The Five Most Popular Bento Box Togo Containers Sizes in the US Market

As an importer, understanding the mainstream plastic food container sizes in the US market is crucial for developing procurement strategies. The US is the world's second-largest market for disposable takeout containers, with a market size reaching $14.926 billion in 2024 and projected to grow to $22.984 billion by 2030, representing a CAGR of 7.5%. The US market accounts for approximately 25% of the global disposable takeout container market, while North America as a whole accounts for about 30%.
Based on market sales, user reviews, and application scenarios, the five most popular plastic food container sizes in the US market are: 16 oz (473 ml), 32 oz (946 ml), 8 oz (236 ml), 24 oz (710 ml), and 12 oz (355 ml). These sizes exhibit distinct demand characteristics across different application scenarios, and the market landscape continues to evolve with the rapid development of the takeout industry and changing consumer preferences, where bento box togo containers are gaining traction for their compartmentalized designs in meal prep and delivery.

I. Overview of the US Plastic Food Container Market

1.1 Market Size and Growth Trend

The US plastic food container market is experiencing strong growth. In 2024, the total US food container market reached $23.594 billion, and it is projected to reach $54.132 billion by 2035, representing a CAGR of 7.84%. Rigid food containers were valued at $22.45 billion in 2024, while flexible containers were valued at $14.97 billion.
Takeout containers, as a segment, have performed particularly well, reaching a market size of $179.25 billion in 2024 and projected to reach $247.21 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 4.6%. Notably, the US disposable takeout container market grew from $4 billion in 2018 to $6 billion in 2024, with a CAGR of approximately 6.5%.

1.2 Application Scenarios and Distribution Characteristics

The application scenarios for plastic food containers in the United States are diversified, mainly distributed across three major sectors: food delivery, catering services, and retail. According to market data, retail is the largest application area, followed by quick-service restaurants (QSR) and full-service restaurants (FSR).

The rapid development of the food delivery market has become the core driving force behind the growth in demand for food containers. The global food delivery market has exceeded $1.5 trillion, with China, the United States, and India forming the three major growth poles. The pandemic accelerated the popularization of takeout and pre-prepared foods, directly driving the growth in demand for packaging containers, especially functional packaging containers such as microwaveable, leak-proof, stackable, and dividers like those in bento box togo containers. 

1.3 Material Market Share Analysis

In terms of material distribution, plastic containers dominate the US market, accounting for approximately 58% of the total market share. From a global perspective, plastic containers accounted for 65.99% of the food container market share in 2023. This proportion reflects the comprehensive advantages of plastic materials in terms of cost, functionality, and convenience.
However, with increasing environmental awareness, the market is undergoing structural changes. Bagasse (sugarcane fiber) materials have become the fastest-growing segment, with the market share of biodegradable disposable food containers projected to reach 15% by 2025 and rise to 30% by 2030.

II. Detailed Analysis of the Five Most Popular Plastic Food Container Sizes

Based on market sales, user reviews, and application scenarios, the five most popular plastic food container sizes in the US market are: 16 oz (473 ml), 32 oz (946 ml), 8 oz (236 ml), 24 oz (710 ml), and 12 oz (355 ml). These sizes exhibit distinct demand characteristics across different application scenarios.

12 oz(355 ml)

Market Position: Fifth most popular

Key Applications: Light meals, soups, snacks

 Rising in the healthy food market

 Popular for light lunches

 Good for portion control diets

Size Characteristics and Market Performance

16-ounce (473 ml) Food Container

The 16-ounce food container holds a dominant position in the US market, considered the "main force" of takeout containers. Its success stems from its optimal balance between capacity, portability, and cost, often adapted into bento box togo containers for segmented meal options.

Application Scenarios: The 16-ounce food container is primarily used for individual servings of main meals, including pasta, rice dishes, stir-fries, and stews. Its 473 ml capacity perfectly meets the needs of an adult's meal, preventing waste. The 16-ounce container is particularly popular for salads because it can hold enough vegetables, protein, and toppings to create a complete meal.

Market Performance Data: According to Datainsights Market (2024) statistics, the 16-ounce container is the best-selling food container size in the US market, holding the largest share of the takeout container market. It consistently ranks high in sales charts at specialty catering retailers such as Webstaurant Store.

32-ounce (946 ml) Container

The 32-ounce container is the second most popular size in the US market, particularly suitable for family and sharing needs, with multi-compartment bento box togo containers enhancing portion variety.

Application Scenario Analysis: 32-ounce lunchboxes are primarily used for serving family meals or large portions of food for sharing, such as whole pizzas, large platters of pasta, family-sized fried rice, and large salads. In the food service industry, 32-ounce lunchboxes are commonly used for buffets, banquet takeout, and food delivery services. Their large 946ml capacity can meet the dining needs of 2-3 people.

8-ounce (236 ml) Meal Containers

The 8-ounce meal container is the third most popular size in the US market, primarily used for serving side dishes, sauces, and snacks, including compact bento box togo containers for on-the-go snacking.

Application Scenarios Analysis: 8-ounce meal containers are mainly used to hold various side dishes and snacks, including salad dressings, ketchup, yogurt, fruit cups, small salads, and dips. In the food service industry, the 8-ounce meal container is the standard for providing side dishes and condiments. In the retail market, 8-ounce meal containers are commonly used to package single-serving desserts, yogurt cups, and other products.

24-ounce (710 ml) Meal Containers

The 24-ounce meal container ranks fourth in the US market and is an ideal choice for medium-sized meals and food service, frequently styled as bento box togo containers for balanced, divided portions.

Application Scenarios Analysis: 24-ounce meal containers are primarily used for medium-sized meals, such as large salads, pasta dishes, and rice-based main courses. In food service scenarios, 24-ounce meal containers are commonly used for restaurant takeout, hotel catering services, and food delivery. Their 710 ml capacity falls between individual and family serving sizes, meeting diverse needs.

12-ounce (355 ml) Lunchboxes

The 12-ounce lunchbox is the fifth most popular size in the US market, holding a significant position in standard portion meals, with bento box togo containers offering organized sections for lighter fares.

Application Scenarios: 12-ounce lunchboxes are primarily used for standard portion meals, such as single-serving salads, light meals, and soups. In the retail market, 12-ounce lunchboxes are commonly used to package single-serving meals, yogurt, and fruit. Their 355 ml capacity is suitable for packaging light or simple meals.

III. Size Preference Analysis in Different Application Scenarios

3.1 Size Demand Characteristics in Food Delivery Scenarios

Food delivery is one of the most important application scenarios for plastic lunch boxes in the United States, and its size demand exhibits a clear concentration characteristic.

• Main Size Distribution: In food delivery scenarios, 16-ounce lunch boxes dominate, accounting for over 45% of total demand. This is mainly because 16-ounce lunch boxes can meet the packaging needs of most main meals and have good stability during delivery. 32-ounce lunch boxes account for approximately 25% of the share, mainly used for family-sized and sharing portions. 8-ounce lunch boxes account for approximately 20% of the share, mainly used for packaging side dishes and condiments.
• Delivery Efficiency Considerations: Food delivery places specific requirements on container size, primarily considering factors such as: 1) Stacking stability, ensuring the containers remain stable during delivery and are not easily tipped over; 2) Space utilization, maximizing the use of delivery box space; and 3) Weight control, ensuring the containers are of moderate weight for easy carrying by delivery riders. Bento box togo containers excel here with their secure lids and dividers.
• Market Trend Changes: With the development of the food delivery industry, consumer demands for food delivery packaging are also increasing. Beyond basic functional requirements, consumers are increasingly focused on the environmental friendliness and aesthetics of packaging. This has driven the growth in the application of biodegradable material containers in this scenario.

3.2 Size Requirements in the Food Service Scenarios

Food service is the second largest application scenario for plastic food containers in the United States, including restaurant dining, takeout packaging, and food delivery.

• Main Size Distribution: In the food service scenario, size requirements are more diversified. 16-ounce lunch boxes remain the most popular choice, accounting for approximately 35%; 24-ounce lunch boxes account for about 25%, primarily used for standard restaurant meals; 32-ounce lunch boxes account for about 20%, mainly used for family and sharing portions; 8-ounce lunch boxes account for about 15%, mainly used for side dishes and condiments; and 12-ounce lunch boxes account for about 5%, mainly used for light meals and simple dishes.
• Service Demand Characteristics: The catering service places greater emphasis on the quality and brand image of lunch boxes. Restaurants typically choose high-quality, beautifully printed lunch boxes to enhance their brand image. At the same time, the catering service also has high functional requirements for lunch boxes, including airtightness, heat resistance, and leak-proofness, as seen in versatile bento box togo containers.
• Industry Development Trends: As competition in the catering industry intensifies, more and more restaurants are focusing on packaging differentiation. This has driven the growth in demand for customized lunch boxes, allowing restaurants to print brand logos, menu information, etc., on the boxes to increase brand exposure.

3.3 Size Demand Characteristics in the Retail Market

The retail market is the third largest application scenario for plastic food containers in the United States, primarily including supermarkets, convenience stores, and grocery stores.

Main Size Distribution: In the retail market, size demand shows a clear polarization. Small-capacity 8-ounce containers account for approximately 40% of the market share, mainly used for packaging single-serving foods and condiments; large-capacity 32-ounce containers account for approximately 35% of the market share, mainly used for family-sized food packages; 16-ounce containers account for approximately 20% of the market share, mainly used for standard-sized retail foods; and 12-ounce and 24-ounce containers together account for approximately 5% of the market share.
Retail Characteristics Analysis: The retail market's requirements for food containers mainly focus on display effectiveness and shelf life. Transparent or semi-transparent containers allow consumers to clearly see the product contents, increasing their willingness to purchase. At the same time, retail products typically require a long shelf life, thus requiring high barrier properties from the containers, including options like bento box togo containers for pre-portioned goods.
Changing Consumer Trends: With increasing consumer health awareness, the demand for healthy foods in the retail market is growing. This has driven increased demand for smaller-capacity meal containers, particularly 8-ounce and 12-ounce containers used for packaging healthy snacks, yogurt, and fruit.

3.4 Size Requirements for Specific Application Scenarios

Besides the three main scenarios mentioned above, the US market also has some specific application scenarios with specific requirements for meal container sizes.

• Fast Food Chain Scenarios: Fast food chains have standardized requirements for meal container sizes, typically using specific sizes to ensure product consistency. For example, international fast food brands like McDonald's and KFC have their own standard meal container size systems.
• Catering Services: Catering services primarily focus on large-capacity products, with containers of 32 ounces and above dominating. These services often provide catering for large events, conferences, and banquets, thus requiring large-capacity, stackable containers.
• Airline Catering Scenarios: Airline catering has strict regulations on meal container sizes, typically using specific sizes to meet in-flight service requirements. These containers usually need to have good sealing and stability.

IV. Market Competition Landscape and Brand Performance Analysis

4.1 Analysis of Major Market Participants

The US plastic food container market is highly competitive, with major players including globally renowned companies and domestic brands.

• Global Leading Companies: Major companies in the global food container market include Tupperware Brands Corporation, Lock & Lock, Pyrex, Rubbermaid, and Henkel AG. These companies hold significant positions in the global market, and their products are widely distributed in the US market.
• US Domestic Companies: US domestic companies hold important positions in the market. The Hershey Company is a leading US food container supplier, holding a 28% market share with annual shipments of 484 units; Bluegrass Farms of Ohio Inc ranks second with a 17% market share and annual shipments of 297 units.
• Industry Leaders: In the food packaging sector, Silgan Holdings Inc. is a leading provider of rigid packaging solutions, with revenues of $4.8 billion in 2020. These companies maintain their competitive advantage in the market through technological innovation, product diversification, and channel advantages.

4.2 Product Innovation and Technological Development Trends

Innovation in the US plastic lunchbox market mainly focuses on the following aspects:

Environmentally Friendly Material Innovation: With increasing environmental awareness, more and more companies are developing biodegradable and recyclable lunchbox products. Bagasse (sugarcane fiber) materials have become the fastest-growing segment, and it is projected that biodegradable lunchboxes will account for 30% of the market by 2030.
Functional Innovation: Functional innovation in lunchboxes is mainly reflected in sealing technology, thermal insulation performance, and leak-proof design. For example, some companies have developed lunchboxes with patented sealing technology that ensures no leakage during delivery, including advanced bento box togo containers.
Intelligent Packaging: Some companies are beginning to explore intelligent packaging technologies, such as integrating temperature sensors and QR code traceability systems into lunchboxes, to enhance product added value and consumer experience.

4.3 Price Range and Cost Structure Analysis

The price range in the US plastic lunchbox market exhibits a clear stratification, mainly influenced by factors such as material, size, brand, and sales channels.

Cost Structure Analysis: The cost of food containers mainly includes raw material costs (approximately 60-70%) and manufacturing costs (approximately 20-25%), transportation costs (approximately 5-10%), and other costs (approximately 5%). Among these, raw material costs are significantly affected by fluctuations in oil prices.

4.4 Sales Channel Distribution Characteristics

The sales channels for plastic food containers in the United States are diversified, primarily including:

• Specialty Catering Supplies Retailers: Specialty retailers such as WebstaurantStore are the main procurement channel for catering businesses. The advantages of this channel are its comprehensive product range, professional service, and the ability to offer bulk purchase discounts.
• E-commerce Platforms: E-commerce platforms such as Amazon and Walmart.com are important procurement channels for consumers and small businesses. The advantages of e-commerce platforms are price transparency, convenient purchasing, and timely delivery, where bento box togo containers often feature in top searches for versatile options.
• Wholesale Markets: Traditional wholesale markets and traders remain important sales channels, especially for customers making large-volume purchases.
• Direct Sales: Some large catering businesses choose to cooperate directly with manufacturers to obtain better prices and services.