A fast food takeout box is a printed paperboard or kraft container built to carry hot, handheld food from the counter to the customer. TBPB makes them custom to your menu with no minimum order, and if you bring a written quote for the same specs, we beat it.
Match the box to the item, not the category
Fast food covers wildly different shapes. A burger box is tall and squarish. A fried chicken box is wider and has to hold a pile of irregular pieces. A wrap or a sandwich wants a flatter tray. Fries need a scoop or a tray that stays upright. Start with the single item that makes you most of your sales and size the first box around it. Everything else can follow.
If your menu is mostly fries, the french fry boxes are built for that shape. For Asian-style takeout with folded sides and a wire handle, see Chinese takeout boxes. For a general-purpose takeaway option, takeout food boxes is the broader page. This page is for quick-service menus.
The three problems that spoil takeout
Customers rarely complain about print. They complain about a soggy base, a crushed burger, or fries that went limp in steam. Each has a design answer.
Grease is the first one. A fried or oily item soaks through plain paperboard, so ask about a grease-resistant coating or liner when you request a quote, and tell us how oily the food is. Steam is the second. Sealed boxes trap it and make crisp food soft, so a vent hole or a loosely closing flap lets it out. Crushing is the third. A burger needs a box deep enough that the lid does not press on the bun.
Getting the size right
Measure the finished item as it will be served, in its wrap if it has one, then add enough room for the lid to close without touching. For multi-item meals, decide whether sides go inside the same box or in a separate container. A single clamshell that holds a burger and fries together is convenient for the customer, but it can make fries soggy from the burger steam. Separate compartments or a divider solve that.
Stacking in a delivery bag matters too. A box with a flat top stacks neatly, while a domed lid tilts and can crush whatever sits above it.
Delivery changes the brief. A box that rides in a courier bag for twenty minutes needs a closure that stays shut, and many operators add a printed sticker seal across the lid so customers can see it was not opened. Our custom packaging labels are made for that job, and the seal doubles as extra branding on the bag.
Material and print options
- Kraft paperboard for a natural quick-service look
- White paperboard for bright, full-colour print
- Corrugated board for heavier, larger meal boxes that need stiffness
- One-colour or full-colour print with Pantone matching
- Matte or gloss coating, with grease-resistant options to discuss for oily foods
One-colour print on kraft is cheap, honest and still shows your logo clearly. Full-colour print on white board adds weight to a brand story, but shows grease stains more. Choose based on what you serve.
Food-contact and labelling rules are your responsibility. We print the artwork you supply and do not certify materials as food safe, so confirm requirements with your own regulatory adviser. Browse the wider custom food boxes range for other formats.
Send your menu item dimensions and a quantity, even one, and we will draw the dieline and quote it. Also see the fast food boxes page if you want the standard style set.
Frequently asked questions
What are fast food takeout boxes?
They are printed paperboard or kraft containers designed for quick-service food such as burgers, fried chicken, wraps and sides. They carry the meal from the counter to a car or delivery bag while keeping it hot, intact and branded.
Is there a minimum order for takeout boxes?
No. TBPB has no minimum order, so a single location can test one design before a wider rollout. Every box is cut and printed to your menu item size and artwork, with larger quantities quoted the same way.
How do I stop grease soaking through the box?
Tell us how oily the food is and ask about a grease-resistant coating or liner. Plain paperboard soaks through on fried items. We do not certify materials as food safe, so confirm food-contact requirements with your regulatory adviser.
How do I keep fries and fried food crisp?
Let steam escape. A sealed box traps moisture and softens the crust, so add a vent hole or a loose closing flap. Keep fries in a separate compartment from a hot burger to avoid steam transferring between them.
How do I measure for a takeout box?
Measure the finished item as it is served, including its wrap, then add room so the lid closes without touching. For combo meals, decide whether sides share the box or sit in a divided section. Send the numbers and we draw the dieline.
Can I print a single colour to keep it simple?
Yes. A one-colour logo on kraft is a common choice for quick-service food, it is clear and honest, and it hides minor grease marks. Full-colour print on white board suits a more brand-led menu. Tell us your style and we advise.
More Custom Food Boxes
See the full Custom Food Boxes range, or explore related options with no minimum order and our best-price guarantee:
