Custom Paper Snack Cones

Board and Grease Resistance

Snack cones are rolled from board that carries a grease-resistant coating. Oily foods such as chips and churros quickly soak through untreated board, which weakens the cone and spoils the print. A grease-resistant coating keeps the outside dry and the print clean, even with hot, oily food. Board for direct food contact is available on request, and we recommend it for any cone filled with unwrapped food.

White board gives bright, sharp print. Kraft board has a natural look that suits street food and craft brands. Heavier board weights keep larger cones stiff when filled.

Steam is worth considering for very hot food. Freshly fried chips release moisture, and in a deep cone that steam can soften the food at the bottom. A slightly wider opening lets more steam escape, and serving with the sauce on the side rather than poured over keeps things crisp for longer. p2 Board grades for hot food are compared in the guide to board and card types.

Choosing the Right Size

Cone size is measured by the opening diameter and the height. A small taster cone of around 60 mm across suits samples and children's portions. A standard cone of 80 to 100 mm across holds a regular portion of chips or churros. A large sharing cone of 120 mm or more holds enough for two or three people.

Think about the food as well as the portion. Long churros need a taller cone than chips. Popcorn and sweets are light and bulky, so a wide opening helps. If you serve sauce on top, a slightly wider cone stops it running down the side.

If you are not sure which size your customers will prefer, start with two sizes and see which sells. Event traders often find that a regular cone with an upgrade to a sharing cone covers almost every order, and it keeps storage space in the van to a minimum. p2 Roasted nuts sold by weight use our smaller paper cones for nuts with a fold-over top.

Print That Gets Noticed at Events

At a busy event, your cone is moving around in people's hands. Bold colours, a big logo and a simple pattern make it recognisable from a distance. A short line, your social media handle or a QR code to your menu gives people a way to find you again.

Because the cone is rolled, the print wraps around it. We supply a template that shows how the flat design forms the cone, so you can place the logo where it will be seen. Keep important elements away from the glued seam.

Napkins printed in a matching colour complete the look, and they are useful with sugary or saucy snacks. A stack of branded napkins beside the counter reinforces the brand every time someone reaches for one. p2 A matching printed cup for fries covers orders eaten at a table.

Who Uses Paper Snack Cones

Street food traders, chip shops, churro stands, popcorn sellers, sweet shops, nut roasters, cinemas, theme parks, sports grounds and event caterers all use paper snack cones. Festival organisers often order branded cones for official food stalls. Cafes and dessert shops use them for doughnut bites, waffle pieces and fruit.

Many traders use a single cone design across several menu items, keeping the order simple and the branding consistent.

Sweet shops and nut roasters often use a smaller cone with a fold-over top, sold by weight from jars behind the counter. The cone becomes the sweet shop bag, carried around while people browse and finished long before they reach home. Ice cream parlours sometimes use paper cones for toppings or waffle pieces served alongside a scoop. p2 Sweet shops selling by weight often pair the cone with our paper sweet boxes for larger orders.

Scoop a Real Portion Into Any Cone and Note the Height

Snack cones are sized by the portion, and portions vary more than menus suggest. Scoop your regular serving of chips or churros into any cone or cup you have, note how high it sits and how far the food fans above the rim, and send that with the food type; churros need height, popcorn needs width, sauce on top needs a wider opening so it does not run down the side. Two sizes, regular and sharing, cover most stalls.

Tell us if the food is hot and oily, which fixes the grease-resistant board, and how the cones are held during service, because a holder with the right hole size is worth ordering with them. The custom quote arrives by email within one working day with the minimum set per job.

The free proof shows the flat design and how it rolls into the cone, with the seam marked. Production takes 4 to 7 working days after approval and the cones reach UK mainland addresses by free tracked delivery; work back from the first trading day. Chip vans with a sit-down crowd add our flat-bottomed chip cups for the tables.