Plastic Plates vs. Paper Plates: Which Should You Buy for Your Party?
Short answer: buy plastic plates for full meals, saucy or greasy food and any event where the table should look nice. Buy paper plates for cake, snacks, kids' parties and picnics where the lowest cost and the quickest cleanup matter most. Many hosts use both: plastic for dinner, paper for dessert.
Plastic vs. paper at a glance
| Plastic plates | Paper plates | |
|---|---|---|
| Holds a full dinner | Yes, without bending | Only heavy-duty paper; thin plates fold |
| Saucy, greasy or wet food | No soak-through | Can soak through or go soft |
| Look | Solid colors, clear, metallic, china-look | Matte colors and printed themes |
| Cost per plate | Slightly higher | Lowest |
| Reuse | Rigid plates can be rinsed and reused | Single use |
| Disposal | Recycling depends on local rules and plastic type | Soiled paper is usually trash or compost |
| Best for | Weddings, dinners, barbecues, catering, buffets | Cake, snacks, kids' parties, picnics, office break rooms |
When plastic plates win
- Full meals. A 10 inch plastic dinner plate holds an entree, two sides and a roll without flexing. Guests can carry it one-handed from the buffet.
- Barbecue, pasta, salads with dressing. Sauce and oil do not soak through plastic. This is the single biggest reason hosts switch from paper.
- Formal events. Our elegant plastic plates with gold and silver rims look like china on the table and photograph like it too. There is no paper equivalent.
- Dessert tables. Clear plastic plates show off cake and pastries and match any color scheme.
- Reuse. Rigid plastic plates can be rinsed and used again for the next cookout, which paper cannot do.
When paper plates win
- Cake and snacks. A 7 inch paper plate is all a slice of cake or a handful of chips needs.
- Kids' parties. Themed and character paper plates come in every cartoon and color, and nobody minds when a few get crumpled.
- Picnics and camping. Paper is lighter to carry in and easier to burn or compost on the way out.
- Lowest cost. Paper is usually the cheaper plate by a few cents each. For a very large casual crowd, that adds up.
- Quick reheats. Plain uncoated paper plates can take a short trip through the microwave; most plastic plates cannot. Read Can you microwave plastic plates? for the details.
What to buy for each kind of event
| Event | Dinner plate | Dessert plate |
|---|---|---|
| Wedding or anniversary | 10 inch elegant plastic, gold or silver rim | 7.5 inch matching elegant plastic |
| Backyard barbecue | 10 inch solid color plastic | 7 inch paper in the same color |
| Kids' birthday | 9 inch themed paper or neon plastic | 7 inch themed paper |
| Office party or catering | 10 inch white or black plastic, 100-count pack | 7 inch clear plastic |
| Holiday dinner | 10 inch classic china-look plastic | 6 or 7 inch matching |
| Picnic or tailgate | 9 inch heavy-duty paper | Skip it, use napkins |
How many plates to buy
For a buffet, plan on 1.5 dinner plates per guest, because some people go back for seconds on a fresh plate, plus one dessert plate per guest. For a seated, plated meal, one dinner plate per guest plus about 10 percent extra. A 50-count pack of dinner plates covers 30 to 35 guests at a buffet; a 100-count pack covers 60 to 65.
Sizes, in plain terms
- 6 to 7 inch: dessert, cake, appetizers.
- 8 to 9 inch: salad, sandwiches, pizza, lunch.
- 10 to 10.25 inch: dinner and buffet meals.
Mix and match
The best-value table is often both. Use plastic dinner plates for the meal and paper plates for cake, in the same color. Factory Direct Party carries every solid color in both materials, with matching cups, napkins and cutlery, so the table still looks planned. Start with the full plastic plates collection, more than 400 options in 20-plus colors sold in bulk, then add paper plates for dessert. Our disposable plates page shows both materials side by side.
Quick answers
Are plastic plates cheaper than paper plates?
Usually not. Paper is a few cents less per plate. Plastic costs a little more but holds a full meal and can be reused, so the gap shrinks for dinner service. Bulk 100-count packs bring the plastic price down to roughly the cost of a heavy-duty paper plate.
Are plastic plates reusable?
Rigid plastic plates can be rinsed or hand washed and used again. Thin plates are single use.
Can paper plates be recycled?
Clean paper can be, but plates with food residue cannot be recycled in most programs. Uncoated paper plates can usually be composted.
Which looks better?
Plastic. For a wedding, shower or dinner party, elegant plastic plates with a metallic rim are the closest thing to real dinnerware that still goes in the trash at the end of the night.