Choosing the right delivery bag size comes down to one thing: what you normally carry.
A bag that is too small limits the number of orders you can transport. A bag that is too large can allow food and containers to move around unnecessarily. The best option gives you enough capacity without creating excessive empty space.
Here is a simple delivery bag size guide to help.
Delivery Bag Capacity at a Glance
| Bag Capacity | Best Suited For |
|---|---|
| 20–35 litres | Single meals, smaller takeaway orders and light deliveries |
| 35–50 litres | Standard food delivery and several meal containers |
| 50–65 litres | Multiple orders, larger restaurant orders and busy delivery shifts |
| 65+ litres | Large orders, pizzas, catering or high-volume deliveries |
These ranges are a practical guide rather than a fixed rule. A bag's dimensions and shape matter just as much as its total litre capacity.
How Many Litres Should a Delivery Bag Hold?
For most everyday food delivery work, a bag in the 35–60 litre range provides a useful balance between carrying capacity and manageable size.
Smaller bags work well when delivering individual meals. Larger bags become more useful when transporting several orders at once or carrying bulky packaging.
If your deliveries regularly include pizza boxes, large takeaway containers or multiple customer orders, capacity alone should not be your deciding factor. Check the bag's width, depth and height as well.
You can browse SpartanPac's range of delivery bags and backpacks to compare different formats.
What Size Delivery Bag Fits Multiple Orders?
For multi-order delivery, look for approximately 50 litres or more, particularly if orders contain several containers.
Internal layout also matters. A tall bag may offer plenty of litres but still struggle with wide pizza boxes. A wider bag may work better for restaurants using large flat containers.
Where possible, choose a bag that gives you enough room to separate orders rather than stacking everything tightly together.
Is a Larger Delivery Bag Always Better?
No
An oversized bag can create unnecessary movement inside the compartment, especially when carrying only one or two meals. It can also be heavier and less convenient for cyclists or riders.
The better approach is to match your bag to your normal workload:
- Mostly single orders: choose a smaller or medium bag.
- Several orders per trip: choose a medium-to-large bag.
- Pizza and bulky orders: prioritise width and expandable storage.
- High-volume delivery: consider a large-capacity backpack or bike-mounted bag.
For riders, also consider how the bag will be transported. Our guide on securing a delivery bag to a bike explains the main mounting considerations.
Dimensions Matter as Much as Litres
Two 50-litre bags can perform very differently.
When comparing bags, check:
Length × width × height
You can estimate capacity using:
Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) ÷ 1,000 = approximate litres
For example, a 40 × 35 × 40 cm compartment provides roughly 56 litres of theoretical internal volume.
Real usable capacity will normally be slightly lower because insulation, dividers, zips and the shape of the bag take up space.
Find the Right Delivery Bag
The best delivery bag is not necessarily the biggest. It is the one that comfortably fits the orders you carry most often while remaining practical to transport.
Whether you need a compact delivery backpack, an expandable option or a large-capacity bag for multiple orders, compare the available SpartanPac delivery bags before choosing.