Custom Fish and Chip Boxes with Vents

Sizing for Cod, Haddock and Sides

Fish portions vary a lot between shops. A small fillet might be around 180mm long, a regular one closer to 220mm, and a large cod can stretch beyond 260mm. Measure a typical fried portion from your own fryer and add a little room so the batter is not pressed against the box ends.

Depth matters for chips. Too shallow and the lid pushes down on the portion, squashing the top layer. Too deep and the box wastes space in the delivery bag. A depth of 60mm to 70mm suits most regular portions. Shops that serve generous portions often go deeper on their large size.

It is common to order two or three box sizes: one for chips and sides, one for a regular supper and one for a large fish. Using the same print across all sizes keeps your counter looking consistent. The free proof drawn on the chip box dieline shows where the fillet sits against the vents.

Board, Grease Resistance and Food Contact

Fried food is oily, so the inside of the box needs a grease-resistant coating to stop oil soaking through and marking the print. Many shops also line the box with fish and chip paper, which absorbs some oil and adds the traditional look customers expect. Where fish and chips sit straight on the card without a liner, ask for food-contact grade board, which we can supply on request.

White board shows bright printing well and looks clean. Kraft board has a traditional feel that suits shops with a heritage brand. Both can be printed on the outside while the inside stays plain and coated.

Heat also matters. Fresh food goes into the box very hot, and a thin board can soften at the base under a heavy portion. If your large suppers are generous, ask for a slightly heavier board on that size only, so the box keeps its shape when lifted from one end.

Printed Fish and Chip Boxes with Logo

Printed fish and chip boxes with logo artwork do a lot of quiet marketing. Every takeaway goes home, gets opened on a kitchen table and often appears in someone's photo. Your shop name, phone number and website or ordering link on the lid means the next order is only a glance away.

Keep the design bold and simple, as the boxes are often seen quickly and from a distance. One or two colours on kraft looks classic and keeps cost low. Full colour suits shops with illustrated branding or a mascot. Avoid fine text near the vents, as the cut-outs can interrupt it.

If you run a delivery menu, printing a QR code on the box that links to your ordering page is a simple way to make repeat orders easier.

Practical Tips for Busy Service

On a Friday rush, speed matters. Boxes should fold in one motion and close with a firm tuck, so staff are not fiddling with tabs while the queue grows. Order boxes that arrive flat and store them close to the fryer in a dry spot, as damp board loses its strength.

If you use paper liners, cut or order them to the box size so they sit flat without folding over the edge. Keep a stock of spare boxes for unusually large portions and catering orders. For delivery, a flat lid that stacks well is more useful than a peaked or handled box.

Train new staff on the fold before the first busy evening. A box that is half-locked can spring open in a carrier bag, which is the last thing you want after a long queue. A quick demonstration and a sample pinned by the counter prevents most mistakes. Liners cut to each size come from the same order as the boxes, as do napkins from our hot food takeaway packaging range.

Measure Your Largest Fillet Before You Pick a Supper Box

A chip box is sized by the fish, so fry your largest regular fillet, lay it on a board and measure it, then measure the depth of a full portion of chips beside it. Add 20 mm to the fillet length so the batter is not bent against the end wall, and set the inside depth 10 mm above the chip level so the lid does not press on the top layer. Two or three sizes cover most shops. Decide whether delivery orders go in corrugated and walk-in trade in folding board, since both can carry the same print. Shops that serve a burger with chips on the same menu match the box to their burger and chip boxes with a divider.

Send the lid artwork as a vector with a clear panel for the order number. Email the sizes, board, quantity per size and artwork; a custom quote comes back within one working day and a free design proof shows where the vents fall. Boxes are made in 4 to 7 working days once approved and delivered flat, free and tracked, on the UK mainland in 2 to 3 days. Damp or crushed boxes reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded.