Takeaway Containers With Window vs Plain: Which to Buy

For a grab-and-go fridge or display counter, takeaway containers with a window are usually the better buy, because customers can see the sandwich, wrap or salad before they pick it up. For hot meals packed to order, delivery and catering, a plain PLA coated lunch box or rectangular container does the job without paying for a window nobody looks at.

Key takeaways

• Windowed lunch boxes and the heat seal sandwich wedge are built for display: food packed ahead and sold from a fridge or counter.
• Plain PLA coated lunch boxes and rectangular containers suit food that goes straight from kitchen to customer.
• In the small and medium lunch box sizes, the windowed version costs more per item than the plain one of the same size.
• Every option here is sold by the carton, with the carton price and price per item shown on each product page.
• All of the lunch boxes and sandwich wedges can be custom printed with your logo; the white and kraft rectangular containers cannot.

When does a window help sell takeaway food?

A window helps when the food is packed before the customer arrives and has to sell itself from a shelf. When someone is choosing between sandwiches in a fridge, a box they can see into shows them exactly what they are buying.

That makes windowed packaging a fit for:

• Café grab-and-go fridges with pre-made sandwiches, wraps and salads
• Bakery and deli counters with sliced cakes, slices and filled rolls
• Office and hospital kiosks where staff stock the fridge once and customers serve themselves

Which windowed containers does Packery stock?

Packery stocks a lunch box with a PLA window in three sizes and a heat seal sandwich wedge with a window. All four are cardboard + PLA, brown + clear, and can be custom printed.

• The PLA Takeaway Container – Lunch Box with Window Small (Carton of 200) is 110x90x64mm, at $61.91 per carton or $0.31 each.
• The PLA Takeaway Container – Lunch Box with Window Medium (Carton of 200) is 152x120x64mm, at $82.98 per carton or $0.41 each.
• The PLA Takeaway Container – Lunch Box with Window Large (Carton of 200) is 197x140x64mm, at $111.64 per carton or $0.56 each.
• The PLA Takeaway Container – Heat Seal Sandwich Wedge with Coating and Window (Carton of 600) is 123x123x72mm, at $207.05 per carton or $0.35 each.

If you sell a lot of sandwiches but want a lower per-item price, the Takeaway Container – Sandwich Wedge (Carton of 500) is also cardboard + PLA in brown + clear, 122x72x122mm, at $95.23 per carton or $0.19 each.

When is a plain PLA coated container the better fit?

A plain container is the better fit when nobody sees the food until it is opened: hot meals, delivery orders, catering drops and anything packed while the customer waits. Paying for a window on a box that goes straight into a bag adds cost without helping the sale.

Plain containers also give you a clean, unbroken surface. The brown PLA coated lunch boxes can be custom printed, so the whole lid can carry your branding instead of sharing space with a window. Custom printing with your logo is available on selected products (see custom print).

Packery's plain options come in two styles:

• Brown PLA coated lunch boxes (paper + PLA coated) in small, medium, large and extra large. The PLA Takeaway Container – Coated Lunch Box Medium (Carton of 200) is 152x120x64mm, at $83.55 per carton or $0.42 each.
• Rectangular containers (paper + PLA coated) in white or kraft brown, from 500ml to 1000ml. The PLA Takeaway Container – White Coated Rectangular 750ml (Carton of 300) is 172x120x57mm, at $88.96 per carton or $0.30 each. These are not available with custom print.

How do windowed and plain containers compare on price?

Matching sizes make the comparison simple: the small, medium and large lunch boxes come in both windowed and plain versions with the same dimensions. In each size the windowed box costs more per item than the plain one.

The question to ask is whether the window earns its extra cost through faster sales from the fridge. If the box never sits on display, it usually doesn't.

Which one should I buy?

Match the container to where the food is sold, not just what the food is.

• Café grab-and-go fridge (sandwiches): the PLA Takeaway Container – Heat Seal Sandwich Wedge with Coating and Window (Carton of 600) puts the cut face of the sandwich on show. For a lower price per item, use the Takeaway Container – Sandwich Wedge (Carton of 500).
• Bakery or deli counter (slices, cakes, small portions): the PLA Takeaway Container – Lunch Box with Window Small (Carton of 200).
• Pre-packed salads and lunch meals in a display fridge: the PLA Takeaway Container – Lunch Box with Window Medium (Carton of 200), or the large windowed box for fuller meals.
• Hot meals packed to order: the PLA Takeaway Container – Coated Lunch Box Large (Carton of 200), or the PLA Takeaway Container – Coated Lunch Box Extra Large (Carton of 200) at 197x140x90mm for deeper meals.
• Delivery and catering where you want a consistent range of sizes: the white or kraft rectangular containers, such as the Kraft Takeaway Container – Coated Rectangular 1000ml (Carton of 300).

You can also stock both: windowed boxes for the morning fridge and plain boxes for the lunch rush. If you want smaller portions, see our guide to small takeaway containers, and if you are planning stock levels, read about buying takeaway containers in bulk.

How do I order?

Browse the full range of takeaway containers or use quick order if you already know your products. 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. No minimum order. Delivery time: 3–5 business days to capital cities, 4–6 business days regional. All orders are prepaid online. Returns: damaged or faulty items replaced or refunded free; unopened stock cartons can be returned within 7 days of delivery (10% restocking fee, return delivery at your cost).

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