Plastic Plates Disposable: Work Out Cost Per Plate

Packery does not stock disposable plastic plates. If you searched for plastic plates disposable, what we can offer is sugarcane and palm leaf plates sold by the carton, along with a simple way to work out what one plate costs so you can compare it fairly against what you pay now.

Key takeaways

• Packery has no plastic plates in its range. The plates we sell are made from sugarcane or palm leaves.
• Every product page shows the carton price and the price per item, so the cost of one plate is already worked out for you.
• To compare suppliers, divide the carton price by the number of pieces in the carton, then hold that figure against your current invoice.
• Carton sizes differ (100, 500 or 1000 pieces), so compare per plate, not per carton.
• There is no minimum order, all orders are prepaid online.

Does Packery sell plastic plates?

No. We don't stock plastic plates in any size or shape. Our plates and trays range covers unbleached sugarcane plates and palm leaf plates, in round, oval, square and rectangle shapes.

Both materials come in a natural colour. If your venue currently buys plastic plates, the useful question is whether one of these does the same job at a cost per plate that works for you. The rest of this guide shows you how to check that.

How do I work out the cost of one disposable plate?

Take the carton price and divide it by the number of plates in the carton. That gives you the price per plate, which is the only figure that lets you compare cartons of different sizes.

On Packery, you don't need to do the sum yourself. We sell by the carton, and each product page shows both the carton price and the price per item. The method is still worth knowing, because it's how you check your current supplier's invoice:

1. Find the carton price on your current invoice or price list. Check whether tax is extra. Packery, so compare like with like.

2. Find the pieces per carton. This is usually printed on the invoice line or the carton label.

3. Divide the carton price by the pieces. The answer is your cost per plate.

4. Open the matching Packery product page and read the live carton price and price per item.

5. Compare the two per-plate figures, then factor in delivery (covered below).

For example, the 7in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 1000) is $80.42 per carton of 1000, which works out to $0.08 each. The Plate – Palm Oval Medium (Carton of 100) is $37.69 per carton of 100, or $0.38 each. The carton of 1000 costs about twice as much as the carton of 100, yet each plate costs about a fifth as much, because the carton quantities are different. That's why comparing per carton gives the wrong answer.

Why compare per plate instead of per carton?

Because carton quantities vary widely, a lower carton price doesn't always mean a lower plate price. In our range, plates come in cartons of 100, 500 or 1000.

The 10in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500) is $78.94 per carton, and the 10in Plate – Palm Round (Carton of 100) is $53.55 per carton. Looking at carton prices alone, the palm plate seems cheaper. Per plate, the sugarcane round is $0.16 each and the palm round (see the product page for the current price). Work out the per-plate figure for your current plastic plates too, so all three numbers are in the same unit.

Also compare sizes. A plate quoted in inches on one invoice and in millimetres on another can look the same when it isn't. The table below lists each size in millimetres so you can match it to what you use now.

What sizes and prices are available?

The table below lists a selection of plates from the range with their size, material, carton quantity, carton price and price per item. Prices are as listed on each product page.

Which one should I buy?

Match the plate to how the food is served, then check the per-plate price against what you pay for plastic now.

• Cafés serving cake, pastries or toast: the 7in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 1000) at $0.08 each is the side-plate size.
• Takeaway shops and food trucks plating mains: the 10in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500) at $0.16 each gives room for a full meal. If your dishes are long rather than round, such as a fish and chips serve, the Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Oval Large (Carton of 500) at $0.26 each suits that shape.
• Mid-size serves, events and sausage sizzles: the 9in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Round (Carton of 500) at $0.11 each sits between a side plate and a dinner plate.
• Caterers wanting a more natural look at weddings or functions: the 10in Plate – Palm Round (Carton of 100) at $0.54 each, or the Plate – Palm Oval Medium (Carton of 100) at $0.38 each for canapés and entrées.
• Grazing and shared platters: the 12in Sugarcane Plate – Unbleached Platter (Carton of 100) at $0.66 each measures 310x310x50mm, giving a deeper base for shared food on a buffet table.

If you're weighing up palm against sugarcane in more detail, read our guide to palm leaf disposable plates. If you're stocking up for a season, our guide to bulk disposable plates covers how to plan quantities.

How does ordering and delivery work?

There is no minimum order, so you can buy a single carton to test a plate before switching. 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 your sizes, use quick order to add cartons by product.

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