Yes, The Best Price Boxes makes custom printed pizza boxes with no minimum order, and we will beat any written quote you already have. A pizza box is a one piece corrugated blank that folds and locks without glue, sized by the diameter of the pizza it carries, and vented so steam escapes before it turns the crust soft.
Custom pizza box specs
| Spec | What you get |
|---|---|
| Minimum order | None. Order one to test the print, or a full season of stock. |
| Construction | One piece die cut blank with locking corners and a fold over front tab. No glue, no tape, assembled by hand in a few seconds. |
| Board | Corrugated, usually E flute for lighter boxes or B flute where stacking strength matters. B flute measures roughly 0.079 to 0.110 inches thick and E flute roughly 0.045 to 0.055 inches, per the corrugated board specification published by the US National Archives. |
| Liner | Unbleached kraft for the classic look, or a white top liner where full color print needs a clean base. |
| Standard sizes | Named by pizza diameter: 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 inch are the common runs. The base footprint matches the name, so a 12 inch box is about 12 by 12 inches inside. |
| Depth | Around 1.75 to 2 inches for a standard pie. Deep dish and stuffed crust usually need 2.5 to 3 inches. |
| Ventilation | Punched vent holes in the side walls, positioned above the crust line so steam leaves without dripping condensation back onto the pizza. |
| Grease resistance | Optional grease resistant liner or clay coating where the recipe runs oily. |
| Flexo direct to board for one and two color work, or litho lamination where the artwork is photographic. | |
| Custom sizes | Any footprint and depth, including square, rectangular slice boxes and half sheet trays. |
Pizza box sizes and what each one carries
Pizza boxes are named after the pizza, not the box, which is why a 14 inch box and a 14 inch pizza sound like the same measurement. The number is the internal footprint across the base. Order the box that matches the pie, because a pizza that slides inside an oversized box tears at the tip on the first corner taken too fast.
| Box size | Typical use | Slices |
|---|---|---|
| 8 inch | Personal pizza, kids menu, single serve lunch deal | 4 |
| 10 inch | Small pizza, one hungry person or two light eaters | 6 |
| 12 inch | Medium, the most ordered size in most pizzerias | 8 |
| 14 inch | Large, the standard family order | 8 to 10 |
| 16 inch | Extra large, group and party orders | 12 |
| 18 inch | Party size, catering and sharing platters | 12 to 16 |
Why pizza boxes are corrugated and not folding carton
The flute is the wavy layer sandwiched between the two liners, and the air trapped in it is what keeps a pizza hot on the drive home. A flat paperboard carton has no air gap and loses heat fast. The flute also gives the box the rigidity to be carried flat on one hand and stacked five high on a warming rack without the lid dropping onto the cheese.
E flute is thinner and takes finer print, so it suits boxes that are mostly about brand appearance on shorter deliveries. B flute is thicker and stronger, so it suits high volume delivery, thicker pies and anything that gets stacked. If you are choosing between board types more broadly, our guide to corrugated versus cardboard explains where each one belongs.
Grease, steam and the soggy base problem
Two things ruin a delivered pizza and both are packaging problems rather than kitchen problems.
Steam. A hot pizza releases moisture. Sealed in a box, that moisture condenses on the lid and falls back onto the crust. Vent holes in the side walls let it out. Placement matters more than count, because vents cut below the crust line let heat escape without taking the steam with it.
Grease. Uncoated kraft absorbs oil, which is why a heavy pizza leaves a translucent patch on the base within minutes. A grease resistant liner keeps the oil on the surface, protects the print, and stops the base going soft. It is worth specifying if your menu runs to pepperoni, meat feasts or anything finished with oil.
Kraft or white, and how that changes your print
Unbleached kraft is brown, warm and reads as artisan. It takes one and two color flexo print well and it costs less. Colors printed on kraft shift toward the brown base, so a bright red prints closer to a brick tone. Plan the artwork for that rather than fighting it.
A white top liner gives a clean base for full color work and photographic images reproduce properly. It costs more and shows scuffs sooner. Our comparison of kraft versus white board goes through the trade in detail.
What a pizza box is best for, and what it is not
Best for: pizzerias, ghost kitchens, catering, frozen retail pizza, flatbreads, large cookies and cookie cakes, and anything round and flat that needs to travel warm and be carried by hand.
Not the right choice for: anything that needs to be sealed for tamper evidence, anything shipped by carrier rather than driven locally, or anything cold that will sweat inside a vented box. For carrier shipping look at shipping boxes, and for sealed food formats look at food boxes.
How to size a custom pizza box
Measure the pizza, not your current box. Take the diameter of the finished pie at its widest point, then add nothing. Pizza box sizing already includes the small clearance the name implies. For depth, stand a finished pizza on the counter and measure the tallest topping, then add about half an inch so the lid never touches the cheese.
If you are sizing anything other than a round pie, our guide to measuring a box covers length, width and depth conventions, and the box size calculator works out the blank from your product dimensions.
Are pizza boxes recyclable?
Yes, and the belief that they are not is out of date. The American Forest and Paper Association, working from a study run by WestRock, found that the levels of grease and cheese typically left on a used pizza box do not stop the box being recycled. Corrugated board is one of the most valuable feedstocks a mill takes, and a modest amount of residue does not change that.
What still causes a rejection is loose food. Scrape out crusts and stuck-on cheese before the box goes in the bin. And check locally, because collection rules are set by each municipality and some still exclude them regardless of the research.
Two things you control at the design stage matter more than the grease. A box printed with water based or soy based inks and no plastic lamination recycles cleanly. Add a gloss laminate or a window film and you have made it harder. If recyclability is part of what you tell customers, keep the construction simple and say so on the box.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for custom pizza boxes?
No. There is no minimum quantity and no minimum order fee. Order a short run to check the print and the fit, then scale to a full production run.
What size pizza box do I need?
Match the box to the pizza diameter. A 12 inch pizza takes a 12 inch box, a 14 inch pizza takes a 14 inch box, and so on. Common sizes are 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 inches, with 8 inch boxes for personal pies and slice boxes for counter service. If you run more than one pizza size, standardise on as few box sizes as you can, because every extra size is another line of stock to hold.
Are pizza boxes recyclable?
Yes. The AF and PA, from a WestRock study, found that typical grease and cheese residue does not prevent a used pizza box being recycled. Remove loose food first, and check your local collection rules, which vary by municipality. Keeping the box unlaminated and printed with water or soy based inks keeps it cleanly recyclable.
Are pizza boxes compostable?
An uncoated corrugated pizza box with no plastic lamination generally is compostable, and a greasy one is often better composted than recycled. A box with a gloss laminate, a plastic window or foil is not. If you want to make a composting claim on the box, tell us at quote stage and we will specify a construction that supports it.
Can a pizza box go in the oven?
No. Do not put a pizza box in the oven, on any setting, including warm. Cardboard scorches and can ignite, and the inks and adhesives used on a printed box are not made for oven temperatures. If you need to hold a pizza warm, take it out of the box and use a baking tray or a warming drawer.
Why are pizza boxes square when pizzas are round?
Because the board arrives in rectangular sheets and a square blank folds from a single piece with almost no waste. A round box would need curved cuts, more material, more tooling and a construction that does not fold flat. The square box also stacks, which matters when a driver is carrying six of them.
Should I choose E flute or B flute?
E flute for finer print and lighter pies. B flute for strength, stacking and delivery volume. If your boxes are being stacked in a hot bag and carried on a scooter, B flute is the safer specification.
Can I print full color photography on a pizza box?
Yes. Full color print is available across the box. Bear in mind that kraft board mutes color, so if the artwork depends on bright, accurate color, print on white board instead.
Do pizza boxes need vent holes?
They help. Steam trapped under a hot pizza is what turns the base soft, and small vents let some of it escape. Vents are not a complete answer, and box depth, board choice and how quickly the pizza gets to the customer all matter more.
How do I order custom pizza boxes in bulk?
Send the pizza diameter, the quantity, and your artwork or just your logo. You get a free quote on the exact specification, a free dieline and a free digital proof. There is no minimum order, and we will beat any written quote on the same specification.
Order custom pizza boxes
No minimum order, free design help, free samples and a free digital proof before production. Send us your pizza diameter, your depth, whether you want kraft or white, and your artwork in any format you have. If you are already buying pizza boxes somewhere else, send the written quote and we will beat it. Browse the range in custom pizza boxes or request a free quote.