Custom Paper Cone Sleeves

Measuring Your Cones for Paper Cone Sleeves

The two key measurements are the diameter of the cone at the point where the sleeve should stop, and the length of the cone from that point to the tip. Most businesses want the sleeve to cover roughly the lower two thirds of the cone, leaving the top clear so it looks generous and the ice cream sits on visible wafer.

Take a cone from your usual supplier, wrap a strip of paper round it at the height you want, and mark the circumference. Then measure down to the tip. Send us these figures, or better still a few cones, and we will create a template that fits. If you sell two cone types, it is often worth having two sleeve sizes rather than one compromise that sits loosely on both.

Leave the very tip open; a small opening lets air escape as the sleeve slides on and stops it crumpling. Our guide on how to measure a cone at two heights explains how the taper is calculated.

Paper, Grease Resistance and Print

Sleeves are printed on lightweight paperboard or heavy paper with a grease-resistant coating on the inside, so melted ice cream and chocolate dip do not soak through to the print. White board gives the brightest colours; kraft board suits artisan gelato and farm dairies. Food-contact grade paper is available on request for sleeves that touch the cone directly, which they always do.

Bright, simple designs work best on such a small curved surface. A bold logo, your van or parlour name, and perhaps a phone number or social handle are plenty. Pastel colours, stripes and playful illustrations suit traditional ice cream; clean, minimal designs suit modern gelaterias. Print usually goes on the outside only, though a small message inside the tip makes a fun surprise for children who finish the cone.

Avoid placing text right at the curved top edge of the sleeve, where it tilts away from view; the middle band of the sleeve is what customers and cameras actually see. Vans serving waffles alongside cones use greaseproof paper for wrapping in the same print.

Vans, Parlours and Pop-Ups

Ice cream vans are the classic customer for printed sleeves. A branded sleeve sets a van apart from others at the same event and helps people find it again. Seaside kiosks and parlours use them for every cone, and gelato shops use them to give a refined look to a premium product.

Farm dairies selling their own ice cream at the farm gate and at shows use them to carry the farm name. Pop-up dessert bars, wedding ice cream carts and event caterers order sleeves in the couple's or client's colours. Cafés that sell soft serve alongside coffee also find a sleeve smarter than a paper napkin wrapped round the cone.

Children's parties and school fairs are another steady source of orders. A cone sleeve printed with a simple character, a name or a theme colour makes a basic cone feel like part of the celebration, and parents appreciate the cleaner hands. Sports clubs running outdoor tournaments and holiday parks with their own kiosks order them for the same reason: the sleeve carries their name into every family photo of the day.

For businesses that move between several sites, such as a van that trades at markets, shows and private events, one well-designed sleeve with a clear name and a social handle is the best investment. People who enjoyed a cone at a show can find you again later, and event organisers notice traders who look professional. Parlours usually match the sleeves to ice cream cups for sundaes in one order.

Storage and Serving Tips

Store sleeves flat or nested in their boxes, in a dry place away from the freezer exhaust where warm, moist air can soften paper. Keep a small stack by the serving point so staff can sleeve cones before scooping. Pre-sleeving a row of cones at quiet times means faster service when a queue builds.

If you also sell tubs, matching printed cups and spoons make the whole menu look coordinated. Ask us for a quote on both at once.

Rotate stock so the oldest sleeves are used first, and keep the cartons closed between services so dust and insects stay out. Double scoops sit better in twin scoop cone holders than in a single sleeve.

Post Us Three Cones From Your Usual Supplier

Cone sleeves are cut to the cone's angle, and wafer, waffle and sugar cones all taper differently, so the surest way to size them is to post us two or three cones of each type you serve. If that is not practical, measure the diameter at the rim and at the point where the sleeve should stop, usually two thirds of the way down, plus the length between those two points. Decide between pre-formed sleeves that slide on and flat wraps that staff roll, and choose a grease-resistant paper so chocolate dip and melted ice cream stay inside. Keep the design to a bold logo and a social handle, since fine detail is lost on a small curve, and consider cone holders for the serving counter so staff can fill several at once.

Send the cones or measurements, the quantity and artwork, and a custom quote comes by email within one working day, with minimums low enough for a single van. The free proof shows the flat sleeve shape with the artwork placed. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval, sleeves arrive by tracked courier to UK mainland addresses, and misprinted or damaged sleeves reported within 10 days are reprinted or refunded.