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Food Tray Dimensions: What 1 lb, 2 lb and 5 lb Trays Actually Measure
By Food tray dimensions for paper trays are sold by labels such as 1 lb, 2 lb and 5 lb, but those labels are not a standard. One maker’s 2 lb tray measures about 5.8 by 4 inches across the top, while another’s measures 6.5 by 4.6 inches. The trays that follow a fixed size system are US hotel pans and, elsewhere, Gastronorm containers, which are a European standard. So check the actual length, width and height before you order.
Paper Food Tray Sizes From One Maker
Southern Champion Tray, a paperboard tray maker, lists its trays by number and by label. Its online food tray catalog gives these sizes, as of October 2026:
| Tray | Label | Length × width × height (in) |
|---|---|---|
| #25 | 1/4 lb | 4 × 2.69 × 1.05 |
| #40 | 6 oz | 4.30 × 3.78 × 1.08 |
| #50 | 1/2 lb | 4.58 × 3.20 × 1.25 |
| #100 | 1 lb | 5.16 × 3.59 × 1.48 |
| #200 | 2 lb | 5.84 × 3.98 × 1.50 |
| #250 | 2 1/2 lb | 6.55 × 4.62 × 1.88 |
| #300 | 3 lb | 7.01 × 4.89 × 2.13 |
| #500 | 5 lb | 8.67 × 5.48 × 2.31 |
| #1000 | 10 lb | 9.84 × 6.97 × 3.13 |
The tray number is the label times 100, except the #40, which is labeled 6 oz. Its page for the #200 tray adds an important detail: “The length and width dimensions are measured from the top of the food tray.” Where the sides slope in, as on the other makers’ trays below, the base is smaller than these figures.
The Same Label From Three Makers
Here is what three sources list for the same labels:
| Label | Southern Champion (top) | Million Pack (top) | Carnival King (top) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 5.16 × 3.59 in | 6.5 × 4.375 in | n/a |
| 2 lb | 5.84 × 3.98 in | 6.5 × 4.75 in | 6.5 × 4.625 in |
| 5 lb | 8.67 × 5.48 in | 9.5 × 6.375 in | n/a |
At 1 lb, Million Pack’s tray opening is 53% larger in area than Southern Champion’s. At 2 lb, Carnival King’s #200 tray is 29% larger, and it is also a quarter inch deeper. Million Pack describes the variation between makers as slight. For these labels it is not.
The source page for this post gives a 1 lb tray as 4 × 6 × 1 inches and a 5 lb tray as 8 × 10 × 2.5 inches, with no source. Neither matches any of the three makers above.
How Much a Food Tray Holds
Because the sides slope, a tray’s volume needs the top, the bottom and the height. Carnival King gives all three for its 2 lb tray: 6 1/2 × 4 5/8 inches at the top, 4 1/2 × 2 3/4 inches at the bottom, 1 3/4 inches deep. Filled level with the rim, that works out to about 36 cubic inches, or about 590 mL.
Two pounds of water would take about 907 mL. So for this tray at least, the 2 lb label is a size name, not the volume it holds when filled level. Food is often heaped above the rim, and it varies in weight, so test with your own portion.
How to Measure and Choose a Food Tray
- Measure the top and the bottom. Makers may list either, so check which one a spec sheet gives.
- Measure the depth. Million Pack notes that loose foods such as fries usually need more depth to stay in the tray.
- Test your real portion. Million Pack suggests trying two or three nearby sizes with your actual food, toppings and sauces.
- Match the lid, if you use one. Million Pack points out that the tray dimensions must also match the lid.
Fixed Tray Sizes: Hotel Pans and Gastronorm
The source page for this post says food tray dimensions are standardized “across food industries” for dishwashers and storage racks. That describes a different kind of tray.
US hotel pans. Wikipedia’s Gastronorm entry also covers the American system. A full size pan is 12 × 20 inches, and the other sizes are fractions of it:
| US pan | Inches |
|---|---|
| Full | 12 × 20 |
| Two thirds | 12 × 13 1/3 |
| Half | 12 × 10 |
| Half long | 6 × 20 |
| Third | 12 × 6 2/3 |
| Sixth | 6 × 6 2/3 |
| Ninth | 4 × 6 2/3 |
Depth is named by number. A “200 pan” is about 2 1/2 inches deep. That is easy to confuse with a #200 paper tray, where the number means a 2 lb label.
Gastronorm. Outside most of the US and Canada, the standard is Gastronorm, EN 631, adopted in Europe in 1993. Its base size, GN 1/1, is 530 × 325 mm, and the other sizes are multiples and fractions of it, such as GN 1/2 at 325 × 265 mm. Wikipedia also says the US and Gastronorm systems are not compatible, though that sentence carries no citation.
One aluminum tray maker benchmarked here lists full size trays at 20 × 12 inches and half size trays at 12 × 10, the same footprints as the hotel pan full and half sizes.
Custom Food Trays Made to Your Size
If a stock label never quite fits your portion, the tray can be sized to the food instead. Custom Boxes Deals makes custom takeout trays and paper food trays to the dimensions you specify. Grease resistant constructions are available depending on the specification. Tell us what goes inside and we will confirm which materials suit it at quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dimensions of a 2 lb food tray?
It depends on the maker. Southern Champion’s #200 is 5.84 × 3.98 inches at the top and 1.5 inches deep. Carnival King’s 2 lb tray is 6.5 × 4.625 inches at the top and 1.75 inches deep.
Are food tray sizes standardized?
Paper food trays are not; the same label varies between makers. US hotel pans follow a fixed size system, and Gastronorm containers follow a European standard.
What does #200 mean on a paper food tray?
On Southern Champion’s trays, the number is the label times 100, so #200 is a 2 lb tray. On a hotel pan, “200” refers to depth instead.
How much does a 2 lb paper tray hold?
Carnival King’s 2 lb tray holds about 590 mL filled level with the rim, by calculation from its listed dimensions.
Anthony Kim
Hello, I'm Anthony Kim, a seasoned packaging consultant and designer. With a professional journey spanning over four years, I've evolved from a budding designer to a recognized expert in the field. Currently holding the position of Packaging Consultant, I've honed my skills in creating not just visually stunning packaging but also solutions that align with strategic business goals.
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