When the craving for a hot, cheesy slice of pizza strikes, many of us immediately think of our favorite national pizza chains. And for millions of Americans, Domino‘s tops that list. With over 6,000 locations across the country and an impressively efficient delivery operation, Domino‘s has become a go-to choice for quick and convenient pizza fix.
But let‘s say you don‘t necessarily want to commit to ordering a whole pizza. Maybe you‘re looking for an inexpensive lunch option, or perhaps you just want a small snack to hold you over until dinner. In these cases, you might be wondering: does Domino‘s sell pizza by the slice?
As a restaurant industry analyst and consumer trends expert, I‘ve researched this question extensively, examining Domino‘s pizza offering inside and out. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll share my findings, including:
- Domino‘s official policy on selling pizza by the slice
- The reasoning behind this policy and how it fits into Domino‘s overall business model
- What alternative options you have if you want a smaller serving size
- How Domino‘s compares to other major pizza chains and independent pizzerias
- Predictions for the future of single-serve pizza offerings
Whether you‘re a die-hard Domino‘s fan or just an occasional pizza eater, by the end of this article you‘ll have a full understanding of the slice situation at America‘s #1 pizza delivery chain.
Can You Buy Pizza by the Slice at Domino‘s?
Let‘s start with the most pressing question: if you walk into a Domino‘s today, can you order a slice of pizza? The answer, in the vast majority of cases, is no.
According to Domino‘s official policy, selling pizza by the slice is not a standard practice at their franchise locations. This stance has been confirmed multiple times over the years by Domino‘s representatives. For example, in response to a customer question on Twitter in 2015, the @Dominos account responded:
We don‘t sell pizza by the slice, as we aren‘t set up that way. We are primarily a pizza delivery business, so we want to provide out customers with their meal delivered quickly to their door. Selling by the slice would take away from that focus.
So there you have it straight from the source: Domino‘s stores are designed for the very specific purpose of churning out whole pizzas for delivery and takeout. Keeping individual slices on hand just doesn‘t fit that business model.
There are, however, a handful of rare exceptions to this rule. You might be able to find pizza by the slice at a small number of "non-traditional" Domino‘s locations, such as:
- Franchise stores located in airports, bus stations, stadiums, or college campuses
- Domino‘s counters inside larger institutions like hospitals or military bases
- Concession stands at special events where Domino‘s has a temporary presence
But unless you happen to stumble upon one of these outlier locations, expect that a standard Domino‘s won‘t sell you a slice.
Domino‘s Delivery-Centric Business Model
To understand why Domino‘s has taken this stance on pizza slices, it helps to take a closer look at their overall business strategy. Since its founding in 1960, Domino‘s has placed delivery at the core of its brand identity. Some key facts that illustrate this focus:
- Delivery sales account for approximately 70% of Domino‘s total orders (Domino‘s 2020 Annual Report)
- Domino‘s offers delivery service from over 95% of its US locations
- Digital ordering (online/mobile) makes up 75% of Domino‘s delivery sales (Wall Street Journal)
With such an emphasis on getting pizzas quickly to customers‘ doors, Domino‘s operational model is built for volume and efficiency. Pizzas are made in standard sizes, topped according to set recipes, and cooked in large batches. This process is optimized for pumping out whole pies, not individual slices.
As restaurant industry consultant Aaron Allen explained in an article for Pizza Today:
Pizza by the slice requires a different operational model than traditional delivery or take-out pizzerias. To do slices well, you need to be set up to par-bake several pizzas at once, hold them at temp, and then quickly reheat to serve. It‘s a model that works great for high-traffic locations like Manhattan or college campuses, but just doesn‘t translate to delivery-focused chains.
In other words, the logistical challenges of keeping a variety of hot slices ready to go at all times would cut into Domino‘s carefully honed delivery process. When the vast majority of your customers are ordering whole pizzas to be delivered, it just doesn‘t make operational or financial sense to add single slices to the mix.
Consumer Pizza Purchasing Habits
Domino‘s slice policy also reflects the pizza purchasing habits of the average American consumer. While grabbing a quick slice to eat on the go can be appealing in certain contexts, most of us tend to buy our pizza in whole pie form.
Just look at the data on pizza serving sizes. According to the most recent figures from the USDA, the average American eats around 46 pizza slices per year, which equates to roughly 23 whole 14-inch pizzas (assuming 8 slices per pie).
Additional pizza consumption statistics further illustrate our whole pie preferences:
| Pizza Order Type | % of Total Pizza Orders |
|---|---|
| Whole Pies | 78% |
| Single Slices | 22% |
Source: Technomic Pizza Consumer Trend Report
As you can see, the significant majority of pizza purchases are for entire pies rather than individual slices. This makes sense when you consider that pizza is often consumed in social settings – think Friday movie nights with the family, watch parties with friends, or office birthday celebrations. In these contexts, ordering one or more whole pizzas to share is the norm.
Alternatives to Slices at Domino‘s
So if you can‘t get a slice at Domino‘s, what are your options if you‘re craving their pizza but don‘t want to commit to a whole pie? Luckily, Domino‘s menu does include a few items that can satisfy a smaller appetite:
1. Small (10-inch) Pizza
The smallest whole pizza you can order at most Domino‘s locations is their 10-inch pie, which yields 6 modestly sized slices. Meant to serve 1-2 people, a small pizza is a good option if you want a filling personal meal. Domino‘s offers all their standard crust types and toppings on the small size.
2. Specialty Chicken
If you‘re open to branching out beyond pizza, consider Domino‘s Specialty Chicken. These dishes feature breaded white meat chicken topped with various flavorings like bacon & tomato or spicy jalapeno & pineapple. With 10-12 pieces per order, they‘re perfectly portioned for a satisfying lighter meal.
3. Oven Baked Sandwiches
Another personal-sized option is Domino‘s collection of Oven Baked Sandwiches. Served warm and crispy, varieties include classic combinations like Italian sausage or buffalo chicken. While not pizza, these sandwiches still scratch that itch for a quick, comforting meal.
4. Take Advantage of Combo Deals
Finally, even if a small pizza is more than you want, you can always take advantage of Domino‘s frequent combo deals to sample multiple menu items for a discounted price. For example, their popular "Mix & Match" offer lets you choose any two items from a select menu (medium pizzas, sandwiches, pasta dishes, etc.) for one low price. This can be a cost-effective way to try a new dish alongside a tried-and-true favorite.
Domino‘s Slices vs the Competition
Domino‘s is far from alone in their no-slice policy. In fact, most of the major national pizza chains that specialize in delivery do not regularly sell pizza by the slice. Pizza Hut, Papa John‘s, and Little Caesars all follow a similar model, focusing their menus on whole pies and other shareable items like breadsticks and wings.
One notable exception is the rising fast-casual pizza category. Chains like Blaze Pizza, MOD Pizza, and Pieology specialize in made-to-order personal pizzas that are ready in minutes. While not technically sold "by the slice," these 11-inch pies are meant for a single serving and offer a quick, customizable pizza fix for one.
The fast-casual model has proven popular, particularly among younger Millennial and Gen Z consumers who value speed, choice, and healthier options. As analyst Cherryh Cansler told FastCasual.com:
The build-your-own pizza space is one of the fastest-growing segments in the restaurant industry. These chains are meeting consumer demand for convenience, quality ingredients, and the ability to customize their meal.
It remains to be seen whether the growth of fast-casual will prompt the major pizza chains to rethink their aversion to single-serve portions. But for now, it appears the slice business still primarily remains the domain of smaller independent shops and pizzerias.
Speaking of those independent shops, selling pizza by the slice is a long-standing tradition in classic pizzerias, particularly in large urban centers like New York City and Chicago. Busy corner slice joints can move hundreds or even thousands of slices per day, making the economics work.
But even among independents, many suburban pizzerias skip slices in favor of whole pies, citing many of the same operational challenges that the big chains face. Chris Sternberg, owner of Fireflour Pizza in Bismarck, ND, explained his rationale to PizzaMarketplace.com:
We opted not to do slices after 5pm as it was labor intensive to constantly be making them and the quality is never the same as a fresh pie. We would end up tossing out more than we sold. Plus, we want to give our customers the best possible product, and we feel pizza slices don‘t deliver on that promise.
For independent operators, finding the right balance between quality, efficiency, and customer demand is key to making slices a viable offering.
The Bottom Line on Domino‘s Pizza Slices
So what‘s the final verdict on getting a slice of pizza at your local Domino‘s? While there may be a few very rare exceptions, in general, Domino‘s does not sell pizza by the slice – and they‘re unlikely to change that policy any time soon.
With such a heavily delivery-focused business model, keeping a stock of hot slices on hand just doesn‘t make operational sense for a chain like Domino‘s.
That said, there are still multiple ways to enjoy Domino‘s pizza in a personal-sized portion, from ordering a small 10-inch pie to trying one of their oven-baked sandwiches. And with the growth of fast-casual pizza chains, consumers have more made-to-order individual pizza options than ever.
As for the future of pizza slices at the major chains, only time will tell if evolving consumer preferences will spark a change. But for now, if you‘re a Domino‘s fan, your best bet is to embrace the whole pie – or find a friend to split one with!
