First birthday cake toppers to print
It will be in every photo, and it has to come off before the smash.
Choose a first birthday design, type ONE, the baby’s name, or both, and print it at 100% on 80 lb cover cardstock (216 gsm). Cut it out, tape it to a skewer, and take it off the cake before the baby gets anywhere near it. A smash cake is small, usually 4–6 in (10–15 cm), so the topper only needs to be 7–10 cm wide.
First birthday designs
Type the name or ONE; the layout adjusts to it.
ONE, the name, or both?
ONE on its own is the strongest graphic: three letters, big, readable in a photo taken from across the room. The name is more personal and works on the main cake that the guests eat. Both works when the name is short: the name on top, ONE or a large 1 underneath. The gold digit set in the app is free, so a plain gold 1 next to the name costs nothing.
Many families do both cakes: a small smash cake with ONE for the baby and the photographs, and a bigger cake with the name for the guests. Print the two toppers from the same design so they match in the pictures.
Boy and girl colour ideas
| Theme | Colours | Wording |
|---|---|---|
| Wild one (safari) | Sage, tan, cream | Wild ONE |
| Little prince / princess | Navy and gold, or blush and gold | Little Prince Theo / Princess Mia |
| Teddy bear | Caramel, cream, soft blue | ONE · Leo |
| Balloons | Pastel mix | Happy 1st birthday, Ava |
| Neutral | Oat, white, gold | ONE |
Smash cake size
| Cake | Topper width | Height above the cake |
|---|---|---|
| 4 in / 10 cm smash cake | 6–7 cm | 4–5 cm |
| 6 in / 15 cm smash cake | 9–10 cm | 5–6 cm |
| 8 in / 20 cm party cake | 12–15 cm | 6–7 cm |
Width is 60–75% of the cake diameter. More in the cake topper size guide; for a big 1 on its own, see number cake toppers.
First birthday and smash cake designs with the name, ready to print at true size.
Get Topper on Google Play Android · free to download · no accountQuestions about first birthday toppers
How big should a topper be for a 6 inch smash cake?
About 9–10 cm (3.5–4 in) wide, standing 5–6 cm above the top. Bigger and it dominates the photo; smaller and ONE stops reading.
Can I put the baby’s photo on the topper?
Yes, with Topper Pro: adding your own photo is a Pro feature. The first birthday designs and the name field work on the free version.
What paper is best?
80 lb cover (216 gsm) matte cardstock. It stays upright in buttercream and does not glare in flash photos. See best paper for cake toppers.
Last updated 3 November 2026