Custom Catering Boxes in Australia: The Complete Buyer's Guide

Everything you need to know before ordering custom catering boxes, from styles and sizes to board, printing and sustainability.

This guide is for caterers, corporate kitchens, meal prep brands and event planners looking at custom catering boxes. It covers what matters most before you order, with practical examples from Australian food businesses.

Custom catering boxes at a glance

Custom catering boxes are food-grade boxes made to your size, structure and artwork instead of picked from a generic range. They are used for corporate catering, office lunches, events and conferences, and they are a staple for caterers, corporate kitchens, meal prep brands and event planners across Australia.

Large stackable catering boxes carry platters flat and presentable into boardrooms. That practical detail matters because a box that fails in transit costs you the food, the customer's goodwill and often a refund. A well-made box does the opposite: it protects the product, carries your brand into homes and offices, and gives people a reason to remember where the food came from.

You can see standard sizes and options on our Catering Boxes page, or browse the wider range of catering & meal boxes.

Where catering boxes work best

Most orders for catering boxes come from businesses packing corporate catering and office lunches, but the same box often ends up doing several jobs across a menu or product range.

• Corporate catering: staff need a box that folds up fast when orders stack up.
• Office lunches: repeat customers notice when the packaging looks consistent every time.
• Events: the food often travels further than you'd expect, so strength counts.
• Conferences: a box that photographs well brings free exposure on social media.

If your range covers more than one of these, it is usually cheaper to settle on two or three standard sizes and print them all with the same artwork than to order a different design for every item.

Choosing a style for your catering boxes

The structure of the box decides how fast it folds, how well it protects the food and how it looks when opened. These are the styles we make most often for catering boxes:

• Large lid and base: A separate lid and base give full access to the food and a tidy, gift-like look.
• Window catering box: A window shows the product and lets it sell itself on the counter or shelf.
• Corrugated tray: An open or lidded tray makes serving fast and shows the food off.

If none of these fits, we can combine features, for example adding a window to a tuck box or an insert to a lid-and-base box. Your dieline is drawn around the food, so the finished box fits properly.

Size guide for catering boxes

These are the sizes customers ask for most often. They are a good starting point, but every box can be made to your exact dimensions.

As a rule, allow 5 to 10 mm of clearance on each side of the food and more on top if it has icing, toppings or a domed shape. Too much space lets food slide around; too little crushes it or smears it on the lid.

What should catering boxes be made from?

The right board depends on the weight of the food, how far it travels and the look you want. For catering boxes the usual options are:

• SBS paperboard: Solid bleached sulphate board gives a bright white surface for sharp, full-colour print. It is the usual choice for retail cartons and bakery boxes, and is commonly specified between 300 and 400 gsm depending on the weight of the food.
• Kraft paperboard: Unbleached kraft has a natural brown finish that suits rustic, organic and eco-minded brands. It prints best with bold one- or two-colour artwork, because the brown base shifts lighter colours.
• E-flute corrugated board: A thin corrugated board around 1.5 mm thick that adds crush strength and a little insulation while still printing cleanly. It is the standard for pizza boxes, mailers and heavier food orders.

The main risk to plan for with this type of packaging is dressing leaks, weight of full platters and long carry distances. Choose the board and any inside coating with that in mind, not just the print.

Printing options for catering boxes

Most catering boxes are printed in one of three ways, and the right one depends on your quantity and artwork.

• Offset CMYK: sharp full-colour print for photos, gradients and detailed designs. Best value on larger runs.
• Spot colours (Pantone): exact brand colours that stay consistent between orders. Worth it if colour matching matters to you.
• Digital print: no plates, so it suits short runs, test designs and seasonal versions.

On kraft board, bold one- or two-colour designs usually look better than full photos, because the brown base changes how colours appear. Our CMYK vs Pantone guide explains the difference in more detail.

Making catering boxes more sustainable

Paperboard catering boxes are one of the easier food packaging items to make sustainable, because the main material is widely recycled in Australia when it is clean.

• Choose kraft or recycled-content board where the look suits your brand.
• Use a film-free window or no window at all, so the box stays a single material.
• Ask for water-based barrier coatings rather than plastic laminates where grease resistance is needed.
• If you want compostable packaging, ask for certification to AS 4736 (industrial) or AS 5810 (home composting).
• Add clear disposal instructions, such as the Australasian Recycling Label, so customers know what to do with the box.

Most states have also phased out many single-use plastic food items, so paper-based boxes help keep you ahead of the rules. Check your state's current list, as it changes.

How to order custom catering boxes

Ordering catering boxes is simple, and you see a proof before anything is printed.

1. Request a quote with your size, quantity and any style ideas using our quote form.
2. Get a dieline: a flat template of your box showing folds, cuts and print areas.
3. Add artwork: send your own, or ask our team to lay out your logo and details.
4. Approve the proof: check spelling, colours and positions carefully.
5. Production: printing, finishing, cutting and gluing, typically 10–15 business days.
6. Delivery: boxes arrive flat-packed, ready to fold.

Not sure how a dieline works? Read how to read a packaging dieline.

Frequently asked questions about catering boxes

Final thoughts

The best catering boxes are the ones that fit the food, suit the way your team works and look like they belong to your brand. Measure carefully, choose board for the conditions the box will face, and keep the design clear and consistent.

When you're ready, see the full specification on our Catering Boxes page or request a free quote. We'll send a dieline and price for your exact size.