm. It holds about 0.8 litres, which is a loaf made from roughly 450g of dough, giving four to six slices. The "1lb" refers to the weight of dough the tin is designed to hold, not a fixed set of measurements, so sizes vary slightly from one brand to the next.

If your recipe says "1lb loaf tin" and the tin in your cupboard came without a label, this page sorts it out: the standard UK sizes, how the 1lb compares with the 2lb, how much mixture it takes, and the one thing the 1lb does that the 2lb cannot, which is fit in an air fryer.

1lb vs 2lb loaf tin: the standard UK sizes

	1lb loaf tin	2lb loaf tin
Top opening (approx.)	16 x 10 cm	21 x 11 cm
Overall length (incl. rim)	~19 cm (7.5 in)	~25 cm (10 in)
Depth	~6.5 cm	~8 cm (3 in)
Capacity	~0.8 litres	~1.5 litres
Dough weight	~450g	~900g
Slices from a loaf	4–6	8–10

A few millimetres either way is normal. These are nominal sizes, rated by capacity rather than a tape measure, and the capacity is the number that matters when you're matching a tin to a recipe. If you're weighing up which size to own, our 2lb loaf tin size guide covers the family-sized option in the same detail.

Why it's called a "1lb" loaf tin

Nothing about the tin weighs a pound. The "1lb" is the approximate weight of dough the tin is built to hold: around 450g, which is why you'll sometimes see the same tin sold as a "450g loaf tin". They are the same thing. Recipes that give a dough or batter weight are the easiest to match: closer to 450g, use the 1lb; closer to 900g, use a 2lb.

How much mixture does a 1lb loaf tin take?

As a working rule, a 1lb tin takes a bread dough made with about 250g of flour, or a cake batter of roughly two eggs' worth of mixture. For banana bread, that's two ripe bananas and about 150g of flour, which is exactly the small-batch scale the tin is good at. Fill it no more than two-thirds full; overfilling is the usual reason a loaf domes, splits down the side, or spills over the rim.

Got a 2lb recipe and only 1lb tins? Split the mixture across two of them and knock about ten minutes off the bake, since smaller loaves cook faster. That's the thinking behind the set of two 1lb tins: two small loaves, one to eat and one for the freezer, in less time than one big one.

The 1lb tin's party trick: it fits an air fryer

This is the practical difference between the two sizes. A 2lb tin, at around 25cm long, is too big for most air fryer baskets. A 1lb tin drops into most of them, which means you can bake a proper loaf without heating the whole oven. The rule of thumb: if your basket has at least 20 x 10cm (8 x 4 inches) of usable space, a 1lb tin will fit, but measure yours before you rely on it.

Bake low and slow in an air fryer, around 160°C for 30 to 35 minutes for banana bread, with a foil tent if the top browns too fast. Our guide to banana bread in the air fryer walks through the whole method, including release and timings.

The tin in this guide

Non-Stick 1lb Loaf Tin Pan

£13.99

A true 1lb tin in heavy carbon steel, sized to fit most air fryer baskets as well as the oven. Non-stick made without PTFE or PFOA, 10-year guarantee.

View product

If you bake across both sizes, the 1lb and 2lb set covers every UK recipe for less than buying separately, and the full loaf tin range is here. Not sure what's worth paying for in a tin? Our guide to the best loaf tin in the UK covers materials, gauge and coatings, and if you've had thin tins twist in a hot oven before, here's why heavy-gauge steel doesn't warp.

How to tell what size your tin is

If your tin is unmarked, do the water test: fill it to the brim with water, then tip that into a measuring jug. Around 0.8 litres means it's a 1lb tin; around 1.5 litres means it's a 2lb. It's more reliable than measuring, because capacity is the one thing the sizing actually promises.

Frequently asked questions

What are the dimensions of a 1lb loaf tin?

About 19cm (7.5 inches) long including the rim, with a top opening of roughly 16 x 10cm and a depth of around 6.5cm. Expect small variations between brands, because tins are rated by the weight of dough they hold rather than exact measurements.

How much does a 1lb loaf tin hold?

About 0.8 litres, which is roughly 450g of bread dough or a cake batter made with two eggs. Fill it no more than two-thirds full to leave room for the rise.

Is a 450g loaf tin the same as a 1lb loaf tin?

Yes. 1lb is 454g, so "450g loaf tin" and "1lb loaf tin" are the same size under metric and imperial names, just as a 900g tin is a 2lb. Recipes use the two interchangeably.

Will a 1lb loaf tin fit in an air fryer?

In most models, yes. A 1lb tin needs about 20 x 10cm (8 x 4 inches) of usable basket space, so measure your basket before ordering. A 2lb tin, at around 25cm long, is usually too big.

Can I use a 2lb recipe in a 1lb loaf tin?

Not in one go; the tin holds half the mixture. Either halve the recipe, or split the full mixture across two 1lb tins and shorten the bake by about ten minutes, since smaller loaves cook faster.

How many people does a 1lb loaf serve?

A 1lb loaf gives four to six slices, right for a couple or a small household without half a loaf going stale. For a family loaf of eight to ten slices, use a 2lb tin.