Acrylic vs wooden cake topper

A clear acrylic cut-out of a bride and groom on the cake.

A birch plywood cut-out on two stakes.

Cake toppers come in two families. Flat toppers are cut with a laser from one thin sheet, most often acrylic or wood. 3D figures are shapes you can walk around, sculpted in clay or 3D printed.

Acrylic is a clear or colored plastic sheet that looks a bit like glass. Wooden toppers are cut from thin plywood, often birch.

Acrylic gives a clean, modern look. It comes clear or in colors. Fine lettering cuts more cleanly in acrylic than in wood, so thin script holds up well.

Wood looks warm and natural. It suits rustic and outdoor weddings, and the grain of the birch shows. Wood is matte, and you can paint or stain it.

Not all acrylic is food safe. Buy one sold for food contact, or put a barrier between it and the cake. Wood is porous. Unsealed wood can soak up moisture and fat from the cake, then stain and swell. If wood touches the cake, it needs a food-safe finish that has fully cured. That takes much longer than the drying time on the can.

With either one, only the stake should go into the cake. Slide a straw over the stake, or wrap it in food-safe tape. Hold a thin acrylic topper low when you push it in. Held high, it can snap.

Wash acrylic in lukewarm, soapy water and dry it with a soft cloth. Skip paper towels, which can scratch it. Skip cleaners with ammonia, too.

Wood needs more care than acrylic. Wipe it, then store it flat and dry so it does not warp. Both last for more than one event if you clean and store them this way.

On Etsy, a flat topper of either material usually costs $18 to $37 with US shipping. A 3D figure, painted or printed in full color, usually costs $107 to $185.

One of our printed figure toppers, in the Origami style.

Some shops print your photo on a flat acrylic or wooden topper. A 3D figure shows you as people, from every side.

We make the second kind. We print figures of the two of you from a photo, in 7 styles. They are polymer, not wood, and they are not food safe.

Planning a ranch wedding? See our western wedding cake topper page.

Do I peel the film off before it goes on the cake?

Yes. Acrylic toppers ship with a protective film on the front and back. It stops scratches on the way. Peel both sides off just before the topper goes on the cake.

How thick should an acrylic topper be?

About ¼ inch (3 mm) is common. Thinner sheets can flex.