A donut tray is a shallow paperboard tray, with or without a lid or sleeve, that carries donuts in a single layer so the glaze does not stick to the next donut. TBPB prints them to your donut size with no minimum order, and we beat any written quote for matching specs.
Why a tray and not a closed box
A closed donut box is a fine thing, but a tray gives you something a box cannot: the customer sees the whole dozen the moment it lands on the table. That matters for office orders, catering and counter display, where the tray itself is part of the sales pitch. A tray can be slid into a sleeve, wrapped in a printed band, or covered with a clear lid, depending on how far it has to travel.
Single-layer is the rule. Stack donuts and glazed ones fuse, filled ones squash. If you need more than a dozen per carrier, nest several trays in a sleeve instead of making one deep box.
Measuring for the layout you want
Donuts vary far more than people expect. A plain ring, a filled round and a long john are different footprints, and a bakery that sells all three should size the tray for the largest regular item. Measure the longest and widest donuts you make, add about 1/8 inch of clearance on each side, then decide on rows and columns. Common layouts are two rows of three for a half dozen and three rows of four for a dozen, though a custom tray can follow any grid that suits your product.
Wall height should clear the tallest item. If you pile on sprinkles or run a jelly donut with a high dome, give the walls room, or go with a taller sleeve.
Board choice and grease
Donuts are greasy, and grease finds paper. Kraft paperboard hides oil marks better than white stock, which shows every spot. A coated white board looks cleaner on day one but may stain by the time it reaches the customer. Many shops add a sheet of tissue or a liner. For anything that touches food, confirm what the board needs with your own regulatory adviser, since TBPB prints the artwork you supply and does not make food-safety claims for you.
Branding is simple on a tray, because the printable area is mostly the inside floor and the outer walls. A one-colour logo on the walls reads clearly from across the counter, while the floor can carry a pattern or message the customer only sees when the lid comes off. Matte aqueous coating cuts glare under shop lights and resists fingerprints better than bare board. Foil or spot UV on a wall panel is possible, though it adds production steps, so keep it for a feature logo and not an all-over pattern.
- Layouts: six, twelve or any custom grid for your donut sizes
- Board: kraft or white paperboard, thicker stock for wide trays
- Extras: clear lid, printed sleeve, handle, window
- Print: one colour on kraft up to full CMYK on white
Closed boxes, and other options
If the donuts travel by car or delivery rider, a lidded donut box protects them better. Shops leaning on the natural look often pick kraft donut boxes. For other flat-pack food items, custom tray boxes follow the same logic, and the whole range is in the tray boxes category.
Send your largest donut dimensions, the count per tray and the quantity you need, even if it is one. We draw the dieline and quote it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a minimum order for custom donut trays?
No. There is no minimum order. Order one tray to test the fit or thousands for a full launch. Each tray is cut and printed to the donut size you give us.
What sizes do donut trays come in?
Common layouts are six and twelve donuts, but sizing is custom. Measure your largest donut, add about 1/8 inch per side, and tell us how many go in a row. We draw the tray around that.
Will grease soak through the tray?
Donut oil can mark paperboard. Kraft hides stains better than white, and a liner sheet helps further. For food contact, check what the board needs with your own regulatory adviser.
Can the tray have a lid?
Yes. You can add a clear lid, a printed sleeve or a full lid. A sleeve keeps the donuts visible from the sides, while a closed lid protects better if they are going in a car or on a delivery run.
Can I print my logo on a donut tray?
Yes. Kraft takes dark one-colour logos well, and white board suits full-colour artwork. Send your file and we check how it sits on the dieline before printing.
How do I get a quote?
Send the donut dimensions, count per tray and quantity. We draw the dieline and quote it, and if you bring a written quote for the same specs, TBPB will beat it.
More Tray Boxes
See the full Tray Boxes range, or explore related options with no minimum order and our best-price guarantee:
