What's the minimum order for aluminum cans?

It depends on decoration. Many distributors sell brite (blank) cans by the pallet; conventionally printed cans commonly require a full truckload per design. Shrink sleeves, labels, and digital printing usually allow lower minimums per SKU.

Should a small beverage brand use printed cans or sleeves?

Usually start with brite cans plus labels or shrink sleeves, which keep minimums low per SKU. Move high-volume SKUs to printed cans when you can use a truckload of each design within a reasonable time.

Are can ends sold separately?

Often, yes. Ask each supplier whether ends are included, and confirm the end size fits your can and your seamer.

Do canned wines and spirits have size rules?

Yes. TTB authorizes specific container sizes ("standards of fill") for wine and distilled spirits, including cans. Confirm your can size is on the current authorized list for your product.

Can PostRequest get can quotes for me?

Yes. Share your can size, decoration and quantities; our agents email matching suppliers, follow up once, and send you a side-by-side comparison. Free during early access. No card needed.

Aluminum can suppliers for small beverage companies

For a small beverage brand, the can decision comes down to minimums. Printed cans look great but usually come in truckload quantities. Blank ("brite") cans can be bought by the pallet, then decorated with labels or shrink sleeves. Between those sit digitally printed cans with lower minimums. This page covers the options, what to specify, and how to compare can quotes.

Brite, printed, sleeved, labeled: your decoration options

Brite cans: plain, undecorated aluminum cans. Many distributors sell them by the pallet. You decorate them yourself or through a decorator.
Pressure-sensitive labels: applied to brite cans with a labeler. Lowest commitment per SKU; good for many SKUs and short runs.
Shrink sleeves: printed film shrunk around the can for full 360° coverage. Sleeving companies apply them, usually at lower minimums than printed cans.
Digitally printed cans: printed directly on the can without plates, at lower minimums than conventional printed cans. Availability and pricing vary by supplier.
Conventionally printed cans: printed by the can maker. The best per-can cost and finish at volume, but minimums are commonly one full truckload per design, plus storage if you can't use them quickly.

A common path: launch on brite cans with labels or sleeves, then move your best-selling SKUs to printed cans once volume justifies a truckload.

Sources: Saxco: cans · Core Cans: about · BevSource: aluminum cans and bottles · Cask: can supply FAQs

Who sells cans

Can manufacturers make printed and brite cans, usually in large volumes, often through distributors for smaller customers.
Can distributors and packaging suppliers stock brite cans and ends, sell by the pallet, and broker printed-can orders. Some offer storage and staged delivery.
Sleeve and label printers decorate brite cans or supply labels.
Your co-packer or mobile canner, which may supply cans or require you to bring your own

What to specify

The can

Size and shape: for example 12 oz standard, 12 oz sleek, 16 oz, or slim
Decoration method from the list above
Internal liner: tell the supplier what's inside (acidity, alcohol, carbonation, nitrogen) so they can confirm the liner suits your product

Ends (lids)

End size and type matched to your can and your seamer. Ends are often sold separately from cans.
Tab color or style if it matters

Quantity and delivery

Cans per order and per year, by SKU
Whether you can receive full pallets (a pallet holds several thousand cans, depending on size) or a truckload, and how much storage you have
Delivery address, dock or liftgate

For your line

Seamer model and any change parts, if you can in-house
Carrier type: plastic ring carriers or cartons, and their sizes

Regulatory fit

If you can wine or spirits (including spirits-based RTDs), the container size must be one TTB authorizes for that product (its "standards of fill"). Confirm your can size is on the current list.

Sources: Core Cans: cans per pallet

What drives can prices

Order size: pallet vs. multiple pallets vs. truckload
Decoration: brite, label, sleeve, digital print, or conventional print
Can size and shape
Ends, sold separately in many cases
Freight, storage and staged-delivery fees
Market conditions: aluminum prices and can supply affect quotes and availability

What drives lead time

Brite cans in stock can ship quickly from distributors that stock your size.
Printed cans typically take weeks after artwork approval, and depend on the can maker's schedule.
Sleeves and labels add the printer's lead time plus application.
Supply tightness: when cans are scarce, lead times stretch and minimums can rise.

Ask each supplier whether your size is stocked, how many pallets they hold, and the time from artwork approval to delivery for printed or sleeved cans.

Questions to ask can suppliers

Do you stock my can size? What's your minimum: one pallet, multiple pallets, or a truckload?
How many cans per pallet for this size?
Are ends included or quoted separately? Which ends fit my seamer?
Is the liner suitable for my product?
For printed or sleeved cans: what's the minimum per design, and the lead time after artwork approval?
Do you offer storage or staged delivery for larger orders?
What's the delivered price per can, including ends, freight and fees?
How do you handle damaged or defective cans?

How PostRequest helps

Tell us your can size, decoration, quantities and delivery location once. Our agents shortlist can suppliers and distributors, email each one your request from a PostRequest address, follow up once, and line up the replies: delivered price per can, ends, minimums, stock status, lead time and terms. Suppliers see your spec, not your name or company, until you choose to connect. During early access, a person on our team reviews every comparison before it reaches you.

Frequently asked questions

What's the minimum order for aluminum cans?: It depends on decoration. Many distributors sell brite (blank) cans by the pallet; conventionally printed cans commonly require a full truckload per design. Shrink sleeves, labels, and digital printing usually allow lower minimums per SKU.
Should a small beverage brand use printed cans or sleeves?: Usually start with brite cans plus labels or shrink sleeves, which keep minimums low per SKU. Move high-volume SKUs to printed cans when you can use a truckload of each design within a reasonable time.
Are can ends sold separately?: Often, yes. Ask each supplier whether ends are included, and confirm the end size fits your can and your seamer.
Do canned wines and spirits have size rules?: Yes. TTB authorizes specific container sizes ("standards of fill") for wine and distilled spirits, including cans. Confirm your can size is on the current authorized list for your product.
Can PostRequest get can quotes for me?: Yes. Share your can size, decoration and quantities; our agents email matching suppliers, follow up once, and send you a side-by-side comparison. Free during early access. No card needed.

Let our agents get you comparable quotes

Sourcing aluminum cans? Tell us what you need in Packaging Materials & Containers. Our agents shortlist suppliers, email them your request, and aim to bring back 3 comparable quotes side by side. Free during early access. No card needed.

Start a request