Take out box
Grease resistant kraft200 minimum · 10 to 12 business daysA take out box is a one-piece folding kraft paperboard box with lock corners and a tuck-top lid, folded in the kitchen without glue. We produce them on 18pt food-contact kraft with a grease-resistant coating inside, from 200 units, in 10 to 12 business days after proof. The common sizes are 7 by 5 by 2.5 and 8 by 6 by 3 inches.
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose a take out box for anything that leaves the kitchen in a bag: noodles, rice bowls, sandwiches, wings, fried chicken, pastries. The lock corners fold in about 5 seconds, the lid tucks shut without tape and the kraft coating holds up to a 30 minute trip home. Restaurants, food trucks and caterers use them because a printed lid turns a delivery into a visible brand, and because paperboard stacks and stores in a fraction of the space a clamshell takes.
Choose a pizza box for anything flat and wider than 10 inches, since a paperboard lid sags across a wide span. Choose a meal kit box for chilled ingredients that ship by carrier, because a take out box has no room for an insulated liner and is not built for transit.
Specifications
| Board | 18pt natural kraft paperboard, virgin fiber, food-contact grade, grease-resistant coating inside; documentation supplied with the quote |
|---|---|
| One or two color flexo, water-based ink, outside only | |
| Finish | Natural kraft, uncoated outside |
| Closure | Lock corners with a tuck-top lid, or gable top with a built-in handle |
| Vents | Optional steam vents in the lid for fried food |
| Insert | Optional die-cut kraft divider for two or three compartments |
| Minimum | 200 units |
| Lead time | 10 to 12 business days after proof |
| Ships | Flat, in bundles of 50 |
| Sizes we run | 6 x 4.5 x 2.5 in 7 x 5 x 2.5 in 8 x 6 x 3 in 9 x 6 x 3 in any size from 4 x 4 x 2 to 12 x 9 x 4 in |
Materials that suit it
Questions people ask
Is the box leak proof?
No. The grease-resistant coating stops oil from fried food and butter from showing through for the trip home, and the lock corners hold sauce on the food for 30 minutes or so. It is not a sealed container. Soups, curries and anything with more than a spoonful of liquid should go in a lidded cup, with the box for the rest.
Can the box go in the microwave?
The board itself is fine for a short reheat, about 60 to 90 seconds, because there is no foil or metallic ink. We still suggest telling customers to move food to a plate. Paperboard corners can scorch over 2 minutes and the coating is not designed for repeated heating.
Kraft or white board?
Natural kraft is the standard, hides small marks and reads as honest food. White SBS gives cleaner print and brighter color, which suits bakery and dessert. Both take the same grease-resistant coating. If you want a photo or a gradient on the lid, go white.
Can I have compartments?
Yes. A die-cut kraft divider drops in to make two or three sections, held by slots in the base. It keeps rice from the sauce and the salad from the hot side. Dividers ship flat alongside the boxes and add about 2 seconds to the fold.
Is the box recyclable or compostable?
The kraft board is recyclable as mixed paper where the box is clean. A greasy box is usually rejected by paper recycling and belongs in food waste or compost. We do not make compostability claims for the coated board without a certificate for your specific spec, so ask before printing any claim on the box.
How is the take out box different from the Chinese takeout pail?
Shape and what the food is like. The take out box is a flat, lock-corner box on 18pt natural kraft with a grease-resistant coating inside, folded in the kitchen with a tuck-top or gable lid; it suits fried food, sandwiches and anything that sits flat. The Chinese takeout pail is a tall folded carton on PE-coated SBS with a wire handle, built for noodles, rice and saucy dishes that would soak a plain coating. The take out box starts at 200 units in 10 to 12 business days after proof; the pail starts at 500 units in 12 to 14 business days. Wet food goes in the pail, dry food in the box.
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Ready to price your take out box?
Send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day. Your digital proof follows, usually within one business day of your artwork. Design help and the Swatch Book of materials are free.