Paper is bought by area, so a wrap that is 5 cm too large on each side costs paper on every burger sold, while one that is too small unwraps on the tray and gets doubled up by staff. Burger wrap sizes are therefore a cost decision as much as a presentation one. The right size comes from the product and the fold, not from a catalogue: below are the sizing method, sheet sizes commonly used in Europe and the US, basket and tray liners, and when sheets, rolls or reels make sense. For materials and printing options, start at custom printed greaseproof paper.
How do you work out the right burger wrap size?
Measure the assembled product, then add twice its height plus a fold allowance to its diameter. For a square sheet, side length ≈ diameter + (2 × height) + fold overlap. A typical single burger therefore needs a sheet around 30-35 cm square; stacked and loaded burgers need more.
A simple method:
- Measure the finished product as served, including toppings, at its widest point (D) and its tallest point (H)
- Decide the fold style (see below), because envelope folds need more overlap than a half-wrap
- Calculate: sheet side ≈ D + 2H + overlap, with overlap typically in the region of 6-10 cm in total depending on the fold
- Cut test sheets in two or three sizes around the result and let staff wrap real products at service speed
- Choose the smallest size that closes securely every time and holds when the customer opens it
Worked example: a burger 11 cm across and 7 cm tall gives 11 + 14 = 25 cm, plus about 8 cm overlap, so roughly 33 cm. A 33 x 33 cm or 35 x 35 cm sheet would be the starting point for trials.
Rectangular sheets suit long items (subs, hot dogs, wraps) and some fold styles where one direction needs more paper than the other.
Which fold style does your wrap use?
The fold changes the size you need. Envelope and diagonal folds enclose the product fully and need the most paper; a half-wrap or "bun pocket" leaves the top open and needs much less.
| Fold style | How it works | Paper needed | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Envelope / square fold | Product in centre, four sides folded in, sometimes tucked | Most | Takeaway and delivery burgers, fully enclosed |
| Diagonal fold | Product placed on the diagonal, corners folded over | High | Common QSR burger wrap, fast to apply |
| Roll and twist | Paper rolled around the product, ends twisted | Medium, rectangular sheet | Subs, baguettes, hot dogs |
| Half-wrap | Lower half of product wrapped, top open | Least | Eat-on-site burgers, sandwiches in baskets |
| Cone | Sheet rolled into a cone around the item | Medium | Kebab, dürüm, fries portions |
Agree the fold with operations before finalising size, and include it in the artwork brief: if the logo needs to land on top of a folded burger, the design has to be planned around the fold.
Which burger wrap sizes are most common?
In Europe, burger wrap sheets commonly fall between about 25 x 30 cm and 35 x 40 cm, with square formats around 30-35 cm used widely for single burgers. US buyers often specify inches, with 12 x 12 in, 12 x 15 in and 15 x 15 in among the familiar sizes. Treat these as starting points; the right size depends on the product.
| Product | Common size range (metric) | Common US references | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small burger, slider, breakfast muffin | about 25 x 25 cm to 25 x 30 cm | around 10-12 in square | Smaller sheets reduce waste on kids' and value items |
| Single burger | about 30 x 30 cm to 35 x 35 cm | 12 x 12 in to 14 x 14 in | Most common QSR wrap category |
| Double, stacked or loaded burger | about 35 x 35 cm to 40 x 40 cm | 15 x 15 in | Height drives the size more than diameter |
| Smash burger (wide, flat) | about 33 x 33 cm to 38 x 38 cm | 14 x 14 in to 15 x 15 in | Wider patty, lower height |
| Sub / baguette / hot dog | rectangular, for example 25 x 35 cm to 30 x 45 cm | 12 x 15 in or longer rectangles | Size from the bread length plus twist allowance |
| Wrap, dürüm, kebab | about 30 x 35 cm to 35 x 40 cm, or die-cut cone shapes | 12 x 15 in to 15 x 15 in | Often folded into a cone or half-wrap |
| Deli sheet (cold cuts, pastries) | about 20 x 25 cm to 30 x 30 cm | interfolded sheets around 10-12 in | Picked by hand; lighter grammage |
Box formats follow a different logic; if the burger travels in a box rather than a wrap, see burger box sizes.
What size are basket liners?
US basket liners are most often 12 x 12 in (about 30 x 30 cm) or 15 x 15 in (about 38 x 38 cm), chosen to sit in standard oval or rectangular food baskets with corners or edges showing over the rim. In Europe, liners are sized to the basket or board in use, usually as square or rectangular sheets in a similar range.
Sizing a liner:
- Measure the inside of the basket across its length and width, plus the depth of each side
- Decide whether corners should stand up above the rim (common for branded presentation) or sit just inside
- Allow extra if the liner also needs to fold over the food to retain heat
- Check that the liner sits flat at the base; heavier grammages (often 35-45 gsm) help it stay in place
Basket liners carry more grease than a burger wrap, because fries and fried chicken sit directly on them. Choosing the grease resistance grade for liners is covered in KIT test and grease resistance ratings explained.
How are tray liners sized?
Tray liners are sized to the tray, normally slightly smaller than the inside dimensions so the sheet lies flat without folding at the edges. Many European QSR trays take liners close to A3 (297 x 420 mm); US trays vary by supplier.
Because tray liners are mainly a printed communication surface, they often use a lower barrier grade and focus on flatness, opacity and print quality. Measure the tray inside the rim and confirm with a printed sample on the actual tray before approving the size. Rounded corners, custom shapes and standard sheet sizes for trays are covered in tray liner sizes.
How much does each sheet weigh?
Sheet weight equals sheet area in square metres multiplied by grammage. A 35 x 35 cm sheet at 35 gsm weighs about 4.3 g, so 1,000 sheets weigh about 4.3 kg. This is the quickest way to compare quotations quoted per kilogram and per thousand sheets, and to see what a size change saves.
| Sheet size | 30 gsm (g per sheet) | 35 gsm (g per sheet) | 40 gsm (g per sheet) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 x 30 cm | 2.3 | 2.6 | 3.0 |
| 30 x 30 cm | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.6 |
| 12 x 12 in (30.5 x 30.5 cm) | 2.8 | 3.3 | 3.7 |
| 35 x 35 cm | 3.7 | 4.3 | 4.9 |
| 30 x 40 cm | 3.6 | 4.2 | 4.8 |
| 15 x 15 in (38.1 x 38.1 cm) | 4.4 | 5.1 | 5.8 |
| 40 x 40 cm | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.4 |
Grams per sheet equal kilograms per 1,000 sheets. Values are nominal; actual grammage varies within the paper mill's tolerance.
The table also shows the effect of right-sizing. Moving a single burger from 40 x 40 cm to 35 x 35 cm at the same grammage cuts paper per wrap by roughly a quarter, which adds up quickly across a chain's annual volume and also reduces packaging weight reported for EPR. The recyclability side of material reduction is covered in is greaseproof paper recyclable or compostable?.
Sheets, interfolded packs, rolls or reels?
Use cut sheets for standard hand-wrapping, interfolded packs where staff pick one sheet at a time from a dispenser, counter rolls where item sizes vary, and reels only for wrapping machines or automated lines. Each format changes packing, storage and print layout.
| Format | Best for | Typical packing | Print layout | Watch points |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cut sheets | Burgers, sandwiches, basket liners with fixed sizes | Stacked packs inside cartons | All-over repeat (logo appears regardless of cut) or registered print centred on each sheet | Sheets can stick together in humid storage |
| Interfolded sheets | Deli counters, bakery, sandwich prep | Dispenser boxes | All-over repeat | Dispenser size must match the sheet |
| Counter rolls | Bakeries, butchers, mixed product sizes | Individual rolls on small cores | Continuous repeat; logo spacing chosen for typical tear length | Tear lengths vary between staff, so paper use per item is usually higher |
| Machine reels | Wrapping and packing machines, central kitchens | Reels on industrial cores, commonly 76 mm (3 in) | Print-to-cut registration with eye marks if the machine cuts to a printed design | Width, core, outer diameter, unwind direction and splice rules set by the machine |
Rolls and reels are ordered by width, length or diameter rather than sheet count. As a guide, a 40 cm wide roll of 35 gsm paper weighing 5 kg contains roughly 350 m of paper; the exact length follows from width, grammage and weight.
Registered or random print?
Most printed wraps use a random, all-over repeat: the pattern covers the whole sheet so every cut piece carries the brand wherever the cut falls. Registered print, where a logo is centred on each sheet, needs print-to-cut registration, adds cost and is worth it mainly for hero designs on tray liners or premium wraps. Pattern design and repeat lengths are discussed in printing on greaseproof paper.
How many sizes should a chain standardise on?
Most chains can cover their menu with two or three wrap sizes plus one basket liner size. Fewer sizes mean longer print runs per item, simpler reordering and fewer mistakes on the line.
A practical approach:
- List every wrapped or lined item with its measured size and fold style
- Group items whose calculated sheet sizes fall within about 2-3 cm of each other and use the larger size for the group
- Distinguish products by printed colour or pattern on the same size rather than adding sizes
- Revisit sizes when the menu changes, especially when new stacked or premium items arrive
Standardising across sites, including how packaging lists are managed for franchisees, is covered in packaging for restaurant chains and franchises. If a box might suit an item better than a wrap, see burger box vs burger wrap.
Size checklist for a wrap quotation
Send these details so sizes and formats can be confirmed at quotation and technical review:
- Each product to be wrapped or lined, with measured diameter, height or length
- Fold style for each product, or a photo of the current wrap in use
- Proposed sheet size, or the current sheet you want to match or reduce
- Format: cut sheets, interfolded, counter rolls or machine reels
- For rolls and reels: width, core diameter, maximum outer diameter or weight, unwind direction and machine model
- Pack and carton preferences, including dispenser type if relevant
- Print layout: random repeat or registered to each sheet
- Annual volume per size
The custom printed greaseproof paper page covers material and print choices alongside sizes, or send your size list for a quotation.