The 9 Best Food Delivery Bags
Updated by · How we research
Tall catering totes, flat pizza carriers and courier backpacks compared on room, build and cleanup. The Bodaon XXXL leads for drivers who need cheap space. When users buy our independently chosen editorial choices, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
An insulated bag slows heat loss, but it can't add heat. The CDC's limit is two hours for food sitting between 40 and 140 F, or one hour above 90 F, so a bag buys time on the road, not a pass. These picks are for app drivers, pizza shops, caterers and couriers on two wheels.
Editor's Notes
October 26, 2026, by Ezvid Wiki Admin:
The Bodaon XXXL takes the top spot. It holds a full catering pan or several orders for very little money, and Bodaon is upfront that its stitched seams can leak, which is the same weakness owners flag. Seven of the ten bags from before had to go. You can't buy the Rubbermaid ProServe End-Load, Belleford PRO XXL, BlueVoy Thermal Carrier, Homevative Backpack or Packir PK-34V right now, and the BlueVoy Tote and Freshie Premium XXL have disappeared entirely.
The Cherrboll Commercial, the New Star Foodservice 50134 and the Rubbermaid ProServe FG9F3600 stay. New picks add a sturdier catering tote in the Himal Outdoors XXXL, the heavy-duty Herculean Premium, a courier backpack and two flat pizza carriers. A cheaper twin of the Bodaon was left off because it adds nothing new. For a category with no lab tests, the evidence that mattered most was construction: shell fabric, foam thickness, vents and zipper quality, read against where owners say these bags tear.
October 29, 2020:
In selecting items for this list, we prioritized features that would help maintain the freshness and ideal temperature of food. We also wanted bags that would hold contents securely during transit, even when drivers make sharp turns or come to sudden stops since spilled or messy food typically results in a smaller tip. Whether you transport pizza, miscellaneous entrees, or large catering trays, we made sure there was something on this list for everyone.
For a bag that will survive plenty of pickups and drop offs, we like the Rubbermaid Commercial ProServe Catering for its rugged materials, as well as the Belleford PRO XXL, which has a rigid bottom and reinforced stitching. We decided to remove the Phoenix Vital Life Insulated because its handle is prone to ripping off when it takes on even moderate weight. We also eliminated the Kibaga Premium during this update because its zippers get stuck too often, which is a nuisance for delivery personnel who are in a hurry. Though the Nature's Wild ComDelBag looks good at first glance, its materials prove to be cheap, and it develops rips and holes easily, so we removed it.
The DeliveryPizzaBags OP-38499 was of good quality, but we took it off the list to make room for the New Star Foodservice Pizza, which can hold more and larger pies. We also added the BlueVoy Thermal Carrier, which is a sizeable option that can accommodate hotel pans. The Rubbermaid ProServe End-Load is another good pick for those who need to transport party-size platters, as it's technically a pan carrier. Unfortunately, the Brandzini FDB0001 loses its shape too easily, and begins to look old after little use, so we eliminated it, even though we appreciated its generous dimensions.
Those who make deliveries on a bicycle can benefit from the Homevative Backpack and the Packir PK-34V, both of which leave one's hands free to steer.
March 04, 2019:
When you run a restaurant or catering business, or you're making side money as a driver for apps like Postmates and Uber Eats, there's no knowing what sort or size of order you'll receive. That's why we cultivated a well-rounded list to meet a variety of needs. The Rubbermaid Full-Size End Load is ready to carry platters to a small gathering, with its supports for trays and hefty size. The Etz Thermal 85 and Nature's Wild ComDelBag are also large enough to accommodate quarter- and half-sheet chafing pans for parties. The DeliveryPizzaBags OP-38499 and Rubbermaid Commercial ProServe All Purpose are the type of classic red bag you see delivery men carrying hot pies inside of. They are both perfectly shaped for pizza boxes and feature a side opening that makes it easy to slide them out. If you deliver food on a bicycle, then you'll definitely want to check out the Packir PK-34V, since it features backpack-style straps and even has a reflective strip to help keep you safe.
Special Honors
Cambro GoBags Cambro, a long-standing food-service supplier, makes the GoBags line of nylon delivery bags, delivery backpacks and pizza bags with high-density insulation. Many models are NSF listed, they can be embroidered with a restaurant's logo, and the smooth surfaces wipe clean. They're sold through restaurant suppliers rather than as everyday consumer listings. cambro.com
Sterno Delivery Food Carriers Sterno, best known for chafing fuel, makes a line of nylon delivery carriers for catering, school meal programs and pizza shops. They're sold mostly through restaurant suppliers and suit businesses that want matching bags in several sizes and colors. sterno.com
Tote, Pizza Carrier Or Backpack
Look for a stiff back panel, padded straps, reflective strips and a box that stays upright.
Start with what you carry and how you travel. Tall top-zip totes, about 23 by 14 by 15 inches, are the app driver's standard. They hold a full-size steam table pan, a grocery haul or a stack of pizza boxes, and they fold flat under a seat. The cheapest ones are often the same bag under different brand names, so look at the shell fabric, the handles and the base rather than the label.
Flat pizza carriers run 18 to 22 inches square and a few inches tall, with a flap that opens wide so boxes slide in level. Match the bag to your biggest box: an 18-inch carrier fits medium pies, while extra-large boxes need a 22-inch bag. Tall cube carriers take six boxes in one stack. Restaurant suppliers sell commercial lines too. Cambro's GoBags include pizza bags sized from 2 to 16 pies and a delivery backpack, and many models are NSF listed.
On a bike or scooter, a backpack keeps both hands on the bars. Look for a stiff back panel, padded straps, reflective strips and a box that stays upright. Couriers trade notes on what holds up in threads like this one on r/grubhubdrivers.
What A Bag Can And Can't Do For Food Safety
An insulated bag slows the rate food warms or cools. It doesn't heat anything. The CDC calls 40 to 140 F the danger zone, where bacteria multiply fast, and says perishable food shouldn't sit out longer than two hours, or one hour when it's above 90 F, as in a parked car in summer.
Makers claim hold times from two to six hours, but none of those claims has been checked by an independent lab, and real results depend on how full the bag is, how often it's opened and how hot the food started. Plan on the CDC's limits, not the box claims. A full bag holds temperature better than a half-empty one, so fill gaps with a folded towel.
Keep hot and cold apart. A divider, or a second bag, stops ice packs from chilling a hot tray. Warming a bag first with a warm, not hot, pad helps on cold nights. Commercial caterers should also check local health rules, which can set transport temperatures and container standards.
Where Cheap Bags Fail, And How To Keep One Clean
Seams and zippers wear out first. Look where the handles meet the body: a strap that wraps under the base spreads the load, while handles stitched only to the top edge pull loose under heavy pans. Big two-way zippers last longer than thin coil zippers, and a hook-and-loop flap is quicker at the door but seals less tightly.
For pizza, vents or metal grommets let steam out so boxes and crusts don't go soggy. A clear window or label pocket holds the ticket and keeps you from opening the bag to check an order.
Wipe foil and vinyl linings with warm, soapy water after each shift, and leave the bag open to dry so it doesn't trap odors. Most soft bags are hand-wash only. Commercial lines, such as Sterno's delivery carriers, are built for daily cleaning in restaurant kitchens.
How we researched this
We compared 17 bags, including every bag on the previous version of this page, and read makers' construction details, sizes and care notes for each finalist. We looked for patterns in owner reports of torn seams, broken zippers and peeling linings, used CDC food-safety time limits for the buyer's guide, and checked each brand against U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recall records. No independent lab tests of delivery bags turned up.
Frequently asked questions
Do DoorDash, Uber Eats or Grubhub require a specific bag?
No. The apps don't require a particular brand or model. Any clean insulated bag works, though local health rules may set standards for commercial caterers.
How long does an insulated delivery bag keep food hot?
Makers claim two to six hours, but no independent tests back those figures. Plan around the CDC's limit of two hours for food between 40 and 140 F, or one hour above 90 F.
Can one bag carry hot and cold food?
Yes, the same insulation slows heat moving in or out. Just don't carry hot and cold items together without a divider or a second bag.
What size bag do I need for pizza?
Match the bag to your biggest box. A carrier about 18 inches square fits medium pies, a 20-inch bag takes large boxes, and extra-large boxes need about 22 inches. For leftovers or a weekend pickup, a cheap flat carrier is enough.
How do I clean a food delivery bag?
Wipe the lining with warm, soapy water, rinse with a damp cloth and leave the bag open to dry. Most soft bags are hand-wash only; Rubbermaid says its ProServe bag is dishwasher-safe.
