A 16.9 oz water bottle typically measures around 8 to 10 inches in length. The exact length can vary slightly depending on the brand and specific style of the bottle. But most standard 16.9 oz bottles that are meant to fit in car cup holders or water bottle holders on backpacks and gym bags measure between 8 and 10 inches long.
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that a standard 16.9 oz water bottle is usually around 8 to 10 inches long. Actual lengths vary by brand and style.
Typical Dimensions of 16.9 oz Water Bottles
Some common dimensions for 16.9 oz water bottles from major brands include:
- Aquafina: 8.9 inches tall, 2.8 inches diameter at widest point
- Dasani: 9.9 inches tall, 2.8 inches diameter
- Nalgene: 8.25 inches tall, 2.75 inch diameter
- CamelBak: 10 inches tall, 2.75 inch diameter
- Contigo: 9.65 inches tall, 2.5 inch diameter
As you can see, while there is some variation, most major brands produce their 16.9 oz water bottles in lengths ranging from 8 to 10 inches tall. The most common lengths seem to be between 9 and 9.5 inches.
Factors Affecting Water Bottle Length
There are a few key factors that impact the length of a 16.9 oz water bottle:
- Shape – Bottles come in different shapes like cylinders, contoured shapes, and tapered shapes. Cylinders are typically the shortest.
- Mouth Type – Bottles with narrow mouth openings are often shorter than those with wider mouths.
- Material – Bottles made from firm, inflexible materials like glass and hard plastic are generally shorter than collapsible bottles.
- Brand Standards – Each brand designs bottles to meet certain size parameters. So standard bottle lengths tend to vary slightly between brands.
But most brands design their 16.9 oz bottles to fit comfortably in one hand and to fit into car and backpack holders. So they converge around that optimal 8 to 10 inch length.
Typical Uses for 16.9 oz Bottles
16.9 oz water bottles are popular because they are a convenient size for many uses:
- Fit in most car cup holders and water bottle holders on backpacks and gym bags
- Provide approximately 2 servings of water (8 oz per serving)
- Fit in standard bicycle water bottle cages
- Easily transportable for hiking, travel, sports, etc.
- Appropriate size and weight for one handed drinking while on the go
Their short length makes them easy to carry, drink from, and transport while still holding a decent volume of water.
Comparisons With Other Common Bottle Sizes
Here’s how the 16.9 oz water bottle compares in typical length against other common bottle sizes:
| Bottle Size | Typical Length |
|---|---|
| 12 oz | 6.5 – 7.5 inches |
| 16.9 oz | 8 – 10 inches |
| 20 oz | 10 – 12 inches |
| 24 oz | 10 – 12 inches |
| 32 oz | 12 – 14 inches |
As you can see, the 16.9 oz bottle hits a nice sweet spot between being easy to handle and transport while still providing a decent amount of fluid capacity.
Benefits of the Typical 16.9 oz Bottle Length
Some of the benefits that the standard 8 to 10 inch length provides for 16.9 oz bottles include:
- Fits comfortably in hand for carrying and one handed drinking
- Easy to drink from while walking, driving, biking, etc.
- Fits in cup holders, water bottle cages, backpack holders, etc.
- Doesn’t take up excessive space in bags or packs
- Provides good balance between capacity and portability
- Full bottle weighs approximately 1 lb, easy to carry weight
- Enough capacity for 1-2 servings of water
The short length makes the bottles very easy to drink from and transport. While the 16.9 oz capacity holds a useful amount of water for hydration on the go.
Typical Materials Used
16.9 oz water bottles are commonly made from:
- Plastic – Durable, lightweight and economical. PET and Tritan plastics are common.
- Stainless Steel – Good insulation, durable,but heavier.
- Glass – Usually narrow neck. Provides pure taste but more fragile.
- Aluminum – Lightweight, stylish, but can impact taste.
- BPA-Free Plastics – Preferred for health, but more expensive.
Plastic is by far the most common material. But stainless steel and glass bottles have become more popular for their appearance and purity.
Factors That Could Increase Length
While most 16.9 oz bottles keep to that optimal 8-10 inch length, some circumstances could lead to an increased length:
- An extra wide mouth diameter would require a longer bottle to hold 16.9 oz.
- An unusual tapered or contoured shape may add length.
- A rigid, inflexible material like glass requires a longer bottle.
- An insulated design with double wall requires more space.
- A bottle with protective base or sleeves would be longer.
- Custom bottle sizes for specific purposes may skew longer.
But these would be exceptions. Most standard 16.9 oz bottles keep to the lengths people expect – right around 8 to 10 inches tall.
Typical Labeling/Markings
Most 16.9 oz water bottles have labeling, logos, markings, or measurements including:
- Fluid ounce capacity labeled, usually near the top.
- Volume markings etched into the sides.
- Branding/logos printed on one or more sides.
- “Recycle” symbol on the bottom.
- Material type (PET, Tritan, etc) printed on the bottom.
- Warning messages molded into plastic bottles.
- Date markings and serial numbers imprinted.
So you can usually identify key details like fluid volume, materials, and brand just by looking at the bottle.
Local Availability in Stores
16.9 oz water bottles are widely available at most grocery stores, supermarkets, convenience stores, sporting goods stores, and online retailers.
Some of the most common places to find them include:
- Grocery store beverage aisles
- Gas station convenience stores and mini-marts
- Vending machines
- Pharmacies and drug stores
- Big box stores like Target and Walmart
- Sporting goods stores
- Outdoor recreation stores
- Online retailers like Amazon
Their popularity and standard size makes them easy to find both in-store locally and online.
Global Availability
16.9 oz water bottles are popular globally, with worldwide availability including:
- USA and Canada
- UK and Europe
- Australia
- Asia – Japan, China, India, etc.
- Middle East
- Latin America
- Africa
International brands like Coca-Cola’s Dasani and PepsiCo’s Aquafina sell 16.9 oz bottles globally. And most regions have their own local brands producing the same size.
The portability, ergonomics, and capacity of the size seem to have universal appeal worldwide.
Comparable Sizes in Other Measurement Systems
While 16.9 oz is the standard size for water bottles in the US and Canada, some other regions use different measurement systems:
- In Europe, a comparable size is the 500 ml bottle.
- In Australia and New Zealand, 600 ml is closest to 16.9 oz.
- In Japan, the 500 ml PET bottle size is widely used.
- In Mexico and Central America, the equivalent standard size is 600 ml.
So while exact volumes vary slightly due to converting between US customary units and metric units, the same optimal size range of about 8-10 inches length is common globally.
Volume and Dimensions of Other Common Bottle Types
For comparison, here are the typical volumes and dimensions for some other common reusable water bottle types:
| Bottle Type | Volume | Height | Width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Foldable silicone bottles | 12-20 oz | 7-9 inches | 2-3 inches |
| Glass bottles | 16-32 oz | 8-12 inches | 2-3 inches |
| Insulated stainless steel | 18-40 oz | 7-12 inches | 2.5-3.5 inches |
| Bike water bottles | 16-28 oz | 6-9 inches | 2-3 inches |
| Collapsible bottles | 12-24 oz | 7-10 inches | 2-3 inches |
While volumes and dimensions vary across bottle types, the standard 16.9 oz reusable plastic bottle remains among the most compact and portable choices.
Conclusion
In summary, a typical 16.9 oz water bottle measures around 8-10 inches in height. This compact length makes the size very portable and convenient for use on the go. The capacity provides 1-2 servings of water, striking a useful balance between size and drinkability. Standard PET plastic bottles are lightweight, inexpensive, and widely available from major brands. But stainless steel and glass have become popular alternatives despite costing more. The ubiquity of the 16.9 oz water bottle size demonstrates its versatility and popularity worldwide as an ideal size for portable hydration needs.
