Milk carton sizes: dimensions of every carton

Milk cartons come in a tidy set of standard sizes, and once you know them they're useful well beyond the fridge, for favors, packaging, crafts and school projects. Here's the full range with dimensions.

The standard milk carton sizes

Milk is sold by volume, and the gable-top carton (the classic peaked-roof shape) comes in these standard capacities:

• Half-pint (8 oz / 237 ml) — about 2.75 x 1.9 x 3.75 in. The school-lunch carton.
• Pint (16 oz / 473 ml) — about 2.75 x 2.75 x 5.6 in.
• Quart (32 oz / 946 ml) — about 2.8 x 2.8 x 7.6 in.
• Half-gallon (64 oz / 1.9 L) — about 3.75 x 3.75 x 9.5 in.
• Gallon (128 oz / 3.8 L) — about 5.6 x 5.6 x 9.6 in (though gallons are more often jugs than cartons).

Dimensions vary a little by manufacturer and by whether the carton is gable-top or a squat aseptic box, so treat them as close guides.

Gable-top vs aseptic cartons

There are two carton families, and they're built for different jobs.

Gable-top is the familiar peaked-roof carton you fold open at the top. It's for refrigerated (fresh) milk, juice and cream, and it's a paperboard carton with a thin poly lining. This is the shape people picture, and the one used for favors and novelty packaging.

Aseptic (like Tetra Pak) is the rectangular brick with a foil layer and usually a screw cap. It's built for shelf-stable milk and drinks that don't need refrigeration until opened. The foil layer is what makes it shelf-stable.

What each size is used for

• Half-pint — single servings, schools, cafes, and the go-to size for party favors and novelty packaging.
• Pint and quart — households, coffee shops, cream and buttermilk.
• Half-gallon — the common family fridge size for milk and juice.
• Gallon — high-consumption households, usually as a jug rather than a carton.

Beyond milk: cartons as packaging

The gable-top shape is instantly recognizable, which is exactly why it's popular as novelty and favor packaging well outside the dairy aisle. Party planners use mini milk cartons for treats and drinks; brands use them for playful, nostalgic product packaging. The shape does the marketing on its own, before a word is printed on it.

If you want the carton shape for favors, gifts or a product line, see our milk carton boxes, printable full-color with food-safe linings. For other favor shapes, see tuck boxes.

FAQ

What are the standard milk carton sizes?

Half-pint (8 oz), pint (16 oz), quart (32 oz), half-gallon (64 oz) and gallon (128 oz). The half-pint is the school-lunch carton; the half-gallon is the common fridge size.

What size is a school milk carton?

A half-pint, 8 oz, roughly 2.75 x 1.9 x 3.75 inches.

What's the difference between gable-top and aseptic cartons?

Gable-top is the peaked paperboard carton for refrigerated milk; aseptic is the foil-lined brick for shelf-stable drinks. Get a quote on custom carton packaging.