Min. 100 units · 3–5 days
12 made-to-order formats
Trays fail from below, not from the sides
An open tray has no lid to protect and no walls to speak of. Almost everything that goes wrong with one happens at the base, under a hot wet load.
- Minimum
- 100 units
- Production
- 3–5 days
- Delivery
- US, UK, Canada, Australia
Moisture beats grease as the failure
Grease gets the attention, but moisture from hot food softens board faster. A tray that holds firm with dry contents can bend in the middle within ten minutes under something hot and wet.
That makes base coating the first decision on any tray, ahead of wall height, footprint or print.
Tray choices against service
What each situation actually needs.
| Service | Priority | Specification |
|---|---|---|
| Counter hand-off, eaten immediately | Rigidity while hot | Coated base, modest wall |
| Table service in casual dining | Holds up for a full meal | Coated base, glued corners |
| Compartmented meals | Elements stay separate | Divider height set by the wettest item |
| High-volume events | Cost per unit | Lightest board that still holds a full portion |
Glued corners or folded corners
Two trays at the same board weight can perform very differently depending on whether the corners are glued or simply folded. A folded corner splits under load where a glued one holds.
It is rarely stated on a specification sheet, so it is worth asking about when comparing quotes — including ours.
The range
Custom Food Trays We Produce
No format matches that. Try a shorter word, or describe what you need in a quote request.
Specification
Choosing a Food Trays Specification
Materials
- Grease-resistant SBS board
- Kraft board with grease barrier
- Corrugated E-flute
- Clay-coated news back
How fast staff can form the tray matters as much as the print. Locking corners that snap up in one motion save real time at peak. Our guide to packaging board and film grades compares them on strength, print quality and cost.
Printing
- Offset lithography
- Flexography
- Digital press
Run length usually decides this. Digital wins on shorter quantities because there is no plate cost; beyond that, offset and flexo overtake it on price per unit.
Finishes
- Grease-resistant coating
- Matte finish
- Uncoated kraft
Finishes are applied in the same production run. Each one adds a step, so we price them individually rather than bundling them into the base rate.
Applications
- Quick-service food counters
- Bakery and deli
- Stadium and event catering
- Food trucks
Most orders here come from food and beverage, retail and grocery brands.
Specification builder
Specify your food trays in under a minute
Set what you know, leave the rest. Everything here travels with your request, so nothing gets retyped.
- 100-unit minimum
- 3–5 day production
- Free dieline
- No obligation
YOUR BRAND
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Recent work
Food Trays We Have Produced
Tray specification errors
Four that come up regularly.
- Comparing board weights between suppliers without checking corner construction.
- Coating the walls and not the base, when the base is what fails.
- Setting divider height by the driest item on the menu rather than the wettest.
- Printing the base, which is covered from the moment the tray is filled.
Worth reading before you specify
- coatings for hot wet loadsWhat actually stops a base softening.
- formed versus glued constructionsThe difference that board weight alone does not show.
Get a price
Quote a Food Trays Run
Send the product details and the quantity you have in mind. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.
Prices start from $0.30 per piece for large-volume orders. Final pricing depends on size, material, printing, finishes, and quantity.
No obligation
Quote Custom Food Trays
Send us the product details and quantity. We reply with a specification and a written price, usually within one business day.
Answers
Custom Food Trays Questions
Why do my trays go soft?
Usually moisture rather than grease. Hot wet food softens uncoated board within minutes, and the base fails before the walls. A base coating is the fix and it is inexpensive.
Are glued corners better than folded?
For anything carrying weight, yes. A folded corner splits under load where a glued one holds, and two trays at the same board weight can perform very differently because of it.
How deep should a compartment divider be?
Set by the wettest item on your menu, not the driest. A divider that stops below the fill line looks organised and stops nothing.
Can trays be printed?
Yes, on the walls and the rim. Printing the base is wasted because it is covered as soon as the tray is filled.
Are your food trays food-contact compliant?
Where the food touches the tray directly we specify compliant boards and coatings. Tell us whether contact is direct or through a liner.
How light can a tray go?
There is a genuine floor below which a tray folds when a customer picks it up by one edge. Tell us the portion weight and we will tell you where that floor is rather than quoting to a price.
Can you produce trays with lids?
Yes, either a matching board lid or a clear film lid. A film lid shows the product and seals better; a board lid stacks better and insulates slightly.
What is the minimum order for food trays?
A flat 100 units on any format, enough to run a real service and see how the tray behaves under your actual food.
Do trays nest for storage?
Most formed trays nest, which matters at event volumes. Flat-packed trays take less space still but need assembling, which costs labour at service.
How much do food trays cost?
From $0.30 per piece at large volumes. Coating and corner construction move the price more than print does.
Related ranges
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Next step
Ready to Specify Your Food Trays?
Send the product dimensions and the quantity you need. We come back with a specification, a lead time and a written price.