Short answer: Most acrylic cake toppers are cut from 1/8 in. mirror gold, rose gold, silver, or solid-color acrylic, about 5 to 7 in. wide with two picks 2 to 3 in. long. Script text needs letters that touch and strokes at least 1/8 in. wide so the topper doesn't break.

What size and thickness to choose

Pick a width that's a little narrower than the top tier. For a 6 in. tier, a 5 in. wide topper looks balanced; for an 8 in. tier, 6 to 7 in. Cupcake toppers are usually 2 to 2.5 in. wide.

1/8 in. is the standard thickness. It's stiff enough to stand upright on picks and light enough not to sink into frosting. Mirror gold and rose gold only come in 1/8 in., which works out well. Go to 1/4 in. only for big, bold toppers over 8 in. wide in solid colors or mirror silver.

Picks (the stakes that go into the cake) are part of the same cut piece. Make them 2 to 3 in. long and about 1/4 in. wide, with a point at the end. Two picks are steadier than one for anything over 4 in. wide.

Colors and finishes

  • Mirror gold and rose gold (1/8 in.): the most popular for weddings and anniversaries. The reflective face is on the front; the back has a gray protective coating.
  • Mirror silver (1/8 and 1/4 in.): for 25th anniversaries and modern designs.
  • Solid colors (1/8 in.): black, white, red, blue, green, yellow for birthdays and team themes.
  • Fluorescent (1/8 in.): bright edges that glow under party lighting.
  • Clear with engraving: a subtle frosted look for minimalist cakes.

Read how mirror acrylic is made to see why the mirror layer is only on one side.

Design tips for toppers that don't break

  • Connect every letter. Script fonts where letters touch are best. With print fonts, add a thin bar under the word so all the letters are joined.
  • Keep strokes at least 1/8 in. wide. Hairline strokes in fancy scripts are the first thing to snap. Thicken them in your design or pick a bolder script.
  • Watch letters with holes. The centers of o, a, e, and d fall out when cut; that's fine, and it's expected.
  • Make the bottom solid. A wide base line under the name, connecting to the picks, carries the weight.

Tip: send us the exact name and font, or upload a vector file. We check thin strokes before cutting and let you know if anything is too fragile.

Is acrylic safe on a cake?

Toppers touch frosting, not the food you eat, and they're removed before slicing. Clear sheet from major makers is stated to meet the FDA food-contact rule (21 CFR 177.1010), but colored and mirror sheet generally isn't, and most toppers are colored or mirror. The simple fix is to wrap the picks in a bit of food-safe film or slip them into plastic straws before pushing them in. See is acrylic food safe for the full answer.

Wash a topper by hand in lukewarm soapy water and pat it dry. Mirror acrylic scratches if rubbed with a rough cloth.

Shipping and storage

We ship toppers flat in protective film. Store them that way until the day of the event, away from heat: acrylic is only rated for continuous use to about 160 to 180 °F (71 to 82 °C), so don't leave them in a hot car or near an oven.

Questions

Can I keep the topper after the event?

Yes. Most people keep them. A topper with a date makes a nice ornament or shelf piece later.

Can you make dozens of cupcake toppers?

Yes. Small toppers nest well on one sheet, and quantity discounts apply automatically in the quote.

Why does my mirror topper look cloudy?

It probably still has its protective film. Peel it off the front just before the event.

Have a design? Upload it for a price, or describe the topper and we'll help with the layout.