What Ice Cream Cup Sizes Should You Really Offer?

Choosing random cup sizes can confuse customers and hurt your profits. A poorly planned lineup fails to guide purchasing decisions or maximize your sale value.

Offer a strategic range: a small sample cup (2-4oz)¹, a kiddie/single scoop (4-6oz)² as a price anchor, a standard double scoop (7-10oz)³ as your main seller, and a large sundae cup (12oz+)⁴ for premium upsells.

Choosing your cup lineup is one of the most important menu decisions⁵ you'll make. It's a carefully crafted strategy that guides customer choice, maximizes profit margins⁶, and builds a powerful brand experience. Having partnered with businesses in over 80 countries, I've seen firsthand how the right sizes can elevate a business. Let me guide you through building your perfect cup progression.

What Sizes Create the Perfect Customer Journey?

A random assortment of sizes has no flow. This can confuse customers or cause them to default to the cheapest option, hurting your average sale.

A perfect size progression guides the customer. It includes a small sample, a kids/single scoop anchor, a standard double scoop bestseller, and a large sundae cup for high-margin upsells.

Your cup lineup tells a story and guides your customers' spending. Each size has a specific and important job to do. As an engineer, I think of it as a system designed to achieve a specific outcome: a happy customer and a profitable sale. Here is the four-part system I recommend to all my clients, from small shops to large chains.

What Material Works Best for Each Cup Size?

Using the wrong material can lead to soggy, weak cups. A melting sundae in a cup that loses its structure is a disaster for the customer experience.

Double PE-coated paper⁷ is the best all-rounder for performance and branding. Choose PLA-lined paper⁸ for an eco-friendly message, and consider clear PET plastic⁹ to visually showcase large, layered sundaes.

The material of your cup must match the product and the brand experience you want to deliver. From my manufacturing perspective, there are clear winners for different goals.

My Material Recommendations

• Double PE-Coated Paper: This is my top recommendation and the ultimate all-rounder. The premium paperboard is sturdy, and the coating on both the inside and out prevents condensation from making the cup weak. This ensures a firm grip, whether it's for a small scoop or a large, melting sundae. Critically, it is the best possible canvas for high-quality, vibrant branding.
• PLA-Lined Paper: This is the ideal choice for brands built on sustainability. The cup performs just like our PE-coated version, but the plant-based PLA lining makes it commercially compostable. This aligns your packaging directly with your green mission, which is a powerful message for organic or artisanal brands.
• PET Plastic: While I specialize in paper, I recognize the power of visual appeal. For large, beautiful sundaes with layers of sauce and toppings, a crystal-clear PET plastic⁹ cup can be a great option. It turns the dessert itself into an advertisement.

How Should You Brand Cups of Different Sizes?

Most shops use the exact same design on all their cups. This is a huge mistake that wastes the valuable marketing space available on your larger sizes.

Tailor your design to the size. Use a bold logo on small cups. Add social media handles on medium cups. Use large cups for storytelling, QR codes, or special promotions to maximize their potential.

Your cups are mobile billboards¹⁰. A strategic branding approach ensures that no matter the size, your message is clear and powerful. At my factory, we have high-precision printing equipment, and I always advise my clients to think about branding like this:

Optimizing Your Mobile Billboards

1. Small Cups (4-6 oz): On these, your logo must be the hero. The space is limited, so a clean, bold logo is far more effective than a complex design with small text. Our printing process ensures that even on the smallest cup, your brand looks sharp and professional.
2. Medium Cups (7-10 oz): This is your primary canvas and your most common cup. Here, you have more room. In addition to your logo, add your social media handles (@yourshop) or a fun brand tagline.
3. Large Cups (12-16 oz+): Use this extra real estate for storytelling. This is the perfect place for a QR code linking to your loyalty program, a message like "Find our other locations," or even a special edition design that makes the cup a fun collectible.

Conclusion

Your cup sizes are a fundamental part of your business strategy. A well-planned lineup boosts sales, improves customer experience, and builds your brand with every single scoop you serve.