Printed Ice Cream Cups with Lids for Takeaway Tubs

Who orders lidded ice cream tubs

Most of our lidded tub orders come from gelato bars, dessert shops and farm parlours that sell to people walking away. A lid turns a cup into something that can sit in a bag for twenty minutes.

Delivery is the other big reason. Riders carry several orders at once, and an open cup of soft scoop does not survive a bumpy street.

If your scoops are always eaten at the counter, plain open tubs from our standard ice cream cup range may be all you need.

• Gelato and ice cream parlours with a takeaway hatch
• Dessert shops selling through delivery apps
• Farm shops filling tubs ahead of a busy weekend
• Event caterers serving sundaes at weddings and fairs
• Cafés adding a frozen pudding to a lunch menu

Flat lid or dome lid

A flat lid sits close to the ice cream and lets tubs stack in a bag or a freezer. It is the better choice for pre-filled tubs and plain scoops.

A clear dome leaves room above the rim for sauce, sprinkles, wafers and a spoon. Customers can see the toppings before they open it, which helps on a display counter.

Some shops order both and use the dome only for sundaes. That works well, as long as both lids are made for the same rim size.

If you are unsure, order a small run of domes alongside your flat lids. Staff soon learn which orders need the extra headroom.

Choosing the tub size

Tub size decides how many scoops fit and which lid you need. Order by portion, not by how the cup looks on a shelf.

The table below is how most parlours split their range. Rim sizes can vary between styles, so we confirm the lid fit on your quote.

Parlours that sell both scoops and packed tubs often settle on three sizes. A 4oz, an 8oz and a 16oz cover most orders without crowding the store room.

Single or double wall for frozen desserts

Single wall tubs are the usual choice for ice cream. The board is thin enough to fit plenty in a sleeve, and the cost stays low.

Double wall adds a second layer that keeps cold hands more comfortable and slows melting a little on a warm day. It also feels firmer, which some dessert shops like for premium tubs.

Our guide on single versus double wall cups explains the trade-off in more detail.

Printing the tub and the lid

We print the tub wall in full colour CMYK or Pantone, on one side, two sides or a full wrap. Bright flavour colours, drips and patterns all print well on white board.

Flat paper lids can carry a second design, such as your logo or a flavour name. Clear dome lids stay unprinted so the toppings show through.

Send artwork as AI, PDF, EPS, SVG, PNG or JPG and our team will place it on the right template.

Flavour colours are worth matching to your menu boards. A pistachio green or a strawberry pink printed as a Pantone stays the same shade on every reorder.

How an order runs

Every price is set out in a written quote, starting from £0.25 per cup. Lids are listed as their own line so you can see what each part costs.

You can request that quote through our short order request form in a couple of minutes.

1. Tell us the tub sizes, lid style for each size and rough quantities.
2. Share your logo or artwork, or ask for free design help.
3. Look over the free digital proof, which we revise as often as you need.
4. Approve the proof and we print in 4 to 6 working days.
5. Tubs and lids then travel together on a tracked service, landing within 2 to 3 working days.

Matching spoons, bags and extras

A dome lid has space for a small spoon to sit on top of the scoop. A flat lid needs the spoon handed over separately or taped to the side.

If tubs go out in rounds, think about how they will be carried. Flat lids stack neatly in a paper bag, while domes need a box or a wider bag.

For a full rundown of lid types, see our guide to lids, sleeves and carriers.

Looking after tubs and lids

Keep spare tubs and lids in their cartons until you need them. Board can soften in a damp store room, and loose lids pick up dust.

Count lids to tubs before you file the order away. Running out of lids on a hot Saturday is the most common call we get from parlours.

• Store cartons off the floor in a dry room
• Keep each lid size boxed with its matching tub
• Rotate older stock to the front first
• Check one tub and lid from each carton on arrival

Seasonal and limited flavour tubs

Some parlours print a short run of tubs for a summer flavour, a Halloween special or an Easter treat. A seasonal tub gives regulars a reason to photograph their order and tag the shop.

Keep the logo in the same place on every design so the tubs still look like yours. Change the background colour and the flavour name, and leave the lid plain so it fits every run.

You can try a seasonal layout on a real tub photo with our free cup design preview before asking for a proof.

Common mistakes with lidded tubs

The biggest mistake is ordering one lid size for every tub. Each tub size has its own rim, so a 4oz lid will not close an 8oz tub.

The second is putting fine text near the base of the tub. Small print there is hidden by fingers and a dome lid's shadow.

Our UK paper cup size guide lists rim widths, which helps when you are matching lids from another order.

• One lid size bought for several tub sizes
• Logo placed too low on the wall
• Domes ordered for tubs that need to stack
• Too few lids for the number of tubs

Shipping tubs and lids

Delivery is free to the UK, and every parcel is tracked. Your proof shows the exact print before anything is made.

If a tub or lid arrives misprinted or damaged, report it within 10 days with photos. We reprint or refund the affected items.

Lids count as part of the order for reprints. A carton of warped domes is treated the same as a carton of misprinted tubs.