Custom Burger and Chip Boxes

Clamshell, Tray or Lidded Box

The clamshell is the most common style. It folds from one sheet, locks with a front tab and opens like a book, so the customer can eat straight from it. A tray with a separate lid suits sit-in service and food markets where the lid is removed and the tray becomes a plate. Lidded boxes with tuck flaps hold heat a little better and stack more firmly in delivery bags.

Vent holes in the lid let steam escape so chips stay crisp. We position them away from the logo and away from where sauces might drip through. A small thumb notch on the front tab makes the box easier to open without tearing the board.

For burger vans with very little storage, a clamshell that folds in seconds and stacks flat is usually the most practical, because a tall pile of flat blanks takes up far less space than pre-formed trays. p2 Our clamshell boxes for single burgers page shows how the locking tab works.

Board and Grease Resistance

A burger and a portion of chips carry a lot of oil and sauce. We use a firm folding board or a thin corrugated board, depending on how heavy the meal is and how far it travels. Corrugated board holds heat better and stays rigid for delivery; folding board prints sharper and costs less for counter service.

A grease-resistant coating on the inside face stops oil from soaking through to the printed outside. Without it, a box that looks crisp at the pass can show dark patches by the time it reaches a customer's door. Food-contact grade board is available on request, and we can advise on coatings for very hot or saucy menus.

Kraft board is popular with burger joints that like a natural, rugged look. White board shows bright colours and photography, which suits chains and franchise menus that rely on strong brand colours.

Print That Works in a Delivery Bag

A delivery box is seen first by the customer when the bag is opened, then by everyone else at the table. A bold logo on the lid and a simple pattern round the sides is enough to make the meal recognisable. A short line inside the lid, such as an order-again prompt or a social handle, is read while people eat.

Keep important information off the fold lines, where creasing can break up text. One or two colour printing on kraft keeps costs low for high-volume takeaways. Full colour is worth it when the box carries photography or a detailed illustration.

Think about how the box looks when opened on a table, too. Diners often photograph a good burger before eating it, and a clean inside print or a coloured base frames the food rather than distracting from it. A plain inside with a single small logo near the hinge usually photographs best. p2 Burger bars with a stacked double on the menu often pair these with taller boxes for double burgers.

Who Uses Combo Boxes

Independent burger bars, chip shops adding a burger menu, food trucks, pub kitchens offering takeaway and dark kitchens serving delivery apps all order this style. Event caterers use them at festivals and sports grounds, where a single box per meal keeps queues moving and reduces litter around the stand.

Chicken shops and kebab houses also use the same box for a fillet burger and fries or a wrap and chips, so one stock item covers several menu lines.

Schools and leisure centres running cafés use combo boxes for grab-and-go lunches as well. Because the meal is boxed in one item, a single stack of flat blanks beside the fryer covers every order, and staff do not need to keep separate stocks of bags, scoops and clamshells. p2 Festival caterers serving in bulk sometimes use open paper trays for loaded fries for the quicker lines.

Stack Your Tallest Burger and Measure From the Base

The number that decides a combo box is the height of your tallest burger as it is actually served: a double smash with a brioche lid and a pickle on a stick is often 110 mm, and a lid that presses on the bun arrives looking squashed. Build the tallest item on your menu, measure from the board to the top of the bun, add 10 mm, and send that with your chip portion weight.

Choose the board from your delivery mix. Mostly counter and sit-in, folding board with a grease-resistant lining prints sharpest; mostly apps and drivers, thin corrugated keeps the heat in. Tell us weekly box use too, since quantity drives the price more than print does, and a quote arrives by email within one working day from £0.25 per box.

The free proof shows the box flat and folded, so you can check the vents sit clear of the logo. Production is 4 to 7 working days after approval and the flat boxes come free and tracked to UK mainland addresses. Kitchens with a chicken line often order chicken boxes in the same board so one stock of blanks covers both menus.