A 28 ounce (oz) cup is a common large cup size used for drinking beverages. But what exactly does 28 oz look like? How much liquid can fit in a 28 oz cup? Here is a quick overview of the size and capacity of a 28 oz cup.
Quick Facts on 28 oz Cup Size
- 28 fluid ounces (fl oz) is equal to 840 milliliters (mL)
- 1 cup is equal to 8 fl oz or 240 mL
- So a 28 oz cup holds about 3.5 cups of liquid
- A 28 oz cup is often used for large cold beverages like sodas, juices, lemonade, etc
- Some common examples of 28 oz cup sizes are the Mega Cup at movie theaters and the large Slurpee cup at 7-Eleven
As you can see, a 28 oz cup holds quite a lot of liquid! In the following sections, we’ll go into more details on the size and capacity of these extra large drink cups.
Ounces and Milliliters
When looking at cup sizes, there are two main units of measurement to consider:
- Ounces (oz): This is a measurement of volume typically used in the United States. 1 fluid ounce (fl oz) is equal to 29.57 milliliters.
- Milliliters (mL): This metric unit is often used outside of the US to measure volume. There are about 1.04 ounces in 30 mL.
So in metric units, a 28 oz cup holds 840 mL of liquid. To put this in perspective:
- A 12 oz can of soda is about 355 mL
- A 20 oz bottle of soda is about 591 mL
- A 1 liter bottle is about 33.8 oz or 1,000 mL
As you can see, at 840 mL or 28 oz, a large drink cup holds over 2.5 times as much as a 12 oz can of soda!
Cup Equivalents
Another way to conceptualize the size of a 28 oz cup is to compare it to standard cup measurements used in cooking:
- 1 cup = 8 fluid ounces
- 2 cups = 16 fluid ounces
- 4 cups = 32 fluid ounces
A 28 oz cup is 3.5 standard cup sizes:
- 28 oz / 8 oz per cup = 3.5 cups
So if you’re more familiar with cup measurements from recipes, a 28 oz drink contains over 3 full cups worth of liquid! That’s a lot of soda, juice, or other beverage.
Common 28 oz Cup Examples
Some of the most common examples of 28 oz cup sizes include:
Movie Theater Drink Cups
- Mega cups at Regal and AMC theaters
- Extra Large drinks at Cinemark theaters
Movie theater drink sizes have exploded over the past decades. What used to be a 16 oz “large” is now a 28-32 oz mega cup standard. A 28 oz movie theater drink is certainly enough for even the thirstiest of movie goers!
Convenience Store Big Gulps
- 7-Eleven Big Gulp – 30 oz
- Circle K Polar Pop – 32 oz
- Ampm Big Gulp – 32 oz
Convenience store chain gas stations feature Big Gulp cups from about 28-32 oz. The original 7-Eleven Big Gulp is 30 oz, very close to the 28 oz size.
Fast Food Large Sizes
- McDonald’s Large – 30 oz
- Burger King Large – 30 oz
- Wendy’s Large – 30 oz
Large fast food soft drink cups are typically around 30 oz now, just over the 28 oz size. So a 28 oz drink would be slightly smaller than a large fast food soda.
Plastic and Paper Cups
You can also find 28 oz plastic and paper cups in bulk for events, parties, or food service:
- Plastic party cups – 27-28 oz sizes
- Paper cold cups – 28-32 oz sizes
If you’re buying cups in bulk for a big event, look for the 27-28 oz size for the equivalent of a 28 oz reusable cup.
Dimensions of a 28 oz Cup
In addition to volume, the dimensions of a 28 oz cup are also larger than a typical 16 oz fast food cup:
| Cup Size | Height | Top Diameter | Bottom Diameter |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 oz | 5.7 in | 3.2 in | 2.4 in |
| 28 oz | 7.5 in | 3.8 in | 3.1 in |
As you can see, the 28 oz cup is almost 2 inches taller than the 16 oz size. It also has a wider top and bottom diameter to hold all that additional liquid. The exact dimensions can vary by brand, but you can expect a 28 oz cup to be significantly larger in size than smaller 16-20 oz options.
Total Liquid Volume
So just how much liquid can you pour into a 28 oz cup? Here is the total volume:
- 28 fluid ounces
- 840 milliliters
- 3.5 cups
- 84 tablespoons (Tbs)
- 12.6 standard 0.5 cups
- 1.1 liters
That’s over a quarter gallon of liquid that can fit in a 28 oz drink cup! No wonder it’s so popular for extra large cold beverages. The generous capacity means you may need to stop for refills less often.
How Much Can You Drink from a 28 oz Cup?
Now that you know the total volume of a 28 oz cup, how much liquid can you actually drink from it in one sitting? Here are some estimates:
- 28 oz soda = 336 grams (g) of sugar
- 28 oz juice = 336 g of sugar
- 28 oz sweet tea = 224 g of sugar
- 28 oz lemonade = 112 g of sugar
- 28 oz water = 0 g of sugar
The American Heart Association recommends no more than 25-37 grams of added sugar per day for adult men and women. As you can see, a 28 oz sweet drink far exceeds the daily recommended sugar!
Most nutrition experts recommend limiting yourself to no more than 16 oz of a sugary beverage at a time. So you may want to share a 28 oz drink with 1-2 friends or family members rather than trying to finish it yourself.
Should You Drink 28 oz in One Sitting?
Drinking 28 oz of any beverage in one sitting is a lot of fluid for your body to process at once. Here are some downsides to consuming a 28 oz drink by yourself:
- Sugar crash – High sugar drinks can cause an energy crash later
- Weight gain – Extra calories from sugar can lead to obesity
- Tooth decay – Sugar feeds cavity-causing bacteria
- Bloating – Too much fluid at once may cause GI discomfort
- Frequent urination – Drinking 28 oz quickly will make you pee more
- Overhydration – Yes, it is possible to drink too much water!
Moderation is key when it comes to mega-sized beverages. Try nursing a 28 oz drink for 1-2 hours by taking small sips. Or share it with friends. Avoid guzzling it down too quickly.
Tips for Drinking From Large Cups
Here are some tips for how to responsibly enjoy a 28 oz or larger drink:
- Share it – Split it with 1-2 other people
- Add extra ice – Helps water it down as it melts
- Get a non-sugary beverage – Choose water, unsweetened tea, black coffee
- Use a straw – Helps pace your drinking
- Drink slowly – Sip, don’t guzzle!
- Reuse the cup – Refill with water to get your money’s worth
- Recycle the cup – Save it from the landfill
The bigger the cup, the more mindful you should be about how much you actually consume from it in one sitting. Sipping slow and sharing the drink are smart ways to enjoy an extra large beverage.
Fun Facts About 28 oz Drink Cups
Here are some interesting fun facts about mega-sized 28+ oz drink cups:
- The human stomach can only hold about 1 liter of fluid on average.
- The first Big Gulp cups held 28 oz when introduced in 1976.
- It would take over 1 hour of jogging to burn off a 28 oz soda.
- The largest soda cup that 7-Eleven sells today is a Double Gulp, which is 64 oz!
- The average bathroom cup holds 5-10 oz of liquid.
- It takes 19 bathroom cups to equal a 28 oz drink cup.
So while 28 oz may seem like a normal large drink these days, it’s a massive amount of fluid compared to the human stomach or a typical cup size. Something to keep in mind the next time you order a mega-sized beverage!
Conclusion
A 28 oz drink cup can hold over 3 cups worth of liquid. That’s a lot compared to a standard 12-16 oz fast food soda! While giant cup sizes have become more common, it’s probably best not to consume all 28 oz yourself in one sitting. Instead, share the drink, add extra ice, sip slowly, or repurpose the cup. Be mindful of the large capacity and your health. But with some reasonable precautions, you can still enjoy the convenience of a 28 oz cup!