Solo cups are a ubiquitous part of American party culture, seen at backyard barbecues, college parties, and tailgates across the country. Their bright colors and inexpensive price make them popular choices for serving drinks at large gatherings. However, there has long been debate around exactly how much a standard Solo cup holds. Are traditional red Solo cups 16 oz or 18 oz?
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that standard sized red Solo party cups are 16 ounce cups, not 18 ounces. Solo’s 16 ounce size cup is their most popular and widely available size.
The Confusion Around Solo Cup Sizes
There are a few reasons why there is confusion around whether traditional Solo cups are 16 or 18 oz:
- Solo sells multiple sizes of cups ranging from 8 oz to 22 oz. Their 16 oz red cup is their best selling size, but they have other options.
- Solo used to produce some print ads that marketed their cups as 18 oz, even though the actual capacity was 16 oz. This led to misconceptions.
- Some third party manufacturers make Solo copycat cups in 18 or 20 oz capacities, adding to the confusion.
- People often estimate cup sizes inaccurately or assume Solo cups are larger than they truly are.
Solo’s Product Line
Solo makes it clear on their website that their traditional red party cup is 16 ounces. However, Solo produces many different sized cups and containers beyond just their famous red 16 oz party cup.
Here is a rundown of some of Solo’s most popular cup sizes:
| Solo Cup | Fluid Ounces |
|---|---|
| Mini Plastic Cup | 2 oz |
| Shot Cup | 1.5 oz |
| Red Party Cup | 16 oz |
| Plastic Pint Cup | 16 oz |
| Tall Plastic Cup | 18 oz |
| Giant Cup | 22 oz |
As you can see, Solo produces cups in many sizes, which adds to the confusion around how many ounces their standard red party cup holds.
Solo’s Own Marketing Added Confusion
Interestingly, some of the confusion around Solo cup sizes can be traced back to Solo’s own marketing and advertising in the 1970s and 1980s.
Although their standard at-the-time party cup held 16 oz of liquid, some of Solo’s marketing materials and advertisements billed their cups as “18 oz.” Even though the actual capacity was 16 oz, calling them 18 oz cups in ads led to widespread misconception.
For example, a series of print ads in the 1980s declared “16 oz. is not 18 oz. Solo Cups are 18 oz.” Other taglines included “Our 18 oz cup vs their 16 oz cup” and “Solo 18 oz cup – 33% more than a 16 oz. cup.”
Through ads like these, Solo created significant consumer confusion and false advertising lawsuits around the volume of their cups. By marketing their 16 oz cup as an 18 oz cup, Solo cemented the idea that a traditional Solo party cup is 18 oz in the minds of many consumers.
Third Party 18 oz Solo-Style Cups Add Confusion
To capitalize on the popularity and cultural cachet of Solo party cups, many third party manufacturers produce their own cups in the same colors and materials to undercut Solo’s prices. These knock-off cups come in sizes like 18 oz and 20 oz.
Partygoers unfamiliar with the details of Solo’s sizing may assume that if a bright colored plastic party cup they encounter is around 18 oz, that must be the size of a “standard” Solo cup, furthering the misconception.
People Overestimate Cup Sizes
Research shows that people are generally bad at estimating volumes and container sizes accurately. People tend to overguess cup sizes, assuming containers hold more liquid than they truly do.
This general tendency to overestimate cup capacity means many partygoers just assume their red Solo cup holds more than 16 oz. When pouring into a Solo cup, many people guess it holds 18-20 oz, furthering the myth.
Solo Cup History
The Solo Cup Company was founded in 1936 by Leo Hulseman after purchasing the existing Paper Container Manufacturing Company. Initially, the company produced cone drinking cups and pleated paper cups.
In the 1940s, Solo developed early single-use paper cups that could hold hot and cold liquids. Their Cups became popular with troops during World War II. In the 1950s, Solo created their patented Traveler lid, allowing cups to be carried without spillage.
Their famous multi-colored plastic party cups emerged in the late 1970s and quickly became a hit. They advertised them as “Fun Guaranteed” cups and the rest is history. Solo remains one of the largest foodservice packaging manufacturers globally, though they have faced financial troubles and changes in ownership in the 21st century.
Solo Cup Sizes Over Time
Here is a quick overview of how standard Solo party cup sizes have changed over the decades:
| Decade | Solo Party Cup Size |
|---|---|
| 1940s | 8 oz |
| 1950s | 10 oz |
| 1960s | 12 oz |
| 1970s | 16 oz |
| 1980s | 16 oz (Marketed as 18oz) |
| 1990s | 16 oz |
| 2000s | 16 oz |
| 2010s | 16 oz |
As you can see, through the 70s, 80s, 90s, and today, the standard Solo party cup size has remained 16 fluid ounces, regardless of any marketing gimmicks labeling them as 18 oz.
Solo Cup Use in Pop Culture
With their bright colors and affordability, Solo party cups have become ingrained in American culture, especially in pop culture depictions of college parties and wild youth. Solo cups are now a ubiquitous symbol for casual drinking games and letting loose.
Solo cups’ pop culture status grew through movies like Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which featured characters drinking from blue Solo cups at a college party. The hit comedy film Old School also showed characters frequently drinking from red Solo cups at parties.
On television, series like The O.C., Gilmore Girls, Shameless, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia featured prominent Solo cup usage during drinking scenes. Reality TV shows like Jersey Shore also popularized Solo cups through their constant presence at wild house parties.
Beyond TV and film, Solo cups have been referenced frequently in music. Country songs like “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith pay direct tribute to America’s love of Solo party cups.
Solo Cup Design
Solo party cups’ simple, effective design is part of why they have become a standard American party staple. The cups are created from lightweight polystyrene, allowing them to be cheaply mass produced.
Their cone shape, tilted walls, and flat bottoms allow the cups to be easily stacked and transported. The lips are rolled for comfortable and spill-free drinking. The Solo Traveler lid perfectly complements the cup design.
Solo Cups are available from 5oz to 22oz sizes. However, their 16 oz red cup remains their signature model, just the right size for a standard beer, mixed drink, or soda.
The ribbing on Solo cups adds extra grip and insulation. Their fun, vibrant colors and simplicity give the cups an endearing, playful quality as well.
Environmental Impact
While Solo cups’ cheap price and disposeability has fueled their popularity, some criticize them for their negative environmental impact as a single-use plastic product.
Billions of Solo cups are discarded in landfills each year in the United States alone. Though they are recyclable, most Solo cups end up in the trash after events. Some criticize this as wasteful and damaging to the environment.
However, Solo Cup Company argues they are making efforts to be more eco-friendly. They say their cups take up minimal space in landfills and claim an increasing percentage of their materials come from renewable resources.
Alternatives to Solo Cups
For environmentally conscious consumers, there are some alternatives to standard plastic Solo party cups:
- Reusable plastic cups – More durable reusable plastic cups can be used and washed repeatedly.
- Paper cups – Compostable paper cups breakdown more quickly than plastic.
- Bioplastic cups – New bioplastic cups made from plants are compostable.
- Mason jars – Reusable mason jars are a trendy, earth-friendly option.
- Hydroflasks – Insulated reusable Hydroflask-type cups are perfect for parties.
While Solo cups are ingrained in America’s cultural consciousness, more sustainable cup options exist for the future.
Conclusion
So are traditional Solo party cups 16 or 18 oz? After examining Solo’s product line, advertising history, and influence in pop culture, the facts show that their standard sized red plastic cup holds 16 fluid ounces, not 18 ounces.
Solo created confusion by marketing their 16 oz cup as an 18 oz cup in ads during the 1970s and 80s. They also produce cups in other sizes from 2 oz to 22 oz, adding to the uncertainty around their classic party cup’s capacity.
However, despite misleading marketing campaigns in the past, Solo’s signature party cup has always held 16 oz. Solo’s 16 oz size remains their most popular model and the industry standard for casual drinking cups.
So next time you are at a party or BBQ, you can fill your Solo cup with confidence knowing it holds 16 ounces of liquid, not 18. Solo may have claimed those extra ounces in their advertising decades ago, but the proof is in the pudding – or rather, the beer, soda, and punch, that their classic party cups hold just 16 oz.
