Tumbler Size for Coffee: What’s the Best Travel Mug Size?
Coffee tumblers, also known as travel mugs or to-go coffee mugs, come in a wide range of sizes, usually ranging from 12oz on the smaller end up to 32oz or even 42oz for the super coffee drinkers. With so many options, it can get confusing trying to pick the perfect coffee tumbler size for your needs. Should you go smaller or bigger? Does size even really matter when it comes to travel mugs?
In this guide, I’ll break down the typical coffee tumbler sizes, explain how to choose the right size based on your coffee drinking habits—it matters more than you probably think!—and discuss other important factors beyond size to consider when shopping for the best travel mug. Let’s dive in!
What’s the Standard Tumbler Size/To-Go Coffee Mug Size?
The standard, most popular tumbler size for taking coffee on the go is 16oz. The typical range of sizes you’ll see is between 12oz on the small end, up to 22oz on the larger end.
The most common to-go coffee mug sizes are as follows:
- 12oz
- 14oz
- 16oz
- 18oz
- 20oz
- 22oz
So if you’re looking for an average, standard sized travel mug, go for something in the 16 to 20oz range. That will suit most people’s coffee drinking needs on the go.
Why Does Tumbler Size Matter for Coffee?
Tumbler size is actually more important than you might think when it comes to keeping your coffee hot and delicious until you’re ready to drink it. The size you choose can make a big difference, so it’s important to pick one that matches your coffee drinking habits.
A big factor is that typical coffee cup sizes are around 8oz. So if you drink two cups of coffee, you’d want at least a 16oz tumbler that can hold that full 16oz of coffee. If you sometimes only drink 1 cup on the go—maybe during a half day at work—then a smaller 12oz tumbler would suit you better so you don’t have a bunch of extra space above your coffee. Why does that matter, you ask? Good question.
The more headspace you have above your coffee, the faster your coffee will lose heat. So, if you fill a 16oz tumbler only half-way, it won’t stay hot for as long as if you filled it all the way and doubled down on your coffee intake.
Another consideration to make is that the more coffee you put in your tumbler, the longer it will retain heat, thanks to science! When you have a larger thermal mass of hot coffee in a well-insulated tumbler, it loses heat more slowly over time.
I bet you didn’t know tumbler size mattered so much, huh? But it really does make a difference, so choose wisely based on your needs! You might want to consider investing in two if you have different caffeine demands on different days of the week.
Below are some quick guidelines for which tumbler size will probably suit you best based on how much coffee you drink and what you put in it.
12-Ounce Tumbler
A 12oz tumbler is great for people who drink about 1.5 cups (12oz) of coffee and want to bring it all on the go with them. You won’t have much room for adding milk though. It’s also good if you want space for a single 8oz cup of coffee plus some milk or ice for cold coffee on the go.
14-Ounce Tumbler
A 14oz tumbler is excellent for holding 1.5 cups of coffee plus leaving some room for milk or ice if you’re making iced coffee for those hot summer days on the go.
16-Ounce Tumbler
A 16oz tumbler is ideal for carrying 2 full cups (16oz) of coffee for longer times away from home or the office. It’s a great size if you don’t need room for milk or ice with your hot coffee.
18-Ounce Tumbler
An 18oz size is great for 2 cups of coffee plus leaving space to add some milk or room for ice if having iced coffee drinks is your preference.
20-Ounce Tumbler
A 20oz tumbler will comfortably hold 2.5 cups of coffee if you don’t need space for milk or other add-ins.
22-Ounce Tumbler
A 22oz tumbler is excellent for holding between 2 and 2.5 cups of coffee plus having space for milk, creamer, or ice. Larger to-go mugs like 24 to 32oz sizes and beyond are also made for coffee lovers who want to take 3 or more cups with them on the go.
Is Tumbler Size the Most Important Factor When Buying a Travel Mug?
While tumbler size is very important for fitting your ideal amount of coffee and keeping it hot, there are other key factors to consider when shopping for the best travel mug or coffee tumbler.
Insulation
Insulation is huge when it comes to keeping your coffee piping hot for hours. You want a tumbler with top-notch insulation. The best options are double-walled, vacuum sealed stainless steel tumblers with insulated lids. This kind of construction minimizes heat transfer and will keep your coffee hot for 6+ hours, in most cases.
Foam insulated mugs aren’t quite as good, but they are much more affordable, and plastic travel mugs are the least insulative and might only retain heat for 15 to 20 minutes, but they are the most affordable option.
You can also look for copper coated interiors that enhance insulation ability if you plan to be out in cold weather or for a very long time. Taking the time to choose a well-insulated tumbler that fits your specific needs is key!
Material
Stainless steel is hands-down the best material for coffee tumblers and travel mugs when it comes to insulation but also for durability and ease of cleaning. It’s nonporous so it won’t absorb odors or flavors, and it can stand up to basically anything you can throw at it, making it ideal for everything from hiking and biking to driving to the office.
Ceramic and glass mugs are pretty but tend to be more delicate and won’t keep drinks as hot, as they tend not to be double-walled and vacuum sealed. Plastics are cheap but can absorb odors over time. Look for stainless steel for the optimal tumbler that will last.
Cup Holder Compatibility
It’s annoying when your giant tumbler doesn’t fit into your car’s cup holders right? If you’re hitting the road first thing in the morning with your new tumbler, this can be super frustrating.
You want to make sure your new travel mug or tumbler has a tapered base so it will fit into standard cup holders. Some larger 22 to 24oz sizes may not. So keep that in mind if taking your coffee in the car is important to you.
Wrapping Up: Why Tumbler Size Is So Important
As you can see, tumbler size plays an integral role in keeping your coffee hot and delicious for hours while you’re on the go. Take the time to think about your specific coffee drinking habits and choose a tumbler size that will accommodate that, whether it’s a smaller 12 to 14oz mug for a single cup of coffee or a larger 20 to 22oz one for long times away from home.
And don’t forget to take insulation, material, and cup holder compatibility into account, too, when picking out the perfect coffee tumbler. With so many options on the market today, take your time and choose wisely. The right tumbler will be your new best friend for piping hot coffee wherever you may roam!
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the best tumbler size for just 1 cup of coffee?
The 12 to 14oz size tumblers are best if you only want to carry a single 8oz cup of coffee on the go. The 12oz will provide enough space for just the coffee for up to 1.5 cups, while the 14oz leaves room to add milk, cream, or even ice. Any bigger and you’ll have lots of extra space that can lead to your coffee losing temperature faster.
Should I get a bigger tumbler even if I only drink 2 cups of coffee?
It’s better to get a tumbler that matches the amount of coffee you actually drink rather than going too big. A 16 to 20oz tumbler is ideal for 2 average sized cups of coffee. Any larger and you’ll have lots of empty space above the coffee that can make your beverage cool off faster. Get a size that fits your habits rather than oversizing.
What’s the best tumbler size for iced coffee?
If you’ll be making iced coffee drinks in your tumbler, go for an 18 to 22oz size. The extra space allows you to pack it with ice and add milk or cream without worrying about overflow. If you’re someone who drinks 3 or more cups of iced coffee a day, you might want to consider getting an oversized tumbler that can fit between 32 and 42 ounces, since the ice takes up quite a lot of space.