October 05, 2026
Stock Pot Sizes: What 22 cm, 26 cm and 28 cm Mean in Quarts
A 22 cm stockpot and an 8 qt stock pot can be two different pots, because one number describes the width of the rim and the other describes how much the pot holds. Here is the cm-to-inch conversion for the sizes you see most often, the real capacity of the Ciwete stock pot range from 5.2 qt to 20 qt, and how to pick the one your cooking actually needs.
Stock pots are sold two ways - by rim diameter in centimetres, which is what most European and Asian listings quote, and by capacity in quarts, which is what US listings quote - and neither number on its own tells you what the pot will do. A 22 cm stockpot is 8.7 in across the rim; how much it holds depends on how deep it is. Read both figures and you can compare pots across marketplaces without guessing, then pick capacity by the batch size you cook rather than by the picture.
Why the same pot gets two different numbers
Rim diameter is a footprint measurement: it tells you how much hob space the pot claims and whether it fits through the cabinet door. Capacity is a volume measurement: it tells you how much stock, soup or pasta water fits inside before the pot boils over. Manufacturers quote whichever one their market expects, and retailers often carry the original listing verbatim, which is why a search for "22cm stockpot" and a search for "8 qt stock pot" can land you on pots of very different sizes.
Converting between the two only fixes half the problem. The diameters below are exact conversions, but remember that depth is not part of the number: a 22 cm (8.7 in) pot that is 20 cm deep holds noticeably more than a 22 cm pot that is 15 cm deep. Use the diameter to check fit, and the litre or quart figure to check volume.
| Rim diameter (cm) | Inches | What that width suits |
|---|---|---|
| 20 cm | 7.9 in | Small-batch sauce and grain pots, single portions |
| 22 cm | 8.7 in | Soup for two or three, side-dish quantities |
| 24 cm | 9.4 in | The common middle size for everyday family cooking |
| 26 cm | 10.2 in | Family batches, pasta water, a small stock |
| 28 cm | 11.0 in | Large batches, seafood boils, big-batch braising |
| 30 cm | 11.8 in | Entertaining sizes; check the hob ring fits underneath |
What the Ciwete stock pot range actually holds
Ciwete lists its stainless stock pots by capacity, so the sizes map onto real volumes rather than a picture. All five capacities convert back to litres at 1 qt = 0.946353 L, and the page figures below are the ones printed on the product pages.
| Stock pot | Litres | Cups | Cooking it covers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2 qt | 4.92 L | about 21 cups | Soup and pasta for two or three, simmering sauces, cooking seafood |
| 8 qt | 7.57 L | 32 cups | Four to six people, slow simmers, lobster and crab, everyday use |
| 11 qt | 10.41 L | 44 cups | Larger households, stews and simmering in quantity, pasta for a crowd |
| 12 qt | 11.36 L | 48 cups | Eight to ten people, a full batch of stock or chilli, entertaining |
| 20 qt | 18.93 L | 80 cups | Large-batch soups and stocks, party portions, seasonal preserving |
The clearest sizing guidance in the range comes from Ciwete's own product copy: the 8 qt size is described as right for four to six people, and the 12 qt size for eight to ten. Everything below or above that is about whether you cook in batches and freeze, or cook to order. If you make stock once a month and freeze it in portions, the 12 qt pot with the brass handle earns its shelf space; if soup for two is your normal weeknight, the 5.2 qt is the pot you will actually reach for.
Capacity is not the only difference in this line
The five capacities are built in two ways, and the difference shows up in how evenly heat travels up the sides of the pot.
| Model | Body construction | Handle | Oven safe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.2 qt / 11 qt | Four-layer composite base: aluminium, iron, aluminium, magnetic stainless steel | Silicone-wrapped stay-cool handle | Pot body 500 F, glass lid 350 F |
| 8 qt / 12 qt (seamless) | Whole-body tri-ply clad: 18/10 interior, aluminium core, magnetic stainless exterior | Copper-coloured or brass handle | Pot body 500 F, glass lid 350 F |
| 20 qt | Tri-ply 18/10 with an extra-thick impact-bonded aluminium disc in the base | Copper-coloured riveted handle | Pot body 500 F, glass lid 350 F |
A base-built pot concentrates the aluminium layer where the burner is; a whole-body clad pot carries that layer up the walls as well. For stock, where you are holding a low simmer for hours and stirring occasionally, the difference is mostly about how quickly the pot recovers temperature when you drop in cold ingredients. Both work on induction, gas, electric, ceramic and halogen, according to the product pages, and both are dishwasher safe.
Things a diameter figure will not tell you
- Whether the hob ring fits. A 28 cm (11 in) pot sitting on a 15 cm gas ring heats only its centre and scorches there. Match the pot to the burner, not the other way round.
- Whether the lid clears. The Ciwete stock pots ship with tempered glass lids and a steam vent, and the lid is rated to 350 F against the pot body's 500 F - so an oven braise is fine, but the lid stays out of a hot oven.
- Whether it fits the sink. A 20 qt pot is a two-hand fill and a two-hand wash; if your sink is small, rinse it while it is still warm rather than letting stock residue set.
- Whether you can lift it full. 18.93 L of water plus the pot is heavy. Portion into smaller containers before carrying it anywhere.
Reading a listing in five seconds
- Find the litre or quart figure. That is the number that decides whether the pot cooks for two or for ten.
- Convert the diameter (or the capacity) so you can place it next to the pot you already own - 22 cm is 8.7 in, and 8 qt is 7.57 L.
- Check the material line: 18/10 stainless steel interior with an aluminium core is the standard to look for, and a magnetic stainless exterior is what makes induction work.
- Check the oven rating and the lid rating separately. The pot is often rated far higher than its glass lid.
- Check that the handles are riveted and stay-cool, because a stock pot is carried full more often than any other pan you own.
Quick answers
- Is a 22 cm pot the same as an 8 qt pot? No. 22 cm is 8.7 in across the rim and says nothing about depth; 8 qt is 7.57 L of volume. Compare capacity, then diameter.
- How many litres is an 8 qt stock pot? 7.57 L in the Ciwete range.
- How much does a 20 qt stock pot hold? 18.93 L, which is about 80 US cups.
- Which size for two people? A 5.2 qt (4.92 L) pot covers soup, pasta and sauces for two or three; move up to 8 qt if you cook ahead and freeze.
- Do these pots work on induction? Yes - the magnetic stainless steel layer in the base is what makes them induction compatible, and the pages also list gas, electric, ceramic and halogen.
- Are stock pots dishwasher safe? The Ciwete stock pots are listed as dishwasher safe, with a 2-year warranty across the range.
For the plain definition of the vessel itself, see stock pot, and for the unit that US listings are built on, quart.
This article was researched and written with AI assistance, reviewed by the Ciwete SEO Team.