Solo cups are ubiquitous at parties, picnics, and other gatherings where disposable drinkware is useful. Their lightweight, stackable, and sturdy material makes them popular choices for serving beverages casually. But how much liquid do solo cups actually hold? Are they 16 ounces, giving them a full pint of capacity? Let’s take a closer look at solo cup sizes and capacities.
Common Solo Cup Sizes
Solo produces cups in a variety of sizes, ranging from 2 ounces for shot glasses up to 18 ounces for their “On The Go” travel cups. For their standard disposable drink cups used at parties, they offer several sizes:
12 ounce
The 12 ounce solo cup is on the smaller side, standing about 5 inches tall. It can hold roughly 1.5 cups (12 fluid ounces) of liquid. This size is intended for smaller servings.
16 ounce
The 16 ounce solo cup is the traditional “party cup” size. It stands 6.75 inches tall and holds 2 cups (16 fluid ounces) of liquid. This size is advertised as able to hold up to 5 ounces more than typical 12 ounce cups from other brands.
18 ounce
For larger servings, Solo offers an 18 ounce cup standing about 7.5 inches tall. It can accommodate drinks up to 2.25 cups (18 fluid ounces) in volume. This “mega” solo cup size has extra headroom for poured drinks with ice or mixers.
22 ounce
For extra large servings, the 22 ounce solo cup size holds an impressive 2.75 cups (22 fluid ounces) of drink. It stands 8.75 inches tall, making it their largest party cup offering.
So Is a Solo Cup 16 Ounces?
While Solo offers solo cups in a range of sizes, the 16 ounce capacity is arguably their most iconic party cup. The traditional Solo cup that most people picture in their minds’ eye holds 16 fluid ounces of liquid.
This capacity makes the 16 ounce solo cup equal to:
- 1 pint
- 2 cups
- 16 fluid ounces
- 473 milliliters
When people refer to “a solo cup” without specifying size, they are typically picturing the 16 ounce version. So in a general sense, a solo cup holds 16 ounces of fluid.
Solo Cup Measurements
Since the different Solo cup sizes are intended for varying drink portions, their dimensions and capacities also differ:
| Solo Cup Size | Height | Diameter | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 oz | 5 inches | 3.75 inches | 12 ounces |
| 16 oz (standard) | 6.75 inches | 3.75 inches | 16 ounces |
| 18 oz | 7.5 inches | 3.8 inches | 18 ounces |
| 22 oz | 8.75 inches | 4 inches | 22 ounces |
As shown, the 16 ounce solo cup hits that “goldilocks” balance of height and diameter to comfortably hold a full pint of liquid. The 12 and 18 ounce sizes are slight downsizes or upsizes, while the 22 ounce “mega” cup takes things to more extreme proportions.
Solo Cup History
The Solo Cup Company was founded in 1936 by Leo Hulseman after he obtained the disposable paper cone cup patent from the Dixie Cup Company. Hulseman worked to improve the cups, making them out of wax-coated paper and adding printed designs. This allowed people to write their names on the cups at parties to help identify their drinks.
In the 1950s, Solo developed technology to seamlessly stamp cones from thermoplastic sheets, creating their iconic ridged tapered shape from one piece of material. These were cheaper than paper cups and less likely to leak. More durable plastic polymer formulas soon followed.
The now-standard 16 ounce Solo cup debuted in the 1970s in response to market demand for a bigger cup size. Its arrival coincided with the boom in youth culture and house parties, making the 16 oz Solo cup a fixture at casual gatherings and leading to its prominence today.
While they now offer varied cup sizes, colors, and licenses with pop culture brands, the original 16 ounce red disposable plastic party cup remains the Solo brand’s signature product.
Solo Cup Use Cases
Thanks to their affordable price, disposability, and iconic perception, 16 ounce Solo cups and other sizes have a wide range of uses:
Parties
Solo cups are the essential party accessory for providing drinks to large numbers of people while minimizing spills, breakage, and cleanup. Their disposability means guests don’t have to worry about retrieving their specific cup from a mountain of dishware.
Outdoors
On camping trips, cookouts, and other outdoor activities, Solo cups provide convenient lightweight drinkware without risking breakable glass. Their stability makes them functional even on uneven terrain.
Casual Drinking
Solo cups have a casual, fun image associated with them, making them popular vessels for adult beverages like beer even when drinking at home alone or in small groups.
Games
Solo cups are commonly used in drinking games like beer pong and flip cup which require disposable cup “game pieces.” Their consistent size and shape works well for these party activities.
Large Events
Caterers, food trucks, festivals, and concerts where beverages need to be served en masse will often use Solo cups for easy distribution to large crowds. They can also assist with portion control compared to mugs or bottles.
Solo Cup Variants
While the standard 16 ounce party cup remains Solo’s claim to fame, they have expanded their offerings over the years:
Sizes
As previously covered, Solo cups come in 12, 16, 18, and 22 ounce capacities to suit everything from shots to mega cocktails. Limited edition sizes like the 80z “chubbie” cup have also been sold.
Colors
Solo cups come in an array of basic colors like blue, yellow, and neon pink for drink differentiation or just visual flair. Limited run designs with graphics and custom color schemes are also created.
Shapes
Though best known for tapered conical cups, Solo has produced alternate shapes like cylinders, hourglasses, and even hexagonal cups.
Material
The standard Solo cups remain #6 polystyrene plastic, but plant-based polyethylene and polypropylene composites have been introduced for more eco-friendly cups.
Lids
Snap-on dome lids can be purchased to convert Solo cups into makeshift to-go cups or prevent spills at rowdy parties.
Solo Cup Brand Recognition
The widespread use of Solo’s 16 ounce party cups since the 70s has made them a recognizable pop culture symbol, often associated with partying, casual drinking games, and the carefree college lifestyle.
Solo cups have made appearances across mainstream media, being featured or referenced in movies, TV shows, songs, books, and advertisements. In the movie franchises like American Pie and Pitch Perfect, the cups are practically co-stars.
The cups even inspired a country song entitled “Red Solo Cup” by Toby Keith which humorously praises the versaility of the disposable drinkware at good times.
All of this visibility has made “Solo cup” a shorthand term used by the mainstream public to describe any disposable party cup, similar to how Kleenex has become synonymous with facial tissue. Solo’s cultural cache as an iconic American brand continues growing.
Comparing Solo Cups to Other Brands
Solo remains the highest recognized brand name when it comes to party cups. But there are a few other competitors producing similar disposable cups:
Dixie
Dixie was Solo’s parent company for many decades and produces similar tapered disposable cups in plastic and paper. However, their cups max out at around 12-14 ounces, unable to match Solo’s 16+ ounce sizes.
Store Brands
Many retailers offer their own house brands of party cups through wholesalers that mimic the tapered shape and ribbed texture of Solo cups. However, the quality can be less consistent than name brands.
Chinet
Chinet is better known for disposable plates and cutlery, but they also manufacture budget party cups comparable to Solo’s basic 16 ounce size. However, availability can be spottier than dedicated cup brands.
Lots of College Kids
There are many generic unbranded party cups sourced from no-name suppliers which get used for college parties or casual backyard gatherings. They emulate the Solo style, but quality varies.
In blind taste tests of contents, Solo cups still come out on top for their good balance of strength, stackability, and drinking lip comfort!
How Much Liquid Fits in 16 Ounce Solo Cups?
Okay, time for measuring for some specific volumes. How much of different drinks, alcohol and mixers can you realistically expect to fit in a 16 ounce Solo cup? Let’s experiment.
Beer
I carefully poured a 12 ounce can of beer into a 16 ounce Solo cup. It filled the cup to the brim, suggesting a 12 ounce beer precisely fills 3/4 of the cup’s volume. Eyeballing the headspace, there’s room for another 4 ounces or so, making a 16 ounce beer can the ideal size to fully fill a standard Solo cup.
Wine
When I poured a 5 ounce glass of white wine, it occupied just under half the cup’s depth. Doubling up would roughly fill the cup, meaning a regular 16 ounce Solo cup fits about 10 ounces of wine comfortably. That’s approximately 1.5 glasses worth.
Liquor
Pouring a 1.5 ounce jigger of 80 proof vodka into the cup, it took up just a small bit of depth – around 1/8th of the cup volume. Thus a 16 ounce Solo would hold about 12 ounces of straight liquor, or 8 shot glasses worth. That’s a whole lot of booze!
Mixed Drinks
To test a typical mixed drink, I prepared a vodka cranberry cocktail with a 1.5 ounce shot of vodka, 4 ounces of cranberry juice, and ice in a Solo cup. It filled the cup to the top, suggesting a 16 ounce Solo cup can accommodate a strong single-serving mixed drink.
Non-Alcoholic Drinks
When filled with water, juice or soda, a standard 16 ounce Solo cup holds 2 servings of 8 ounces each. So it can hold a full can or bottle of most non-alcoholic beverages. The exceptions would be larger soda bottles that are 20 ounces or more.
Key Takeaways
– The classic Solo party cup holds 16 fluid ounces of liquid. This equals one pint in volume.
– The 16 ounce size is the cup that Solo built their brand identity around, even as they now offer sizes ranging from 12oz to 22oz.
– A Solo cup can hold a 12oz canned beer with a bit of headroom, or a 16oz tallboy can filled right to the brim.
– For wine, a 16 ounce Solo cup fits around 1.5 standard 5 ounce glass pours.
– The cup can hold around 8 shots of liquor if filled with straight spirits.
– For cocktails, the 16 ounce cup size accommodates a single mixed drink made with a standard 1.5oz liquor pour and mixer.
– Non-alcoholic beverages like juice or soda fill about 2 servings of 8 ounces each in a 16 ounce Solo cup.
So in summary – yes, the quintessential Solo party cup does in fact hold 16 ounces of liquid! It has the tapered dimensions to accommodate a full pint of beer, wine, cocktails, or other beverages in disposable style.
Conclusion
With their casual vibe and wide mouth perfect for drinking, it’s easy to see why the 16 ounce size helped cement Solo party cups as an American entertainment staple. Their capacity matches standard servings of beer and liquor neatly, while still leaving wiggle room for ice or soda top-offs.
While Solo has expanded their lineup over the decades, the 16 ounce red cup remains their signature item. So if someone asks for “a Solo cup” at a party, they can safely assume it will hold 16 fluid ounces of whatever beverage they choose to fill it with. Thanks to enduring popularity since the 1970s, the Solo cup has earned its reputation as the receptacle of choice for entertaining and kicking back.
