Well doneGraduations · Free template
Cap and laurels
A navy disc with a gold mortarboard and laurel wreath. Open it in the editor, replace the sample message and choose the size for your cake or cupcakes.
Use this templateNo account needed to edit. Sign in to download.
- You can change
- Text, size & shape
- You download
- A 300 DPI PNG
- You print on
- A4 or US Letter
Why this design works
The navy ring exists for a practical reason: graduation cakes are usually plain white or single-colour, and a pale topper on a pale cake has no edge. A dark band solves that and gives the gold somewhere to sit. The mortarboard is a flat silhouette with one tassel, which is the only version that survives being 2 inches across — a rendered cap with depth turns into a dark blob at that size.
What to put in the centre
The blank centre is the point of the design. These are three that work, and why:
- “Well done”
- Ages better than a year, and fits at every size.
- “Class of 2026”
- The expected wording. Set it on two lines below 3 inches.
- “BSc Nursing”
- The specific degree is worth more to the person than a generic greeting.
Sizes for this occasion
Graduation cakes are more likely than most to be sheet cakes rather than rounds, because they feed a crowd. A rectangular topper suits a sheet cake far better than a circle does — set the shape before the size.
| What it is for | Size |
|---|---|
| Topper for a 6" cake | 3.5–4 inches |
| Topper for an 8" cake | 5–5.5 inches |
| Sheet cake topper | 6–8 inches |
| Cupcake discs | 2 inches |
The graduation cake toppers guide covers the palettes, wording and materials for this occasion in full.
Printing it
Swap the greeting for “Class of” and the year, or the subject they read. The navy ring uses a lot of ink — print one and let it dry before cutting.
Choose A4 or US Letter and download a 300 DPI PNG. Print at 100% / actual size. Use a normal printer for paper decorations, or dedicated edible printing equipment for edible toppers. Materials and printing are not included.
You can edit before signing in. A free account includes two clean downloads per UK calendar day, shared across sheets and single toppers. Baker removes the daily print limit for £4.99/month. Compare plans
Frequently Asked Questions
What size should this graduations topper be?
Topper for a 6" cake takes 3.5–4 inches, and topper for an 8" cake takes 5–5.5 inches. Graduation cakes are more likely than most to be sheet cakes rather than rounds, because they feed a crowd. A rectangular topper suits a sheet cake far better than a circle does — set the shape before the size.
What can I personalise?
Change the name, message, lettering colour, size and shape in the editor. The illustration itself has a fixed palette. You can edit before signing in, and a free account includes two watermark-free 300 DPI downloads per UK calendar day.
What do I print it on?
Cardstock at 250–300gsm for a paper topper on a stick, or an edible icing sheet if it will sit directly on buttercream and be eaten. Edible printing needs a printer dedicated to edible ink — you cannot use one that has had regular ink through it. Print at 100% or "actual size", never "fit to page", which silently shrinks the topper.
Anything to watch when printing this design?
The navy ring is the most ink-heavy design in the set. Print one, let it dry properly, and only then cut — a wet dark ground drags under a cutter and smears into the gold.
