A
15 oz food can
measures
3-3/16 inches in diameter
and
4-7/16 inches tall.
It is the most common retail vegetable can in the USA and uses the
#303 industry size code.
From the compact 5 oz tuna can to the massive #10 bulk can, every size has precise specs that affect pantry storage, recipe scaling, commercial kitchen equipment compatibility, and bulk purchasing decisions.
Food Can Dimensions Chart
Can Name
Diameter (in)
Height (in)
Volume (fl oz)
Cups
Common Uses
5 oz
2-1/8″
2-1/4″
5 oz
—
Tuna, sardines, small portions
8 oz
2-11/16″
3″
8 oz
—
Tomato sauce, small soups
#1
2-11/16″
4″
10 – 12 oz
~1¼ cups
Soup, fruit, single servings
12 oz
2-11/16″
4-13/16″
12 oz
—
Tuna, evaporated milk
14 oz
3-1/8″
4-3/8″
14 oz
—
Specialty sauces, small beans
15 oz (#303)
3-3/16″
4-7/16″
15 oz
—
Most common retail vegetable can
16 oz
3-3/16″
4-13/16″
16 oz
—
Slightly taller version of 15 oz
#2
3″
4-3/8″
14 – 16 oz
~1¾ – 2 cups
Beans, corn, whole tomatoes
#2.5 / 28 oz
4-1/16″
4-11/16″
26 – 28 oz
~3¼ – 3½ cups
Sliced fruit, stews, thick soups
#3
4-1/4″
4-7/8″
46 oz
~5¾ cups
Tomato juice, fruit juices
#5
5-1/8″
5-7/8″
56 oz
~7 cups
Foodservice soups, chili, sauces
#10
6-3/16″
7″
109 – 117 oz
~13 cups
Bulk vegetables, fruits, sauces
All measurements follow Can Manufacturers Institute (CMI) standards used across the US food industry. Sizes may vary slightly by manufacturer or product — always read the label for exact specs.
Not all food cans are the same. Each size has a specific purpose, a specific audience, and specific numbers that matter for storage planning and kitchen use.
15 oz Can Dimensions (The Standard)
It measures 3-3/16 inches in diameter and 4-7/16 inches tall. It holds approximately 15 fluid ounces and uses the industry code #303.
#10 Can Dimensions (The Foodservice Standard)
It measures 6-3/16 inches in diameter and 7 inches tall. It holds 109 to 117 fluid ounces — approximately 13 cups of product.
This is the workhorse of commercial kitchens and catering operations. Industry data shows #10 cans account for roughly 30% of all foodservice packaging in the US
28 oz Can Dimensions
It measures 4-1/16 inches in diameter and 4-11/16 inches tall. It holds 26 to 28 fluid ounces — approximately 3.5 cups. It matches the #2.5 and #401 industry code size.
5 oz Can Dimensions
It measures 2-1/8 inches in diameter and 2-1/4 inches tall — the most compact standard food can format. It holds 5 fluid ounces.
#5 Can Dimensions
It measures 5-1/8 inches in diameter and 5-7/8 inches tall. It holds 56 fluid ounces — approximately 7 cups of product.
The #5 sits between retail and full commercial scale — ideal for mid-volume operations like school cafeterias, delis, and catering setups.
Food Can Size Code System Explained
food-can-size-code
The US food can industry uses a 3-digit sizing code set by the Can Manufacturers Institute.
So a can coded 303 × 406 means 3 and 3/16 inches in diameter by 4 and 6/16 inches in height. A #10 coded 603 × 700 means 6 and 3/16 inches in diameter by exactly 7 inches in height.
Body and bottom as one unit, top lid added separately
Rolled cylinder with welded side seam, top and bottom lids added
Side Seam
None — no weak points
Welded or soldered seam along body
Best For
Beverages, soups, acidic foods (tomatoes, citrus)
Solid foods — vegetables, beans, whole fruits
Pressure Resistance
Superior
Good
Manufacturing Flexibility
Limited size range
Wide range of sizes
Common Material
Aluminum or steel
Tin-plated steel
Both types are sealed via double seaming — a mechanical process that folds and rolls the lid edge tightly against the can body to create a hermetic airtight seal.
Question’s
What are the standard dimensions of a 15 oz food can?
A 15 oz food can measures 3-3/16 inches in diameter and 4-7/16 inches tall. It is the most common retail vegetable can in the USA and uses the #303 industry size code.
How big is a #10 can?
A #10 can measures 6-3/16 inches in diameter and 7 inches tall. It holds 109 to 117 fluid ounces — approximately 13 cups. It uses the industry code 603 × 700 and accounts for roughly 30% of all foodservice packaging in the US.
What are the dimensions of a 28 oz food can?
A 28 oz can measures 4-1/16 inches in diameter and 4-11/16 inches tall. It matches the #2.5 and #401 industry code sizes and holds approximately 3.5 cups — the equivalent of two standard 15 oz retail cans.
What is the difference between a 15 oz and 16 oz food can?
Both share the same 3-3/16-inch diameter. The 16 oz version is slightly taller at 4-13/16 inches versus 4-7/16 inches for the 15 oz. The extra height adds approximately one additional fluid ounce of product capacity while keeping the same footprint on the shelf.
How do you read food can size codes?
The 3-digit code uses whole inches plus sixteenths of an inch. The first digit is whole inches and the second and third digits are sixteenths. So 303 means 3 and 3/16 inches. A can coded 303 × 406 is 3-3/16 inches in diameter and 4 and 6/16 inches tall.
What is the difference between net weight and drained weight on a food can?
Net weight is the total food inside the can including any liquid. Drained weight is just the solid food after the liquid is removed. A 15 oz can of corn may contain only 8 to 9 oz of actual corn kernels — the rest is packing liquid. Always check which measurement a recipe calls for.
Do food can dimensions vary by manufacturer?
Slightly. Food can dimensions follow CMI standardized specs, but minor variations of 1/16 inch or less occur between manufacturers within the same size category. For home cooking these differences are negligible. For commercial equipment compatibility — can openers, rack systems, labeling machines — always verify exact specs against your equipment’s listed compatible can sizes.
How big is a standard 12 oz food can?
A standard 12 oz food can measures 2-11/16 inches in diameter and 4-13/16 inches tall. It is common for tuna and evaporated milk — the same diameter as the 8 oz and #1 sizes but taller to accommodate the additional volume.
My name is Shehzad Ali. I am the admin and author of cansdimension.com. I write simple guides about can sizes and dimensions. I share information to help readers understand cans.
