Food Can Sizes: Every Standard Can Size, Dimensions & Volume Chart

A standard No. 303 food can — the most common vegetable can in the US — measures 3-3/16 inches (81 mm) in diameter and 4-7/16 inches (112 mm) tall. It holds approximately 15 to 17 oz (2 cups).

This guide covers every standard can size, exact dimensions, volume, and how to read industry can codes used by Ball Corporation, Crown Holdings, and commercial food packers worldwide.

Food Can Sizes Chart

Every standard food can size with volume, weight, and cup measurement:

The No. 303 is the most widely used food can in US retail — the standard size for canned vegetables, beans, soups, and fruit. When a recipe calls for “one can,” it almost always means a No. 303.

Food Can Dimensions by Size

How to Read Food Can Dimension Codes

The industry can code system looks confusing at first — but the logic is simple once you know the formula.

Every can code is expressed as two 3-digit numbers separated by a × symbol — for example, 303 × 407.

• First number = diameter in whole inches and sixteenths
• Second number = height in whole inches and sixteenths

How to decode it:

• The first digit = whole inches
• The last two digits = sixteenths of an inch

So 303 means 3 inches + 3/16 inch = 3.1875 inches. And 407 means 4 inches + 7/16 inch = 4.4375 inches.

No. 303 Can — The Most Common Food Can

The No. 303 can is the standard for canned vegetables, beans, tomatoes, and fruit in US retail. Green Giant, Del Monte, Hunt’s, Bush’s, and virtually every major canned food brand uses this as their primary format.

When a recipe says “one 15 oz can” of tomatoes or beans, it’s referring to a No. 303 can. Modern retail cans have shifted to labeled net weights rather than size numbers — but the physical container dimensions remain the same.

No. 10 Can — The Institutional Standard

The No. 10 can is the largest standard food can — used exclusively in restaurants, cafeterias, catering operations, food banks, and institutional kitchens. It’s rarely seen in retail grocery.

At nearly 6.2 inches wide and 7 inches tall, the No. 10 can is a large-format container designed for high-volume food prep. A single No. 10 can of tomatoes holds the equivalent of 6 to 7 standard retail cans (No. 303).

The No. 10 can is used across the USDA commodity food program — supplying schools, food banks, and emergency relief operations with large-format canned goods. Its dimensions are standardized to fit commercial kitchen storage systems and institutional shelving.

Two-Piece vs. Three-Piece Food Cans

Not all food cans are built the same. The construction method affects strength, leak resistance, and what foods can be packed inside.

Three-Piece Cans

A cylindrical body with a welded or bonded side seam plus a top and bottom lid. The side seam is visible. These are versatile and used for solid foods — vegetables, fruits, soups, and meats. They allow more flexible sizing and are the most common construction in food service.

Two-Piece Cans

A single seamless body with an integrated bottom and one applied lid. No side seam — stronger against pressure and more leak-resistant. Two-piece cans subdivide into three types:

Most aluminum beverage cans (beer, soda, energy drinks) are DWI two-piece cans — the same body-forming technology used in premium food packaging. The thin walls are what allow high-speed filling lines to run efficiently at industrial scale.

Numbered Can Sizes

Standard numbered can sizes map older recipe measurements to modern volume and weight equivalents. Many vintage and classic recipes reference these numbers — knowing what they mean prevents buying the wrong size.

Recipe conversion guide — old can numbers to modern retail sizes:

The No. 2½ can is the size behind standard 28 oz canned whole tomatoes — a staple in Italian-American cooking. When a pasta sauce recipe calls for a “large can of tomatoes,” it means a No. 2½.

More Post: Soda Can Dimensions

Questions

What are the dimensions of a standard food can?

The most common food can — the No. 303 — is 3-3/16 inches (81 mm) in diameter and 4-7/16 inches (112 mm) tall. It holds 2 cups (15–17 oz). The largest standard can, the No. 10, is 6-3/16 inches wide by 7 inches tall and holds 3 quarts.

What are the different sizes of cans?

Standard US food cans range from the 6 oz single-serve to the No. 10 institutional can (102–117 oz). The most common retail sizes are No. 303 (15–17 oz), No. 2 (20 oz), and No. 2½ (27–29 oz).

Is a can 8 or 12 oz?

It depends on the product. A standard food can is typically 14–17 oz (No. 303). An 8 oz can is a smaller single-serve food format. A 12 oz can is the standard for beverages like soda and beer — not typically used for canned food.

What are the different sizes of tin cans?

Standard tin can sizes range from No. 6Z (6 oz) through No. 10 (up to 117 oz). Common retail sizes include No. 303 (15–17 oz), No. 2 (20 oz), and No. 2½ (27–29 oz). Institutional kitchens primarily use the No. 10 can.

What two foods never expire?

Honey and pure salt are the two foods most widely recognized as having an indefinite shelf life when stored properly.

Can you eat 20-year-old frozen food?

Frozen food is technically safe to eat indefinitely if kept at 0°F (−18°C) or below — freezing stops bacterial growth entirely. The USDA recommends consuming most frozen foods within 1 to 2 years for best quality, even if they remain technically safe beyond that.