Disposable Plate Buying Guide: Your First Carton

Buying your first disposable plate order is simplest when you pick one size that matches your most common dish, order a single carton, and check it against your menu before committing to more. Once that size has proven itself in real service, add a second size for the dishes it does not suit.

Key takeaways

• Start with one plate size that fits the dish you serve most often, not a mixed range.
• Packery sells plates by the carton, and each product page shows the carton price and price per item.
• When the carton arrives, check the plate against your actual portions, how it stacks, and where the carton will live.
• Add a second size only when a specific dish clearly does not fit the first one.
• There is no minimum order, so a single test carton is a normal first order.

What size disposable plate should I buy first?

Buy the size that suits the dish you plate most often. For most venues that means a mid-size round plate for mains, or a small round plate if you mainly serve cake, pastries or sides.

Our sugarcane round plates come in three sizes. The 7in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 1000) measures 176x16mm and suits desserts, slices and side serves. The 9in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500) measures 225x20mm and is the all-round choice for a light main or a sandwich with salad. The 10in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500) measures 254x20mm and gives more room for a full meal with sides.

If your food is long rather than round, such as a schnitzel, a burger with chips or a wrap, an oval shape uses the space better. The Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Oval Small (Carton of 500) measures 192x259x25mm, and the Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Oval Large (Carton of 500) measures 252x317x25mm.

Should my first carton be sugarcane or palm leaf?

Choose by the look you want and the volume you serve. Sugarcane plates (made from sugarcane fibre) come in larger cartons with a lower price per item, while palm leaf plates come in cartons of 100 and have a natural finish that suits events and grazing-style service.

For a palm leaf first order, the 9in Plate – Palm Round Med (Carton of 100) measures 228x15mm, and the 10in Plate – Palm Round (Carton of 100) measures 250x25mm. Both are in a natural colour. A carton of 100 is a smaller commitment, which suits a caterer testing a look for one function. If you want more detail on the leaf option, see our guide to palm leaf disposable plates.

How do the first-order options compare?

Here is a side-by-side of the plates most first-time buyers choose between. All prices are per carton or per item exactly as listed.

Carton quantity matters as much as price on a first order. A carton of 1000 small plates lasts a long time for a café that only plates the odd slice, so think about how quickly you will actually use it.

What should I check when the first carton arrives?

Check three things before you open the second box: the plate against your real portions, how the plates stack, and where the carton will be stored. These checks tell you whether to reorder the same size or change course.

Size against the menu. Plate up your most common dish exactly as you serve it, including sauce and sides. Look at whether food sits inside the rim or spills over the edge, and whether a customer can carry it without tipping. The listed size gives diameter and depth (for example 225x20mm), so compare the depth with how saucy your dishes are.

Stacking at the pass. Keep a stack where staff grab from during service. Check that single plates separate easily and that the stack sits flat on your bench or shelf.

Storage space. Measure the shelf or cupboard where the carton will go before reordering. A carton of 500 or 1000 plates needs more room than a carton of 100, and a carton that has to sit in the walk-through will get damaged.

When should I add a second plate size?

Add a second size when one dish keeps failing on the first plate. Common signs are mains crowding the rim, staff doubling up plates, or small items looking lost on a large plate.

Typical pairings work like this:

• A café that started on the 9in round adds the 7in round for cakes and slices.
• A takeaway that started on the small oval adds the large oval for share meals.
• A caterer that started on a round plate adds a platter for grazing boards and shared food.

Keep the range tight. Two sizes cover most menus, and each extra size adds another carton to store and another item to reorder. If you are already buying several cartons at a time, our bulk disposable plates guide covers ordering at larger volumes.

Which one should I buy?

Match the plate to the venue and the dish you serve most:

• Café serving cakes, slices and pastries: start with the 7in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 1000).
• Café or lunch bar serving light mains and sandwiches: start with the 9in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500).
• Restaurant-style takeaway or full meals with sides: start with the 10in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500).
• Fish and chips, schnitzels or food trucks with long items: start with the Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Oval Small (Carton of 500), and move to the Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Oval Large (Carton of 500) if portions are bigger.
• Caterer or event with a natural presentation: start with the 9in Plate – Palm Round Med (Carton of 100) or the 10in Plate – Palm Round (Carton of 100).
• Shared platters and grazing tables: add the 12in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Platter (Carton of 100) once your main plate is settled.

You can see every shape and size side by side in our plates and trays range.

Ordering your first carton

There is no minimum order, so one carton is a fine place to start. Delivery is a flat fee set by your postcode, and free once an order passes a set amount; checkout shows the exact cost, and today's rates are on the shipping page. Delivery takes 3–5 business days to capital cities and 4–6 business days regional. All orders are prepaid online. Damaged or faulty items are replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost). When you know the size you want, use quick order to place it in a few steps.

Setting up or restocking your packaging?

Send us your list for a trade quote, or price it yourself in the cost calculator.

No minimum order · free delivery over $750 (metro) / $1000 (regional) · damaged items replaced free · Delivery details