3-Compartment vs 4-Compartment Meal Prep Container
The real comparison at 1000ml
| 3-compartment | 4-compartment | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | PF-3C900 (900 ml) | PF-4C1000 (1000 ml) |
| Unit weight | 41 g | 42 g |
| Pcs/ctn | 150 | 150 |
| Carton | 58×23×40 cm | 58×23×40 cm |
| 40HQ sets | 182,700 | 182,700 |
| Compartment logic | protein / rice / side | four separate items |
At the same carton size and carton count, the two are almost identical in freight. The 4-compartment version gives an extra section for essentially the same shipping cost — which is why it dominates meal-prep programs.
When 3 compartments is the better buy
- Menu is fixed at three items. An empty fourth section looks like a smaller portion and hurts renewals.
- Filling is manual. Each extra section adds a filling step; at 500 containers a day, that is real labour.
- The customer weighs nothing. Macro-counting clients want four sections; a canteen or a restaurant does not.
When 4 compartments wins
Meal-prep subscriptions, gym meal delivery, diabetic or dietitian-designed plans, and any program where the customer photographs the tray. Four sections photograph as "more food" even at identical total volume.
The 2-compartment option most buyers miss
PF-6828 at 900ml and 33.5 g loads 250,800 sets per 40HQ — 37% more than either multi-compartment model. For a rice-plus-curry menu, it is the cheapest landed option by a wide margin. Ask whether the fourth section is genuinely used before paying for it.
FAQ
Can I get a 5-compartment? Not from our current tooling. If your menu needs five sections, tell us and we will quote a new mould separately.
Do compartments leak into each other? Not if the internal webs are above 0.8 mm. Ask for a tilt test on a filled sample.
Which is more popular in the US? 4-compartment, because macro-based meal plans are the dominant model there.
Next step
Send your menu (or the number of items per meal). We will tell you which existing mould fits and what a new one would cost if none does.
Related reading
- Food Container Sizes Guide: ml to oz for Takeaway Lunch Boxes, Bowls and Sauce Cups
- 3-Compartment PP Lunch Box: PF-3C900 Specifications
- 1000ml Rectangular PP Food Container: Four Models
Models covered on this site: 1000 ml PF-RG1000 · 1000 ml PF-4C1000S · 900 ml PF-3C900 · see all models in this category.
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