Most operations carry the wrong clamshell sizes. Either they oversize (paying for material and freight on empty headspace) or they undersize (lids pop off, contents leak, customers complain). Sizing is one of the highest-ROI decisions in a packaging program because it compounds across every ticket.
This guide pairs clamshell capacity to ticket types. For the full material overview see the Complete Foodservice Clamshell Buyer’s Guide.
Size capacity reference
| Clamshell capacity | Volume (fl oz) | Volume (cups) | Typical pack |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6oz | 6 | 0.75 | 400/case |
| 8-9oz | 8-9 | 1 | 350-400/case |
| 12oz | 12 | 1.5 | 300/case |
| 16oz | 16 | 2 | 250/case |
| 24oz | 24 | 3 | 200/case |
| 28-30oz | 28-30 | 3.5 | 200/case |
| 32oz | 32 | 4 | 150-200/case |
| 48oz | 48 | 6 | 100-150/case |
The “typical pack” column varies by manufacturer and clamshell geometry (square vs round, compartmented vs flat). Pull spec sheets for the exact SKU.
By ticket type
Single sandwich
Recommended: 8-9oz clamshell
A standard 6-inch sub, deli sandwich, club, or panini fits comfortably in an 8oz or 9oz clamshell with room for the lid to seat without compressing the bread. The 6oz size is too tight for most sandwiches — only use 6oz for half-sandwiches, kids’ portions, or breakfast egg-and-cheese.
For oversize specialty sandwiches (footlong subs, double-decker burgers, Reuben with full sauerkraut load), step up to 12oz.
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PET Clamshells
10 SKUs · from $35.31 – $53.75 per case
Lunch combo (sandwich + side)
Recommended: 12oz or 2-compartment 16oz
A sandwich + a side (chips, fruit, cookie, small salad) fits a 12oz single-compartment clamshell if the side is dry and packs alongside the sandwich. For a wet side (potato salad, coleslaw), use a 2-compartment 16oz to keep moisture isolated.
Salad (standalone)
Recommended: 24oz for composed salads, 32oz for hearty/entrée salads
A regular composed salad — greens, two veggies, protein, dressing on the side — packs to ~24oz capacity at the right portion. Hearty entrée salads (Cobb, Caesar with chicken, grain bowls with greens) need 32oz to feel generous without compaction.
A common mistake: packing a 24oz salad portion into a 32oz clamshell because “it looks bigger” — actually it looks sparse and the contents shift in transit. Match capacity to portion within ±20%.
Bowls (burrito, grain, poke)
Recommended: 32oz
The fast-casual bowl standard. 32oz holds a full bowl portion (8-10oz protein + 2-3 sides + base) with enough room for the customer to mix without spilling.
For “lite” bowl menus aimed at smaller appetites, 24oz works. For oversize/family bowls (Chipotle’s burrito bowl + extra) some operations use 48oz, but most stay at 32oz and let the customer add a side.
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PP Deli Containers
4 SKUs · from $16.56 – $30.63 per case
Hot entrée plate
Recommended: 24-30oz, 2 or 3 compartment, MFPP
A traditional plate (protein + starch + vegetable) packs best in a 3-compartment 30oz MFPP clamshell. The compartments prevent sauce on the protein from soaking into the starch during transit. The MFPP material handles microwave reheat — which most delivery customers will do.
For one-pot dishes (lasagna, casserole, paella), a 1-compartment 24-32oz MFPP is sufficient.
Pastry / dessert
Recommended: 6-9oz PET, square or rectangular
Bakery items want shape-flattering geometry — clamshells with flat bottoms display better than deep round bowls. PET for clarity (the customer is buying with their eyes). 6oz for cookies, brownies, single croissants; 9oz for full muffins, scones, slice of cake.
Family / catering tray
Recommended: 48-80oz aluminum or PP family-pan
At this scale, clamshells are not the right format — switch to half-pan or quarter-pan aluminum with a separate lid, or PP family-pans. See the Aluminum Pans for Catering guide for sizing in this range.
Sizing math
If your average ticket pack-out is 50-100 clamshells/day across mixed sizes, the difference between right-sized and oversize containers is meaningful:
- Right-sized: ~$0.20-0.40/clamshell case-cost on standard sizes
- Oversize (one size up): ~$0.30-0.50/clamshell
- Annual delta at 100 clamshells/day × 250 days × $0.10/clamshell = $2,500/year
Plus freight: oversize containers ship fewer per case, more cases per pallet, higher freight cost per unit.
Pack-fill discipline
Once sized correctly, train staff on the 80% pack rule:
- Don’t overfill — content should leave ~20% headspace below the lid line. Overfilled clamshells pop hinges during transit.
- Don’t underfill — content should reach at least 60% capacity. Under-packed clamshells look cheap and contents shift dramatically.
- Match the lid to the base — every clamshell has a corresponding lid system. Hinged clamshells are one-piece; 2-piece systems need a specific lid SKU. Don’t mix vendors.
The hidden cost: storage cube
Bigger clamshells take more storage cube. A case of 250 16oz clamshells fits in a smaller footprint than a case of 200 32oz — and your back-of-house shelf space is finite. Inventory sizing tracks with both menu mix and physical storage.