Food Cups

Ice Cream Paper Cups

An ice cream cup spends its working life going from a cold cabinet into a warm hand, and condensation forms almost immediately.

That moisture attacks the printed outside rather than the lined inside, which is the opposite of how most cups are specified.

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Cut to your own product, not a stock size
Board, print and finish confirmed in writing
Delivered across the UK on national carriers

Short enquiry

Quote for This Product

Tell us the quantity and any date you are working to. We reply with the board, print and finish, plus the minimum order quantity and lead time.

Design Your Own

Design Your Ice Cream Paper Cups

Pick a colour, put your name on it, and see how the idea reads before you ask anyone for a price. It is a sketch rather than a manufacturing proof — the real shape is cut from the product you already serve.

Sleeve colour

Name on the pack

Finish

Show a repeating pattern

A printed sleeve brands a plain cup you already buy, which is why a single site usually reaches for one before it reaches for a printed cup.

Carry this into the full designer

The full page adds the size, board, print and quantity, then sends the whole specification over in one go. Nothing is committed to at any point.

The Outside Is What Needs Protecting

A drink cup is lined inside because the liquid is inside. An ice cream cup is dry inside and wet outside within a minute of leaving the freezer.

A coated or laminated outer face keeps the print sharp and stops the board going soft under a customer's grip.

Parlours ordering cups almost always order cone sleeves for the same customers alongside them.

Sizing Scoop Cups

Size by scoop count rather than by fluid volume — that is how customers order.
Allow height for the scoop to stand proud, which is how it is served.
Check the cup against your scoop size; a small cup makes a standard scoop look forced in.
A wider cup shows the flavours better than a tall narrow one.

Two sizes — a single and a double — cover most scoop counters.

Ordering, Artwork and Delivery

Getting a Quote

Tell us the volume you pour and whether you need matching lids. We reply with a written specification, the minimum order quantity and the lead time for your job.

Artwork

Cup blanks are a curved fan, so we supply a template to design on. Full file requirements are set out in our artwork guidelines.

Turnaround

Lead times depend on the print method, run length and press schedule, so we confirm yours on the quote rather than publishing a single figure.

Delivery in the UK

Orders are dispatched on national carriers to any UK address. Seedelivery information for how dates are given.

Ice Cream Paper Cups: Common Questions

Why does our printed ice cream cup look tired by the end of the day?

Condensation on the outside, almost always. A coated or laminated outer face fixes it; an uncoated print softens and marks within minutes of leaving a cabinet.

Should ice cream cups be sized by volume or by scoops?

By scoops, because that is how the product is sold and portioned. A stated fluid volume tells you very little about whether two scoops will sit in it properly.

Why does the outside matter more than the inside?

Because the cup is dry inside and wet outside within a minute of leaving a freezer. Condensation attacks the print, not the lining.

Should we size by scoops or volume?

By scoops, because that is how the product is sold. A stated fluid volume says little about whether two scoops sit properly.

How many sizes do we need?

A single and a double covers most scoop counters. A third size is usually the one that sits unused.

Will the print survive a cabinet?

With a coated or laminated outer face, yes. Uncoated print softens and marks within minutes of leaving the cold.

Do we need lids?

Only if portions travel or are pre-filled. For scoop-to-order service, an open cup is quicker and cheaper.

Can we match these to cone sleeves?

Yes, and running both in one order keeps the colour consistent, which shows when the two sit together on a counter.

Will a wide cup show flavours better?

Noticeably. A wider, shallower cup displays the scoop where a tall narrow one hides it below the rim.

Do these suit gelato as well?

Yes, though gelato is usually served in a wider, shallower cup than hard scoop ice cream. Tell us which you serve.

Prefer to Talk It Through?

Sizing questions are usually quicker on the phone, especially if you have the product in front of you.

+44 7458 651107 info@conesleeves.co.uk