Local counter guide
Short answer: start with a 12-inch disposable bag and a standard coupler, then add a reusable 13-inch or 15-inch bag if you decorate often. If this is your first cake, that is totally normal. We help people match bag size and tip numbers at the counter every day.
The right bag depends on what you are piping. A quick birthday border, cupcake swirl, and detailed writing each feel better with a different setup.
Go disposable if you are decorating once, cleaning fast, and moving on.
Bigger cupcake swirls need more room, especially with stiffer buttercream.
If you are piping names, outlines, or cookie detail, bag size matters as much as tip size.
Reusable bags make more sense when you are practicing pressure control, flowers, or border consistency over and over.
Most beginners do not need a giant kit. Start with these basics and build from there.
The easiest all-around choice for home bakers. Good for borders, cupcake tops, and simple writing practice.
See the 12-inch bag
This is the piece that lets you move from a writing tip to a star tip without refilling a second bag.
See couplers
If you decorate often, this size feels steadier in hand and saves money over time versus repeated disposables.
See the 13-inch reusable bag
For big swirls with a #1M tip and medium-stiff buttercream, this size gives your hand extra room.
See the 15-inch reusable bagYou do not need perfect technique to make a cake look finished. Most first-timers can get a clean border and a solid cupcake swirl in one session.
Bring a screenshot of the look you want, and our counter team will match the exact setup.
If the buttercream is stiff and the bag is tiny, your hand does extra work and piping gets jerky. Before you hop on the 405, bring a photo of your target look and we will map the bag size and tip numbers at the counter.
Typical counter help time: about two minutes with a cake photo.
Online listings can tell you dimensions. They cannot tell you if a bag feels right for your hand, your frosting consistency, and your project timeline.
Hold the bag, compare 12 vs 13 vs 15 inches, and avoid buying the wrong size.
Show us your cake photo. We will point you to the bag, coupler, and tip combo that matches it.
Grab bags, tips, color, and edible image support in one trip, with edible images on a 1 business day turnaround.
The bag is rarely the whole project. Most decorators also need tips, color, or a class to get cleaner results.
If you know you need a rosette, shell, petal, or writing tip, start with our piping tips guide. It sorts tip numbers by what you are actually making.
For a fast party cake, a printed edible image on a smooth frosted cake plus a simple shell border gets you 90 percent of the way there. Our edible image printing page covers sizes, pricing, and our 1 business day turnaround.
Need more than bags? Best sellers is the fastest way to see what regular decorators actually buy at Gloria's.
If your borders look shaky or your flowers collapse, a live class saves a lot of trial and error. See current class info for the next opening.
Short answers, because most people ask these while they are already on the way to the store.
Gloria's Cake and Candy Supplies at 11117 Washington Blvd in Culver City stocks disposable and reusable piping bags, couplers, and decorating tips. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM. Call (323) 289-8807 if you want us to check a specific size before you come in.
Disposable bags are easier for one-off jobs, small birthday cakes, and multiple icing colors. Reusable silicone bags make more sense if you decorate often, want a sturdier grip, or practice piping regularly.
A 12-inch bag is the easiest starter size. It is big enough for borders and cupcake work, but not so large that it feels clumsy in your hand. Move up to 13 or 15 inches if you are using thick buttercream or a large star tip.
If you want to switch small and medium tips without refilling the bag, yes. A standard coupler makes that easy. Large tips like the #1M usually go straight into the bag without a standard coupler.
Yes. Bring a screenshot or photo of the cake you are trying to make. We can usually tell you the bag size, a couple tip numbers, and whether your frosting setup sounds right in about two minutes.
Come by the store if you want the fastest answer on bag size, couplers, and which tips fit your project. Order online if you already know what you need.
