The next time you size up and order a large pizza, convince yourself it’s because you’re a smart, savvy shopper — not that you just want an excuse to eat more pizza. It turns out that ordering a large really is always the best deal.

Yes, it’s true, and it goes against all basic reason.

You’ve probably been hanging out with some friends before and decided to order two 12-inch smaller pizzas, thinking that overall you’re getting more pizza to feed the group. But not only are you probably paying more, you’re also getting less pizza.

Don’t believe it? It’s called the Pizza Equation, and ASAP Science has the math to prove it.

See also, 25 Mouthwatering Facts About Pizza.

One large, 18-inch pie actually gives you a full 28 more square inches of pizza than two small 12-inch pies. This makes the larger pizza the better deal.

This is because even though the diameter of the large pizza is less than the two smaller pizzas combined, it still has more surface area total.

Check out the math on the video. They take the square radius (half of the diameter) and multiply it by pi (or about 3.14). This means that the area of a large 18-inch pizza is 254 square inches. Do this math for two 12-inch pies, and you see you’re only getting 226 inches of pizza.

The math isn’t terribly tricky, but something about it seems to go against our quick, basic reasoning. None-the-less, it’s true.

Of course, if you’re the type of person who thinks the crust is the best part, ordering two small pizzas does, in fact, give you more crust area than one large. Something to consider.

So, if you’re looking for an excuse to flex your new found knowledge, there is always the upcoming Super Bowl. Then again, no reason at all is a good enough reason for ordering a large pizza full of cheesy goodness.


Also see, Pizza can make you more productive. 


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Meghan is a full-time writer exploring the fun facts behind food. She lives a healthy lifestyle but lives for breakfast, dessert and anything with marinara. She’s thrown away just as many meals as she’s proud of.