Station 1 of 6 Choose and buy
Bread Tray Sizes and Dimensions: Common Footprints and How to Read Specifications
Contents: 4 sections
Bread trays are sold by a nominal footprint such as “26 x 22” or “29 x 26,” but the measured outside dimensions can differ from the name, in this sample by up to an inch. Your dollies, racks and trailers respond to the measured numbers, not the name. Get the outside length, width and height and the product clearance for the exact model, check them against the equipment the tray has to fit, and only then compare prices.
What sizes do bread trays come in?
The published models cluster into a few footprint families. The table lists the dimensions makers print for a sample of current models:
| Maker and model | Outside L x W x H (in) | Product clearance (in) | Nest ratio as printed | Weight (lb) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ORBIS NPL620B | 25.8 x 21.6 x 3.5 | 2.7 | 2:1 | 2.8 |
| ORBIS NPL630B | 25.8 x 21.6 x 4.1 | 3.6 | 2:1 | 3 |
| ORBIS NPL640B | 25.8 x 21.8 x 6.1 | 5.0 | 2:1 | 3.9 |
| Rehrig Pacific Single Layer Roll Tray | 26.00 x 21.70 x 3.50 | Not on sheet | 2:1 | 2.90 |
| Rehrig Pacific Artisan Roll Tray | 26.00 x 21.70 x 5.88 | Not on sheet | 2:1 | 3.60 |
| Rehrig Pacific 28 x 22 Stack & Nest | 27.0 x 22.16 x 4.95 | 4.08 high, 3.08 low | Not on page | 3.90 |
| Rehrig Pacific HBT-23 | 27.75 x 23.00 x 6.00 | Not on sheet | 2:1 | 4.75 |
| Rehrig Pacific HBB-20 | 24.00 x 19.75 x 6.00 | Not on sheet | 2:1 | 3.75 |
| Rehrig Pacific HBB-26 | 28.50 x 25.75 x 6.00 | Not on sheet | 2:1 | 5.40 |
| ORBIS NPL660B | 29 x 25.7 x 6.1 | 5.1 | 2:1 | 5 |
| Solo Products ChillTray 29 x 26 x 9 | 29.1 x 26.1 x 9.0 | 7.5 "Useable Height" | Not on page | Not checked |
Sources for the table: ORBIS product pages for the NPL620B, NPL630B, NPL640B and NPL660B; <a href="https://www.rehrigpacific.com/application/files/6517/2919/0456/RPCBakeryTraysOneSheet_8.5×11.pdf”>Rehrig Pacific’s bakery tray sheet and its 28 x 22 product page; Solo Products. All checked September 26, 2026. This is a sample of published models, not a market survey.
Three families stand out in this sample: trays around 26 x 22 (measured 25.8 to 27.0 by 21.6 to 22.2 inches), trays around 28 x 23 (27.75 x 23.00), and trays around 29 x 26 (28.5 to 29.1 by 25.7 to 26.1 inches), plus smaller formats such as the 24 x 19.75 HBB-20.
Product example (checked September 26, 2026). SPF lists its SPF 650 at an overall 26.9 x 22 x 6.1 inches with 5.2 inches of product clearance, 4.10 lb and “100% HDPE resin.” It describes the tray’s nesting as “Empty trays drop straight into each other without rotation,” and defines its “1:1” nest ratio as “One empty occupies the nested height of one unit.” Nest ratios are not printed the same way across makers, so compare nested height in inches for any tray you consider. SPF 650 product page
Why is the size in the name not enough?
Because names round, and sometimes they do not describe the footprint at all. In the table, Rehrig Pacific’s HBB-26 measures 28.50 x 25.75 inches, and its “28 x 22” tray measures 27.0 x 22.16. ORBIS’s trays in the 26 x 22 range measure 25.8 inches long. None of these is an error; the name identifies a product family, and the spec sheet gives the size.
The measured size matters in three places:
- Dollies. The tray has to sit and lock on the dolly base you already own. Check the base’s inside dimensions or the dolly maker’s list of compatible trays.
- Racks and store fixtures. A tray that is half an inch too long for a rack slot does not fit, however close its name is.
- Mixed fleets. Two trays with the same nominal size from different molds may not stack or lock together. Test a new tray on and under your existing trays before you order.
How do you choose a footprint?
Work from the product and the equipment, in that order.
- Lay out your product. Use the inside length and width, not the outside, and place your most common product the way you will load it. Count units per tray and check that nothing is pressed against the walls.
- Check the height. The footprint and the depth are separate choices; choosing depth by product clearance covers the second.
- Check the equipment. Dolly base, racks, washer and any automated handling each have their own size limits. A footprint change means changing or adapting all of them.
- Count per trailer. A larger tray carries more per tray but may fit fewer across a trailer; the arithmetic is in calculating trays per trailer.
Units per tray are yours to count. Any published count assumes one product and one loading pattern, and yours may differ.
Why does your existing equipment set the footprint?
The footprint your dollies, racks and customers already accept, unless your product layout shows it wastes most of the tray. Changing footprint means changing equipment, so start with the tray that fits what you run, confirm its measured dimensions against that equipment, and use the depth and trailer checks to choose among models within it. The rest of the buying decision is set out in the tray buyer’s decision framework.