Short answer: in most US distributor catalogues, yes. “Steam table pan” and “hotel pan” describe the same family of rectangular stainless steel food pans. The more useful question for an importer is how those US names map to gastronorm (GN) sizes, and which details still need to be checked per SKU before you place an order.
Where the names come from
In North America, buyers and end users tend to name a pan by where it is used. On a steam table, buffet line or food well it is a “steam table pan”. In a hotel kitchen, banquet operation or catering business it is a “hotel pan”. Many catalogues use both terms on the same listing, and some add “food pan” or “counter pan”. The product is the same: a stainless steel pan with a rim that sits on the edge of a well or rack opening.
In the UK, Europe and many export markets, the same modular pans are called gastronorm pans, GN pans or gastronorm trays. GN refers to a modular sizing system based on a 530 × 325 mm base module (GN 1/1). Fractions such as GN 1/2, 1/3 and 1/6 describe how the base module is divided.
For a distributor serving more than one market, the practical result is that one product line may need three names in the price list: the US size name (“half size hotel pan”), the GN code (GN 1/2) and the style (rolled edge, anti-jam or European).
How US size names line up with GN codes
US full, half, third, quarter, sixth and ninth size pans line up with GN 1/1, 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6 and 1/9 modules:
- Full size hotel pan ≈ GN 1/1 — 530 × 325 mm (approx. 20.87 × 12.80 in)
- Half size ≈ GN 1/2 — 325 × 265 mm
- Third size ≈ GN 1/3 — 325 × 176 mm
- Quarter size ≈ GN 1/4 — 265 × 162 mm
- Sixth size ≈ GN 1/6 — 176 × 162 mm
- Ninth size ≈ GN 1/9 — 176 × 108 mm
Depth is usually quoted in inches in the US and in millimetres elsewhere. Common depth names map approximately as follows: 2.5" ≈ 65 mm, 4" ≈ 100 mm and 6" ≈ 150 mm. Shallower and deeper options, such as 20, 40 or 200 mm, depend on the series and SKU.
Two cautions apply. First, the size name describes a module, not an exact outer dimension. Rim width, corner radius and wall angle vary by style, so two “half size” pans from different series are not automatically interchangeable in the same opening. Second, the inch depth is a nickname: actual capacity and outer height belong to the specific SKU. Our GN pan size and hotel pan dimension guide lists module sizes, inch conversions and an equipment-fit checklist.
Already have a size list from your customers? Send the US names or GN codes with depths and quantities, and we will match them to available SKUs.
Buying notes for distributors
When you source steam table / hotel pans for resale, the name matters less than a complete, consistent specification. These points tend to prevent re-quotes and mismatched shipments:
- Record the full SKU, not only the name. Keep style, GN size, depth and thickness together. “Full size 4-inch pan” could match several products.
- Material. JIMEI pans are made in 201 stainless steel as standard, with 304 available on request where your customers need higher corrosion resistance for wet or acidic service. State the grade in your inquiry so the quotation matches.
- Thickness. Thickness differs by series and SKU, and not every size is offered in every thickness. Check the SKU table on each series page rather than assuming one gauge across the range.
- Lids are a separate line. A matching GN designation is a starting point, but lid pairing also depends on style. European lids can be used on American rolled-edge and anti-jam pans; American lids are not compatible with European-style pans.
- Packing and freight. Pieces per carton and estimated gross carton weight are recorded per SKU. Our MOQ is one full carton per size, which keeps mixed-size orders practical.
- Samples before volume. Free samples are available (freight collect) if you need to check fit against your customers’ equipment before ordering.
- Lead time. In-stock items ship in 7–10 days; full-container (FCL) orders in 15–20 days. The exact schedule is confirmed in the quotation.
Our pans are NSF listed for commercial kitchen use; spec sheets or certificates can be shared with your quotation when required. You can compare all three styles, with dimensions, unit weight and carton details, on the GN pans and hotel pans product page.
When anti-jam matters: stacking and separation
Stainless pans with straight or slightly tapered walls can nest tightly when stacked. In storage, dishwashing and service, a pan that wedges into the one below takes extra effort to pull apart and can bend a rim in the process.
Anti-jam pans address this with a stepped body and an anti-jam shoulder. The shoulder stops a pan from sliding too deep into the one below, which helps stacked pans separate cleanly. For distributors, anti-jam is worth stocking when your customers:
- store pans in tall stacks between services;
- run high-volume warewashing where pans are stacked wet;
- work with US-style steam tables and food wells that use full, half and third size pans in 4" and 6" depths.
Rolled-edge pans remain a common choice where stacking is less frequent or where customers prefer a rolled rim profile. European-style pans suit buyers working to GN specifications with European lids. Style is a starting point, not a guarantee of fit: the shoulder, rim and lid still need to be checked against the customer’s equipment. See the anti-jam steam table pans (American style) page for shoulder detail, SKU dimensions and carton packing.
Summary
Steam table pan and hotel pan are two US names for the same product family, and both correspond closely to gastronorm sizes. For sourcing, specify style, GN size, depth, thickness and material per SKU, confirm lids separately, and choose anti-jam where stacked pans need to separate easily.
Send us your target sizes, depths, styles and estimated quantities, and we will reply with SKU options, carton packing and a wholesale quotation.