A deli container is a round, food-grade plastic cup used to store and serve soups, sides, sauces, and leftovers; the standard sizes are 8, 12, 16, 24, and 32 ounces.
If you’ve ordered takeout soup, grabbed a side of coleslaw, or prepped a week of lunches, you’ve held one of these. The round shape, flat lid, and clear plastic make them instantly recognizable. Whether you’re buying them for a restaurant or organizing your own fridge, knowing the standard sizes and what each one fits saves both money and wasted food.
Below is the breakdown of the common sizes, what they hold, and how to match them to the right task.
What Exactly Is a Deli Container?
Deli containers are round, food-grade plastic cups designed for portioning and storing prepared foods. Katom’s restaurant supplies guide defines them as “small, round containers made for serving takeout portions or storing sides and toppings.”
They’re typically made of polypropylene (PP), a sturdy plastic that resists cracking and handles refrigeration well. The material is food-safe, which means it’s approved for direct contact with food. You’ll find them behind deli counters, in meal-prep kitchens, and stacked in virtually every commercial kitchen.
These containers are built for short-term storage and cold or refrigerated foods. Whether they can hold hot food depends on the specific material and the manufacturer’s guidance — check the label or product page before pouring in hot soup.
For a close look at the smallest size, our tested roundup of the best 8 oz deli containers covers the top options for sauces and condiments.
The Standard Deli Container Sizes
The size families are consistent across manufacturers. WNA’s deli-container brochure lists a “family of standard base sizes ranging from 8–32 oz,” with the five common sizes being 8 oz, 12 oz, 16 oz, 24 oz, and 32 oz.
Two of these have useful shorthand names: the 16 oz size is often called a “pint,” and the 32 oz size is a “quart.” If you’re ordering from a food-service supplier, those terms will get you what you need.
| Container Size | Approximate Capacity | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|
| 8 oz | 237–240 ml | Sauces, dressings, condiments, dips |
| 12 oz | 355 ml | Small sides, individual soups, snacks |
| 16 oz | 473–475 ml | Standard single portions, soups, stews, chili |
| 24 oz | 710 ml | Larger soups, salads, meal-prep entrees |
| 32 oz | 946–950 ml | Family-style servings, large soups and stews |
The sizes are genuinely standardized. LR Packing’s food-service guide assigns the 8 oz to sauces and condiments, the 12 oz to small sides, the 16 oz to medium portions, and both the 24 oz and 32 oz to soups and stews. Consistent item codes across manufacturers, like WNA’s APCTR08 through APCTR32, make reordering simple once you know your preferred brand.
Choosing the Right Size for the Job
Match the container to the portion, not the other way around. The most common pairings are:
- 8 oz: sauces, dressings, dips, and condiments. A standard serving of ranch for wings or a side of BBQ sauce.
- 12 oz: small sides, individual soup portions, and salads. Also good for snacks like grapes or cherry tomatoes.
- 16 oz: the workhorse size. A standard single portion of soup, stew, or chili, plus medium sides like mac and cheese.
- 24 oz: larger soups and stews, hearty salads, or a single-entree meal-prep portion.
- 32 oz: family-style servings, big batches of soup, or large salads meant to share.
Shef’s container guidance matches this pattern, recommending 16 oz, 24 oz, and 32 oz for soups and curries, and 8 oz, 12 oz, and 16 oz for sides and staples.
Lids, Safety, and Storage
Deli container lids are not universal. A common mistake is assuming any lid fits any container, but each size has its own lid. WNA’s brochure lists specific item codes for each container size and its matching lid — the lid for a 16 oz container won’t seal a 24 oz one.
For food safety, the FDA’s general guidance applies: store food in shallow portions and refrigerate or freeze as soon as possible. Deli containers are ideal for this because their flat, stackable design cools food quickly. Before reusing them, make sure they’re food-grade, clean, and free of cracks — a cracked container can harbor bacteria and won’t seal properly.
When choosing between sizes, err toward the smaller one for single portions. An overfilled 32 oz container in a crowded fridge is a spill waiting to happen, and the Food Keeper storage guidelines recommend shallow portions for faster, safer cooling.
In short: 8 oz for sauces, 16 oz for a standard meal, and 32 oz for a family batch. Match the size to the portion, use clean food-grade containers, and your leftovers will last as long as they should.
References & Sources
- Katom. “Restaurant Container Sizes Guide.” Defines deli containers and lists standard 8–32 oz sizes.
- WNA. “Deli Containers Product Brochure.” Documents standard sizes, PP material, and item codes.
- Food Marketing Institute. “The Food Keeper.” Provides food-storage safety guidance referenced in this article.