A beer tray with lid is a shallow tray, usually corrugated, that holds bottles or cans upright and closes with a printed lid. TBPB makes it custom to your container size with no minimum order, and if you bring a written quote for the same specs, we beat it.
Why a tray with a lid, not a carrier or a full box
A tray is a different pack from a six-pack carrier with a handle. The carrier is cheap and light and built for grocery shelves. A tray with a lid is closer to a gift pack: it sits flat, stacks on a pallet, and the lid gives you a large clean panel for story, tasting notes or a release date. It is the format of choice for variety packs, collab releases, taproom gifts and holiday sets, because the whole pack reads as one object.
If you only need to carry bottles from A to B, a tray without a lid, or a bottle carrier, uses less material. The lid is for display, protection and stacking.
Weight is the first design question
Full glass is heavy. Twelve bottles of beer can weigh well over fifteen pounds, and the tray carries all of it in the bottom panel. That is why this format is normally built in corrugated board, such as E or B flute, rather than thin folding carton. Cans are lighter, but cans still stack and tilt in transit.
The lid should be taller than a casual guess. Measure the tallest container, add the cap or can-top height, and allow enough depth that the lid closes without pressing on the caps. A lid that touches a crown cap will bulge and can dent the neck.
Stacking is the other point to settle early. If packs will be stacked three or four high in a warehouse or a delivery van, tell us, because the bottom tray carries the load of every pack above it. A sturdier flute or an extra liner is far cheaper than a collapsed pallet.
Dividers and fit
Bottles clink against each other, and clinking in a tray means chipped glass. Printed paperboard dividers or a cell insert hold each bottle in its own slot. Our bottle product inserts page shows how those dividers are cut. For layout, measure the outer diameter of the widest bottle, usually at the shoulder or the label, not the neck. Add a small clearance so bottles slide in and out without being forced.
- Pack counts of 4, 6, 12 or a mixed set, laid out in a row or a grid
- Bottle and can dividers, sized to your container
- Optional die-cut handle holes in the lid or sides, where the build supports it
- Kraft corrugated for a natural craft look, or white-surface board for brighter print
- CMYK or Pantone-matched print, with matte or gloss coating on the lid
Print choices that suit craft beer
Kraft corrugated with a one or two colour print looks right for a craft brand and keeps the pack simple. A full-colour white board lid suits seasonal releases and photography. Matte coating hides condensation marks better than gloss if the packs are stored cold. The inside of the lid is a good spot for tasting notes, a food pairing or a short story about the batch.
Alcohol labelling is regulated, and federal and state rules vary. Government warnings, ABV statements and age notices on the outer pack are your responsibility, so confirm them with your own compliance adviser. We print the artwork you supply.
For other container formats, the bottle boxes page covers single bottles, and the custom bottle boxes category shows the wider range. Send the bottle or can dimensions, the pack count and a quantity, even one, and we will draw the dieline and quote it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a beer tray with a lid used for?
It holds bottles or cans upright in a flat tray and closes with a printed lid, which suits variety packs, release gifts and holiday sets. The lid gives space for branding and notes, and the closed pack stacks neatly on a pallet or shelf.
Is there a minimum order for beer trays?
No. TBPB has no minimum order, so a small brewery can order one tray to test with a real bottle, then scale up for a release. Each tray is made to your container size, pack count and artwork.
How many bottles can the tray hold?
Common counts are 4, 6 and 12, in a row or a grid, plus mixed sets. The real limit is weight, since a full tray of glass is heavy. Tell us the count and the container, and we recommend a corrugated build and divider layout.
Do I need dividers inside the tray?
For glass, yes. Without dividers the bottles knock together in transit and chip. Printed paperboard dividers or a cell insert hold each bottle in a slot. For cans, dividers are optional but still help keep the pack tidy and stop tilting.
How should I measure for the tray?
Measure the widest part of the bottle, usually the shoulder or label, and the full height including the cap. Add small clearance for easy removal, and let the lid clear the cap. Send the numbers, or a sample bottle, and we draw the dieline.
Who handles alcohol labelling on the pack?
You do. We print the artwork you supply and do not write or approve regulatory text. Government warnings, ABV and age statements vary by federal and state rules, so check them with your own compliance adviser before approving the proof.
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