Custom Ice Cream Cone Holders

Getting the Hole Size Right

The cut-out is the most important dimension on the whole holder. Too small and a cone sits high and wobbles; too large and it drops through. We size the hole to the cone you actually use, measured at the point where you want it to rest, usually a few centimetres below the rim of the wafer.

Wafer cones, sugar cones and waffle cones all have different tapers, so tell us which you serve and send one or two empty cones if you can. If you use paper cone sleeves, the sleeve adds a little thickness and the hole should allow for it.

Spacing matters too. Leave enough room between holes for generous scoops so that a double serving does not lean into its neighbour. We check this on the proof and can adjust the gaps if your portions are larger than average.

Board, Coating and Strength

Cone holders live a short but demanding life. They meet melting ice cream, cold hands and sometimes a damp table. We usually recommend a sturdy food-contact grade board, available on request, with a coating on the printed side to resist drips and keep the print looking clean.

Lighter board works for two-cone carriers that are used and discarded within minutes. Larger four-cone trays and event stands need a heavier grade, or a folded double wall, so they do not sag in the middle when fully loaded.

White board gives the brightest print and suits colourful parlour branding. Kraft board gives a more rustic look that fits farm dairies and artisan gelato counters. Either can be printed on the outside and left plain on the inside, which keeps the cost down. The board and coating options page explains the water-resistant layer on the printed side.

Designing Artwork That Survives Ice Cream

Think about which surfaces are seen. On a tray with side walls, the outer walls carry the logo and are visible as the holder is carried. The top surface between the holes is usually covered by cones, so it does not need much artwork beyond a pattern or brand colour.

Bold, simple branding works best. A logo, a short tagline and a social handle are plenty. Dark or patterned backgrounds hide the odd drip better than plain white.

If you run several outlets or a van, one design across all of them keeps ordering simple. Flavour menus change often, so they are better printed on boards at the counter than on the holder itself, which keeps your packaging useful for as long as the stock lasts.

One more practical point: if staff will fold holders during a rush, print a small fold guide on an inside flap. It costs nothing extra, it means new staff get it right first time, and it keeps the stack behind the counter tidy. Upload the logo through the free proof request and we will place it on the outer walls.

Who Orders Cone Holders

Ice cream parlours and gelato shops are the obvious buyers, but they are far from the only ones. Ice cream vans use two-cone carriers to speed up a busy queue at the school gate. Seaside kiosks and farm shops use four-cone trays for families. Event caterers and wedding planners use row holders and stands on dessert tables, and party hosts order small runs printed with a name for a birthday or engagement party.

Dessert bars that serve cone-shaped crepes or filled waffle cones use the same holders, sized to their own cones, to keep orders upright on the walk to the table.

Cafes that sell ice cream as a side line also find holders useful for takeaway orders, because a tray of cones slides neatly onto a counter while the rest of the order is prepared. Cups, cones and spoons for those cafés sit under cups, cones and ice cream packaging.

Post Us Two Empty Cones Before We Cut the Holes

The hole diameter is the whole job on a cone holder, and wafer, sugar and waffle cones all taper differently, so the surest route is to post two empty cones of each type you serve. We measure where the cone should rest, a few centimetres below the rim, and allow for a paper sleeve if you use one. Tell us how many cones are usually bought together, because a two-cone carrier and a four-cone family tray are different folds, and say if the holder is carried away or set down on a table.

Send the cones, the count per holder, a logo and a rough quantity, and a custom quote comes back by email within one working day, with simple printed items from £0.25 and low minimums quoted per job. The free proof shows the flat holder with hole positions, fold lines and artwork. Production takes 4–7 working days after approval and the flat holders arrive by free tracked delivery to UK mainland addresses in 2–3 working days. Misprinted or damaged holders reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded. Parlours that serve two scoops side by side usually order twin scoop cone holders with wider holes alongside.