---
title: "Paper Bowls with Lids: Sizes, Lid Types, Buying | Ekoroll"
description: "How to choose kraft paper bowls with lids: sizes in ml and oz for each dish, paper, PET and fiber lids, coatings, leak tests and what to ask a supplier."
url: https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/paper-bowls-with-lids
lang: en
---

[Insight](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog)6 min read

# Kraft Paper Bowls with Lids: Sizes, Lids and Wholesale Buying

How to choose kraft paper bowls with lids: sizes in ml and oz for each dish, paper, PET and fiber lids, coatings, leak tests and what to ask a supplier.

Part of the guide: [Eco-Friendly Food Packaging for Restaurants: The Complete Guide](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/eco-friendly-packaging-for-restaurants)

 [Mahdi Sadough](https://ekoroll.com/en/about)Founder & CEO, Ekoroll Reviewed 23 October 2026

![Kraft paper bowl filled with a grain and roasted vegetable salad on a café table, next to a paper cup with a straw and wooden cutlery on a napkin](https://ekoroll.com/media/blog/paper-bowls-with-lids.webp)

Key takeaways

-   A kraft paper bowl with a lid is a paperboard food container with a barrier coating inside and a matching lid, used for salads, poke, noodles, soups and hot meals.
-   Choose the bowl size by the dish and portion, and the lid by the food — flat paper lids for hot food, clear dome lids where the customer should see the food, fiber lids to cut plastic.
-   A lid only fits a bowl with the same rim diameter and rim profile, so sample and test the bowl and lid together with your own food.
-   Paper bowls with a plastic lining count as single-use plastic food containers under the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, so the coating type matters for compliance.
-   Since 12 August 2026, the EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation bars food-contact packaging that contains PFAS above set limits, so ask for the PFAS status of both bowl and lid in writing.

A kraft paper bowl with a lid is a paperboard food container with a barrier coating inside and a matching lid, used for salads, poke, noodles, soups and hot meals to go. To choose one, start from the dish: pick the bowl size by the portion, the lid by how the food is served and transported, and the coating by the food’s grease, moisture and heat. Then test the bowl and lid together with your own food before ordering in bulk.

This guide covers the sizes in ml and oz and what each one is used for, the lid types and how to match them to the bowl, coatings and the EU rules that apply to them, how to test a bowl before ordering, and what to ask a supplier when buying wholesale.

## What Is a Kraft Paper Bowl with a Lid?

A kraft paper bowl is a round, square or rectangular container formed from food-grade paperboard. “Kraft” refers to the brown, unbleached look of the outer paper; white and bamboo-fiber boards are also common. Because paperboard alone absorbs grease and liquids, the inside carries a barrier: a PE or PLA lining, or a water-based (aqueous) coating.

The lid is a separate part made to fit the bowl’s rim. It can be paper, clear PET, PP or molded fiber. The bowl and the lid are designed as a pair, which is why buyers should always specify them together.

![Kraft paper bowls in several sizes with matching flat lids, some stacked and some open, on white display blocks](https://ekoroll.com/media/products/kraft-paper-bowls/paper-bowls-and-lids.webp)

## Which Size Paper Bowl for Which Dish?

Paper bowls are sized in milliliters (ml or cc) or fluid ounces (oz). The sizes below are the ones food businesses use most; exact capacities vary slightly by range.

| Size | Approx. oz | Typical use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 240–360 ml | 8–12 oz | Soup portion, side dish, dessert, sauce |
| 480–500 ml | 16 oz | Large soup, side salad, rice or noodle side |
| 750 ml | 25 oz | Main salad, poke bowl, pasta, noodles |
| 1000 ml | 32–34 oz | Large salad or poke, rice bowl with toppings |
| 1100–1300 ml | 37–44 oz | Large salads, sharing portions, family meals |

Three practical rules help when you build a range:

-   **Leave headspace.** Fill to about 80–90% of capacity, so toppings and dressing fit and the lid closes without pressing on the food.
-   **Keep the range short.** Two or three sizes on one rim diameter often cover a whole menu and let one lid close all of them, which simplifies stock.
-   **Size by weight for salads, by volume for soups.** Leafy salads are light for their volume; soups and stews are the opposite.

## Which Lid Should You Use?

| Lid type | Best for | What to check |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Flat paper lid (coated) | Hot food, soups, delivery bags | Tight fit on the rim, stacking, no condensation drip |
| Clear PET dome or flat lid | Cold salads, poke, display fridges | Clarity, anti-fog, fit after chilling |
| PP lid | Hot food that may be reheated | Heat behavior, fit, venting |
| Molded fiber lid | Reducing plastic in the pack | Fit, moisture resistance, stacking |
| CPLA lid | Hot food where a bio-based plastic lid is wanted | It is still plastic under EU rules |

A lid fits only a bowl with the same rim diameter and rim profile. Two 750 ml bowls from different ranges can have different rims, so never mix bowls and lids from different suppliers without testing. For a fiber lid, see our [molded fiber lids](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/molded-fiber-lids).

## Coatings: PE, PLA or Water-Based?

The coating decides how the bowl handles grease, liquids and heat, and how it is treated under EU rules.

-   **PE lining:** a thin polyethylene layer. Reliable barrier, but the bowl counts as a single-use plastic product.
-   **PLA lining:** a bio-based plastic. The European Commission’s guidelines on the Single-Use Plastics Directive treat bio-based and biodegradable plastics as plastic, so PLA-lined bowls are also single-use plastic products.
-   **Water-based (aqueous) coating:** a dispersion coating applied in a thin layer. Water-based, PFAS-free and PE-free options are available; the barrier performance depends on the food and must be tested.

Two EU rules matter here:

1.  **Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU) 2019/904.** Food containers used for food that is eaten from the container without further preparation, such as take-away meals, are covered when they are made wholly or partly of plastic. Member States must reduce their consumption, and extended producer responsibility applies.
2.  **Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU) 2025/40.** Since 12 August 2026, food-contact packaging containing PFAS above the set limits may not be placed on the EU market. Ask for the PFAS status of both the bowl and the lid in writing.

For a deeper comparison of coatings, see [water-based coating vs PE coating](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/water-based-coating-paper-cups-vs-pe).

## How to Test Paper Bowls Before a Bulk Order

Ask for samples of the exact bowl and lid, then test them with your own food and your own service:

-   **Leak test:** fill with your wettest dish, close the lid, and hold it upright, tilted and upside down for a minute.
-   **Heat and steam:** fill with your hottest dish, close the lid, and check for softening, condensation and lid lift after 20–30 minutes.
-   **Grease:** leave an oily dish in the bowl for the time it usually waits before eating and check the outside for marks.
-   **Delivery:** put a filled, closed bowl in a delivery bag with other items and carry it for the length of a typical trip.
-   **Stacking and storage:** check that empty bowls nest and separate easily, and that lids stack without sticking.

For how paper bowls compare with plastic and bagasse, see [kraft paper bowls vs plastic containers](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/kraft-paper-bowls-vs-plastic-containers) and [bagasse vs paper food containers](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/bagasse-vs-paper-food-containers).

## Buying Paper Bowls Wholesale: What to Ask a Supplier

-   **Coating type in writing:** PE, PLA or water-based, and the PFAS status of the bowl and the lid.
-   **Declaration of compliance for food contact** under Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004, plus the specific measure for plastic lids.
-   **Rim diameter and lid compatibility:** which bowl sizes each lid fits.
-   **Board type and weight:** kraft, white or bamboo board, single or double wall.
-   **Printing:** number of colors, print area and whether the lid can be printed.
-   **Packing:** units per sleeve and per carton, and carton dimensions for your storage.
-   **Lead time and minimum order:** both depend on stock or custom print and are confirmed in the quote.

## Kraft Paper Bowls with Lids from Ekoroll

Ekoroll supplies [paper bowls and lids](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/kraft-paper-bowls-with-lids) in kraft, white and bamboo paper — round, rectangular, square, double wall and compartment bowls — with paper or CPLA lids matched to each bowl, [molded fiber lids](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/molded-fiber-lids) for a plastic-reduced pack, and a water-based coating as the main barrier option. For hot, wet dishes held for longer, [bagasse bowls](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/bagasse-bowls) are an alternative. We supply manufacturer-direct from Türkiye to food businesses in Türkiye, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with custom print and samples before the first order.

Send us your dishes, portion sizes and market, and we will propose a size range and lid, send samples and quote in writing. [Request a quote](https://ekoroll.com/en/contact) or browse the [catalog](https://ekoroll.com/en/catalogue). For the full picture of switching a menu to paper and fiber, see [eco-friendly food packaging for restaurants](https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/eco-friendly-packaging-for-restaurants).

## Products in this article

-    [**Paper Bowls & Lids**View product](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/kraft-paper-bowls-with-lids)
-    [**Molded Fiber Lids**View product](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/molded-fiber-lids)
-    [**Bagasse Bowls & Lids**View product](https://ekoroll.com/en/products/eco-packaging/bagasse-bowls)

## Sources

1.  [Directive (EU) 2019/904 on the reduction of the impact of certain plastic products on the environment (SUP Directive)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/dir/2019/904/oj/eng) — EUR-Lex
2.  [Commission guidelines on single-use plastic products in accordance with Directive (EU) 2019/904, C(2021) 3762 final](https://www.miteco.gob.es/content/dam/miteco/es/calidad-y-evaluacion-ambiental/publicaciones/c20213762finalguidelines_single-use_plastics_products_tcm30-527113.pdf) — European Commission (copy published by Spain's Ministry for the Ecological Transition), 2021-05-31
3.  [Regulation (EU) 2025/40 on packaging and packaging waste (PPWR)](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2025/40/oj/eng) — EUR-Lex
4.  [Regulation (EC) No 1935/2004 on materials and articles intended to come into contact with food](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2004/1935/oj/eng) — EUR-Lex

## Frequently asked questions

### ### What sizes do kraft paper bowls with lids come in?

The most common round kraft bowls are about 500, 750, 1000, 1100 and 1300 ml (roughly 16 to 44 oz), with smaller 240 to 480 ml (8 to 16 oz) bowls for soup and sides. A 500 ml bowl suits a side salad or a soup portion, 750 to 1000 ml suits a main salad, poke or noodle dish, and 1100 to 1300 ml suits large salads and sharing portions.

### ### Which lid is best for a paper bowl?

It depends on the food. A flat paper lid suits hot food and stacking in delivery bags, a clear PET dome lid shows cold salads and poke in display fridges, and a molded fiber lid reduces plastic in the pack. The lid has to match the bowl's rim diameter and rim profile, so test the pair with your own food.

### ### Are paper bowls microwave safe?

It depends on the coating, the lid and how long the food is heated. Many coated paper bowls tolerate short reheating, but plastic lids should be removed and nothing with a metal part should go in a microwave. Ask the supplier for the microwave suitability of the exact bowl and coating, and state it on your pack only if the supplier confirms it.

### ### Are kraft paper bowls lined with plastic?

Many are. Kraft paper bowls need a barrier against grease and liquids, which can be a PE or PLA lining or a water-based (aqueous) coating. A bowl with a plastic lining counts as a single-use plastic food container under the EU Single-Use Plastics Directive, so ask the supplier to state the coating type in writing.

### ### Can paper bowls hold soup?

Yes, if the bowl has a suitable barrier coating, a tight lid and a size with enough headspace. For soups and broths, use a dedicated soup bowl with a flat lid that seals on the rim, fill below the rim, and test the bowl upright and tilted for leaks before you order in bulk.

### ### Where can restaurants buy kraft paper bowls with lids wholesale?

Restaurants buy them from packaging manufacturers and wholesalers. Ekoroll, based in İzmir, Türkiye, supplies kraft, white and bamboo paper bowls with paper or CPLA lids, and molded fiber lids matched to the rim, manufacturer-direct to food businesses in Türkiye, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, with custom print and samples before the first order.

![Mahdi Sadough](https://ekoroll.com/images/mahdi-sadough.webp)

Mahdi Sadough Founder & CEO, Ekoroll

Mahdi Sadough is the founder and CEO of Ekoroll. He brings a background in branding, packaging development and product innovation to practical fiber-based packaging systems for foodservice.

[LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/sadough/) [About Ekoroll](https://ekoroll.com/en/about)

ekoroll.com/en/blog/paper-bowls-with-lids · sales@ekoroll.com · © 2026 Ekoroll

## Apply this to your own packaging

Share your menu, volumes and market. We will propose the right formats and send samples.

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Source: https://ekoroll.com/en/blog/paper-bowls-with-lids. Ekoroll — sales@ekoroll.com. Quotes and samples on request: https://ekoroll.com/en/contact