Kids Tumbler: Sizes, Straw Lids and Materials for Custom Orders
A kids tumbler is a smaller, simpler cousin of the adult straw tumbler: a cup that fits a small hand, a soft straw that is easy to drink from, and a lid that copes with being knocked over. Here is what to compare and what to put in an order.
By Feng, Head of After-Sales Service & Online Marketing Lead
A kids tumbler is a small cup of about 8 to 18 oz (240 to 550 ml) with a lid and a soft straw, sized for a child’s hand. The main choices are the body (insulated stainless steel, or lighter plastic such as PP or Tritan), the lid (silicone straw, dual-drink or open rim) and how easily it comes apart for cleaning. For children, a soft silicone spout, a lid that resists splashes and parts that separate for washing matter more than capacity. BG Drinkware, a drinkware manufacturer in Yongkang, China, makes a 12 oz stainless steel kids cup with a soft silicone straw that comes fully apart, a 280 ml cup with animal-shaped lids, and a 550 ml dual-drink cup with a Tritan option. Testing for children’s products is arranged to the buyer’s requirements, so name the standards your market needs. Most kids cups start at 500 pieces per colour.
What is a kids tumbler?
A kids tumbler is a straw cup sized for children: usually 8 to 18 oz, shorter and lighter than an adult tumbler, with a soft silicone straw or spout and a lid that resists splashes. Some are insulated stainless steel; others are plastic, which is lighter and often clear or brightly printed.
Small size
About 240–550 ml, easy for a child to hold and lift.
Soft straw
A silicone spout or straw that is gentle to drink from.
Splash-resistant lid
A lid that limits spills when the cup tips over.
Comes apart
Lid, straw and spout separate for washing.
For larger children’s bottles, see personalised water bottles for kids and toddler water bottles.
What size should a kids tumbler be?
Match the size to the child’s age and the setting. Around 8 to 12 oz (240 to 355 ml) suits young children and short outings; 14 to 18 oz (414 to 550 ml) suits school days and older children. A full cup should still be light enough for the child to lift with one hand.
| Model | Capacity | Body | Lid | Minimum order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kids cup with cat and dog lids | 280 ml (about 9.5 oz) | Insulated cup body | Silicone straw or open rim, braided loop | 1,000 pieces |
| 12 oz stainless steel kids cup | 12 oz (355 ml) | Stainless steel | Soft silicone straw, splash-resistant lid | 500 pieces per colour |
| 550 ml kids dual-drink cup | 550 ml (about 18.6 oz) | PP/PC; Tritan option | Ball-shaped dual-drink lid, tea infuser | 500 pieces |
For sizes in ounces and millilitres, see water bottle sizes.
Should a kids tumbler be stainless steel or plastic?
Stainless steel when the drink should stay cold for longer and the cup has to survive knocks; plastic when weight, a clear body or a lower price matter more. Insulated steel cups are heavier but keep drinks cool. Plastic cups are lighter, and a Tritan body is offered as an option on some models.
BG Drinkware’s standard steel build uses a 304 inner wall and a 201 outer wall, and some children’s bottles use a 316 inner wall. Plastic kids cups usually pair a PC or PP body with a PP lid and a silicone straw. For more, see Tritan water bottles and stainless steel vs plastic bottles.
Which straw lid suits a kids tumbler?
A soft silicone straw or spout is the usual choice, because it is gentle to bite and easy to drink from. A dual-drink lid adds an open sipping option for older children, and an open rim with a separate lid suits drinking at a table. Whatever the lid, check that the straw and spout come out for cleaning.
- Silicone straw lid: the most common kids lid; check that the spout is soft and seals when closed.
- Dual-drink lid: a straw opening and a direct-sip opening in one lid.
- Open rim with a lid: the lid comes off for drinking from the cup.
- Cleaning: the 12 oz kids cup can be fully taken apart for washing.
For straw materials, see tumbler straw materials; for cleaning, how to clean a stainless steel bottle.
What testing does a kids tumbler need?
It depends on the market where the cups will be sold, so the buyer should name the standards. BG Drinkware sends children’s products for testing to the customer’s requirements rather than claiming certifications in advance. Ask which parts each report covers, because the lid, straw and print may need testing separately.
Agree the tests before bulk production so samples can be sent to the laboratory in time. BG Drinkware’s existing food-contact reports cover the 304 inner wall of two tumbler models and do not cover lids, straws or seals, so a children’s range usually needs its own testing. See certifications and water bottles for schools.
What should a kids tumbler order specify?
Send the capacity, the quantity, the model, the body material, the lid and straw, the colour of each part, the artwork, the packaging, the testing your market requires, the payment terms and the trade terms. For printed characters, make sure you hold the rights to the artwork before it goes on a sample.
- Model and sizeProduct page and capacity in millilitres.
- Parts and coloursBody, lid, straw or spout, and loop colours.
- ArtworkLogo or design files you own the rights to; names on each cup are possible but cost much more.
- TestingThe standards your market requires.
- TermsQuantity, packaging, payment terms and trade terms.
A sample of an existing model takes up to 7 days, and bulk production takes 7–12 days after the sample is approved. See kids cups.
Kids tumbler FAQ
Short answers to the questions buyers ask most about kids tumblers: the right size, whether they leak, how they are cleaned and whether each cup can carry a child’s name. The answers come from BG Drinkware’s product range and production practice.
What size tumbler is best for a child?
For young children, about 8 to 12 oz (240 to 355 ml) is easy to hold and lift. For school days and older children, 14 to 18 oz (414 to 550 ml) lasts longer between refills. Choose a size the child can lift with one hand when the cup is full, and check the weight on the sample.
Are kids tumblers leak-proof?
Many are leak-resistant when the lid is correctly assembled and fully closed, and splash-resistant lids limit spills when a cup tips over. A straw lid is not always sealed when open. Test the sample full and on its side, and agree a leak test for bulk before production.
How do you clean a kids tumbler straw?
Take the lid, straw and spout apart and wash each part, using a straw brush for the inside of the straw. Choose a design that comes fully apart: BG Drinkware’s 12 oz kids cup can be disassembled for cleaning. Dry the parts separately before putting the cup back together.
Can each kids cup be printed with a different name?
Yes. BG Drinkware can print or engrave a different name on each cup in a bulk order, but it costs much more than one shared logo, and the price depends on how complex the design is. Many brands print one design for the batch and offer names only for smaller premium runs.
This guide is based on BG Drinkware’s kids drinkware range and production practice. Related guides: stainless steel bottles with straws, leak-proof tumblers and personalised water bottles.
Planning kids tumblers?
Send the capacity, quantity, model, part colours, artwork, packaging, the testing you need, payment terms and trade terms.
