Basket Liners and Tray Papers

Red, green, black check or newsprint: which liner for which menu?

Red check is the diner look. It sits under a cheeseburger and fries in a red plastic basket and reads as classic from across the room. Green check photographs well with fish, salads and sandwich baskets, and it is the quieter choice for a cafe.

Black check belongs on a dark counter, a sports bar or a smash burger spot where white paper would glare. Newsprint carries small gray type in a repeat and suits wings, fried chicken and anything served with sauce on the side. The printed liner is for operators who want their own mark under the food instead of a pattern.

The four patterns ship as they are shown. The printed basket and tray liner page explains how your own artwork goes onto the same sheet.

Where does grease show on a basket liner?

A liner catches fat from two directions. Fries drop oil straight down into the sheet, and a burger leaks from the bottom bun where the patty sits. On plain paper both spots turn translucent within a minute and the basket shows through.

Grease-resistant stock keeps the spot from spreading, so the check stays sharp and the liner still looks fresh when the plate is cleared. Dry wax has a slight sheen that beads moisture, which helps under coleslaw or pickles but less under hot oil.

Pick grease-resistant for fries, wings and anything fried. Pick dry wax for cold baskets, sandwiches and salads where the liner mostly keeps crumbs off the basket.

Does a 12 x 12 liner fit a standard oval basket?

Yes, with the corners standing up. A 12 x 12 sheet drops into a standard oval or rectangular basket and the corners fold up the sides, which is the look most people expect. The food sits on paper and the basket rim shows around it.

A 12 x 15 sheet covers a combo basket or a wing platter where the food spreads wider. The extra three inches on one side lets the liner wrap over the rim on a long basket. The 15 x 15 goes under a family basket or a sharing tray and usually hangs over the edge on purpose.

Baskets vary by supplier, so measure the inside at the top before ordering. The sheet size chart lists all three liner sizes next to every other sheet we cut.

Printing your own liner instead of a stock check

A printed liner is a 12 x 12, 12 x 15 or 15 x 15 sheet with your logo in a repeat, a corner mark or a centered position. Because a liner is rarely folded, the centered logo works here in a way it never does on a wrap. The mark sits between the burger and the fries where the customer sees it.

A repeat is still the safer choice for a basket that gets piled high. Spot colors print crisp on grease-resistant white or kraft, and white ink reads clearly on black stock for a dark counter.

• One spot color: a brand red or green that matches a check you already use
• Two colors: logo in one, a pattern or border in the other
• Full color on white stock: photo-style patterns or gradients
• White on black: a bar or late-night counter that keeps the room dark

Lining trays, boards and plates without a basket

Cafeteria trays, wooden boards and metal plates all take the same sheets. A 12 x 15 liner on a standard food tray covers the base with a small margin, which keeps the tray clean between seatings. On a wooden board the paper stops sauce from soaking into the grain.

Barbecue counters often use the liner as the plate. Meat goes straight on the sheet, pickles and bread beside it, and the whole thing is carried to the table on a tray. A 15 x 15 on grease-resistant kraft is the usual pick, and our guide to deli paper stocks explains why kraft hides sauce better than white.

How to order liners for the whole dining room

1. Count your baskets and trays by size and decide which pattern or print goes with each.
2. Choose grease-resistant for fried food and dry wax for cold baskets.
3. For a printed liner, send a vector logo and any Pantone references.
4. We send a written quote within one business day, and a free PDF proof for printed liners.
5. Approve the proof in writing. Stock patterns skip this step.
6. Printed runs take 4 to 6 business days, then free tracked delivery in 2 to 3 business days anywhere in the US.

Each liner is its own run of at least 1,000 sheets. Red check in two sizes counts as two runs. Invoices are issued after approval, not before. Send a liner quote request with basket sizes and a weekly count.

Reordering before the last case runs out

A busy burger counter uses one liner per basket, so a case of 1,000 can go in a week. Note the date the first case opens and the date it empties, and reorder when you have about two weeks of paper left.

Printed liners reprint from the approved proof, so a reorder needs no new artwork. Tell us the order reference and the quantity and the quote comes back the same day.

If a case arrives torn or the print is off, send photos within 10 days and the run is reprinted or refunded.