Serving trays come in far more sizes than most buyers expect, and getting the size wrong is the single most common reason a first order has to be re-cut. This page lists the tray sizes we actually manufacture, what each one is used for, and how to specify a size when you order.

Our two core serving-tray sizes are 40 × 30 cm (the standard rectangular tray) and 35 × 25 cm (the compact size used for individual service and smaller tables). We also produce a 40 × 26 cm plating tray and 33 × 33 cm round pieces. All of them are made in-house, and all can carry your own artwork from 50 pieces per design.

Serving tray sizes at a glance

Size Shape What it is used for Where to see it
40 × 30 cm
(30 × 40 cm)		 Rectangle The all-round serving tray: breakfast in bed, buffet service, cheese and charcuterie, retail gift sets Rectangular serving trays
35 × 25 cm
(25 × 35 cm)		 Rectangle The compact size: individual servings, side tables, café service, hampers Glass trays & platters
40 × 26 cm Rectangle Metal-look and plated trays for hotel and restaurant service Everyday table decor
33 × 33 cm Round Round trays, display plates and the standard charger-plate footprint Round trays & plates
49 × 30 cm Rectangle Large format serving platters for shared plates and grazing tables Glass trays & platters

If you are holding a tape measure right now, note that a “40 × 30 cm” tray and a “30 × 40 cm” tray are the same object — suppliers list the long edge first or the short edge first depending on the factory. We quote the long edge first.

40 × 30 cm: the standard rectangular serving tray

This is the size most buyers settle on, and the one we hold the deepest stock of. It is large enough to carry a full breakfast, a shared starter or a wrapped gift set, and small enough that two of them fit side by side on a normal four-seater table.

In practical terms, a 40 × 30 cm tray takes a standard A4 sheet with a margin, which matters if you are decorating one with a printed design: you can send us artwork laid out at A4 and we scale it to the tray without a rework. It also fits the standard 40 cm shelf depth used in most retail display units, so it displays well in-store as well as online.

Browse this size in rectangular serving trays, or see the printed versions in full-print decorative trays.

35 × 25 cm: the compact serving tray

The 35 × 25 cm tray is the size we ship most often to cafés, small hotels and hamper companies. It is the right footprint for a single serving — a pastry, a sandwich, a small cheese selection — and it is the size that works on a small bistro table where a 40 cm tray would overhang.

Because it is smaller it is also cheaper to freight: a 35 × 25 cm tray packs at roughly three quarters the volume of the 40 × 30 cm, which changes your landed cost per unit materially on sea freight. If your design does not depend on the larger surface area, this is usually the size that improves your margin.

See the range in glass trays & serving platters.

40 × 26 cm and 33 × 33 cm

These two sizes exist for specific jobs rather than general serving. The 40 × 26 cm tray is the plating tray — slightly narrower and shallower than the standard rectangle, used for metal-look and electroplated finishes in hotel and restaurant service. The 33 × 33 cm is the round size, and it is also the standard footprint for a charger plate, which is why you will see the same number on our charger plate size guide.

How to specify a tray size when you order

Three numbers decide whether a tray is right, and only one of them is the size you see on a product page:

  • Print area, not overall size. On a rimmed tray, the usable print area is the flat base, not the full width. A 40 × 30 cm tray with a raised rim typically gives a print area closer to 36 × 26 cm. Tell us the finished look you want, not just the tray size, and we will confirm the artwork area.
  • Depth. Shallow trays (under 2 cm) are display and service pieces; anything deeper starts to behave like a box and changes how the item is used. Say which you want.
  • Carriage. Wider trays are more exposed to flexing in transit. Above 40 cm we recommend a reinforced carton — see lead times and MOQ for how packing is specified on a first order.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 40 × 30 cm tray a standard size?

Yes. 40 × 30 cm (sometimes written 30 × 40 cm) is one of the most widely produced serving-tray footprints, which means tooling, packaging inserts and retail display fittings are already made for it. Choosing a standard size keeps your unit cost down.

What is the difference between 40 × 30 cm and 40 × 26 cm?

Both are 40 cm long. The 40 × 26 cm is 4 cm narrower and is aimed at plated hotel and restaurant service, where a narrower tray sits better on a waiter’s arm. For retail and general serving the 40 × 30 cm gives you a more useful surface.

Can you make a custom tray size?

Yes — print customisation starts at 50 pieces per design, and shape customisation is quoted per project. See custom decorative trays for how a made-to-size order runs.

How many trays come in a carton?

It depends on size and material. Carton quantities for every size we make are listed with our lead-time and MOQ benchmarks, and we confirm them against your actual design before the order is booked.

Still not sure which size?

Send us a photo of the surface the tray has to sit on, or the product it has to carry, and we will tell you which of these sizes fits and what it costs. MintiHome manufactures charger plates, decorative trays, wall decor and metal vases in-house — so the size you specify is the size that gets cut.

Shop serving trays by size

Every size below is in stock and ready for wholesale orders. Pick the footprint you need, then tell us the artwork you want on it — print customisation starts at 50 pieces per design.