Catering Boxes, Trays & Supplies Buying Guide

The KEVIDKO Buying Guide · Catering

A better handoff starts with the right catering box.

The food should arrive looking like you meant it to. Choose the carrier around the pan, the presentation around the menu, and the serving supplies around what happens after delivery.

What are you handing over?

01 / FOOD IN FOIL PANS

Choose the pan first.

Then choose a carrier that accommodates its footprint, depth, and lid. The Catering Box fit chart below makes that decision easier.

Find the Box

02 / AN ARRANGED SPREAD

Let people see it.

Solex window boxes frame sandwiches, pastries, and assortments. Choose the footprint around your arrangement and check its finished height.

Compare Window Boxes

03 / A SHARED DISH

Make it ready to serve.

Fiber trays and cold catering bowls create a natural-looking presentation. Match the lid, then pack a serving utensil with each dish.

Choose a Tray or Bowl

The Catering Box: match the carrier to the pan

The Catering Box gives a foil-pan order a more deliberate presentation: a folding display lid, locking base tabs, and stacking tabs. Its three core sizes serve different pan arrangements. A full-size deep pan belongs in the Jumbo; two half-size deep pans fit the Regular.

The Catering Box — Half

For a compact order: one half-size deep pan or two half-size shallow pans. 50 boxes per bundle.

The Catering Box — Regular

For one full-size shallow or medium pan, or two half-size pans. 50 boxes per bundle.

The Catering Box — Jumbo

For a full-size deep pan and larger arrangements. 25 boxes per bundle.

Manufacturer-stated aluminum pan fit
Box	Pan Arrangement	Published Box Dimensions
Half	One half-size deep or two half-size shallow pans	12.875 × 10.625 × 3.25 in.
Regular	One full-size shallow or medium or two half-size pans, shallow, medium, or deep	21.75 × 13.25 × 2.5 in.
Jumbo	One full-size deep pan; the manufacturer also describes combinations of shallow, medium, and deep pans	21 × 13.25 × 4 in.

These are the manufacturer’s published box dimensions and foil-pan configurations, not a guarantee for every rim or lid design. Trial-pack the actual pans with their lids and utensils before standardizing an order. The chart does not establish fit for fiber trays or bowls.

Mixing depths? A half-size shallow pan of sides can ride beside a half-size medium pan in the Regular. For a full-size pan, the distinction matters: shallow and medium use the Regular; deep moves up to the Jumbo. Do not assume that additional pans can be stacked simply because the footprints match.

Corrugated Catering Tray with Handles

An open-top carrying format with handles, listed at 22 × 13 × 12.5 in. Useful when the handoff calls for a handled carrier. Check the assembled load and support the base when lifting. 25 per case.

The Catering Box — Sidebar

For a taco bar or toppings spread: the manufacturer lists room for up to eight compatible deli containers, or one aluminum pan plus four containers. Check your actual container fit. 25 per bundle.

Solex window boxes: build the arrangement around the footprint

The kraft surround and clear window make the assortment part of the presentation before the box is opened. All three formats are 3.1 inches high, so switching to a larger footprint does not give taller food more clearance.

Solex 14 × 10-inch Kraft Window Catering Boxes

The smallest footprint of the three. A good starting point for a compact assortment. 3.1 in. high; 40 per case.

Solex 18 × 12-inch Kraft Window Catering Boxes

A broader layout for grouping an assortment across the box. 3.1 in. high; 20 per case.

Solex 22 × 10-inch Kraft Window Catering Boxes

A longer, narrower footprint for arranging food in rows. 3.1 in. high; 20 per case.

Use the actual finished food and any liner or insert when checking fit. Nominal box dimensions alone do not tell you how many sandwiches or pastries will fit.

Foil pans and lids: choose the depth that the dish needs

Shallow pans spread food across the surface. Medium pans add depth; deep pans give bulky dishes more room. Start with the dish and portion plan, then use the box chart above to finish the transport setup.

Pan Footprint	Shallow	Medium	Deep	Conventional Lid
Half-Size	Half-Size Shallow Pans	Half-Size Medium Pans	Half-Size Deep Pans	Half-Size Foil Lids
Full-Size	Full-Size Shallow Pans	Full-Size Medium Pans	Full-Size Deep Pans	Full-Size Foil Lids

When a vented lid makes sense

Vented Half-Size Foil Pan Lids have openings for steam release. Choose them when releasing steam is part of your packing process; choose a conventional foil lid when you want a cover without those openings. Venting affects different dishes differently, so test your actual menu and delivery routine.

Order lids as their own line item. Confirm the lid seats and crimps around the pan rim, and keep the carrier separate from your temperature-control plan.

Fiber trays and bowls that belong on the table

For an order that will be opened and served straight from its packaging, consider the shape of the spread. A rectangular pan organizes a side dish; a wide bowl gives a shared cold salad room to be seen and served.

160 oz Square Sugarcane Cold Catering Bowls

A natural-finish centerpiece for cold salads, fruit, and chilled sides. 25 bowls per case. The matching clear lids are also packed 25 per case.

Add the Matching 160 oz Bowl Lids

World Centric Half-Size Fiber Catering Trays

A 120 oz plant-fiber tray with a plant-based lining for moisture and grease resistance. 200 trays per case; matching lids sold separately in cases of 200.

Add the Matching Fiber Tray Lids

Half-Size Two-Compartment Fiber Catering Pans

Two sections keep separate parts of the spread organized in one pan. 200 per case. Choose this format when separation matters more than one uninterrupted serving area.

Need a flat platter instead?

14 × 18-inch Heavyweight Sugarcane Trays provide a rectangular presentation for arranged food, with Matching Clear Dome Lids sold separately. Check the pack counts: trays come 100 per case and lids come 50 per case, so one full case of trays takes two cases of lids.

A bowl’s ounce capacity is not a guest count. Leafy salad, fruit, and a dense side fill it differently. Portion your actual menu once, then use that result for repeat orders.

The small supplies that make the order usable

A beautiful platter still needs something to serve it with. Pack serving tools with the shared dishes and guest cutlery with the place settings.

Serving utensils

10-inch Plant-Fiber Serving Forks and 10-inch Plant-Fiber Serving Spoons: coordinate a natural finish with fiber bowls and trays.
10-inch Extra-Heavy Black Serving Spoons: another format for scooping sides and shared dishes.
9-inch Black Serving Tongs or 9-inch White Serving Tongs: choose the finish that suits the spread.
8.5-inch Black Serving Spoons: a shorter serving-spoon option.

Guest settings

Solex Silver Pre-Rolled Cutlery Kits: a coordinated place setting for a more dressed-up handoff.
Solex Bamboo Fork, Knife & Napkin Kits: carry the natural look through to the guest’s setting.
Agave Cutlery Kits: another alternative in the guest-cutlery assortment.
Solex Deluxe White Linen-Like Dinner Napkins or Black Tweed Linen-Feel Dinner Napkins: choose a finish around the occasion.

Serve the drinks by the person—or by the table

Individual bottles make a grab-and-go lunch easy to hand out. Larger bottles and handled jugs suit a shared beverage setup. Decide which experience you want before ordering the container.

16 oz Clear Square PET Juice Bottles

For individually packed cold drinks. Each case includes 200 bottles and 210 black caps.

32 oz Clear Square PET Juice Bottles

A larger format for a shared cold drink. Each case includes 80 bottles and 90 black caps.

Image is an illustrative rendering adapted from the smaller bottle in the same family.

64 oz Handled Beverage Jugs

For pouring cold drinks at the table. 108 jugs per pack. Need more capacity? Compare the 128 oz One-Gallon Beverage Jugs, packed 48 per case.

Finish the beverage order. The two square PET bottle options above include black caps. For a jug-and-cap order, verify the exact neck finish and closure pairing; “38 mm” alone is not enough. Our Bottle & Jar Cap Compatibility Guide explains what to check. A shared drink setup also needs cups and a place to pour.

Two ways to put the order together

A foil-pan buffet

Start with the dish and pan depth. Pair a full-size deep pan with a Jumbo box, or use a Regular for two half-size pans. Add the correct foil lids, a serving tool for each dish, and guest settings.

Keep the utensils easy to find at the handoff so the receiving team does not have to unpack the entire order to start serving.

A cold office spread

Arrange sandwiches or pastries in a Solex window box. Use a covered 160 oz bowl for a shared cold salad, and pack a fiber fork and spoon with it. Choose individual 16 oz drinks or shared 32 oz bottles to suit the meeting.

Check the completed arrangement with the lids closed. The box should frame the food without pressing on it.

Before the order leaves

Close the complete package. Check the food, lid, utensils, and carrier together.
Make the contents easy to identify. Label dishes and keep menu or handling information with the order.
Check the handoff. Support loaded bases and make sure the receiving team can find the serving tools.
Count the separate pieces. Lids, serving utensils, guest cutlery, napkins, and beverage closures belong on the order too.

For a larger event, use our Packing 200 Catered Meals Checklist to work through the whole handoff.