Clear Plastic Cups: Which lid is the best fit?

By Mya L. Koch

Ladies and gentlemen, we’re rolling full-speed into summer. And with Covid concerns waning, we’re all getting together to enjoy the best that summer has to offer.

Think ballgames, picnics, celebrations, food trucks and restaurants offering summer fare and outdoor seating.

Now think about all of those cold drinks that will be part of all of those festivities. Clear plastic cups filled to the brim with iced tea, lemonade, fruity sorbet or something a little more adult. I mean, who hasn’t looked forward to that first summer brew?

Your patrons welcome those refreshing flavors. And they’ll carry them throughout the park or the party in your crystal clear cups – emblazoned with your eatery’s logo or your well-known brand.

You’ve thought of all of that. But you may still be wondering: Which lid works best for my clear plastic cold cup?

Finding the right lid for clear plastic cups is a snap

Probably the most important thing to remember is to select the appropriate lid for the cup size that you are offering. Finding out last minute that you ordered a case of lids that don’t fit the cups you have on hand could cause you to, well, flip your lid.

The fact is, a lid from one manufacturing plant may not fit a clear plastic cold cup made by another company. You simply have to feel and hear that “snap” to know your contents are safe inside.

Here at MrTakeOutBags.com, we try to eliminate the guesswork for you.

Make a match

When you select a clear plastic cold cup at MrTakeOutBags.com and click on it to get the details, just a scroll down will tell you what you need to know. Just below the description of the cup, you’ll see a title showing “related products.” It is here you’ll find the perfect lid for your cup.

We have them for all sorts of cups – and all sorts of uses. There are lids for drink cups, souffle cups, yogurt and parfait cups, too.

Just take care to select the right one. For example, the lid for a .75 oz and 1 oz. portion and condiment cup will not fit a 2 or 4 oz. souffle cup.

A compostable PLA dome lid with a hole slot for 9 to 24 ounce PLA cold drink cups won’t hold tight if you’re looking to cover an 8 oz. drink.

So be sure to do your research and read all of the easy-to-understand information that we have built into the site for you.

A topper for every treat

When you’re deciding what lid to use for your clear plastic cold cups, take into account who will be using them and what product you’re selling.

We have sipper lids that work great for an icy, cold drink – no straw needed. There are strawless lids for all types of beverages – spills don’t happen as often and your drinks won’t seep out through the straw slot.

And yes, we have flat lids with slots for straws, too, to serve your sips classic style.

Our dome lids are great for slushies and thicker products. Some come without a hole in the top, for yogurts, puddings and other thicker treats. This dome shape allows room for toppings like whipped cream and allows extra space for your beverage.

We even carry 2 oz parfait cup inserts, or 4 oz granola inserts that fit 12, 16, 20 or 24 oz. cups — perfect for yogurt with a crunch.

So go ahead, pour it on – we’ll make sure you have the perfect way to top it off.

Can I recycle clear plastic cups and lids?

The answer to that questions changes cup-to-cup and even location-to-location. Different cups are made from different types of plastic and different local recycling programs accept different plastics. Some of our cups are even compostable, so be sure to check the plastic type.

That little number in a triangle on the bottom of your cup will tell you what type of plastic it is – and you’ll have to see if your local program accepts that type.

Generally, our disposable plastic cups are #1 PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic (accepted by most U.S. recycling programs.)

This link from the U.S Environmental Protection Agency details some information regarding plastics recycling and what the different codes stand for.