Buying guide
Iced drink cup sizes: how much drink fits after the ice
Updated
Short answer
Ice takes about a third to a half of an iced drink cup. So a 16 oz cup holds about 8 to 11 oz of drink, and a 20 oz cup about 10 to 13 oz. For iced coffee at home, 16 or 20 oz is the size most people want. Oojami's clear cups with sip lids come in 12, 16, 20 and 24 oz, 100 cups and 100 lids per pack.
Coffee shops sell iced drinks in four common sizes: 12, 16, 20 and 24 oz. The size on the cup is what it holds to the brim. With ice in it, you get much less drink.
How much drink fits after the ice
Our assumption: ice takes about one third to one half of the cup. A cup packed full of ice is near one half. A cup with a light scoop of ice is near one third. The drink is what is left.
| Cup | Holds | Drink left after ice | Suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12 oz | 355 ml | About 6 to 8 oz | A small iced coffee, iced tea or juice. A single shot latte. |
| 16 oz | 473 ml | About 8 to 11 oz | A regular iced coffee or iced latte. The usual "medium". |
| 20 oz | 591 ml | About 10 to 13 oz | A large iced coffee, or a drink with extra milk or cold foam. |
| 24 oz | 710 ml | About 12 to 16 oz | A very large drink, or a thick drink you drink with a straw. |
So a 20 oz cup full of ice holds about 10 to 13 oz of drink. If you want a full 12 oz of coffee and milk over ice, choose the 20 or 24 oz cup.
How much ice for iced coffee
Fill the cup about one third to one half with ice. Then pour the coffee, and add milk last. Hot coffee poured on ice melts some of it, so cool the coffee first, or use more ice. Cold brew is already cold, so less ice is enough.
12 oz or 16 oz
A 12 oz cup is enough for a small iced coffee with a little ice: about 6 to 8 oz of drink. It is also a good size for juice, lemonade, iced tea and water, and for guests who want a short drink. Choose 16 oz when you add milk, or when people drink one large coffee in the morning.
16 oz or 20 oz
Both are good for iced coffee. 16 oz is the standard size at many coffee shops, and it is the safe choice if you buy one size. Choose 20 oz if you like a lot of ice, a lot of milk, or a drink that lasts longer. For an iced latte with two shots and milk, 16 oz is enough; with cold foam on top, 20 oz gives the extra room.
20 oz or 24 oz
Choose 24 oz only if you want a very large drink. Is 24 oz too big for iced coffee? For one regular coffee, yes: much of the cup is ice. It is a good size for a large cold brew you drink over an hour, or a thick drink. Our 24 oz cup has a wide 4 1/8 in opening that takes a straw, so you can sip from the lid or take the lid off and use a straw.
Iced lattes
An iced latte is espresso, milk and ice. A 16 oz cup fits two shots, milk and ice. Clear cups show the layers of milk and coffee. A sip lid lets you drink without a straw.
Cold brew
Cold brew is strong and cold, so you need less ice. A 16 oz cup holds a full serving. If you dilute concentrate with water or milk, use a 20 oz cup. Clear cups with lids also work to keep a serving ready in the fridge.
Our cups
Every size of Oojami's cups is clear PET with a snap-on strawless sip lid, 100 cups and 100 lids per pack. The cups are for cold drinks only: PET softens with heat.
| If you want | Buy |
|---|---|
| Small drinks, juice, short pours | 12 oz |
| One size for iced coffee | 16 oz |
| Large iced coffee, extra milk | 20 oz |
| The largest drink, or a straw | 24 oz |
For the heights and widths of each size, see cup dimensions by size.