Custom pie boxes are printed cartons made to fit a specific pie size, with a base, a lid and an optional window so customers can see the crust. TBPB makes them to your artwork with no minimum order, and a written quote for the same specs gets a price-beat under our guarantee.
Start with the pan, not the pie
The number people quote is the pie size, such as a 9 inch pie. The number you need is the outside diameter of the pan or the pie as it leaves the oven, which is often an inch wider than the label suggests, because the rim and the crust edge add width. Measure across the widest point and then the height, with the dome of the filling or any meringue included. A standard pie needs about 2 inches of height, a deep-dish or a double-crust pie runs deeper, and a tall lemon meringue needs even more headroom so the top does not smear against the lid. Add roughly 1/4 inch of clearance on each side, because a pie goes in with a hand holding it from below.
Structure and board
Most bakeries use a folding carton with a lock-corner or a one-piece style that pops up flat and locks together, and the box has to stay rigid when a warm pie is carried with one hand. For a typical pie, paperboard in the 18 pt to 24 pt range holds its shape. For larger pies, deep dishes or boxes stacked by the dozen, corrugated gives better crush strength. Grease is the practical issue. Butter and filling leave oil marks on plain board, so many bakers set the pie on a coated cake board or a parchment sheet inside the box. Tell us if you need a liner or a pad so we can account for the thickness.
Window, print and look
A window shows the lattice or crumb top and sells the pie before the box is opened. Windows weaken the lid slightly, so we keep them away from the folds. Printing runs in CMYK or Pantone, and a kraft-colored board with one or two ink colors is a very practical choice for a bakery: it hides oil marks better than white and looks right for a handmade product. Matte lamination gives a modern look, while an uncoated finish keeps it rustic. Keep the artwork clear of the lid edge where the box is opened, since that is where fingers and grease collect.
Food packaging carries food-contact and labeling rules. TBPB prints the artwork you supply, and you should check contact-material requirements and allergen or ingredient copy with your own regulatory adviser.
When another box serves better
For slices, hand pies and single desserts, smaller cartons make more sense. Our kraft cupcake boxes and custom chocolate boxes cover small treats, and a beverage box pairs with a pie for coffee-shop sets. Browse everything in the custom food boxes category.
- Sized to your pie pan diameter and pie height
- Folding carton or corrugated board
- Optional window, tuck, lock-corner or one-piece pop-up structure
- CMYK or Pantone printing, kraft or white board
- Optional liner, pad or cake board allowance
Send the pie pan diameter, the height and the quantity, even if it is one, and we will draw the dieline and quote it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for custom pie boxes?
No. TBPB has no minimum order, so you can order one box for a test pie or thousands for a holiday season. The process is the same: you send the pan size and height, and we draw the dieline and quote it.
How do I measure a pie for a box?
Measure the widest outside diameter, including the rim, and the height with the dome or meringue. Add about 1/4 inch of clearance per side. A 9 inch pie often measures wider across the pan edge, so measure the actual pan or baked pie.
What box height do I need for a pie?
A standard single pie needs about 2 inches, deep-dish or double-crust pies need more, and tall meringue pies need extra headroom so the topping does not touch the lid. Tell us the pie height when it leaves the oven.
Can pie boxes have a window?
Yes. A window shows the crust and fillings and helps sell the pie in a display. We keep the window away from the fold lines to protect lid strength. Tell us the window shape you want and we will include it in the dieline.
How do I stop grease marking the box?
Set the pie on a coated cake board or parchment inside the box, and consider kraft board, which hides oil marks better than white. If you need a liner or pad, let us know so the box has room for it.
Are pie boxes food safe?
Contact and labeling rules depend on your product and local regulations. TBPB prints the artwork you supply and does not give food-safety certification. Confirm contact-material and ingredient or allergen copy with your own regulatory adviser.
More Custom Food Boxes
See the full Custom Food Boxes range, or explore related options with no minimum order and our best-price guarantee:
