Catering Tray with Lid
The lidded catering tray is the format that most drop-off caterers standardise on, because it is the only one that solves the whole journey.
View tray & get pricing →Catering Trays
Corrugated Party Trays with Lids
- Divided compartments
- Clear lid
- Retail and event ready
A party tray is a divided platter under a clear lid. The divisions turn a pile of mixed food into a composed selection, and the lid lets the customer see it without touching it — which is the entire commercial argument for the format.
It sells well in retail chillers, it works for corporate grazing orders, and it has become the standard shape for the mixed sharing boxes that dominate event catering.
- Compartment layouts cut to your actual selection
- Clear lid so the arrangement does the selling
- Printed compartment labels or a full-width band
- Stacks with the lid on, unlike an open platter
Pricing starts from $0.30 per tray
The unit price depends on the size, board, printing, finishing, quantity and delivery country, so every quote is worked out for your specification rather than taken from a list.
Get pricing for corrugated party tray with lids
Send the size and the run length. We reply with pricing, material options and a production date — usually within one working day.
01 — Specification
Specification at a glance
Every element below is set when we quote. Nothing here is a fixed catalogue entry — if a line does not match what you need, say so and we will change it.
- Compartments
- Typically 4–9, custom layouts to your selection
- Lid
- Clear fitted lid, or board lid with a window
- Board
- E-flute for print quality, B-flute for larger footprints
- Labelling
- Printed compartment labels or a single band across the lid
- Depth
- Set by the tallest item in any compartment
02 — Build the spec
Design this tray in five steps
The same five questions we would ask on a phone call, with the corrugated party tray with lid already selected. You get a properly detailed brief at the end, which is what makes a first quote accurate rather than approximate.
Prefer the full builder with a live sketch? Open the tray designer.
03 — In detail
How to lay out the compartments
Compartment layout is a merchandising decision as much as a structural one. Three approaches work, and they suit different products.
Equal grid
Six or nine identical compartments in a regular grid. Reads as generous and orderly, is the easiest to fill consistently, and photographs well. Best where every item is roughly the same size — canapés, cupcakes, sliders.
Hero plus supporting
One large compartment for the main item and several smaller ones around it. Works when the selection has an obvious centrepiece — a wheel of cheese, a dip, a main protein — and lets you signal value with the size of the hero section.
Long strips
Three or four full-width bands rather than a grid. Suits items that are laid in rows: sandwich halves, sushi, wraps, biscuits. Filling is faster because staff work along a row rather than placing items individually.
Sizing the depth
Depth is set by the tallest item, and a common error is to size for the average.
| Contents | Typical clearance needed | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Canapés and small bites | About 30–40 mm | Garnishes stand taller than the base item |
| Sandwich halves stood upright | About 60–70 mm | Filling adds height at the top of the cut edge |
| Cupcakes and iced items | About 70–90 mm | Icing is the tallest point and the easiest to damage |
| Mixed grazing selection | About 50–60 mm | Cheese wedges and grapes are the usual height offenders |
Where these trays earn their cost
- Retail grazing and party food ranges, where the lid is the shelf display.
- Corporate catering, where a divided tray reads as more considered than a single platter.
- Event drop-offs, because the lid lets trays stack in a van without a separate box.
- Click-and-collect food, where the customer inspects the order before taking it away.
- Seasonal ranges, where a printed lid band can change without a new tray order.
04 — Nearby
Trays that work alongside this one
Chosen because operators who buy the corrugated party tray with lid usually need one of these in the same order, not because they happen to sit in the same category.
Crudite Tray with Dome
A crudité platter has a problem that other platters do not: the food is meant to stand up.
View tray & get pricing →
Kraft Charcuterie Board
Grazing is a business where the packaging is most of what gets photographed and much of what justifies the price.
View tray & get pricing →
Corrugated Sandwich Platter
The corporate sandwich platter is one of the highest-volume formats in catering, and the specification is almost entirely determined by how you cut your…
View tray & get pricing →05 — Questions
Corrugated Party Tray with Lid questions
How many compartments should a party tray have?
Between four and nine covers almost every use. Fewer than four does not read as a selection; more than nine makes each portion too small to be satisfying. Build your selection physically first and let the food decide.
Can compartments be different sizes?
Yes, and it is often better. A large hero compartment with smaller supporting ones signals where the value is, and it suits selections built around a centrepiece rather than an even mix.
What sort of lid is best?
A clear fitted lid, in almost all cases — the arrangement is the product and hiding it defeats the purpose. A board lid with a window is a cheaper alternative that keeps some visibility while adding print area.
Will the tray stack with the lid on?
Yes, which is one of its practical advantages over an open platter. Tell us the stack height so we can specify the walls to carry it without pressing on the food below.
Can I print labels for each compartment?
Yes, either printed directly on the tray between the compartments or as separate applied labels. Separate labels are more flexible for a changing selection; printed is cheaper at volume for a fixed range.
Is this suitable for a chilled retail cabinet?
With a moisture-resistant construction, yes — it is one of the main uses. Condensation is the thing to manage: pack product cold, and expect some misting on the lid if warm product goes in.
How do I stop items moving in transit?
Compartments sized close to the items, and a lid that sits down properly. Movement almost always means compartments that are too generous for the contents, which is worth checking with a loaded sample before committing.
Can I change the layout between orders?
A new compartment layout means a new cutting die, so it is not a per-order change. If you expect to vary the selection, design a layout that accommodates the range rather than optimising for one specific mix.
Before you order, read
- Catering Tray Buying Guide — Specifying catering packaging that survives the whole delivery journey.
- Food Tray Size Guide — What tray sizes mean, and how to pick one from your own portions.
Ready to price the corrugated party tray with lid?
Send the dimensions, the quantity and the country you want it delivered to. We come back with a full quote — material, print, finishing, freight and a production date.