- The best egg cartons for most backyard keepers are blank pulp dozens you can label, such as the Cackle Hatchery vented 24-pack (small to XL) or Hatortempt 24-pack (small to jumbo).
- Selling every week? Bulk packs: Ruralty 200 (flat top, locking lids, up to jumbo) or Zubebe 200.
- Farmers market display? Lixavaer clear plastic cartons (100), listed for standard or medium eggs.
- Storing lots of eggs at home? Estune 30-cell flats (120).
- Rules vary by state: carton labeling, reuse of printed cartons, refrigeration and the federal safe-handling statement all apply to many sellers. Check your state agriculture department.
The best egg cartons hold your hens' eggs without cracking them, close securely in a bag or cooler, and give you a blank lid for a date or your farm name. Backyard eggs vary more in size than store eggs, so the main spec to check is which egg sizes a carton is listed for.
We compared eight cartons and flats from eight brands by listed count, egg size, layout and material. If you plan to sell, read how to sell eggs locally and backyard chicken and egg-selling laws first, and find more seller gear in selling eggs.
Our picks
Cackle Hatchery Vented Pulp Egg Cartons, Green, 24-Pack
- Capacity
- 1 dozen, small to XL
- Count
- 24
- Material
- 100% reclaimed paper pulp
Cackle Hatchery's 24 vented green cartons are unprinted reclaimed paper pulp, each holding a dozen small to extra-large eggs. Vents let eggs breathe and cool, and the blank lid takes a label or stamp.
Best for: Sharing eggs and small weekly sales
Skip if: You often have jumbo eggs
- Vented pulp
- Unprinted for labels
- Compostable
- Small to XL, not jumbo
- 24 per pack
Hatortempt Pulp Egg Cartons, 12-Count, 24-Pack
- Capacity
- 1 dozen, small to jumbo
- Count
- 24
- Material
- Paper pulp
Hatortempt's 24 pulp dozen cartons are listed for small to jumbo chicken and duck eggs, with shock-absorbing pulp. The widest egg-size range in this list.
Best for: Mixed flocks, big layers and duck eggs
Skip if: You need a bulk quantity
- Small to jumbo eggs
- Chicken and duck eggs
- Shock-absorbing pulp
- 24 per pack
- Plain look
Ruralty Vintage 3x4 Pulp Egg Cartons, 200-Pack
- Capacity
- 1 dozen, up to jumbo
- Count
- 200
- Material
- Recycled paper pulp
Ruralty's 200-pack of flat-top 3 x 4 recycled pulp cartons has locking lids and holds a dozen eggs up to jumbo. The flat, blank top takes a label cleanly.
Best for: Weekly sellers and farm stands
Skip if: You only share a few dozen a month
- 200 cartons
- Locking lids
- Flat top for labels
- Needs storage space
- 3 x 4 shape fits some coolers differently
Zubebe 3x4 Pulp Egg Cartons, 200-Pack
- Capacity
- 1 dozen
- Count
- 200
- Material
- Paper pulp
Zubebe's 200 degradable 3 x 4 paper pulp cartons each hold 12 eggs, sold for storing, transporting or selling.
Best for: High-volume sellers
Skip if: You want a listed egg-size range
- 200 cartons
- 3 x 4 layout
- Degradable pulp
- Egg-size range not listed in our data
- Bulk storage
MT Products Blank Pulp Egg Cartons, 15-Pack
- Capacity
- 12 eggs
- Count
- 15
- Material
- Natural pulp
MT Products' 15 blank natural pulp cartons are 11.5 x 4.2 in, made in the USA, each holding a dozen in the classic 2 x 6 layout.
Best for: Trying cartons before buying in bulk
Skip if: You sell every week
- Made in USA
- Blank lids
- Classic 2 x 6 shape
- 15 per pack
- Egg-size range not listed
Zhanmai 3x4 Pulp Egg Cartons, 25-Pack
- Capacity
- 1 dozen
- Count
- 25
- Material
- Paper pulp
Zhanmai's 25 paper pulp 3 x 4 cartons come with a printed farm-fresh style lid, about 7.9 x 6.3 in. A ready-made look for gifting; sellers should check whether their state's labeling rules allow printed wording.
Best for: Gifting eggs to friends and neighbors
Skip if: You need fully blank lids for your own label
- Printed lid
- 3 x 4 layout
- 25 per pack
- Printed wording may not suit every state's rules
- Size range not listed
Lixavaer Clear Plastic Egg Cartons, 3x4, 100-Pack
- Capacity
- 12 standard or medium eggs
- Count
- 100
- Material
- Clear plastic
Lixavaer's 100 clear, reusable 3 x 4 plastic cartons are about 7.6 x 5.8 in and listed for 12 standard or medium eggs. Buyers can see shell colors at a glance.
Best for: Farmers market tables
Skip if: Your hens lay large or jumbo eggs
- Clear for display
- Reusable
- 100 per pack
- Listed for standard or medium eggs
- Plastic, not compostable
Estune 30-Cell Pulp Egg Flats, 120-Pack
- Capacity
- 30 eggs per flat
- Count
- 120
- Material
- Pulp fiber
Estune's 120 stackable 30-cell pulp fiber flats are about 11.6 in square, for storing chicken or duck eggs, as the listing describes.
Best for: Big flocks storing eggs before packing
Skip if: You hand eggs to buyers: flats have no lid
- 30 eggs per flat
- Stackable
- 120 flats
- No lid
- Large stack to store
Egg cartons compared: count, layout and egg size
| Product | Capacity | Count | Material |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cackle Hatchery Vented Pulp Egg Cartons, Green, 24-Pack | 1 dozen, small to XL | 24 | 100% reclaimed paper pulp |
| Hatortempt Pulp Egg Cartons, 12-Count, 24-Pack | 1 dozen, small to jumbo | 24 | Paper pulp |
| Ruralty Vintage 3x4 Pulp Egg Cartons, 200-Pack | 1 dozen, up to jumbo | 200 | Recycled paper pulp |
| Zubebe 3x4 Pulp Egg Cartons, 200-Pack | 1 dozen | 200 | Paper pulp |
| MT Products Blank Pulp Egg Cartons, 15-Pack | 12 eggs | 15 | Natural pulp |
| Zhanmai 3x4 Pulp Egg Cartons, 25-Pack | 1 dozen | 25 | Paper pulp |
| Lixavaer Clear Plastic Egg Cartons, 3x4, 100-Pack | 12 standard or medium eggs | 100 | Clear plastic |
| Estune 30-Cell Pulp Egg Flats, 120-Pack | 30 eggs per flat | 120 | Pulp fiber |
Specs as listed by the maker or seller; check the listing before you buy.
Containers per pack
Egg sizes each carton is listed for
| Carton | Layout | Listed egg sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Hatortempt | Dozen | Small to jumbo (chicken and duck) |
| Ruralty | 3 x 4 | Up to jumbo |
| Cackle Hatchery vented | Dozen | Small to XL |
| Lixavaer clear | 3 x 4 | Standard or medium |
| MT Products | 2 x 6 | Not listed |
| Zubebe | 3 x 4 | Not listed |
| Zhanmai | 3 x 4 | Not listed |
| Estune flat | 30 cells | Chicken or duck eggs |
Source: Maker listings
Pulp, plastic or flats: which egg carton type is best?
Carton types compared
| Type | Cushions eggs | Reusable | Compostable | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pulp dozen, 2 x 6 | ✓ Yes | ~ A few times if clean | ✓ Yes | Sharing and small sales |
| Pulp dozen, 3 x 4 | ✓ Yes | ~ A few times if clean | ✓ Yes | Sales, fits more bags and coolers neatly |
| Clear plastic, 3 x 4 | ~ Less padding | ✓ Yes, washable | ✗ No | Market display |
| 30-cell pulp flat | ✓ Yes | ~ If clean | ✓ Yes | Storage before packing |
The classic 2 x 6 carton is long and narrow, the shape most buyers expect. The 3 x 4 layout is squarer and stacks into crates and coolers in a different footprint, so check your cooler before you buy a 200-pack. Pulp absorbs a little moisture and cushions shells, which is why it is the default for farm eggs; it also composts once it is worn out. Clear plastic shows off blue, green and brown shells and can be washed and reused, but pick it only if your eggs fit the listed size. Flats are for your fridge or cellar, not for handing to customers, because they have no lid.
Can I reuse egg cartons to sell eggs?
It depends on your state. Some states restrict reusing cartons printed with another farm's or brand's name, grade or size marks, because the carton would mislabel your eggs. Blank new cartons avoid the question entirely. Rules on labels, refrigeration and how many eggs you can sell without a license also vary widely by state.
For washing, refrigeration and shelf life, see egg freshness, cleaning and storage.
How we chose these egg cartons
We compared each listing's count, layout (2 x 6, 3 x 4 or 30-cell), material, venting, lid style and the egg sizes it is listed for, and sorted them by whether you share, gift, sell or store eggs. We did not pack eggs in these cartons or drop-test them. Eight picks come from eight brands.
How to pack and label backyard eggs
- Collect daily
Gather eggs at least once a day so they stay clean and cool. Line nests with clean bedding or pads.
- Clean only as your rules allow
Dry-clean light dirt with a brush. If you wash, follow USDA FSIS guidance and your state's rules, then refrigerate.
- Size and grade
Sort by weight if you sell by size; an egg scale makes it quick.
- Pack pointed end down
Place eggs in the carton with the small end down to keep the air cell at the top.
- Label the lid
Add the pack date and anything your state requires, such as your name and address or an "ungraded" or unwashed note.
- Keep them cold
Refrigerate washed and chilled eggs and keep them cold through sale. Track your cost per dozen with the feed calculator.
Egg carton mistakes to avoid
- Jumbo eggs in standard cartons. Lids that will not close crack eggs. Check the listed size range.
- Reusing store-branded cartons for sales where your state does not allow it.
- Skipping the label. Even gift eggs benefit from a pack date.
- Leaving cartons in a warm car. Once eggs are refrigerated, keep them cold.
- Storing cartons in the coop. Dust and droppings get into pulp. Keep spare cartons clean and dry indoors.
- Assuming one state's rules apply everywhere. Egg-sale rules vary widely; check yours.
Who should choose which egg cartons?
- A few dozen a month to friends: Cackle Hatchery vented or MT Products.
- Mixed sizes or duck eggs: Hatortempt.
- Weekly sales: Ruralty or Zubebe 200-packs.
- Farmers market display: Lixavaer clear (standard or medium eggs).
- Gifting: Zhanmai printed lids. More gift ideas are in eggs, books and gifts.
- Storing before packing: Estune 30-cell flats.
- Countertop display at home: see our egg skelter and holder picks.
For most backyard keepers, blank pulp dozens such as the Cackle Hatchery vented 24-pack or Hatortempt 24-pack (small to jumbo) are the easiest start. Regular sellers save time with the Ruralty 200-pack and its flat, labelable lids. Before you sell, check your state's rules on labels, carton reuse and refrigeration.
We compare manufacturer specs and listing data (egg capacity by egg size, forced or still air, humidity control, turner type and auto-stop, alarms; coop floor area against the claimed number of hens, wood or plastic, nest boxes, latches; door lift capacity, power and sensor; feeder and waterer capacity and heater wattage; feed protein and form) and what the maker says each product is for, alongside extension, CDC, USDA and FDA guidance. Coop capacity is recounted from the listed floor area with published space norms. We did not hatch eggs in, house birds in, install or lab-test these products, and we never show invented scores, ratings or prices.