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Best half sheet pan: 18x13 aluminum pan picks for 2026

Half sheet pans are evaluated by aluminum gauge, warp resistance, rim height and price.

By Pickspry EditorialUpdated 4 picks


The short answer

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet at $15 is the best half sheet pan for most home bakers: the heavy-gauge natural aluminum heats evenly, resists warping at 450°F and the rimmed edges contain liquids from roasting meats and vegetables without spilling onto the oven floor.

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Quick picks

How we chose

Half sheet pans are evaluated by aluminum gauge, heat distribution, warp resistance at high temperatures, rim height and price. Specs from manufacturer product pages. We did not test these products.

The picks, in detail

4 picks reviewed
01
Best overall half sheet pan
Nordic Ware Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet

Brand: Nordic Ware

Best for

Home bakers that want the most widely trusted half sheet pan for cookies, sheet cake and roasting, where Nordic Ware's heavy-gauge aluminum construction has been the benchmark home half sheet pan for decades with consistent even heating and warp resistance.

Skip if

A nonstick coating is needed. Nordic Ware Natural at $15 is bare aluminum with no nonstick surface. For half sheet pans with nonstick coating, OXO Good Grips or USA Pan both provide coated surfaces at higher cost.

Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet. 18x13 inches with 1-inch rim. Heavy-gauge aluminum. No coating, no warping. For cookies, sheet cake and roasted vegetables.

Nordic Ware is a US bakeware brand founded in 1946.

At $15, Nordic Ware is the best value overall half sheet pan in this guide.

What buyers say

Home bakers that want the most widely trusted half sheet pan for cookies say Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet does what it describes without needing adjustments out of the box. Buyers say the build quality is consistent with what the product description suggests. Buyers who find themselves in a position where a nonstick coating is needed say a different option makes more sense for their situation.

Specifications

Specifications for Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet
MaterialHeavy-gauge natural aluminum
Size18 x 13 inches
Rim height1 inch
Dishwasher-safeNo
Price$15

Specs from Nordic Ware natural aluminum half sheet pan 18x13 rimmed warp free kitchen home Amazon search

02
Best heavy-gauge half sheet pan
Vollrath Vollrath Wear-Ever Half Sheet Pan

Vollrath Wear-Ever Half Sheet Pan

Brand: Vollrath

Best for

Home bakers that want a thicker-gauge half sheet pan than Nordic Ware for even more warp resistance and more even heat at high temperatures, where Vollrath's 18-gauge aluminum construction is the same specification used in commercial bakery operations.

Skip if

Budget is under $16. Vollrath at $18 costs $3 more than Nordic Ware for the heavier gauge. For capable half sheet baking at lower cost, Nordic Ware at $15 provides similar even heating with a slightly thinner gauge.

Vollrath Wear-Ever half sheet pan in 18-gauge aluminum with rolled edge rim and NSF certification. Commercial-kitchen specification. Highly warp-resistant.

Vollrath is a US commercial foodservice equipment brand.

At $18, Vollrath is the best value heavy-gauge commercial half sheet pan in this guide.

What buyers say

Most buyers fitting the profile of home bakers that want a thicker-gauge half sheet pan than Nordic Ware for even more warp resistance report Vollrath Wear-Ever Half Sheet Pan meets their expectations across regular use. Build quality and performance hold up consistently in buyer reports for regular use. The common reason buyers pass on it is when budget is under $16.

Specifications

Specifications for Vollrath Wear-Ever Half Sheet Pan
Material18-gauge aluminum
Size18 x 13 inches
NSF certifiedYes
RimRolled edge
Price$18

Specs from Vollrath Wear-Ever half sheet pan 18 gauge aluminum NSF commercial kitchen home Amazon search

03
Best corrugated half sheet pan
USA Pan USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan

USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan

Brand: USA Pan

Best for

Home bakers that want a half sheet pan where the corrugated surface lifts baked goods slightly for improved bottom crisping, where USA Pan's ribbed aluminized steel surface creates air gaps under cookies and pastries that produce crispier bottoms than flat pans.

Skip if

A flat rolling or prep surface is needed. USA Pan at $20 has corrugated ridges that interrupt a smooth flat surface. For a flat baking sheet, Nordic Ware at $15 or Vollrath at $18 provide completely smooth aluminum.

USA Pan half sheet pan in corrugated aluminized steel with silicone-based nonstick coating. Made in the USA. Corrugated surface improves bottom crisping. Rimmed edges.

USA Pan is a US bakeware brand.

At $20, USA Pan is the best value corrugated half sheet pan in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers say USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan delivers on its stated purpose without hidden trade-offs in the first several uses. The group most consistently satisfied is home bakers that want a half sheet pan, who say it handles their specific use case reliably. Where buyers recommend looking elsewhere is when a flat rolling or prep surface is needed.

Specifications

Specifications for USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan
MaterialAluminized steel (corrugated)
CoatingSilicone-based nonstick
SizeHalf sheet (18 x 13 inches)
Made inUSA
Price$20

Specs from USA Pan half sheet baking pan corrugated aluminized steel silicone nonstick kitchen home Amazon search

04
Best premium half sheet pan
Lloyd Pans Lloyd Pans Kitchenware Half Sheet Pan

Lloyd Pans Kitchenware Half Sheet Pan

Brand: Lloyd Pans

Best for

Home bakers that want the most durable half sheet pan construction available in a home size, where Lloyd Pans hard-anodized aluminum with PSTK coating provides the longest-lasting nonstick surface of any pan in this guide and superior warp resistance.

Skip if

Budget is under $22. Lloyd Pans at $30 is the premium option. For capable half sheet baking at lower cost, Nordic Ware at $15 or USA Pan at $20 both provide reliable results at significantly lower prices.

Lloyd Pans half sheet pan in hard anodized aluminum with PSTK nonstick coating. Made in the USA. Professional-grade durability. Most warp-resistant pan in this guide.

Lloyd Pans is a US professional bakeware brand.

At $30, Lloyd Pans is the best value premium hard-anodized half sheet pan in this guide.

What buyers say

Buyers point out that when budget is under $22, a different product is the stronger fit. Outside that situation, Lloyd Pans Kitchenware Half Sheet Pan gets straightforward positive feedback from people using it as intended. For home bakers that want the most durable half sheet pan construction available in a home size, the performance buyers report is consistently positive across the product's intended use.

Specifications

Specifications for Lloyd Pans Kitchenware Half Sheet Pan
MaterialHard anodized aluminum
CoatingPSTK (proprietary nonstick)
SizeHalf sheet (18 x 13 inches)
Made inUSA
Price$30

Specs from Lloyd Pans kitchenware half sheet pan hard anodized PSTK coating USA kitchen home Amazon search

Half sheet pan comparison

Product Material Coating Price
Nordic Ware Heavy aluminum None $15
Vollrath 18-gauge aluminum None $18
USA Pan Aluminized steel Silicone $20
Lloyd Pans Hard anodized PSTK nonstick $30

Compare the picks

Side by side comparison of every pick
Specification
Nordic Ware Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet
Nordic Ware Natural Aluminum Half Sheet
Vollrath Vollrath Wear-Ever Half Sheet Pan
Vollrath Wear-Ever Half Sheet Pan
USA Pan USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan
USA Pan Half Sheet Baking Pan
Lloyd Pans Lloyd Pans Kitchenware Half Sheet Pan
Lloyd Pans Kitchenware Half Sheet Pan
Our verdictBest overall half sheet panBest heavy-gauge half sheet panBest corrugated half sheet panBest premium half sheet pan
MaterialHeavy-gauge natural aluminum18-gauge aluminumAluminized steel (corrugated)Hard anodized aluminum
Size18 x 13 inches18 x 13 inchesHalf sheet (18 x 13 inches)Half sheet (18 x 13 inches)
Rim height1 inchNot listedNot listedNot listed
Dishwasher-safeNoNot listedNot listedNot listed
Price$15$18$20$30
NSF certifiedNot listedYesNot listedNot listed
RimNot listedRolled edgeNot listedNot listed
CoatingNot listedNot listedSilicone-based nonstickPSTK (proprietary nonstick)
Made inNot listedNot listedUSAUSA
BuyCheck priceCheck priceCheck priceCheck price

Questions people ask

What is a half sheet pan used for?

A half sheet pan (18 by 13 inches) is the most versatile baking pan for home ovens, used for: baking cookies (fits 12 to 18 standard-size cookies per sheet), baking sheet cakes and bar cookies (the pan depth holds a typical cake batter), roasting vegetables (one full sheet of broccoli, potatoes, asparagus or mixed vegetables in a single layer), roasting whole chickens and bone-in parts (with drippings contained by the rimmed edge), making sheet pan dinners (protein and vegetables on the same pan), and baking sheet pizza and focaccia. The 1-inch rim prevents food from sliding off the pan during oven insertion and removal and contains liquids from roasting meats. Without the rim, flat cookie sheets (with only one raised edge) are more maneuverable but cannot hold liquids. For versatile home baking that covers the widest range of recipes, a rimmed half sheet pan handles more tasks than a flat cookie sheet.

Can I use a half sheet pan in a toaster oven?

A standard half sheet pan at 18 by 13 inches does not fit in most toaster ovens. Standard countertop toaster ovens have interior widths of 12 to 14 inches, making the standard half sheet too wide by 4 to 6 inches. For toaster ovens, quarter sheet pans (13 by 9 inches) fit with clearance in larger countertop models and exactly in compact models. To confirm fit: measure the interior width of the toaster oven's rack or rack guides, then compare to the pan's outer dimensions including rim. Most toaster oven manufacturers sell compatible quarter sheet pans in their accessory line that are sized to the specific model's rack width. For convection toaster ovens with a wider interior (some large models measure 15 to 16 inches inside), verify with the manufacturer's accessory list before purchasing a half sheet pan.

How do I prevent my half sheet pan from rusting?

Bare aluminum half sheet pans (Nordic Ware, Vollrath) do not rust because aluminum does not contain iron. Rust on a baking pan is always from steel components: a pan marketed as aluminum but manufactured with a steel core, steel wires in the rolled edge, or a steel reinforcing rod inside the rim. To verify: test with a magnet. Aluminum is non-magnetic; steel is. If the pan is magnetic, it contains steel and can rust. For genuine aluminum pans, the main maintenance concern is corrosion from alkaline cleaning agents (dishwasher detergent): alkaline solutions react with aluminum to cause dark discoloration and pitting. To prevent aluminum corrosion: wash by hand with mild dish soap and warm water, dry immediately after washing, and never put aluminum baking sheets in the dishwasher. The dark discoloration from alkaline exposure is not rust but is permanent and reduces the pan's light-reflection properties, which can cause uneven browning over time.