The cup you serve gelato or ice cream in does more than hold a scoop. It sets your portion size, protects your margin, shapes how the dessert looks on social media, and—increasingly—decides whether you meet Australia's single-use plastics rules. This guide walks through the four things that actually matter when you choose ice cream and gelato cups: size, material, compliance and branding.
What size gelato or ice cream cup do I need?
Portion first. As a rough rule, one gelato scoop is about 60–75ml, so match the cup to how many scoops you serve:
- 2oz (~60ml) — free tastings, samples and kids' treats.
- 3oz (~90ml) — a single gelato scoop or a sampling flight.
- 5oz (~150ml) — two scoops; the everyday, most-popular gelato cup.
- 6oz (~180ml) — sundaes with toppings and sauces.
- 8oz (~240ml) — large sundaes, frozen yoghurt and açaí.
- 12oz kombi (~350ml) — loaded soft serve, açaí bowls and milkshakes.
If you only stock two sizes, most dessert venues do best with a 3oz and a 5oz. You can browse the full range of sizes on our ice cream & gelato packaging page.
Paper, PLA, PLA-free, PET or PP — which material?
The lining decides how a cup performs and how it's thrown away. Here's the plain-English version:
- Aqueous-lined paper (PLA-free): FSC paper with a water-based lining. Home and commercially compostable, and recyclable in the paper stream. The simplest eco choice — see our compostable paper ice cream cups.
- PLA / BIOPBS-lined paper: paper with a plant-based bioplastic lining. Durable and popular, but needs a commercial (industrial) composting facility.
- PP plastic (kombi / sundae cups): rigid, crack-resistant and freezer-safe — ideal for soft serve and display.
- PET plastic: crystal-clear for layered desserts, parfaits and açaí. Browse clear PET cold cups.
- Bagasse (sugarcane): home-compostable fibre, great for tubs and dessert bowls — see bagasse cups.
Meeting Australia's single-use plastics rules
State bans on single-use plastics are tightening, and customers now expect greener packaging. Look for AS 4736 (commercial compostable) or home-compostable certification and FSC-sourced paper. If you want to avoid bioplastic altogether, PLA-free aqueous paper and bagasse are the easiest switches that still perform. For a wider view of what's changing, read our guide to Australia's 2026 packaging regulations.
Lids, spoons and the little extras
Matching accessories make service faster and cleaner. Add dome or flat lids (dome for loaded sundaes, flat for stacking and transport) and wooden or compostable spoons sized to your cups. For hand-packed take-home tubs, leak-resistant tubs finish the range.
Branding: plain, pastel or custom-printed
Plain white and pastel cups look great and ship fast. But a custom-printed cup with your logo turns every serve into marketing—especially when it's photographed and shared. Custom printing is available at low minimum order quantities, so it's within reach for small venues too.
Quick picks by venue
- Gelato parlours: 3oz & 5oz paper cups with tasting spoons.
- Ice cream shops: 5oz–8oz cups with dome lids.
- Frozen yoghurt / soft serve: 8oz–12oz kombi cups.
- Açaí & poke: clear PET and bagasse bowls — see açaí & poke bowl packaging.
- Dessert bars & cafes: custom-printed 5oz cups.
The takeaway
Start with portion size, pick a material that matches your eco goal and service style, make sure it meets your state's rules, then decide on branding. Get those four right and you'll cut waste, protect your margin and look sharper doing it.
Gelato & ice cream cups — FAQs
What is the most popular ice cream cup size?
5oz (about 150ml, roughly two scoops) is the everyday best-seller for gelato and ice cream. If you only stock two sizes, a 3oz and a 5oz cover most venues.
Are paper gelato cups compostable?
Yes — our aqueous-lined paper cups are PLA-free and home-compostable (and recyclable in the paper stream), while PLA/BIOPBS-lined cups are certified for commercial composting under AS 4736.
What is the difference between PLA and PLA-free cups?
PLA is a plant-based bioplastic lining that needs an industrial composting facility. PLA-free aqueous cups use a water-based lining that breaks down in home composting and avoids bioplastic altogether.
Can I get gelato cups printed with my logo?
Yes. Custom-printed gelato and ice cream cups are available at low minimum order quantities, alongside plain white and pastel stock ranges.
Do the lids and spoons fit the cups?
Yes — we stock matching dome lids (for loaded sundaes), flat lids (for stacking and transport) and wooden or compostable spoons sized to the cups.
Shop ice cream & gelato cups → Browse all Melbourne food packaging
