Food Containers

Kraft Paper Food Trays Wholesale

Open-top boat-shaped trays in 6 sizes — from condiment portions to full combo meals. PE, PLA & aqueous coatings. FDA & LFGB certified. MOQ from 30,000 pcs/size.

6 Sizes
#1 (100ml) – #6 (1200ml)
30,000 pcs
MOQ (PE Coating)
3 Coatings
PE · PLA · Aqueous
15–25 days
Production Lead Time

What Is a Paper Food Tray?

A paper food tray — also known as a paper food boat or hot dog tray — is an open-top, boat-shaped container die-cut and folded from heavy-weight kraft paperboard. The flared sidewalls and reinforced base allow it to hold hot, greasy, and saucy foods without collapsing, making it the go-to packaging format for street food, concession stands, and quick-service restaurants worldwide.

Available in 6 standard sizes (#1 through #6), ranging from a compact 100ml condiment tray to a generous 1200ml combo-meal tray. All sizes share the same boat profile and are available in PE, PLA, and aqueous coating options to match your sustainability and food-safety requirements.

Every tray is produced from 250 gsm food-grade virgin kraft paperboard, certified for direct food contact under FDA (US) and LFGB (EU) standards — the two most commonly required certifications for import into North America and Europe.

Six sizes of kraft paper food trays arranged from smallest #1 to largest #6, showing the open-top boat shape

Size Specifications

All dimensions are base measurements (B: bottom width × bottom length). Actual top opening is slightly larger due to the flared wall design. Custom sizes available on request.

Size Volume Base Dimension Height Typical Use
#1 ~100ml B:75×48 mm H:27mm Condiments, dips, mini snacks
#2 ~200ml B:85×51 mm H:36mm Hot dogs, small sausages
#3 ~300ml B:100×62 mm H:41mm Fries, popcorn, nachos
#4 ~400ml B:107×69 mm H:41mm Loaded hot dogs, sandwiches
#5 ~800ml B:137×86 mm H:52mm Fried chicken, large snacks
#6 ~1200ml B:168×96 mm H:57mm Combo meals, festival portions

* All sizes available in PE, PLA, and Aqueous coating. Custom dimensions and white kraft available on request.

Coating Options

Choose the right barrier coating for your food type, sustainability goals, and target market regulations.

The industry standard for street food and fast-food operators. Cost-effective, reliable, and widely accepted by food-safety auditors.

Material
250 gsm virgin kraft + single-layer PE
Grease Resistance
Excellent — withstands oils, sauces, and condiments
Max Temperature
Up to 85 °C (185 °F)
End-of-Life
Recyclable where PE-lined paper is accepted
MOQ
30,000 pcs per size
Certifications
FDA, LFGB
Kraft paper food trays holding hot dogs, french fries, and fried chicken at a street food market

Built for Greasy, Saucy, Real-World Food

🛡️

Grease-Resistant Walls

The PE or PLA lining forms a continuous moisture barrier across the base and all four walls, preventing oil and sauce from soaking through — even with loaded hot dogs or saucy chicken pieces.

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Structural Rigidity Under Load

250 gsm virgin kraft maintains its shape when filled with heavy or wet foods. The folded corner construction distributes load evenly, eliminating the sagging that thinner-gauge trays suffer.

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Hot-Food Stable

PE-coated trays withstand up to 85 °C — suitable for freshly fried foods served directly from the fryer. No delamination or softening under normal food-service temperatures.

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Stackable & Space-Efficient

Uniform taper allows trays to nest tightly, reducing storage volume by up to 70% compared to rigid containers. Critical for high-volume concession operations with limited back-of-house space.

Where Paper Food Trays Are Used

From stadium concessions to airline catering — the open-top tray format adapts to any high-volume food service environment.

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Food Trucks & Street Stalls

Open-top boat shape allows quick one-handed service. Grease-resistant walls keep sauces contained during mobile consumption.

🏟️

Stadiums & Arenas

High-volume concession stands rely on paper food trays for fast throughput. Stack-friendly design reduces storage footprint.

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Festivals & Events

Lightweight yet sturdy for outdoor use. Custom printing turns every tray into a brand touchpoint at high-footfall events.

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QSR & Fast Casual

Standardized sizes integrate seamlessly into existing POS and packaging workflows. FDA-certified for direct food contact.

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Supermarket Deli Counters

Clean kraft aesthetic elevates prepared-food presentation. Available in white or natural kraft to match store branding.

✈️

Airline & Catering

Lightweight construction reduces cargo weight. Compostable PLA option meets airline sustainability commitments.

Why Order Paper Food Trays from CupsPak?

Production-direct advantages that layered supply chains cannot match.

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Vertically Integrated Production

From paper pulp to finished tray — every step happens in our own facilities. No third-party subcontracting means consistent quality and shorter lead times.

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Food-Grade Raw Materials Only

We use 250 gsm food-grade virgin kraft paperboard. No recycled fibers in food-contact layers — a critical requirement for FDA and LFGB compliance.

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Full Custom Printing

Up to 4-color flexographic printing on all tray sizes. Minimum order for custom print runs starts at 50,000 pcs — competitive for branded street food chains.

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Bulk Wholesale Pricing

Production-direct pricing with no extra trading layers. Container-load orders (20 ft / 40 HQ) receive priority scheduling and volume discounts.

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Strict QC at Every Stage

Inline inspection covers grammage, coating weight, dimension tolerance (±1mm), and grease resistance. Pre-shipment AQL sampling is standard on every order. Full QC reports available on request.

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Free Pre-Production Samples

Standard unprinted samples ship within 5 business days at no charge. Custom-printed samples require a sample fee (refundable on first order). Physical samples are the best way to verify coating performance before committing to bulk.

Certifications & Standards

FDA Compliant LFGB Compliant EN 13432 Compostable ISO 9001 QMS

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions from food service buyers and importers about paper food trays.

What is a paper food tray used for?
Paper food trays — also called paper food boats or hot dog trays — are open-top, boat-shaped containers designed for serving hot dogs, french fries, nachos, fried chicken, and other street food or concession snacks. Their low-profile design allows easy one-handed eating, making them the standard choice at food trucks, stadiums, and outdoor events.
Are CupsPak paper food trays grease-resistant?
Yes. All three coating options (PE, PLA, and Aqueous) provide grease and moisture resistance. PE-coated trays offer the highest resistance and are recommended for heavily sauced or oily foods. PLA and Aqueous coatings are suitable for moderately greasy items and offer better end-of-life sustainability credentials.
What sizes are available and what is the MOQ?
CupsPak offers 6 standard sizes from #1 (~100ml) to #6 (~1200ml), covering everything from condiment portions to full combo meals. Minimum order quantity starts at 30,000 pcs per size for PE-coated trays and 50,000 pcs for PLA and Aqueous options. Mixed-size orders within the same coating type can be combined to meet MOQ.
Can I get custom printed paper food trays with my logo?
Yes. CupsPak supports up to 4-color flexographic printing on all tray sizes. Custom artwork setup requires print-ready vector files. MOQ for custom printed runs is 50,000 pcs per design. We provide digital proofs before production and physical samples upon request.
Are these trays compostable or recyclable?
It depends on the coating. PE-coated trays are recyclable where PE-lined paper is accepted. PLA-coated trays are industrially compostable (EN 13432 / ASTM D6400). Aqueous-coated trays are the most eco-friendly option — curbside recyclable and home compostable in most regions, with no plastic film at all.
What certifications do CupsPak paper food trays carry?
All trays are certified for direct food contact under FDA (US) and LFGB (EU) standards. PLA-coated trays additionally carry EN 13432 compostability certification. Full test reports are available upon request for import compliance purposes.
How long does production and shipping take?
Standard (unprinted) orders ship in 15–25 days after order confirmation. Custom printed orders require 20–30 days. CupsPak ships globally via sea freight (FCL/LCL) and air freight. We provide full shipping documentation including commercial invoice, packing list, and certificate of origin.
What is the difference between a paper food tray and a paper food boat?
The terms are interchangeable in the food service industry. 'Paper food tray' is the more common term in North America and Europe for B2B procurement, while 'paper food boat' or 'hot dog tray' is used colloquially. Both refer to the same open-top, boat-shaped kraft paper container used for serving snacks and street food.
How are paper food trays packed and shipped?
Trays are nested and packed flat in inner cartons (typically 250–500 pcs per carton depending on size), then loaded into master export cartons on pallets. Each carton is labeled with size, coating type, quantity, and batch number for traceability. We ship via sea freight (FCL or LCL) and air freight. Full shipping documentation — commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, and certificate of origin — is provided with every shipment.
Can I order samples before placing a bulk order?
Yes. Standard unprinted samples in any available size and coating are dispatched within 5 business days at no charge (courier cost applies for international destinations). Custom-printed samples require a sample fee that is fully refundable upon placement of the first bulk order. We strongly recommend requesting samples to verify coating performance and dimensional fit before committing to a full container order.
What quality control checks are performed before shipment?
Every production run undergoes inline QC covering paper grammage (±5 gsm tolerance), coating weight, dimensional accuracy (±1mm), and grease resistance testing. Pre-shipment inspection follows AQL Level II sampling. Full QC reports, including test results and inspection photos, are available upon request and can be shared with your own QC team or third-party inspection agencies.
What printing options are available for custom branded trays?
We offer up to 4-color flexographic printing on all 6 tray sizes. Artwork should be supplied as print-ready vector files (AI, EPS, or PDF). We provide a digital proof for approval before plate-making, and a physical printed sample before full production runs. Custom print MOQ is 50,000 pcs per design. Pantone color matching is available for brand-critical colors.

Ready to Order Paper Food Trays?

Get competitive pricing, free samples, and a dedicated account manager. MOQ from 30,000 pcs/size. Ships globally.

Coating options: PE · Aqueous — all PFAS-free
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